The numbers are big, the language is complex, and the communication? Lacking. Economist Fred O’Riordan joins Shane Hewitt to unpack what’s actually inside Canada’s latest federal budget — and why it feels so disconnected from everyday Canadians. From a $78.3 billion deficit to luxury tax changes, O’Riordan explains what matters, what’s misunderstood, and why the real win might be for businesses, not households.

They cover the lockup process, affordability gaps, tax policy shifts, and the messaging failure that left many Canadians scratching their heads. This episode makes sense of a document built for insiders — and questions whether that’s ever good economics.

GUEST:
Fred O’Riordan

Originally aired on2025-11-04