Historical Foundations, Current Challenges, and the Road to the Federal Budget

This two-hour course will provide CPAs with a practical “Canadian Economy 101” briefing that connects the country’s economic history to the challenges shaping the upcoming federal budget. The session would begin with a historical overview of Canada and Ontario’s economies, including the role of natural resources, manufacturing, trade, immigration, urbanization, public finance, and the growth of services. It would then examine the current economic picture, including weak productivity growth, slow GDP per capita growth, business investment challenges, affordability pressures, trade uncertainty, and fiscal constraints.

CPAs will learn how to interpret the economic backdrop that shapes Ottawa’s fiscal decisions, including choices around taxation, spending, deficits, productivity, infrastructure, housing, innovation, defence, and trade diversification. This course is designed for CPAs who don’t need a technical economics course but do need a clear framework for understanding what Canada’s economic challenges mean for clients, employers, boards, and SMEs.

Topics Include:

• How Canada and Ontario's Economies Developed
• The Long-Term Growth Model
• The Current Economic Challenge
• Ontario's Place in the National Economy
• The Federal Budget

Note: If the federal budget is released before the session, the discussion will include an overview of key measures and their implications for CPAs, businesses, and SMEs. Otherwise, the session will focus on the economic context and the budget measures participants should monitor when the budget is tabled.

Note: Registration for this seminar closes November 11 at 3:00 p.m. (EDT).

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the historical development of Canada and Ontario’s economies, including the role of resources, manufacturing, services, immigration, trade, public finance, and Canada–U.S. integration.
• Interpret core economic indicators relevant to CPA practice, including GDP, GDP per capita, productivity, inflation, interest rates, business investment, deficits, debt, labour-market data, and trade exposure.
• Assess the major structural challenges facing Canada’s economy, including weak productivity, low business investment, affordability pressures, housing constraints, fiscal pressures, and trade uncertainty.
• Evaluate how Ontario’s economy fits within the broader national picture and why the province’s performance is central to Canada’s growth outlook.
• Apply economic insights by helping clients, boards, and management teams assess risks, opportunities, tax implications, financing conditions, and policy-sensitive business decisions.