David Macdonald
About David Macdonald
David Macdonald is a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. He joined the centre in 2011, although he has been a long time contributor as a research associate. Since 2008, he has coordinated the Alternative Federal Budget, which takes a fresh look at the federal budget from a progressive perspective. David has also written on a variety of topics, from Canada's real estate bubble to Aboriginal income inequality. He is a regular media commentator on national policy issues. He is the author of the report Picking up the Tab: A complete accounting of federal and provincial COVID-19 measures in 2020.
David received his BA from the University of Windsor and his MA from the University of Guelph, both in Philosophy.
Budget 2021 applies lessons learned from COVID-19
This was the largest public health and economic crisis since the Second World War, and it has clearly illustrated how our health and social safety nets are lacking, writes David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Canadians need more federal supports — because COVID-19 isn’t going away any time soon
"If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that neither long-term care nor child care should be left to profit-seeking entities," writes David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
The next act: Feds' fiscal update needs to reflect pandemic challenges ahead
The federal fiscal update unveiled Monday is a chance to address the current crisis but also move into the rebuild phases of this pandemic, says David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Pandemic response shows Canada can afford a zero carbon future
In Canada, the federal response to COVID-19 has illustrated how much governments can do when they deploy their awesome fiscal power. So how about using that power to build a green economy?