Marc Lee
@marclee.bsky.social
Economist, talking head, Vancouver.
Reposted by Marc Lee
"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
"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...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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...
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
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...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
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...
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
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...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
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
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
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."
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
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
A final contribution from me for 2025: a retrospective on the year of Mark Carney
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
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
A final contribution from me for 2025: a retrospective on the year of Mark Carney
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
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
Reposted by Marc Lee
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...
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
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...
Read more of @marclee.bsky.social take on PM Carney's 2025 year in office.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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...
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
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...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
New from me: a deep dive into BC's export trade and how the provincial economy is doing
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
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
New from me: a deep dive into BC's export trade and how the provincial economy is doing
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
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...
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
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...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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...
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
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...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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...
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
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...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
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...
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
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...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
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...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
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
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
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
Reposted by Marc Lee
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...
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
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...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Marc Lee
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
November 28, 2025 at 7:21 PM
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
Reposted by Marc Lee
Energy use "in Asia and Europe is shifting to renewables that are cheaper than LNG" @marclee.bsky.social.
Losing money exporting a fossil fuel that is as bad for the climate as coal is a fail on so many levels. Solar and wind are the future of energy, not fracked gas. #bcpoli
Losing money exporting a fossil fuel that is as bad for the climate as coal is a fail on so many levels. Solar and wind are the future of energy, not fracked gas. #bcpoli
How #BC's New Economic Plan Gets it all Wrong by @policyalternatives.ca senior economist @marclee.bsky.social #bcecon thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
How BC’s New Economic Plan Gets It All Wrong | The Tyee
The government’s ‘Look West’ strategy doubles down on resource extraction at the expense of smarter spending.
thetyee.ca
November 29, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Energy use "in Asia and Europe is shifting to renewables that are cheaper than LNG" @marclee.bsky.social.
Losing money exporting a fossil fuel that is as bad for the climate as coal is a fail on so many levels. Solar and wind are the future of energy, not fracked gas. #bcpoli
Losing money exporting a fossil fuel that is as bad for the climate as coal is a fail on so many levels. Solar and wind are the future of energy, not fracked gas. #bcpoli
ICYMI the 2025 Rosenbluth lecture featuring Jamie Galbraith is online. Jamie's review of the state of geopolitics and global economic relationships in the era of Trump is not to be missed. Followed by a Q&A session led by me on what it all means for Canada.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIc9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIc9...
Rosenbluth Lecture featuring James Galbraith: North America in the world economy
YouTube video by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
ICYMI the 2025 Rosenbluth lecture featuring Jamie Galbraith is online. Jamie's review of the state of geopolitics and global economic relationships in the era of Trump is not to be missed. Followed by a Q&A session led by me on what it all means for Canada.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIc9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIc9...
Reposted by Marc Lee
How #BC's New Economic Plan Gets it all Wrong by @policyalternatives.ca senior economist @marclee.bsky.social #bcecon thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
How BC’s New Economic Plan Gets It All Wrong | The Tyee
The government’s ‘Look West’ strategy doubles down on resource extraction at the expense of smarter spending.
thetyee.ca
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
How #BC's New Economic Plan Gets it all Wrong by @policyalternatives.ca senior economist @marclee.bsky.social #bcecon thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Reposted by Marc Lee
“It seems like we’ve just put climate in the drawer and forgotten about it,” said @marclee.bsky.social, a senior economist for @policyalternatives.ca #bcpoli #climatecrisis thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Will BC Electrify Its Economy? BC Hydro Doubts It | The Tyee
The Crown corporation’s new long-term plan for BC’s energy future is a missed opportunity to commit to electrification, experts say.
thetyee.ca
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
“It seems like we’ve just put climate in the drawer and forgotten about it,” said @marclee.bsky.social, a senior economist for @policyalternatives.ca #bcpoli #climatecrisis thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Reposted by Marc Lee
"[the tax implies] ... the government is [working] to combat housing [unaffordability], but there are core issues ... particularly the failure to invest in non-market housing … that [are] not fundamentally being addressed federally or provincially,” @marclee.bsky.social www.biv.com/news/real-es...
B.C. speculation tax to rise in 2026 as Carney axes federal version
Policy divergence revives questions about efficacy and legality
www.biv.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
"[the tax implies] ... the government is [working] to combat housing [unaffordability], but there are core issues ... particularly the failure to invest in non-market housing … that [are] not fundamentally being addressed federally or provincially,” @marclee.bsky.social www.biv.com/news/real-es...