Show Notes
Taking Stock of Canada at 159: Strong Fundamentals, Real Pressures At its core, the story of Canada is about a lot more than economics. It’s about values, choices, and long-term fiscal sustainability. Its about outcomes that matter and the kind of future Canadians want to build, together. In this special Canada Day episode of The Politics of Money, the IFSD team take stock of how Canada is really doing at 159. And what needs to happen to be even stronger for Canada Day 160 next year. IFSD's Kevin Page, Sahir Khan, and Mostafa Askari take a closer look at Canada “by the numbers” and, more importantly, the real story those numbers tell. Canada’s fundamentals are strong: high life satisfaction, long life expectancy, strong education outcomes, and a sustainable fiscal position, for the moment. But the picture is complex. 👉 Growth has slowed. 👉 Affordability pressures are rising. 👉 Public services are under strain. This conversation moves beyond headline metrics like GDP to ask deeper questions: What outcomes really matter to Canadians? And what tradeoffs are Canadians willing to make? The team also reflect on the experiences of families who chose Canada. And why, even at this challenging "hinge" moment, it remains a country worth investing in and building. Topics covered: 🔹 How Canada is doing, looking beyond the easy analogies and headline numbers 🔹 Affordability, productivity, and investment challenges 🔹 Fiscal standing and long-term sustainability 🔹 Wellbeing as a policy outcome 🔹 Immigration, opportunity, and betting on the Canadian project
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