Marc Lee
@marclee.bsky.social
Economist, talking head, Vancouver.
Reposted by Marc Lee
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'this economic plan...does not appear to have been the result of any kind of broader public engagement process, & largely serves as a PR exercise for resource extraction projects & that double down on fossil fuels at a time when we need to ditch them.'
Not a good look: BC’s new environmentally destructive economic plan - CCPA
Look West is the Government of British Columbia‘s newly minted economic strategy. Premier David Eby is calling it a plan to attract $20 billion of investment from the federal government and private se...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'this economic plan...does not appear to have been the result of any kind of broader public engagement process, & largely serves as a PR exercise for resource extraction projects & that double down on fossil fuels at a time when we need to ditch them.'
Reposted by Marc Lee
“[government officials] seized on this kind of bogus issue of trade barriers [but] the real barriers for businesses and trading across Canada are distance and transportation costs.” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca #cdnecon www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Provinces sign agreement to drop interprovincial trade barriers on goods except food, alcohol | CBC News
An agreement, signed today, between all Canadian provinces, territories, and the federal government, will drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods except food and alcohol. It's part of an eff...
www.cbc.ca
November 20, 2025 at 2:51 PM
“[government officials] seized on this kind of bogus issue of trade barriers [but] the real barriers for businesses and trading across Canada are distance and transportation costs.” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca #cdnecon www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Marc Lee
Senior economist w/ @policyalternatives.ca, @marclee.bsky.social, said the whole debate over interprovincial trade is simply political posturing so that provinces and the federal government can seem like they are doing something to respond to Trump’s tariffs. #cdnecon theprovince.com/news/will-ne...
Will new deal between provinces on interprovincial trade actually help Canada's economy?
The agreement is designed to provide mutual recognition for products like clothing, toys and vehicles but doesn't address barriers on food.
theprovince.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Senior economist w/ @policyalternatives.ca, @marclee.bsky.social, said the whole debate over interprovincial trade is simply political posturing so that provinces and the federal government can seem like they are doing something to respond to Trump’s tariffs. #cdnecon theprovince.com/news/will-ne...
Reposted by Marc Lee
The BC government’s new “Look West” economic plan doubles down on resource extraction—while ignoring sectors of the economy that could have a larger impact on well-being. By @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca #bcecon
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Not a good look: BC’s new environmentally destructive economic plan - CCPA
Look West is the Government of British Columbia‘s newly minted economic strategy. Premier David Eby is calling it a plan to attract $20 billion of investment from the federal government and private se...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 21, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The BC government’s new “Look West” economic plan doubles down on resource extraction—while ignoring sectors of the economy that could have a larger impact on well-being. By @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca #bcecon
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
New from me: BC is back on the front lines of a big extraction agenda in the north that doubles down on being a petro state
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Not a good look: BC’s new environmentally destructive economic plan - CCPA
After factoring key infrastructure challenges, inflation and the potential for delays and cost overruns, it becomes highly unlikely that the project can be delivered within the budget estimates initia...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 21, 2025 at 5:53 PM
New from me: BC is back on the front lines of a big extraction agenda in the north that doubles down on being a petro state
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
“The real barriers for businesses and trading across Canada are distance and transportation costs.” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
November 20, 2025 at 12:46 AM
“The real barriers for businesses and trading across Canada are distance and transportation costs.” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Reposted by Marc Lee
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... “They seized on this kind of bogus issue of trade barriers and are basically painting themselves as the knights in shining armor that are going to go slay this dragon, but the reality is, there's no dragon.”
@marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
@marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Provinces sign agreement to drop interprovincial trade barriers on goods except food, alcohol | CBC News
An agreement, signed today, between all Canadian provinces, territories, and the federal government, will drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods except food and alcohol. It's part of an eff...
www.cbc.ca
November 20, 2025 at 12:46 AM
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... “They seized on this kind of bogus issue of trade barriers and are basically painting themselves as the knights in shining armor that are going to go slay this dragon, but the reality is, there's no dragon.”
@marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
@marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Reposted by Marc Lee
Policies supporting low-wage workers may help the #BC economy more, argues @marclee.bsky.social
“When I think about jobs and prosperity, some of the biggest gains...[would be in improving] conditions for people who are delivering our food and driving our Ubers." vancouversun.com/news/david-e...
“When I think about jobs and prosperity, some of the biggest gains...[would be in improving] conditions for people who are delivering our food and driving our Ubers." vancouversun.com/news/david-e...
'Relentless and remorseless': David Eby promises new jobs plan will supercharge B.C.'s economic growth
B.C.'s new jobs plan includes spending on skills training, expansion of shipbuilding and doubling employment in life sciences
vancouversun.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Policies supporting low-wage workers may help the #BC economy more, argues @marclee.bsky.social
“When I think about jobs and prosperity, some of the biggest gains...[would be in improving] conditions for people who are delivering our food and driving our Ubers." vancouversun.com/news/david-e...
“When I think about jobs and prosperity, some of the biggest gains...[would be in improving] conditions for people who are delivering our food and driving our Ubers." vancouversun.com/news/david-e...
We're thrilled to have the great American economist Jamie Galbraith deliver a major keynote lecture on Nov 25. Please join @ccpa as Jamie shares his insights on the US and world economies at this pivotal moment in history.
Register here:
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Register here:
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
November 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
We're thrilled to have the great American economist Jamie Galbraith deliver a major keynote lecture on Nov 25. Please join @ccpa as Jamie shares his insights on the US and world economies at this pivotal moment in history.
Register here:
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Register here:
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Marc Lee
Despite all the talk of “generational investments” in budget 2025, no one seems particularly inspired by this budget or its investment plan. Where’s the moon shot, the national project(s) that Canadians can rally behind? By @marclee.bsky.social #Budget2025
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Talking ‘bout my generational investment: Why the federal budget fails to meet the moment - CCPA
Budget 2025 featured talk of “generational investments” and proclaimed a headline number of $1 trillion in combined new public and private investment over five years. Yet no one seems particularly ins...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 17, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Despite all the talk of “generational investments” in budget 2025, no one seems particularly inspired by this budget or its investment plan. Where’s the moon shot, the national project(s) that Canadians can rally behind? By @marclee.bsky.social #Budget2025
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Lost in all of this is any sort of vision for the Canadian economy. Instead, it’s an “all of the above” strategy while simultaneously downplaying other social expenditures that matter to our standard of living.' @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Talking ‘bout my generational investment: Why the federal budget fails to meet the moment - CCPA
Budget 2025 featured talk of “generational investments” and proclaimed a headline number of $1 trillion in combined new public and private investment over five years. Yet no one seems particularly ins...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Lost in all of this is any sort of vision for the Canadian economy. Instead, it’s an “all of the above” strategy while simultaneously downplaying other social expenditures that matter to our standard of living.' @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
I take a deeper dive into into those “generational investments” in federal budget 2025 and why they feel so underwhelming
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Talking ‘bout my generational investment: Why the federal budget fails to meet the moment - CCPA
Budget 2025 featured talk of “generational investments” and proclaimed a headline number of $1 trillion in combined new public and private investment over five years. Yet no one seems particularly ins...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 17, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I take a deeper dive into into those “generational investments” in federal budget 2025 and why they feel so underwhelming
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
“It very well could be a good start, but my concern is that it’s not going to scale up fast enough. The fiscal commitment is pretty weak … it’s not what I would think of as a generational investment," says CCPA senior economist
@marclee.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/pe...
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@marclee.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/pe...
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Federal budget falls short on housing affordability, experts say
Academics and builders’ associations say the Liberal government has watered down its election pledges
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
“It very well could be a good start, but my concern is that it’s not going to scale up fast enough. The fiscal commitment is pretty weak … it’s not what I would think of as a generational investment," says CCPA senior economist
@marclee.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/pe...
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@marclee.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/pe...
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With the annual meetings of the UN framework convention on climate change (COP-30) underway in Brazil, and marking ten years since the Paris Agreement was signed, we review a decade of Canadian climate policy: the good, the bad and ugly.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Canadian climate policy a decade after the Paris Agreement - CCPA
The Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 by 196 countries amid a wave of global urgency to confront the defining crisis of our time—climate change. Grounded in the best available science, it called for ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
With the annual meetings of the UN framework convention on climate change (COP-30) underway in Brazil, and marking ten years since the Paris Agreement was signed, we review a decade of Canadian climate policy: the good, the bad and ugly.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
Canadian climate policy a decade after the Paris Agreement
The good, the bad and the ugly. By @hadrianmk.bsky.social @marclee.bsky.social and Rachel Pettigrew #climatecrisis @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
The good, the bad and the ugly. By @hadrianmk.bsky.social @marclee.bsky.social and Rachel Pettigrew #climatecrisis @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Canadian climate policy a decade after the Paris Agreement - CCPA
The Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 by 196 countries amid a wave of global urgency to confront the defining crisis of our time—climate change. Grounded in the best available science, it called for ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Canadian climate policy a decade after the Paris Agreement
The good, the bad and the ugly. By @hadrianmk.bsky.social @marclee.bsky.social and Rachel Pettigrew #climatecrisis @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
The good, the bad and the ugly. By @hadrianmk.bsky.social @marclee.bsky.social and Rachel Pettigrew #climatecrisis @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
[email protected] economist @marclee.bsky.social said the proposed wage increases would put workers just past inflation.
“I don’t think it’s a huge victory from the union perspective, and I don’t think it’s a horrible deal from the government’s perspective either.” thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...
“I don’t think it’s a huge victory from the union perspective, and I don’t think it’s a horrible deal from the government’s perspective either.” thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...
BC’s Government Employee Strike Is Over. Here’s What Comes Next | The Tyee
The tentative deal clears the way for other public sector unions to fight for better wages.
thetyee.ca
October 29, 2025 at 6:41 PM
[email protected] economist @marclee.bsky.social said the proposed wage increases would put workers just past inflation.
“I don’t think it’s a huge victory from the union perspective, and I don’t think it’s a horrible deal from the government’s perspective either.” thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...
“I don’t think it’s a huge victory from the union perspective, and I don’t think it’s a horrible deal from the government’s perspective either.” thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...
I led up the Infrastructure, Cities and Transit chapter for AFB2026 with a a focus on the real infrastructure priorities to boost Canadians' standard of living not dumb and costly things like carbon capture and storage for the oil and gas industry.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Alternative federal budget 2026: Infrastructure, cities and transit - CCPA
What the Canadian government should do on infrastructure, cities and transit. Because true independence needs a new economic model.
www.policyalternatives.ca
October 29, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I led up the Infrastructure, Cities and Transit chapter for AFB2026 with a a focus on the real infrastructure priorities to boost Canadians' standard of living not dumb and costly things like carbon capture and storage for the oil and gas industry.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
As we wait for the most-anticipated federal budget since the mid-1990s, get up to speed with the @ccpa's annual Alternative Federal Budget, which lays out a plan that aspires to true Canadian sovereignty.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Alternative federal budget 2026: Summary - CCPA
Download PDF Read in English Lire en français
www.policyalternatives.ca
October 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
As we wait for the most-anticipated federal budget since the mid-1990s, get up to speed with the @ccpa's annual Alternative Federal Budget, which lays out a plan that aspires to true Canadian sovereignty.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
Reposted by Marc Lee
www.kamloopsbcnow.com/watercooler/... “It’s not just handing out cheques…it’s providing services that improve our economy & our quality of life. It’s one of the core ways that we stabilize relative to the swings, the booms & busts of the overall economy” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Are BC's striking workers winning in their struggle against the government?
More than three weeks after the BC General Employees’ Union went on strike, the number of workers on picket lines continues to increase without.
www.kamloopsbcnow.com
September 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
www.kamloopsbcnow.com/watercooler/... “It’s not just handing out cheques…it’s providing services that improve our economy & our quality of life. It’s one of the core ways that we stabilize relative to the swings, the booms & busts of the overall economy” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Reposted by Marc Lee
Senior economist @marclee.bsky.social
said he's "skeptical" of the government's claims about relying on attrition to shrink the public service" [by 57,00 jobs]. "If they want to meet that target, something's got to give at the end of the day," he said. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/car...
said he's "skeptical" of the government's claims about relying on attrition to shrink the public service" [by 57,00 jobs]. "If they want to meet that target, something's got to give at the end of the day," he said. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/car...
Carney's pledge to trim public service through attrition is 'misleading': union
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney's promise to cut the public service through attrition is "misleading" and "reckless," says the head of a federal union.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
September 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Senior economist @marclee.bsky.social
said he's "skeptical" of the government's claims about relying on attrition to shrink the public service" [by 57,00 jobs]. "If they want to meet that target, something's got to give at the end of the day," he said. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/car...
said he's "skeptical" of the government's claims about relying on attrition to shrink the public service" [by 57,00 jobs]. "If they want to meet that target, something's got to give at the end of the day," he said. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/car...
Got the last word in this update on the BC public sector workers strike: “There’s been a little bit too much of the punditry setting their hair on fire around the deficit"
thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...
thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...
Are Striking Workers Putting Enough Pressure on BC’s Government? | The Tyee
Alcohol and cannabis distribution workers walked off the job Tuesday as the BCGEU strike entered its fourth week.
thetyee.ca
September 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Got the last word in this update on the BC public sector workers strike: “There’s been a little bit too much of the punditry setting their hair on fire around the deficit"
thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...
thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...
BC nurses on climate and health: "We are health care workers. We’re already seeing the impacts of climate inaction" www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
We are health care workers. We’re already seeing the impacts of climate inaction - CCPA
The summer of 2025 will be remembered in Canada as the year that wildfires threatened our health and our homes, from coast to coast to coast, from Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia, from Manitoba t...
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
BC nurses on climate and health: "We are health care workers. We’re already seeing the impacts of climate inaction" www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
My @ccpa colleagues and I preview the fall parliamentary session: www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
The fall parliamentary session is going to be one to watch - CCPA
When parliament comes back into session on September 15, the newly elected federal government is going to try to move swiftly to pass its legislative agenda. With a minority parliament, the governing ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
My @ccpa colleagues and I preview the fall parliamentary session: www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
Rents in Canada remain unaffordable for low-to-moderate income households, costing in some cities more than what two people, making minimum wage, can earn together. New report by @marclee.bsky.social + @davidmaccdn.bsky.social breaks down the issue. #canlab
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 4, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Rents in Canada remain unaffordable for low-to-moderate income households, costing in some cities more than what two people, making minimum wage, can earn together. New report by @marclee.bsky.social + @davidmaccdn.bsky.social breaks down the issue. #canlab