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David Macdonald
David joined the CCPA as its Senior Ottawa Economist in 2011, although he has been a long time contributor as a research associate. Since 2008, he has coordinated the Alternative Federal Budget, which takes a fresh look at the federal budget from a progressive perspective. David has also written on a variety of topics, from child care to income inequality to federal fiscal policy. He is a regular media commentator on national policy issues, often speaking to the CBC, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Canadian Press. David received his BA from the University of Windsor and his MA from the University of Guelph, both in Philosophy. Follow David on Bluesky at @davidmaccdn.bsky.social
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The end of Pearson’s dream: The devastating impact of federal cuts on international aid
Planned cuts will shift Canada’s foreign policy away from peacekeeping and development to self-interested trade and defence
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The oil industry is making billions from the Iran war—it should be taxed
The current windfall could be Canadian oil’s final boom—so the proceeds must be reinvested into economic diversification and industrial planning
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Budget cuts are about to wreck Canada’s immigration system
Crunching the numbers on the announced cuts at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada shows a bloodbath in the making
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Cruel and unnecessary punishment: Asylum seekers will foot half of department’s cost-cutting blitz
The IRCC wants asylum-seekers to pay for half of that department’s spending cuts by cutting dental and prescription coverage.
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GST rebate: why aren’t provinces matching federal measures?
Affordability is not just a federal responsibility—it’s also a provincial one.
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Provinces need to own their responsibility for expanding low-fee child care
In advance of tomorrow’s meeting among Canada’s federal-provincial-territorial ministers who are responsible for child care in this country, it’s clear most of the provinces need…
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The last mile: Provincial child care expansion at the five-year deadline
Child care has become more accessible over the past five years but finding affordable spaces is still a frustrating experience for many parents
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Living the high life: A record-breaking year for CEO pay in Canada
By 9:23 a.m. on January 2, 2025 Canada’s 100 highest-paid CEOs had made what the average worker will make all year
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David Macdonald speaks to Senate about Bill C-15
On December 2, CCPA Senior Economist David Macdonald was invited to speak to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance about Bill C-15, the first…
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Post-election budget could plunge Canada into another federal election
With so much on the line, the newly elected federal government has tabled a budget that, in many ways, could pass as a Conservative budget.
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Budget cuts by stealth: Letting programs “sunset” to cut costs won’t be painless
The feds will quietly “sunset” programs as part of their cost-cutting in the November 4, 2025 budget. Quiet cuts can still hurt.
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Federal cuts will worsen gender, racial and Indigenous inequality in Canada
The federal government generally does a better job at pay equity—ensuring equal pay between men and women, racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, and so on—than the…
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