The Globe and Mail highlights MLI’s study on the fiscal challenges brought on by an aging population

November 7, 2011 – Our recent study, Canada’s Looming Fiscal Squeeze by economics professor Christopher Ragan, has generated a great deal of interest. It was discussed in the National Post on November 3rd by reporter Derek Abma. The column was subsequently published across the country in the Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon’s The Star Phoenix, Regina’s Leader-Post, Calgary Herald, Windsor Star, and BC’s The Province.

On November 5, The Globe and Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson wrote a piece on the study. He said, “The latest academic to underscore the country’s challenge is Christopher Ragan, a public policy economist at McGill. His paper for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute has the virtue of clarity and rigour. He doesn’t prescribe, he describes, the first stage of wisdom.”

At the end of the column, he underscored professor Ragan’s main point:

Borrowing is the easiest political option, but the least responsible. No matter how today’s economic turmoil in the world works out, the aging of the population will force us to talk about two options that make most Canadians nervous: higher taxes or significantly changed public programs. As professor Ragan correctly wrote: “There is nothing else.”

In addition, the Huffington Post Canada published an article based on this study on November 3rd, “Grey Tsunami: Canada’s Aging Population Means Fiscal Squeeze Coming, says study.”

Finally, on November 7, Philip Till invited professor Ragan on his show, CKNW’s Morning News, to discuss the study. CKNW is the highest-rated talk radio station in Vancouver, BC.

 

 

 

 

Related posts:

  1. National Post: Aging population could lead to Greek-style debt crisis in Canada, report suggests November 3, 2011 – In today’s National Post, reporter Derek Abma discussed MLI’s recent study...
  2. MLI Paper: Canada’s Looming Fiscal Squeeze MEDIA RELEASE The $67 billion deficit in Canada’s future Slower economic growth coupled with higher...
  3. MLI Paper – Solutions for an aging population: Avoiding the $67 billion deficit in Canada’s future MEDIA RELEASE February 7, 2012, Ottawa, ON – Canada will soon face the full burden...
  4. The Globe and Mail highlights MLI’s study on health care reform: Saskatchewan knows what Tommy Douglas would do February 7, 2013 – The Globe and Mail’s Margaret Wente interviews MLI author Janice MacKinnon,...
  5. Financial Post Exclusive: Five ideas to raise the money we’ll need to deal with health care for a rapidly aging population February 7, 2012 – MLI’s recently released study, Canada’s Looming Fiscal Squeeze: Collected Essays on...

Please note that the link above was live when posted. Older links may no longer be functional.