The CDHI Podcast

About The CDHI Podcast

Hosted by Michael Hainsworth, the CDHI Podcast is your go-to source for trusted policy intelligence. From energy to healthcare, inflation and the labour market, this podcast is an ongoing in-depth interview series with leading experts on the most critical economic issues affecting Canadians.

Publisher

C.D. Howe Institute

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Mar 2016

Latest episode

29 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 189 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   29 Oct 2026

   Ahead of Budget 2026, Will Canada Be Ready for the Next Crisis?

   Ottawa has pledged to spend more, but will rising public debt leave Canada unprepared for the next crisis? Economist and recent C.D. Howe Institute author Christopher Ragan joins to explain why we need more fiscal room for whatever comes next.

2. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Why Canada Is Falling Behind and What It Means for Your Paycheque

   Canada has a productivity problem and Canadians’ standard of living is at stake. Between 2014 and 2024, Canada’s real GDP per capita grew just 3.48 percent, compared with 20.20 percent in the United States. So, why is Canada falling behind, and what can we do about it? Jeremy Kronick, President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, joins us to discuss the reforms Canada needs to boost productivity and improve Canadians’ quality of life.

3. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Could Alberta Really Afford to Separate from Canada?

   What would Alberta gain by leaving Canada – and what could it lose? As calls for Alberta independence gain attention, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney and economist Charles St-Arnaud join Michael Hainsworth to examine the economic, political and practical consequences of separation. From Alberta’s history of Western alienation and economic frustration to trade access, currency, federal debt and investment uncertainty, the discussion explores what independence could mean for Albertans – and whether greater provincial autonomy and reforms within Canada offer a more workable path forward.

Inside a recent episode

Why Major Projects Take So Long to Build in Canada - And How to Fix It

Published 11 Dec 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] That said, a degree of flexibility is always helpful for a few reasons. Firstly, as we've seen in the last, well, even months, but particularly years, the world is constantly evolving, so AI, trade disputes, geopolitics, it's important that the government does preserve from some flexibility to adapt there, and it may be the case that new projects that come along in AI, for example, wouldn't have been a sector that was on people's radar five years ago, and it's important that the criteria aren't so narrow as to preclude new technologies or new sectors emerging. Well, then let's talk about the strategic role of the major project to office, because it's supposed to streamline the approval cycle into what a two -year window. […]

Who has been a guest on The CDHI Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Colin Busby
• Parisa Mahboubi
• US Canada & Mexico Negotiators
• Steve Ambler
• Jeremy Kronick

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

735,280

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 75 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

83

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

81

Contact The CDHI Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about The CDHI Podcast