Leadership Perspectives
Get closer to our work with Signal49 Research's Leadership Perspectives series. Each episode, we sit down with senior Signal49 leaders and researchers to discuss issues that affect Canadians. Topics include economics, education, sustainability, HR, and Indigenous and Northern perspectives. We're proud to be Canada's foremost independent, evidence-based applied research organization. Since 1954 we have provided leaders and decision-makers with the economic analysis, applied research, data, networks and events they need to solve Canada's most complex challenges. © Signal49 Research. All Rights Reserved.
Formerly operating as The Conference Board of Canada
Effective January 26, 2026, AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research discontinued use of ‘The Conference Board of Canada’ name, logo and branding, which had been used by AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research under license from The Conference Board, Inc. The Conference Board, Inc. and its licensees, which are not affiliated with Signal49 Research, own all right, title and interest in THE CONFERENCE BOARD name and trademarks in Canada and have the exclusive right to their use in Canada since January 26, 2026.
Episodes
66 episodes
Economics Matters Ep. 23: A New Era in Energy in Canada with Mark Parsons and Pedro Antunes
In this episode we explore the changing relationship around energy and potential for Canada. We delve into what leading economists think we should take away from the Memorandum of Understanding between the Alberta and Federal governments ...
Economics Matters Ep. 22: Budget 2025 with Richard Forbes and Meghan Eibner
In this episode we explore the outcomes of the federal 2025 budget. We explore what has been announced what it means for communities, and how these decisions will shape the next five years. We’ll explore the tension between ambitious inve...
Economics Matters Ep. 21: High Frequency Data with Strac Ivanov and Tony Bonen
In this episode we dive into a major shift in the world of economics: the rise of high-frequency data. From job postings and air traffic stats to real-time payments and mobility trends, economists are increasingly turning to non-traditional dat...
Economics Matters Ep. 20: Canada’s Fiscal Outlook with Cory Renner and Richard Forbes
Deficits, debts, tariffs, trade, taxes, Trump .... Sorting through the fiscal picture for the country, while never easy, has become much more complicated in 2025. Joining us for this episode are Cory Renner, Associate Director, Economic F...
Economics Matters Ep. 19: Fixing Canada’s Problems with Competition with Vass Bednar and Denise Hearn
Some argue that market concentration in their sectors is inevitable. They say Canada’s small population, vast geography, and global competition create natural monopolies—and that protecting their dominance is necessary to build globall...
Economics Matters Ep. 18: A Plan for Immigration and Growth with Lisa Lalande and Pedro Antunes
Growth is a central concept in economics. Economies must continue to grow to generate more capital, improve labour productivity and create higher standards of living for populations. But, in 2024, the experiment in growing through a drama...
Economics Matters Ep. 17: The Economics of Net Zero with Tony Bonen and John McNally
As we experience the hottest summer on record, reaching our Net Zero goals has become one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Canada's target is to achieve a net-zero economy—either emitting no greenhouse gases or offsetting any emission...
Economics Matters Ep. 16: Reinventing Cities with Mary Rowe and Pedro Antunes
The last four years have brought many changes to the ways in which we live, work and shop. These new habits are reshaping cities and the road to the new normal is proving very bumpy for cities across the country. In this episode, our gues...
Economics Matters Ep. 15: Reacting to the 2024 Federal Budget
The April 2024 federal budget is like game seven of a Stanley Cup playoff run for economists. It’s a critical time when decisions on spending and taxation are made that can help or hinder our economic direction. In this spec...
Economics Matters Ep. 14: Canada’s Productivity Emergency with Tony Bonen and Andrew Sharpe
Everyone from the Bank of Canada to leading economists from across the country are discussing what’s at the root of Canada’s productivity challenges. To help us sort through the discussion, I’m joined this episode by the Conf...
Economics Matters Ep. 13: C-Suite Perspectives with Pedro Antunes and Dana Peterson
In this episode, we delve into the minds of CEOs, exploring their concerns and insights as revealed in the 25th edition of the C-Suite survey conducted by The Conference Board. Our guests, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, The Conference Board an...
Economics Matters Ep. 12: Looking Back, Looking Forward with Pedro Antunes and Linda Nazareth
In this final episode of 2023, we invite two leading economists to explore key issues facing the Canadian economy. We delve into how the world of work is evolving and consider whether Canada might be lagging behind other nations that are more r...
Economics Matters Ep. 11: Immigration, Inflation and Housing with Pedro Antunes and Kathryn Dennler
Over the past months, various players have come out to point a finger at the role immigration is playing in a long list of what ails our country. From inflation, to housing affordability, to struggling post-secondary institutions, ...
Economics Matters Ep. 10: Will AI Take Your Job with Mike Burt and Benjamin F. Jones
Doomsday scenarios are the currency of the day when it comes to artificial intelligence’s impact on the jobs market. But technologists aren’t always that great at economic forecasting. To help us sort through the hype, we’re joined this e...
Economics Matters Ep. 09: The Economic Impact of the Wildfires with Pedro Antunes and Derek Nighbor
The year 2023 has already marked itself as Canada's worst forest fire season in history, and it's only July. A glance at today's fire map reveals almost every province battling blazes that have spiraled out of control. In this epis...
Economics Matters Ep. 08: Canada’s Housing and Rental Affordability Crisis with Tony Bonen and John Pasalis
The pandemic created upward pressure on housing and recent increases in interest rates are pushing affordability even further away for some. The OECD now ranks Canada as having the most expensive housing market among all other G7 countries.&nbs...
Economics Matters Ep. 07: Fiscal Responsibility with Pedro Antunes and Kevin Page
In this episode, our guests Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist of The Conference Board of Canada, and Kevin Page, founding President and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa, discuss the evolving definiti...
Ep. 25: Canadian Telecoms and The Promise of Independent Towers with Dan Carpenter and Wendy Zatylny
Canada’s mobile broadband usage numbers are dismal. We rank dead last in mobile broadband users and have some of lowest mobile data usage compared to other G7 countries. These metrics need to improve. While there is much discussion ...
Economics Matters Ep: 06 - Economic Forecasting with Ted Mallett
In this episode of Economics Matters, we look behind the curtain at the world of economic forecasting. Our colleague Ted Mallett, The Conference Board of Canada’s Director of Economic Forecasting, gives us his take on how he and his team ...
Economics Matters Ep: 05 - Inequality in Canada with Pedro Antunes and Mike Moffatt
For economists, inequality is a critical issue because the more unequal a society is, the more challenging it is for that economy to grow and thrive. This episode we explore the data on inequality in Canada to separate fact from fic...
Economics Matters Ep: 04 - Canada’s Long-Term Economic Outlook with Sohaib Shahid and Brett House
Canada used to pride itself as being one of the best places to live in the world, but our international ranking is on the decline. Many people have questions about the long-term economic growth path for the country. How will demographic issues—...
Economics Matters Ep: 03 - Economic Outlook for 2023
As we near the end of December, many economists are looking back at the year that was. But that’s the past. What can we expect for the future?We’ve asked two leading economic thinkers to give us their forecasts on the key issues that the...
Ep. 24: Fixing the Path from International Student to Permanent Resident with Iain Reeve and Kathryn Dennler
Canadian Universities and Colleges are increasingly welcoming students from around the world to study in Canada. We estimate that over the last ten years, over a million international students have come to study in Canada. And that ...
Economics Matters Ep: 02 - Labour market woes with Mike Burt and Armine Yalnizyan
Canada’s labour market is facing an unprecedented set of challenges. We keep hearing the dual realities of low unemployment levels but high job vacancies. There is a loud and growing chorus of business owners who complain that the...
Economics Matters Ep: 01 - Recession Risk with Sohaib Shahid and Jimmy Jean
This is the first episode of Economics Matters, a Signal49 Research podcast. This series will bring you some of the leading economic thinkers from Canada and around the world to talk about key issues in the economy. In our first epi...
