Eric J Hanson Memorial Lecture

On September 27, 2011, Professor Jack Mintz delivered the 17th Hanson Memorial Lecture. Dr. Mintz is the James and Barbara Palmer Chair in Public Policy and the Director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. He is a graduate of the Department of Economics at the University of Alberta and was a student of the late Eric. J. Hanson. The lecture, entitled “The VAT as Game-Changing Tax Policy in the U.S. and Alberta Contexts” makes the case for introducing a value-added tax in the U.S. and Alberta. While both jurisdictions appear to be hostile to such a tax, Mintz identifies a number of advantages including administrative simplicity, exemptions to support export industries while taxing import consumption.  As a replacement for income taxes, VAT shifts taxes from income and savings to consumption thus encouraging work and savings behaviours.

On October 22, 2010, the Honourable Kevin Lynch delivered the 16th Hanson Memorial Lecture.  Lynch is Vice Chair of BMO Financial Group and the former Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service of Canada. Dr. Lynch’s address was entitled “Escape from the Productivity Trap: The Sequel.” Lynch reviewed the failure of Canadian industry to enhance productivity over the past 25 years in particular vis-à-vis the United States. Lower productivity has a direct impact on the standard of living and is an important factor in investment decisions for corporations. Reasons cited for poor performance include: slower adoption of information technology, poor record of innovation and research and development, absence of competition in certain sectors, and lower levels of investment in machinery and equipment per worker.  Dr. Lynch’s recommendations included: more competitive and international mindset for Canadian business leaders; improvements to financing both in venture capital and traditional bank financing; a trade and investment focus on Asia and Brazil; and the ability to attract top global talent to the Canadian marketplace.