The Drummond Report has been released and, if all goes according to plan, it will set up the political will for Ontario’s government to go ahead with its austerity plans. Meanwhile, the Federal government has hinted that it is going to go ahead with its planned austerity despite evidence of a deteriorating economy at a time when the Bank of Canada is still operating at near-zero interest rates.

Now it’s certainly satisfying to see some of my work in the final report, but I think I might be the only person in the Ontario Ministry of Finance right now that advocates more spending and higher deficits across Canada. (I can’t really blame Ontario because this actually needs to happen at the federal level.)

For example, while the report instead talks a lot about transportation user fees and congestion taxes (which I don’t mind!), this might be the opportune moment for federal and provincial commitments to build high-speed rail in the Quebec-Windsor corridor. And subways! Toronto desperately needs more subways!

Sigh. Why does Canada insist on following the European example? It’s not working well for them, you know.