The Globe and Mail · Toronto Star
William Robson
Publishing · On our record since 2008
Where this writer stands
Fiscal policy1 piece
Higher taxes and public spendingLower taxes and tighter spending
“Lower, simpler taxes on businesses and people would show that Canada is not just a good host for a summit, but a good destination for their next investment in capital that will produce competitive products – and raise Canadians' productivity and living standards – for many years to come.” Read the piece
Only opinion columns and editorials are scored. Each piece is read twice by a language model, which records the author's own stance on a policy topic only where the piece argues one, with a quote that must appear in the piece. An author's position on a topic is the average of their pieces, weighted by the model's confidence. News reporting is listed but never scored.
Recent work
- The investment summit made the pitch, but the sale isn’t closedOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Sep 17, 2026
- Opinion: If Trump attacks Canada’s GST next, we must defend itOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 31, 2025
- Opinion: Gripped by Toronto’s annual budget panic? Just wait for the surplusOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Jan 15, 2024
- Opinion: Canadians deserve access to more transparent city budgetsOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 23, 2023
- Opinion: It’s disgraceful that most big cities will start the year without approved budgetsOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Dec 28, 2022
- Opinion: Taxes can amplify the pain of inflationOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Sep 18, 2022
- Opinion: We are at a major turning point in the fight against inflationOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Jul 19, 2022
- Opinion: Double whammy: The latest surge in inflation means a recession is likelyOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Jun 22, 2022
- Opinion: Canadians are understandably angry at the Bank of Canada. Here’s what it can doOpinion · The Globe and Mail · May 18, 2022
- Opinion: Canada has blown through our fiscal guardrails. When will our federal budgets reflect that?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 20, 2022
- Opinion: It’s painful. But the sooner we reduce inflation, the betterOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Jan 12, 2022
- Opinion: ‘Transitory’ inflation does lasting harmOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Nov 16, 2021
- Opinion: How will Canadians feel about today’s campaign promises when the bill comes due?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Sep 19, 2021
- Opinion: Is inflation back? It’s not an economic question, it’s politicalOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 14, 2021
- Opinion: The federal fiscal snapshot has shown us the problem. So what’s the plan?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Jul 7, 2020
- Opinion: The perfect stimulus for cash-strapped governmentsOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Jun 29, 2020
- Opinion: How to prevent a COVID-19 provincial borrowing crisisOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Apr 8, 2020
- Job subsidy is key to getting through the COVID-19 crisisOpinion · Toronto Star · Mar 24, 2020
- Opinion: During this pandemic, Canadians are feeling real financial stress. Here’s how governments can helpOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 14, 2020
- Opinion: Without a bottom line, this federal election has devolved into fiscal debaucheryOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Oct 14, 2019
- Sidewalk Labs’ proposed transit financing plan worth embracing | The StarOpinion · Toronto Star · Jul 17, 2019
- Accounting tricks have no place in Ontario’s governmentOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Apr 25, 2018
- Budget confirms that deficits are a feature for this governmentOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Feb 27, 2018
- Budget confirms that deficits are a feature for this governmentOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Feb 27, 2018
- Budget confirms that deficits are a feature for this governmentOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Feb 27, 2018
- Government budgets: Why it’s so difficult to follow the moneyOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Apr 14, 2016
- Government budgets: Why it’s so difficult to follow the moneyOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Apr 14, 2016
- How to make Toronto smarter: Start with transparent budgetsOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Dec 1, 2014
- More money for provinces? Just say no, Mr. HarperOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Oct 6, 2014
- Beer and wine in Ontario: Will consumers prevail?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Aug 27, 2014
- A decade of government overspending has left us over-taxed and deeper in debtOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Apr 2, 2014
- Jim Flaherty’s record: Lucky - and goodOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 18, 2014
- Ottawa must rein in its soaring pension costsOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Feb 5, 2014
- ‘Big CPP’ at the young’s expenseOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Nov 11, 2013
- A final push for Canada-Europe tradeOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Oct 9, 2013
- Alberta’s pension evolution is a step in the right directionOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Sep 17, 2013
- The new governor may be a surprise, but the bank’s role is firmOpinion · The Globe and Mail · May 1, 2013
- The new governor may be a surprise, but the bank’s role is firmOpinion · The Globe and Mail · May 1, 2013
- Why should nationality trump talent for top public-sector jobs?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Nov 26, 2012
- Why should nationality trump talent for top public-sector jobs?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Nov 26, 2012
- C.D. Howe head: Is Ontario’s approach to public services sustainable?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Nov 13, 2012
- C.D. Howe head: Is Ontario’s approach to public services sustainable?Opinion · The Globe and Mail · Nov 13, 2012
- A worthy budget, lacking in visionOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Sep 5, 2012
- Before reforming pensions, MPs must tackle their ownOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Sep 5, 2012
- A worthy budget, lacking in visionOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Sep 5, 2012
- Business investment: We’ve raised our gameOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Aug 30, 2012
- Business investment: We’ve raised our gameOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Aug 30, 2012
- Good information comes at a priceOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Aug 22, 2012
- Good information comes at a priceOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Aug 22, 2012
- A worthy budget, lacking in visionOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 29, 2012
- A worthy budget, lacking in visionOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 29, 2012
- A worthy budget, lacking in visionOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Mar 29, 2012
- Before reforming pensions, MPs must tackle their ownOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Jan 18, 2012
- Before reforming pensions, MPs must tackle their ownOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Jan 18, 2012
- Fix pensions with screwdrivers, not sledgehammersOpinion · The Globe and Mail · Dec 16, 2010
- City squanders opportunity to utilize new fiscal powersOpinion · Toronto Star · May 22, 2008