Canada's Productivity Initiative
Investment, Economic Growth & Long-Term Prosperity
OTTAWA - Tax, fiscal policy, competition
MONTREAL - Talent, skills, immigration
VANCOUVER - Infrastructure, transportation
HALIFAX - Interprovincial trade, regulation
SASKATOON - Agriculture, energy, minerals
TORONTO - Innovation, technology
About the Initiative
Canada’s Productivity Initiative was launched in Fall 2024 at a national summit in Calgary to address the alarming decline in Canada’s already low economic productivity compared with the United States and other major trading partners. To build on the momentum, better understand the challenges, and develop solutions, the Summit has become a year-long undertaking, Canada’s Productivity Initiative.
The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary is undertaking research on specific aspects of productivity and engaging with leading thinkers in business, government and academia across the country in 2025 to develop actionable and impactful recommendations for policymakers.
News and Publications
News:
Financial Post: Jack Mintz: Ontario’s election should be about productivity February 2025
Globe and Mail: Productivity, productivity: Why Canada keeps talking about it but sees no results October 2024
The Logic: Seizing the means of productivity October 2024
PostMedia: Varcoe: 'No-brainer' fixes to get things built in Canada, boost productivity October 2024
The Canadian Press: Canada has 'too many regulatory roadblocks and too much red tape' to fix productivity crisis: Alberta premier October 2024
Bloomberg/BNN Feds, provinces must work together to tackle productivity crisis: Alberta premier October 2024
Publications:
School of Public Policy: What We Heard Report January 2025
School of Public Policy: What We Heard Report - Highlights January 2025
School of Public Policy: Productivity Growth in Canada: What is Going On? October 2024
School of Public Policy: Productivity and Labour Incomes May 2024
Ottawa Session
Fairmont Château Laurier | February 27, 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing tax, fiscal policy and competition policy.
Montreal Session 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing talent, skills and immigration. Event information coming soon.
Vancouver Session 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing issues with infrastructure and the transportation sector. Event information coming soon.
Halifax Session 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing interprovincial trade and regulatory efficiency. Event information coming soon.
Saskatoon Session 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing issues for the resources sector, including energy, agriculture and minerals. Event information coming soon.
Toronto Session 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing issues for the innovation and technology sectors. Event information coming soon.
Canada’s Productivity Summit
BMO Centre at Stampede Park, Calgary | October 16-17, 2024
Canada’s Productivity Summit hosted more than 700 delegates, including top economists and leaders from business, non-profits and governments from across Canada. Key issues addressed included tax and regulatory reform, interprovincial trade barriers, infrastructure development and labour markets.
General Information
productivity@ucalgary.ca
Media Inquiries
Gord Der Stepanian
gord.derstepanian@ucalgary.ca