Canada's Economy, Explained

Canada's Economy, Explained
Podcast Description
Canada's Economy, Explained: The Business Data Lab Podcast is an initiative of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce hosted by Senior Research Director Marwa Abdou. Designed for business owners, decision-makers, and curious listeners, this podcast delivers real-time data, expert analysis, and actionable insights on workforce trends, economic conditions, and more.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on economic trends, workforce data, and productivity challenges, with episodes like Canada’s Productivity — An Emergency 40 Years in the Making addressing low labor productivity ranks among G7 countries and Economic Outlook 2025 discussing the implications of inflation and labor disruptions. Key content areas include technological impacts on productivity, forecasts for economic conditions, and strategic insights for businesses navigating current challenges.

Canada’s Economy, Explained: The Business Data Lab Podcast is an initiative of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce hosted by Senior Research Director Marwa Abdou. Designed for business owners, decision-makers, and curious listeners, this podcast delivers real-time data, expert analysis, and actionable insights on workforce trends, economic conditions, and more.
In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Chad P. Bown, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State, to examine how new U.S. tariffs could impact Canada’s economy.
Bown explains how Canada’s deep ties to U.S. supply chains leave it exposed to major cost increases, warning that tariffs could “double or triple” production expenses and hit smaller suppliers hardest. He cautions against retaliation, reminding policymakers that “tariffs also cause self-harm.”
The conversation covers why automation limits the return of manufacturing jobs and why Canada’s efforts to diversify trade partners face steep challenges from geography and infrastructure barriers. Bown also shares cautious optimism. While Washington’s direction on trade is confusing even to insiders, he reassures Canadians that “you still have a lot of fans in Washington” and reminds listeners that democratic systems can correct poor policy over time.
Listen to the full conversation to understand why careful, long-term thinking is key to protecting Canada’s economy.

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