Hub Podcasts Canada's global performance rankings are in freefall
Feb 26, 2026
Mike Moffatt, economist and commentator, outlines Canada’s slide in international rankings and questions how we measure national success. Kelden Formosa, policy analyst and writer, explains the debate over Alberta’s per-student funding for independent schools and what choice means for equity and outcomes. Short, sharp takes on national ambition, wellbeing, housing pressures, school funding trade-offs, and pluralism in education.
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GDP Per Capita Overstates Canada's Global Standing
- GDP per capita is limited and can overstate Canada's standing versus global peers.
- Mike Moffatt shows HDI ranks fell from 4th (1993) to 16th (2023) despite small absolute gains, revealing relative stagnation.
World Happiness Shows Decline And Youth Discontent
- Subjective measures show Canadian well-being slipping in global rankings.
- Moffatt cites World Happiness dropping from 5th (2012) to 18th (latest) and young Canadians especially unhappy and less free due to housing issues.
Housing Affordability Undermines Freedom And Health Scores
- Specific weaknesses drag Canada's quality-of-life scores down despite decent GDP per capita.
- Moffatt notes Canada placed 21st in healthy life expectancy, 44th in inequality, and 68th in freedom, linked to housing affordability.