The Centre for Civic Engagement
View papersOur purpose
The Centre for Civic Engagement conducts research on topics of public interest
including those relating to governance, law, global affairs, economics, trade, technology, the environment, and culture, and publicly disseminate its research findings through seminars, workshops, courses, and conferences.
What we do
CCE seeks to inform and engage Canadians
Through its work the CCE seeks to inform and engage Canadians from all walks of life in a conversation about the country’s public policy priorities and opportunities all focused on creating the pre-conditions for economic growth, international relevance and individual human flourishing. The CCE is explicitly non-partisan and does not accept funding proposals. For more information on the CCE’s work visit the research page on this website.
Our research
Research papers
The State of Violent Crime in Canada
DownloadThis study argues that Canadians’ concern about violent crime is supported by Statistics Canada’s violent crime severity index. While overall crime severity has fallen since 2000, violent crime severity has risen sharply since the mid-2010s, reaching record or near-record highs across most provinces, territories, and major cities.
20/04/26
Fortifying the Foundation at Home: Canada’s Pillars of Productivity
DownloadCanada’s productivity crisis is rooted in domestic policy failures and requires a comprehensive reform agenda. The study proposes six mutually reinforcing pillars: tax reform, regulatory modernization, stronger competition, trade-enabling infrastructure, immigration recalibration toward human capital, and public-sector and fiscal reform to restore investment, productivity, and economic growth.
10/03/26
The Politics of Big Bold Tax Reform
DownloadThis study argues that Canada’s economic stagnation requires comprehensive tax reform rather than incremental change. It proposes a “Big Bold Tax Reform” package that cuts income and corporate taxes, broadens the tax base, raises the GST, and eliminates targeted preferences to boost investment, productivity, wages, and long-run growth
09/03/26
Measuring Housing Affordability in Canada
DownloadThis study argues Canada’s housing affordability crisis stems from persistent supply constraints and stacked policy costs. Using a savings-to-affordability metric (25% of after-tax income, mortgage under 60% of take-home pay), it finds extreme wait times to build the capital necessary to buy a home—especially in Vancouver and Toronto—and recommends reforming development charges, GST rules, and zoning to boost supply
24/02/26