Four Studies on the Canadian Equalization System

On January 28 and 29, 2014, the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy (SPP) sponsored a conference on equalization reform. The event provided a forum for current and former federal and provincial officials, academics from Canadian, Spanish and German universities, as well as students from the Master of Public Policy program at the SPP, to explore the issues surrounding this often-contentious program. Four leading Canadian academics in the field, Bev Dahlby, Jim Feehan, Ergete Ferede and Marcelin Joanis, delivered papers at the conference, each advocating a particular path forward for Canada's equalization system. This commentary provides a summary of their proposals and arguments for reform.