Catherine Swift: What’s happening to Canada’s economy?

Catherine Swift is a prominent Canadian economist, business leader, and advocate for entrepreneurship. She currently serves as President of the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers & Businesses of Canada (CCMBC), where she represents the interests of Canadian industry and small business. Swift has had a distinguished career spanning both the private and public sectors. She was President of Working Canadians from 2015 to 2021 and previously served as President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) from 1995 to 2014. Earlier in her career, she held the role of Chief Economist at CFIB (1987–1995) and worked as a Senior Economist with TD Bank (1983–1987). She also held several positions within the federal government between 1976 and 1983. A recognized voice in economic policy, Swift has written extensively on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship, and women in business. She has held leadership and board roles with numerous organizations, including the Empire Club of Canada, the C.D. Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, and the International Small Business Congress. She currently serves as a Director of the Fraser Institute. Swift has been recognized as one of Canada’s most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network and is a recipient of both the Queen’s Silver and Gold Jubilee Medals. She holds an Honours BA and an MA in Economics. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Overview (Catherine Swift) 01:06 – Why is Canada’s economy lagging behind? 02:23 – Policy failures: taxes, regulation, and government growth 03:16 – Canada’s untapped natural resource potential 03:51 – Why voters keep supporting current policies 04:52 – Are we already in a recession? 06:37 – The role of media in shaping public perception 09:08 – Can anything actually get built in Canada anymore? 10:05 – Regulation, First Nations policy, and project delays 13:04 – Why investment is leaving Canada 14:11 – Mark Carney’s economic philosophy explained 16:01 – Free markets vs government control 18:28 – Brookfield, climate policy, and conflicts of interest 21:04 – “The world wants energy”… or does it? 23:52 – How important is the US trade relationship (CUSMA)? 26:10 – Canada’s relationship with China 30:33 – Is there a rational explanation for Canada’s direction? 31:31 – What businesses are saying right now 32:42 – Companies moving operations to the United States 34:26 – Why business leaders aren’t speaking out 36:37 – How serious is the situation really? 38:06 – “Gradually, then suddenly” economic decline 40:12 – What needs to change in Canada 41:27 – Food banks, energy wealth, and economic reality 42:56 – Immigration and demographic pressures 43:37 – Final thoughts: where Canada is heading Support The Really Big Show We’re building independent Canadian media into a powerful voice and we can’t do it without you. Contribute here: https://thereallybigshow.ca We tell real Canadian stories the mainstream won’t. Become a member and be part of it. Subscribe, share, and comment to help us grow. Live every weekday at 9AM PST