I was pleased to join The Hon. Tony Clement on The News Forum to discuss labour reform, housing and the concept of ‘economic sovereignty’.

I argue that labour is an important mediating institution. The Feds are right to move away from the class antagonism model of labour relations that still bears the scars of the Marxist view of the world. It is not positive to have to resort to strikes, and it’s good there’s more clarity – and guardrails – around how strike and work stoppage-limiting measures are invoked. But the Feds should also strive to implement sector-specific dispute resolution criteria, and create conditions where binding interest arbitration can be used. It is to great effect across provinces in numerous sectors, having the benefit of avoiding strikes and reducing conflict in the long run, and not just in ways that benefit employers. This should be complemented by positive sum reforms like workers councils that prioritize continuous upskilling that benefit both employees and employers.

On housing, we need a path forward out of the political bind that pits ageing Canadians who have seen the value of their homes appreciate in extreme ways, against younger Canadians locked out of housing. Developers need more attractive margins to increase supply, which can only come from the removal of regulatory glut. Lower prices should be offset with policies to make savings vehicles that older Canadians have in spades more attractive and financially viable.

And on economic sovereignty, it is a concept worth pursuing though only when properly understood. Lawrence Zhang and I argue that is only if it means sovereignty as control, not as requiring or pushing Canadian ownership up and down the supply chain.