In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou brings us insights from the inaugural Business Data Lab conference, The Case for Canada.

Trust—once the invisible foundation of commerce and governance—is now fractured, with only 62% of Canadians expressing moderate or high trust in institutions, according to Edelman’s Trust Barometer. Former Statistics Canada Chief Anil Arora opened with a strong statement: “Good data...is an investment in building trust.”

The episode features a range of voices from the conference: Economist Stephen Tapp unpacks how growing regulation has cut Canada’s GDP by nearly 2%, while Professor Meredith Lilly contrasts Canada’s emotionally charged trade strategy with Mexico’s pragmatic diplomacy. Dr. Chad Bown from the Peterson Institute (and former Chief Economist in the U.S. Department of State), explains the contradictions in U.S. tariff policy and its real implications for Canada.

Andrew DiCapua, Economist at the Chamber of Commerce, offers a sobering reminder that inflation’s lasting impact continues to erode public trust in central banks, calling for more clarity and transparency in policy decisions.

The thread tying it all together? Canada’s future prosperity hinges on restoring institutional trust—through better data, clear policy, and principled leadership.

Resources:

2025 Edelman Trust Barometer

World Values Survey

Regulatory Accumulation, Business Dynamism and Economic Growth in Canada

The Future of North America’s Economic Relationship

How Canada Won at Home While America Came First in NAFTA Renegotiations