The Politics of Money: An IFSD Podcast

The Politics of Money, a new podcast from the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, explores how public finance, politics, and institutions shape the world we live in. Hosted by IFSD's Sahir Khan and Kevin Page, Canada’s first Parliamentary Budget Officer, our podcast blends deep subject-matter expertise with accessible conversation. A trusted place where listeners can follow the money – and learn the real stories behind Canada’s big policy choices.

The Politics of Money: An IFSD Podcast is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 12 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Politics of Money: An IFSD Podcast, a news show with 12 episodes published.

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  Episode #11

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  Aug 11, 202622 min

  Health care. One of Canada's largest public expenditures, one of its biggest economic sectors, and one of the defining policy challenges facing governments at all levels. In this special pre-budget episode of The Politics of Money , IFSD's Kevin Page , Sahir Khan and Mostafa Askari use their experience inside government — including helping develop federal budgets — to dig into the difficult policy trade-offs that could shape federal-provincial health care discussions in the years ahead. The future of the Canada Health Transfer Fiscal sustainability and demographic pressures Health care's role in economic growth and productivity Access, wait times and quality-of-care tradeoffs Federal-provincial responsibilities and accountability This episode launches our new pre-budget podcast series . In the weeks ahead we will explore major policy challenges and fiscal choices facing Canada in Budget 2026. Leave us a comment with your budget questions — let us know what fiscal policy issues we should tackle next. Thanks for listening!

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  Episode #9

  Canada at 159: The Story Behind the Numbers

  Jun 30, 202633 min

  Taking Stock of Canada at 159: Strong Fundamentals, Real Pressures At its core, the story of Canada is about a lot more than economics. It’s about values , choices , and long-term fiscal sustainability . Its about outcomes that matter and the kind of future Canadians want to build, together. In this special Canada Day episode of The Politics of Money⁩, the IFSD team take stock of how Canada is really doing at 159. And what needs to happen to be even stronger for Canada Day 160 next year. IFSD's Kevin Page , Sahir Khan , and Mostafa Askari take a closer look at Canada “ by the numbers ” and, more importantly, the real story those numbers tell. Canada’s fundamentals are strong: high life satisfaction, long life expectancy, strong education outcomes, and a sustainable fiscal position, for the moment. But the picture is complex. 👉 Growth has slowed. 👉 Affordability pressures are rising. 👉 Public services are under strain. This conversation moves beyond headline metrics like GDP to ask deeper questions: What outcomes really matter to Canadians? And what tradeoffs are Canadians willing to make? The team also reflect on the experiences of families who chose Canada. And why, even at this challenging "hinge" moment, it remains a country worth investing in and building. Topics covered: 🔹 How Canada is doing, looking beyond the easy analogies and headline numbers 🔹 Affordability, productivity, and investment challenges 🔹 Fiscal standing and long-term sustainability 🔹 Wellbeing as a policy outcome 🔹 Immigration, opportunity, and betting on the Canadian project

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  Episode #8

  Food Insecurity in Canada: A Crisis Our Social Safety Net Was Never Designed to Handle

  Jun 9, 202649 min

  Food insecurity in Canada is rising — new policy responses are needed 👉 About 1 in 4 Canadians are living in food-insecure households, including around 2.5 million children 👉 Food banks are seeing record demand and a growing number of users are working Canadians So what’s going on? Canada’s social safety net is not keeping up, but it was never designed to address food insecurity . In our latest episode of The Politics of Money , IFSD convenes leading experts to unpack the issue. 💬 “Food insecurity is not a food issue — it’s a resource issue.” IFSD's Managing Director Helaina Gaspard speaks with Sarah Stern (Executive Director, Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security), Valerie Tarasuk (Professor Emerita, University of Toronto), Craig Gundersen (Snee Family Endowed Professor, Baylor University), and Jennifer Robson (Associate Professor, Political Management, Carleton University). Their discussion digs into: Why food bank use is rising—even among employed households The limits of existing supports like EI and the Canada Child Benefit How responsiveness, timing, and targeting of income supports matter What lessons Canada could draw from programs like SNAP in the U.S. 👉 At its core, the challenge is this: How do we design a social safety net that actually prevents food insecurity—rather than responds after the fact ? For more, please also check out our special live event at the University of Ottawa, Hunger in a Time of Rising Food Costs: The Immediate and Sustained Impact of Food Insecurity .

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  Episode #7

  Taxes & Tradeoffs: How We Pay for Canada

  May 19, 20261h 28mS0

  <p>Taxation. Perhaps the most hotly debated topic in public life — but one of the hardest to discuss honestly.</p><p><br>In this episode of The Politics of Money: An IFSD Podcast, we bring together American and Canadian perspectives to move the discussion beyond slogans and examine the real‑world tradeoffs and consequences. Including how the pursuit of tax competitiveness risks becoming a race to the bottom.</p><p><br></p><p>Tax debates often start and end with a single idea: tax cuts. But in public finance, lower taxes still must be paid for — either through spending reductions, higher...

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  Episode #6

  Bonus Live Event: Hunger in a Time of Rising Food Costs: The Immediate and Sustained impact of Food Insecurity

  May 4, 20261h 27mS0

  <p>Food insecurity is not just a social issue — it’s an economic, health, and productivity challenge with lasting consequences for Canada.</p><p><br>In this special live event hosted by the IFSD—in partnership with the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security and the Office of Research and Public Policy Outreach at the University of Ottawa—leading researchers, economists, and practitioners examine the real cost and consequences of food insecurity in Canada — from its impact on health systems and labour markets to the long‑term impacts for children, households, and communities.</p><p>The event is moderated by Adrian Harew...

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