All Budget News & Resources

The Globe & Mail: Eby, Ford and Trudeau are paying for government failures decades ago

Paul Kershaw

|

June 30, 2026

The NDP in B.C., Progressive Conservatives in Ontario and Liberals in Ottawa all struggle to balance their budgets today because governments failed decades ago to plan adequately for boomers’ retirement.

Budgets, Globe & Mail

Quebec’s 2026 Budget: Rising medical spending crowds out investment in building blocks for health

Paul Kershaw

|

May 14, 2026

Quebec’s 2026 budget reveals a growing structural challenge that governments have avoided for decades: failing to prepare revenue systems for the predictable medical costs of population aging.

Budget Analyses, Budgets

Our Asks for the 2026 Federal Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

May 14, 2026

Budget 2026 is the time for Ottawa to trim the $17.5 billion in subsidies that go to seniors with six-figure incomes, and build a new and improved National Housing Strategy....

Budgets, Canada, Retirement, Featured Budget Analyses, Budget Analyses, Housing

600 people join us to learn why we’re failing our kids

Generation Squeeze

|

May 11, 2026

Provinces across Canada tolerate deteriorating wellbeing for young residents, not because of a lack of data about its scale and impact, but because of the structural ageism baked into our...

Family, Budgets

Ottawa's Spring Economic Statement: Another missed opportunity?

Paul Kershaw

|

April 29, 2026

Ottawa prioritizes $17 billion for retirees with six-figure incomes over transformative affordability measures

Budgets, Canada, Budget Analyses, Featured Budget Analyses

PEI can lead premiers to fix the structural problem behind every provincial deficit

Generation Squeeze

|

April 23, 2026

PEI Premier Rob Lantz is uniquely positioned to lead Canada’s premiers in fixing the structural problem at the heart of every provincial budget.

Budgets, Budget Analyses

Nova Scotia’s deficit isn’t just about Donald Trump’s Trade War

Andrea Long

|

April 13, 2026

Nova Scotia’s 2026 budget triggered widespread public backlash. Protests forced the government to reinstate tens of millions in funding for some community programs. The deficit isn’t just about Donald Trump’s...

Budgets, Nova Scotia, Budget Analyses

Globe & Mail: Young Canadians are increasingly miserable. Government priorities show why

Paul Kershaw

|

April 10, 2026

Government budgets shape how we live – and how we feel. The consequences of government policy choices can be seen in new research on happiness. While, baby boomers remain relatively...

Globe & Mail, Budgets

Saskatchewan’s deficit isn’t just about economic headwinds

Andrea Long

|

April 02, 2026

Saskatchewan’s $819-million stems from a long-anticipated challenge that governments have yet to fully address: the growing cost of medical care as baby boomers age.

Budgets, Budget Analyses, Saskatchewan

Manitoba’s deficit isn’t just a sign of tough economic times

Andrea Long

|

March 31, 2026

Manitoba’s half-billion-dollar deficit is often framed as a response to economic pressures. But fine print in the province’s 2026 budget tells a more revealing story.

Budgets

New Brunswick’s deficit reflects much more than economic turbulence

Andrea Long

|

March 27, 2026

The primary driver of New Brunswick's 2026 budget deficit isn't global or economic uncertainty. It's the failure to plan enough revenue to pay for population aging.

Budgets, New Brunswick

Analysis of the 2026 Ontario Budget

Andrea Long

|

March 27, 2026

A familiar story is taking hold across Canada. Provinces point to global uncertainty, trade tensions, and economic headwinds to explain rising deficits. These challenges are real, but the fine print...

Featured Budget Analyses, Budgets, Ontario, Budget Analyses

Globe & Mail: Across the political spectrum, ageist provincial budgets fail the young

Paul Kershaw

|

March 13, 2026

Political battles may dominate the headlines, but beneath the theatre the fiscal outcome is the same: provincial budgets that discriminate against children, parents and young workers.

Globe & Mail, Budgets

2026 Alberta Budget: A deficit driven by population aging, not just population growth

Andrea Long

|

February 27, 2026

Premier Danielle Smith largely attributes Alberta's record $9-billion deficit to population growth. She's right to focus on demographics, but by concentrating on a population headcount rather than population aging, she...

Featured Budget Analyses, Alberta, Budget Analyses, Budgets

Analysis of the 2026 BC Budget: We Can No Longer Ignore the Ageism at its Core

Andrea Long

|

February 17, 2026

The BC government says its 2026 budget safeguards essential services. But a closer look at the numbers reveals a troubling pattern: the province is working far harder to protect spending...

Featured Budget Analyses, Budgets, British Columbia, Budget Analyses

Recommendations for the 2026 BC Budget

Andrea Long

|

January 23, 2026

BC's 2026 Budget is coming in February. As always, we’ll be diving into the numbers to deliver generational analysis of spending and revenue decisions. For the province to make the...

Featured Budget Analyses, Budgets, British Columbia, Budget Analyses

Recommendations for the 2026 Federal Budget

Andrea Long

|

January 06, 2026

To build a Canada in which people of all ages can thrive, and to meet respond to the generational challenge set out in Prime Minister Carney’s Mandate Letter, Generation Squeeze...

Budget Analyses, Budgets, Canada, Featured Budget Analyses

Globe & Mail: How to ensure universal health care stays that way

Paul Kershaw

|

January 06, 2026

Protecting universal access to healthcare in Canada will require a revenue discussion. Since younger generations already pay 20 to 40% more income taxes toward older people’s well-being than boomers did...

Health & Wellbeing, Budgets, Globe & Mail

Why Your Rent, Child Care Fees, and Taxes Are Rising: The Medical-Care Crunch

Generation Squeeze

|

December 08, 2025

It’s no secret, GenZ and Millennial Canadians are finding it harder and harder to afford the basics: rent, child care fees and tuition. In this episode of the Hard Truths...Read More

Health & Wellbeing, Budgets, Podcast

Pollution Pricing Progress Still Leaves the Biggest Bills to Our Kids

Andrea Long

|

December 03, 2025

Both the Ottawa’s budget and the newly signed Canada–Alberta MOU reaffirm the commitment to strengthen industrial pollution pricing – meaningful progress that should be acknowledged. Yet the deal between Ottawa...

Climate, Budgets

The Doctor Shortage “Myth”

Andrea Long

|

December 02, 2025

A new report from the Generation Squeeze Lab at UBC challenges one of Canada’s most common health-care narratives: that long wait times are the result of a “doctor shortage.”

Budgets, Health & Wellbeing

Globe & Mail: The politics of Old Age Security reform are shifting

Paul Kershaw

|

November 28, 2025

Something important shifted this federal budget season. For years, Generation Squeeze was a lone voice warning that Old Age Security absorbs more tax dollars than any other line in Ottawa’s...

Retirement, Budgets, Globe & Mail

Boomer Medical Costs Flip Provincial Budgets from Surplus to Deficit

Andrea Long

|

November 26, 2025

Medical care is the largest expense in every provincial budget. As the population ages, costs have risen sharply - without matching updates to revenue. A new Gen Squeeze study helps...

Budgets, Health & Wellbeing

Medical Budgets in an Aging Canada

Generation Squeeze

|

November 26, 2025

New report shows why protecting universal access now requires generationally fair revenue reform.

Health & Wellbeing, Budgets

Did Budget 2025 deliver 'historic' housing investment?

Andrea Long

|

November 12, 2025

Budget 2025 promises historic action on housing. But buried in the fine print is a surprise: Presently, Ottawa plans to shrink capital investments for housing in the coming years.

Budgets, Canada, Housing

GenSqueeze joins CBC’s Day 6 to talk structural ageism in Canada’s budget

Generation Squeeze

|

November 12, 2025

The Generation Squeeze analysis of Canada’s Budget 2025 is getting a lot of media attention! That’s because we’re pointing out a hard truth: The fiscal imbalance in budget 2025 began...Read More

Podcast, Budgets, Canada

Analysis of the 2025 Federal Budget: Who is being asked to sacrifice?

Andrea Long

|

November 06, 2025

Budget 2025 sidesteps a hard truth: neither the Prime Minister who tabled it, nor the Opposition Leader who critiques it, has found the courage to ask financially secure retirees to...

Budgets, Canada, Budget Analyses

Budget 2025: Who is being asked to sacrifice

Generation Squeeze

|

November 06, 2025

Budget 2025 sidesteps a hard truth: neither the Prime Minister who tabled it, nor the Opposition Leader who critiques it, has found the courage to ask financially secure retirees to...Read More

Budgets, Podcast, Canada

Globe & Mail: A much-needed facelift for the upcoming federal budget

Paul Kershaw

|

November 03, 2025

In an era of large deficits and rising interest costs, our politicians need clearer priorities for how they spend scarce public dollars. Canada’s most expensive program, Old Age Security, has...

Budgets, Canada, Globe & Mail

Alberta’s Age Gap in Government Spending Lies at the Heart of the Teachers Strike

Paul Kershaw

|

October 16, 2025

Addressing the concerns of teachers, parents, and students now on display in the strike is a critical first step toward dismantling the structural ageism that has become routine in Alberta’s...

Alberta, Budgets

Recommendations for the Carney government's first budget

Andrea Long

|

August 15, 2025

The Carney government's first budget is expected in Fall 2025. Our 3 recommendations help Ottawa deliver cost savings while also meeting key policy objectives in generationally fair ways.

Retirement, Budgets

Recommendations for the Fall 2025 Federal Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

August 15, 2025

Canada can reduce pressure on the federal operating budget and manage rising defence costs without raising taxes. Here's our plan.

Budget Analyses, Budgets, Canada

Globe & Mail: Provinces have so far failed to prepare for boomers’ medical costs, but it’s not too late

Paul Kershaw

|

June 27, 2025

Medical care is the largest expense in every provincial budget across Canada. The demand for medical care will continue to surge as boomers age through the system. Canadians and governments...

Health & Wellbeing, Budgets, Globe & Mail

Analysis of the 2025 Ontario budget

Generation Squeeze

|

May 20, 2025

Lack of age-based data allows Ontario budget to avoid acting on key fiscal challenges Ontario’s 2025 budget projects a $14.6 billion deficit. It’s striking that this shortfall is so close...Read More

Budget Analyses, Ontario, Budgets

2025 Federal Election: Substance Not Slogans

Generation Squeeze

|

April 24, 2025

Emma Buchanan of Visual Change Video sits down with Gen Squeeze Founder Paul Kershaw to discuss Elxn 45. We dive into: The magical thinking behind party promises to cut taxes...Read More

Podcast, Elections, Canada, Budgets

Analysis of the 2025 BC Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

March 05, 2025

Boomer Benefits, Budget Deficits: Why BC's Budget is in a Weak Position to Resist Trump Tariffs.

Budget Analyses, British Columbia, Budgets

Analysis of the 2025 Alberta Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

February 28, 2025

Alberta's Budget is ageist

Budget Analyses, Budgets, Alberta

Recommendations for the 2025 Federal Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

February 17, 2025

Canada can help people of all ages to thrive, while growing the resilience and economic security we need to withstand current threats, by following our evidence-based policy prescription That's what...Read More

Budget Analyses, Canada, Budgets

Recommendations for the 2025 Alberta Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

February 04, 2025

Join us in calling on the Alberta government to make the wellbeing of all ages a priority in the 2025 Budget. Our budget number-crunching will make sure you have all...

Alberta, Budgets, Budget Analyses

Recommendations for the 2025 BC Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

February 04, 2025

Join us in calling on the BC government to make the wellbeing of all ages a priority in the 2025 Budget. Our budget number-crunching will make sure you have all...

Budgets, Budget Analyses, British Columbia

Recommendations for the 2025 Ontario Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

February 04, 2025

Join us in calling on the Ontario government to make the wellbeing of all ages a priority in the 2025 Budget. Our budget number-crunching will make sure you have all...

Budget Analyses, Ontario, Budgets

BC Election: Deficits & Taxes with Marc Lee

Generation Squeeze

|

October 16, 2024

For our last election bonus, we dip into the sexiest of ballot issues: deficits and taxes. Our guest is ⁠Marc Lee⁠, senior economist with the ⁠Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives⁠...Read More

Podcast, Elections, British Columbia, Budgets

Canada's 2024 Generational Fairness Report Card

Generation Squeeze

|

September 26, 2024

How well is the Government of Canada delivering “Fairness for Every Generation”?

Budgets, Canada, Budget Analyses

Ottawa's generational fairness budget

Generation Squeeze

|

April 17, 2024

Together we put 'Fairness for Every Generation' at the centre of Budget 2024. Never before has Canada formally acknowledged that hard work isn’t paying off for younger people the way...

Budgets, Canada, Budget Analyses, Campaign Wins

What’s behind Liberal promises on fairness for every generation?

Andrea Long

|

April 05, 2024

The federal government is already demonstrating that ‘fairness for every generation’ isn’t just a convenient slogan. Our takeaways on how much recent announcements will restore housing affordability and support young...

Budgets, Family, Housing

Analysis of the 2024 Ontario Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

March 28, 2024

Ontario budget burdens younger residents: large deficit despite little spending to help affordability.

Ontario, Budgets, Budget Analyses

Analysis of the 2024 Alberta Budget

Paul Kershaw

|

March 07, 2024

Alberta’s 2024 budget ramps up funding for a medical care system that already spent more per person than in B.C. and Ontario, while achieving poorer health outcomes.

Budgets, Budget Analyses, Alberta

BC makes historic commitment to generational fairness in new budget

Ryan Vandecasteyen

|

February 24, 2024

We're thrilled to announce pivotal progress in our journey towards a Canada that works for all ages. BC has made an unprecedented commitment to generational fairness in the province’s 2024...

Campaign Wins, Budgets, British Columbia

Analysis of the 2024 BC Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

February 22, 2024

BC makes historic promise to budget fairly for all generations, future budgets need monitoring framework to ensure the promise is kept.

British Columbia, Budgets, Budget Analyses

Recommendations for the 2024 Ontario Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

January 02, 2024

In a nutshell, we want Ontario's next budget to: Put generational fairness at the centre of policy and budget decisions by creating a Generational Fairness Task Force. Organize housing policy...Read More

Ontario, Budgets, Budget Analyses

Recommendations for the 2024 BC Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

January 02, 2024

In a nutshell, we want BC's next budget to: Put generational fairness at the centre of policy and budget decisions by creating a Generational Fairness Task Force. Organize housing policy...Read More

Budget Analyses, British Columbia, Budgets

Recommendations for the 2024 Alberta Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

January 02, 2024

In a nutshell, we want Alberta's next budget to: Put generational fairness at the centre of policy and budget decisions by creating a Generational Fairness Task Force. Organize housing policy...Read More

Alberta, Budgets, Budget Analyses

"We have an ageist federal government"

Generation Squeeze

|

September 11, 2023

Gen Squeeze supporter Mary Peirson (MD, CCFP) recently wrote to us, “We have an ageist federal government – one that favours older Canadians and retirees in particular.” Here's one brave...

Retirement, Canada, Budgets

Recommendations for the 2024 Federal Budget

Generation Squeeze

|

September 06, 2023

Budget 2024 is an opportunity to continue to improve the health and wellbeing of all generations, from the early years onwards. Generation Squeeze recommends four priority actions to address the...

Canada, Budgets, Budget Analyses

The Globe & Mail: ‘Fiscal restraint’ in federal budget is impossible when generational tension ignored

Paul Kershaw

|

April 15, 2023

Originally published in The Globe & Mail on April 8, 2023 Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized the need for “fiscal restraint” in her recent budget. But that’s not what she delivered...Read More

Budgets, Globe & Mail

Change is in the air

Kareem Kudus

|

April 05, 2023

Watching the natural world transform around us is a welcome reminder that change is possible, especially during precarious times. This spring has brought with it a wave of interest in...

Budgets, Housing

Our Comprehensive Policy Game Plan to Budget for All Generations

Ryan Vandecasteyen

|

August 06, 2022

It's time to recognize that building a Canada that works for all generations requires budgets that invest and raise revenue fairly for all ages. That's why we put together this...

Budgets

How Governments Have Underinvested in Younger People for 40 Years

Generation Squeeze

|

February 19, 2020

Over four decades, governments have prioritized investing in older rather than younger generations, while their focus on medical care and retirement has largely ignored social programs for young people. This...Read More

Foundational Works, Budgets

A #TaxShift to Benefit the Vast Majority

Generation Squeeze

|

May 16, 2018

Why did we write this report? To restore housing affordability forever, we need to think big picture. We need to treat housing as Homes First (investments second). We need to...Read More

Foundational Works, Budgets

Intergenerational Injustice in Canadian Public Finance

Generation Squeeze

|

January 29, 2018

Like many countries, Canada has an aging population. While we have a duty to ensure our aging parents and grandparents have a dignified, healthy, and financially secure retirement, there is...Read More

Budgets, Foundational Works

Measuring the Age Gap in Canadian Social Spending

Generation Squeeze

|

February 06, 2015

Why we wrote this report Canadian governments don't invest equally in people of different ages. We call this difference in social spending the "age gap" or the "generational spending gap." ...Read More

Foundational Works, Budgets

Site Search

Thank you!