They look beyond the headline deficit improvement to assess the credibility of the fiscal framework, the role of fiscal guardrails, and what actually changed under the hood. 

The discussion examines the trade‑off between short‑term affordability measures and longer‑term fiscal risk, alongside execution challenges and key transparency gaps—particularly around delivery, defence spending, and major capital projects.

The episode offers listeners a clear framework for understanding the Fiscal Update and asks the key question whether Canadians should have confidence in the government's fiscal plan, as Canada heads toward the fall budget in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Ahead of the government’s spring Economic and Fiscal Update, The Politics of Money brings together IFSD President and CEO Kevin Page, Executive VP Sahir Khan, and Chief Economist Mostafa Askari, for a timely preview of what they're looking for in the government's plan. 

The conversation explores the government’s room to manoeuvre amid global shocks and affordability pressures, while achieving a balance between short-term relief and long-term fiscal credibility. IFSD's team talk about how deficits fit into the over all fiscal picture, what bond rating agencies are looking for, looming pressures around execution and implementation, and the growing importance of transparency as well as expectations facing the Liberal government now that they have secured a majority in the House of Commons. 

A must-listen Fiscal Update primer for parliamentarians, public servants, journalists, and anyone interested in Canada’s economic outlook.

Each year, Parliament is asked to approve hundreds of billions of dollars in public spending through the Main Estimates. And each year, confusion follows about what the Estimates do and don’t mean.

What’s new spending? What Departments are being cut and by how much? How do we reconcile the Estimates and the Budget? Why don’t the numbers line up?

Kevin Page and Sahir Khan worked inside central government agencies crafting budgets and spending plans. Later they worked in the Parliamentary Budget Office, helping MPs decode government’s spending plans. 

In this bonus episode of The Politics of Money, Kevin and Sahir discuss why Canada’s spending system is so difficult to interpret – by design. They unpack the parallel systems that govern public finance: one built for planning and policy; the other for parliamentary approvals. 

The conversation walks listeners through how Budgets, Main Estimates, Departmental Plans, and Public Accounts fit together — and why Parliament is often asked to vote without a single, coherent picture of government spending. Kevin and Sahir close with practical ideas for reforms that would make Canada’s public finance system clearer, more transparent, and more accountable. 

In this episode of The Politics of Money, IFSD’s President Kevin Page sits down with Stéphane Dion for a wide‑ranging discussion on the difficult choices facing Canada today. 

Drawing on Dion’s experience as a cabinet minister to three prime ministers, ambassador to Europe, and political scientist, the conversation dives into how Canada navigates ongoing regional tensions and threats of separation, the durability of our democratic institutions, and how federalism provides checks and balances on governments. 

Recently returned from eight years as Canada's lead Ambassador in Europe, Dion shares insights into Canada–Europe relations, trade diversification, and the geopolitical challenges shaping Canada’s international economic and diplomatic choices –– including the war in Ukraine and prospects for reconstruction.

🎙️ Smart, fact-based discussions about how decisions are made – and why they matter.

The Politics of Money. A trustworthy podcast in uncertain times.  

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

In our first (bonus!) episode, former Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page is joined by former Deputy PBOs Sahir Khan and Mostafa Askari for a quick discussion on the nomination of Annette Ryan as the next PBO.

The IFSD team explores the state of the PBO today, Annette Ryan's qualifications and the potential challenges ahead for the Office of the PBO.   

Our first full length episode, coming soon, will feature a one-on-one conversation with Stéphane Dion and Kevin Page. They discuss Canadian unity and potential provincial referendums, the state of Canada-Europe relations and the war in Ukraine.