Our Work

In its 17^th Annual Report, Unfinished Business: Ontario since the Great Recession, the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity takes a retrospective look at how the province’s economy has fared since 2000, emphasizing the impact of the 2008-09 Great Recession on Ontario, and how the province has since recovered.

As in past Annual Reports, the Institute analyzes the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Ontario compared to the median of its peers, known as the prosperity gap....

How can Canada overcome the costs and maximize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI)? In Working Paper 32, From prediction to reality Ontario’s AI opportunity, the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity examines the current AI ecosystems in Ontario and Canada, how the benefits of the coming AI revolution can be maximized, and what can be done to minimize the disruptions caused by it.    

Artificial intelligence, in the broadest sense, is the ability of a computer to perform tasks...

In Working Paper 30, The future is not destiny: CEO perspectives on realizing Ontario’s potential, the project team (Institute and Boston Consulting Group) present findings from 33 interviews with CEOs and Futurists (those who spend the majority of their role thinking about trends of the future, particularly around technology). Leaders came from seven clusters: Construction, Financial Services (including insurance), Health, ICT, Manufacturing, Marketing, Design and Publishing, and Other.

The...

In this Quarterly Report, the Institute evaluates new policies announced in Ontario’s Speech from the Throne: creating 100,000 new childcare spaces, providing relief on electricity bills, and implementing a renewed math strategy. We also cover new policies introduced in the 2016 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: addressing housing affordability and two new programs under the Business Growth Initiative that are targeted at helping firms scale up. The Institute provides a grade for each...

In its 15th Annual Report, Collaborating for growth: Opportunities for Ontario, the Institute analyzes Ontario's GDP per capita compared to ten similar peer jurisdictions. 

The analysis reveals that Ontario continues to experience a ‘prosperity gap’ – GDP per capita is $2,740 below its peer jurisdictions. To achieve greater prosperity, government, businesses, and Ontarians must collaborate to leverage the province’s strengths and grow its high-wage, innovative, export-oriented industries. 

Getting to 2030: Comparing and coordinating provincial climate policies analyzes carbon policies in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec by effectiveness and cost. Effectiveness is measured by achievements in emissions reductions overall, and the cost of reductions. It also outlines how the federation can come together to achieve Canada's national 2030 greenhouse gas target. 

The White Paper analyzes provincial carbon policies in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Québec by...

In this Quarterly Report, the Institute grades the provincial government on developments regarding the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) enhancement and the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP), as well as new regulations in the sharing economy. We then evaluate new initiatives relating to all types of transportation infrastructure, including the proposed electric vehicle charging network, as well as some of the outcomes of the Council of the Federation’s annual summer meeting. For an update on the...

Strengthening clusters can lead to increased productivity, economic growth, and prosperity because clusters foster interactions that can energize the regional economy. In Working Paper 26, Clusters in Ontario the Institute highlights five strong, traded clusters in Ontario. The Institute recommends that the Ontario government facilitate the growth of such clusters - rather than replicate them or force their existence. 

The Institute recommends that the Ontario government facilitate the growth...

Licence to Innovate Revisited provides perspectives on government innovation from people within and outside the Ontario Public Service. This leads to a revised framework, additional case studies, and actionable recommendations.

The Institute recommends the government of Ontario:

Integrate innovation to counter the risk-averse culture. 

• Building innovation into core government activities signals that it is desirable and acceptable.

Revise funding frameworks and apply behavioural insights...

In this Quarterly Report, the Institute evaluates the health of Ontario’s economy relative to other Canadian provinces. Next, we follow-up on topics covered in previous Reports, including the partial sell-off of Hydro One and the regulation of sharing economy business models. We then cover new stories related to infrastructure developments, trade missions, and the province's Climate Change Action Plan.

The Institute provides a grade for each policy:

Hydro One sell-off (Grade B-) 

• The...

In its 25th Working Paper, the Institute models the impact of Ontario's cap-and-trade program on economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions. According to macroeconomic modelling under four scenarios, Ontario should link with the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) as soon as possible and provide support to its carbon intensive at-risk industries. In doing so, the province will achieve the greatest reductions in emissions while maintaining economic growth and competitiveness. The four scenarios...

In this Quarterly Report, we compare Ontario’s economy relative to peer provinces by looking at key indicators. Next, we assess policies that are geared to help Ontario transition to a low-carbon economy, foster a more innovative and dynamic business environment and make Ontario a globally competitive player. As a new addition, Quarterly Reports now feature a Policy Report Card.  The Institute provides a grade for each policy: 

ORPP delay (Grade B) 

• The government has listened to the...