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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee
@marclee.bsky.social
1.3K followers 270 following 71 posts
Economist, talking head, Vancouver.
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marclee.bsky.social
Since it's back in the news, here's my post from last year debunking the (same old) economic modelling exercise that is producing preposterously large gains from removing the few barriers to inter-provincial trade
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Those big GDP numbers about interprovincial trade barriers are wrong - CCPA
A lot of public discourse in Canada right now is about how we need to urgently remove interprovincial trade barriers in the face of the Trump tariff threat. But if we look at the actual evidence, poli...
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 27, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
Real estate industry sentiment has shifted towards pessimism in #BC. But for many, the current downturn is actually a relief, and this moment offers a chance to restore some sanity to housing affordability. By @marclee.bsky.social @ccpabc.bsky.social #bcpoli www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Anatomy of a housing downturn: What’s happening in BC and what’s next? - CCPA
For more than a decade, housing has dominated BC’s public conversation due to surging prices for home ownership and tight rental housing markets. Now, real estate industry sentiment has shifted toward...
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
marclee.bsky.social
New piece from me looks at BC's housing downturn and challenges real estate industry narratives:
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Anatomy of a housing downturn: What’s happening in BC and what’s next? - CCPA
For more than a decade, housing has dominated BC’s public conversation due to surging prices for home ownership and tight rental housing markets. Now, real estate industry sentiment has shifted toward...
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 27, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
New polling shows that taxing the wealthy maintains majority support, even among the wealthy themselves. That should be reflected in international priorities. By @dylandusseault.bsky.social. @policyalternatives.ca #wealthtax www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
What’s missing from the Davos agenda: taxing the rich - CCPA
This week, as government leaders, business executives, and heads of state gathered in Davos at the annual World Economic Forum meeting to discuss what they view as the most pressing issues facing our ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 22, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
ershaker.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Provincial liquor stores generate billions in revenue...[and] have become a bulwark against U.S. bullying by taking US. products off the shelves, giving Canada a bargaining chip in trade negotiations. A public grocery store could do likewise'
How public grocery stores could work in Canada - CCPA
Chances are you spent some of your holiday gatherings talking about the price of food. Costs to consumers have increased by almost 30 per cent since 2020, while mega-grocers doubled their profit margi...
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 14, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
"The real barriers for businesses trading across Canada are distance and transportation costs," @marclee.bsky.social told the CBC, calling the national trade agreement "political theatre". www.themain.com/articles/que...
Quebec's Interprovincial Alcohol Sales Plan Faces Hurdles
Quebec says cross-provincial booze sales could start by May, but the mechanics remain unclear and the province lags behind on trade agreements.
www.themain.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
Since the U.S. abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Canadian elites have been trying to use the crisis to build more bitumen pipelines. Their strategy is foolish—and won't help Canada decouple from the United States. @marclee.bsky.social #pipelines
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
A new pipeline is the wrong response to the U.S. takeover of Venezuela - CCPA
Immediately after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by United States President Trump, the Globe and Mail editorial board quickly pivoted from condemning the action to promoting a new...
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 9, 2026 at 5:44 PM
marclee.bsky.social
New piece looks at Canadian elites opportunistically using Venezuela to push their agenda for a new bitumen pipeline to the BC coast, a project that would likely entail massive government subsidies:
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
A new pipeline is the wrong response to the U.S. takeover of Venezuela - CCPA
Immediately after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by United States President Trump, the Globe and Mail editorial board quickly pivoted from condemning the action to promoting a new...
www.policyalternatives.ca
January 9, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
New report from @ccpa: Canada’s 100 highest-paid CEOs have smashed every compensation record on the books as average workers fell behind due to inflation. #inequality #wealthtax Part 1/2
January 2, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
ccpa-tirp.bsky.social
Chart from @marclee.bsky.social in @theglobeandmail.com trade charts to watch this year: www.theglobeandmail.com/business/int.... "The bigger challenge for Canada is to develop a comprehensive economic strategy that adds value to our resources through advanced manufacturing and technology."
January 1, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
Over the past 25 years, Canada’s export profile has shifted back toward a “staples” economy—driven largely by oil and gas. This marks a reversal from the higher value-added exports. Graph by @policyalternatives.ca Senior Economist @marclee.bsky.social
December 31, 2025 at 3:31 PM
marclee.bsky.social
A final contribution from me for 2025: a retrospective on the year of Mark Carney

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
2025 was Canada’s year of Mark Carney: What have we learned about his economic policy agenda? - CCPA
Two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in BC Five mining projects across the country A major new transmission line in northern BC (to support LNG and mining) Nuclear power in Ontario Hydro power in ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 27, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
ershaker.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Carney’s resurrected Liberals have set out an economic agenda with a big push on fossil fuels and mining, while rolling back nearly a decade of modest progress on climate action along the way.’ @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
2025 was Canada’s year of Mark Carney: What have we learned about his economic policy agenda? - CCPA
Two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in BC Five mining projects across the country A major new transmission line in northern BC (to support LNG and mining) Nuclear power in Ontario Hydro power in ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
The federal government is implementing a fairly conservative agenda of deregulation, public sector downsizing, tax cuts, boosting defence and championing resource megaprojects.
Read more of @marclee.bsky.social take on PM Carney's 2025 year in office.

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
2025 was Canada’s year of Mark Carney: What have we learned about his economic policy agenda? - CCPA
Two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in BC Five mining projects across the country A major new transmission line in northern BC (to support LNG and mining) Nuclear power in Ontario Hydro power in ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 27, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
Modest trade impacts being used to justify fast-tracking mining and oil and gas projects in #BritishColumbia. @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
How’s the BC economy holding up in the face of the Trump trade war? - CCPA
President Trump’s tariff and trade policies dominated the world’s political discourse through 2025. In a recent article,Stuart Trew and I reviewed the different tariffs and overall state of play for C...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
marclee.bsky.social
New from me: a deep dive into BC's export trade and how the provincial economy is doing
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
How’s the BC economy holding up in the face of the Trump trade war? - CCPA
President Trump’s tariff and trade policies dominated the world’s political discourse through 2025. In a recent article,Stuart Trew and I reviewed the different tariffs and overall state of play for C...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 18, 2025 at 5:04 PM
marclee.bsky.social
New from me: the Alberta-Canada MOU promises a pipe dream of a new bitumen pipeline and carbon capture with terrible economics. But it delivers for the oil and gas industry by gutting recent federal climate and energy regulations
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
The Alberta-Canada MOU is an early Christmas present for the oil and gas industry - CCPA
A detailed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the federal and Alberta governments, released late November, looks like a political game-changer but is most likely an economic loser. The short-te...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
No industry actor wants to field the capital to build a new pipeline. Why is the federal government pretending it's a viable option? By @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca #cdnpoli #cdnecon #climatecrisis
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
The Alberta-Canada MOU is an early Christmas present for the oil and gas industry - CCPA
A detailed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the federal and Alberta governments, released late November, looks like a political game-changer but is most likely an economic loser. The short-te...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
Industrial transformation and renewal is essential if Canada wants to weather Trump’s economic warfare—but we cannot afford to be so haphazard with public funds. By @marclee.bsky.social and Stuart Trew @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Algoma Steel layoffs signal it’s time for Canada to up its game on trade and industrial policy - CCPA
Algoma Steel’s announcement that it will lay off more than 1,000 workers in Sault Ste Marie is just the latest in a string of bad news from President Trump‘s trade war. Canada needs to respond quickly...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
marclee.bsky.social
New from Stuart Trew and myself: How the Algoma Steel layoffs signal it’s time for Canada to up its game on trade and industrial policy
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Layoffs are another wound inflicted by Donald Trump. But this is how Canada can rebuild its industrial base
Among the options are the government taking a stake in key industrial companies.
www.thestar.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
A vision for Canada’s industries needs to be cocreated with workers, governments and the industry itself. By @marclee.bsky.social and Stuart Trew. #canlab @policyalternatives.ca www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Layoffs are another wound inflicted by Donald Trump. But this is how Canada can rebuild its industrial base
Among the options are the government taking a stake in key industrial companies.
www.thestar.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
redeyeradio.bsky.social
POD DROP! Marc Lee reports back on Elbows Up: A Practical Program for Canadian Sovereignty and the need for a generational investment in non-market housing. @policyalternatives.ca @marclee.bsky.social @ricardotranjan.bsky.social tiny.cc/c62w001 #canPoli #housing
Canada needs a generational investment in non-market and public housing
Podcast Episode · Redeye · 2025-12-05 · 18m
tiny.cc
December 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
ericdoherty.bsky.social
Watch economist @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca explain the problems with contracting out HandyDART to multinational corporations, and the benefits of fully public provision. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPEr... #TransLink #bcpoli #vanpoli
December 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
Watch celebrated economist James K. Galbraith talk about North America's changing place in the world—during and after Trump—with @marclee.bsky.social in this year's Rosenbluth lecture. @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
How James K. Galbraith understands North America’s place in the global economy - CCPA
On November 26, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives hosted a lecture by celebrated economist James K. Galbraith. The event was broadcast live to CCPA supporters, and today we make the recordin...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Marc Lee
redeyeradio.bsky.social
Saturday | 10:55 PT Marc Lee reports back on Elbows Up: A Practical Program for Canadian Sovereignty and the need for a generational investment in non-market housing. @policyalternatives.ca @marclee.bsky.social @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
Mole Hill houses, Vancouver, BC. Most of the Victorian and Edwardian houses on this block near Nelson Park, bounded by Thurlow, Comox, Bute, and Pendrell Streets, were originally on this site; others were salvaged and moved here during nearby construction. The Mole Hill Community Housing Society assures a mix of subsidized and market rate units.
November 28, 2025 at 7:21 PM