The Economic Outlook for Canada's Finance Minister

David Dodge comments in The Hill Times on what's next for Canada's Finance Minister in this period of global political and economic uncertainty. As David wrote in the Bennett Jones Fall 2019 Economic Outlook, the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues need to respond with a range of policy levers, including:

• Macroeconomic policy: identifying the right fiscal and monetary policy anchors and ensuring the cohesion of the macroeconomic framework to underpin confidence.
• International economic diplomacy: sustaining a commitment to multilateralism while strengthening bilateral relationships and protecting against harmful unilateral actions.
• Tax policy: ensuring that the taxation framework supports investment, innovation and Canada’s global competitiveness while also aiding adjustment to change.
• Financial sector policy: ensuring that the financial system is sound and that it evolves in step with innovation in the digital economy to deliver better services to consumers and small businesses and to sustain the competitiveness of our financial services industry.
• Climate and energy policy: identifying paths that make a contribution to a global climate challenge while also advancing Canada’s interests as a responsible energy producer and exporter.