Canada's Productivity Initiative: Ottawa

Canada’s Productivity Initiative gathers experts from across the country to explore multiple aspects of our nation’s economic growth and productivity. Held on February 27, 2025, the session in Ottawa was hosted by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy at the Fairmont Château Laurier.

The Ottawa session addressed taxation, competition policy and the regulatory environment. It included an experts-only workshop in the morning followed by lunch with a keynote address, panel discussions on the three topics and an evening networking reception. Sessions have also taken place in Vancouver, Halifax and Montreal since the Ottawa session, and two more will be held in Saskatoon and Toronto in the near future.

Insights from the Session

Productivity is at the heart of any robust economy, underpinning long-term improvements in living standards, and it has far-reaching implications for almost all areas of public policy. There are countless factors that impact economic performance, but relatively little is known about the reasons for Canada’s recent challenges. Since 2015, real disposable income growth of Canadian families has been slower than any other eight-year period outside of the Great Depression or the 1990s recession. Explanations range from a lack of business innovation, lacklustre capital investment and interprovincial trade barriers, to inefficient features of our taxation and regulatory system. The Ottawa session examined ways to invigorate growth and strengthen economic stability for Canadians, focusing on three key areas: taxation, competition policy and the regulatory environment.

"Aligning Canada’s tax framework more closely with global peers, particularly the United States, is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in attracting investment and retaining top talent."

-- Excerpt from the What We Heard Report from Canada’s Productivity Summit.

"Political resistance to comprehensive tax reform was a major concern. Tax policy remains highly contentious and politically sensitive. Panellists described it as “political kryptonite,” noting no major party is willing to champion comprehensive reform due to the political risks."

-- Excerpt from the What We Heard Report from Canada’s Productivity Summit.