Examining Equalization

Consulting across the country

The Panel sought advice and ideas from a wide range of people and organizations including provinces, academics, and interested Canadians.

The Panel’s consultation process began with the development of a Key Issues Paper outlining important facts and background information about Equalization and TFF and identifying issues and questions to focus
the discussions.²

Submissions to the Panel were sought through a dedicated website, as well as through direct invitations to all provinces and territories and a group of academics with expertise in federal-provincial fiscal arrangements in general and Equalization in particular.

Meetings were held with representatives of all provinces. For some provinces, Panel members met with premiers and finance ministers at their request, while for other provinces, meetings were held primarily with officials. Extensive discussions were held on particular issues of concern to several provinces and, throughout the consultation process, Panel members participated in conversations, e-mails, and informal discussions.

Four regional roundtables were held with the aim of providing additional opportunities for academics, government officials, business representatives, and other interested individuals to meet with the Panel and present their views. Roundtables were held in:

• Montréal, hosted by the Centre for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organization (CIRANO)
• Toronto, hosted by the C. D. Howe Institute
• Calgary, hosted by the Canada West Foundation
• Moncton, hosted by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council

An academic workshop was also held, bringing a group of academics together to address key elements of the Panel’s mandate and to provide
their advice.

Summaries of the roundtable discussions and the academic workshop are available on the Panel’s website. In addition, over 40 submissions were received, most of which are available on the Panel’s website.

In addition to these consultations, Panel members reviewed extensive research, looked at models currently in place in other countries, and considered a wide range of options both in principle and by a thorough technical analysis. By the time this report was completed, the Panel had met with more than 180 people from the public, private, and academic sectors, many of them more than once. A list of those who participated in the consultation process is included in Annex 1.

The result is a thorough and comprehensive review of Canada’s Equalization program, a sound analysis of the implications of different options and ideas, and a clear understanding of the various positions and ideas put forward by the federal government, provincial governments, and interested individuals.

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