Can Canada’s fraying social safety net catch new immigrants? And if not, what’s the solution as headlines reveal many are sleeping in shifts, dying on the streets, and not able to leverage their skillset in their new homeland? Former Ontario MPP Mitzie Hunter, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Toronto Mayor John Tory join Michael Hainsworth to revisit an engaging and entertaining Regent Debate.
The Fifth Regent Debate
Are immigrants provided with the tools they need to succeed in Canada, and are selection criteria properly calibrated to match them to high-demand occupations? Can we build sufficient housing and infrastructure to accommodate newcomers, and can we do so quickly enough? On December 6, 2023, the C.D. Howe Institute held its fifth Regent Debate on the motion - "Be It Resolved: Canada's immigration levels are too high to support the economic wellbeing of new immigrants, or that of the broader population."
The debate saw former Ontario cabinet minister and MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood Mitzie Hunter and former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney argue for the motion, while former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and former Toronto Mayor John Tory argued against.
Best of Christy Clark
The Best of Danielle Martin
The Best of Shaun Francis
Tom Mulcair Speaks with Michael Hainsworth
Competition in Healthcare with Shaun Francis
Privatized healthcare isn’t new to Canada. But for Medcan CEO and Chair Shaun Francis, breaking the government monopoly on how we’re cared for requires competition – and patient education.
The Fourth Regent Debate: Competition will Save Canada's Broken Healthcare System
On February 23, 2023, The C.D. Howe Institute hosted its fourth Regent Debate, and first one back since the Covid-19 pandemic - “Be it Resolved: Competition Will Save Canada’s Broken Healthcare System.”
Christy Clark (former premier of British Columbia) and Shaun Francis (CEO of Medcan) argued in favour of private alternatives to healthcare, while Tom Mulcair (former Leader of the Official Opposition) and Dr. Danielle Martin (Women’s College Hospital) argued to maintain the status quo.
Regent Debate: Should Governments Regulate Big Tech to Protect Public Interest?
On June 11, 2019, the C.D. Howe Institute hosted its third Regent Debate: Should Governments Regulate Big Tech to Protect Public Interest?
James Comey (Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation) and Melanie Aitken (Former Commissioner of the Competition Bureau of Canada) represented the affirmative, while Robert Atkinson (Adviser to President Barack Obama) and David Plouffe (President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation) represented the negative.
Regent Debate: Does Canada Have a Competitiveness Problem?
On November 6th, 2018 the C.D. Howe Institute hosted its second Regent Debate, where four prominent voices sparred over the following proposition: Be it resolved - There is an existential crisis in Canadian Competitiveness.
Dwight Duncan (Former Liberal Minister of Finance, Ontario), and The Hon. Joe Oliver (Former Federal Conservative Minister of Finance) represented the affirmative, and Brad Duguid (Former Liberal Minister of Economic Development and Growth, Ontario) and Janet Ecker (Former Progressive Conservative Minister of Finance, Ontario) represented the negative.
Regent Debate: Should Western Democracies Adopt a Universal Basic Income?
On April 11th, 2018 the C.D. Howe Institute hosted its inaugural Regent Debate, where four prominent voices sparred over the following question: Should Western democracies, such as Canada, establish a universal basic income to help their citizens cope with the disruptive effects of new technologies and artificial intelligence?
Paul Begala (Political Commentator, CNN, and Former Aide to President Clinton), and Hugh Segal (Hugh Segal, Principal, Massey College, and Former Senator) represented the affirmative, and Conrad Black (Founder, National Post) and Dr. Janice MacKinnon (Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a member of the Order of Canada, and a former Saskatchewan Finance Minister) represented the negative.