A modest idea for the institutions that run our economy

May 2, 2026

In this op-ed, Laurence Mussio recalls his father, an Italian immigrant who worked as a boilermaker and believed deeply in the postwar promise of Canada: that hard work would build lasting institutions and a better future for later generations. The author argues that this intergenerational bargain has broken down. Canada, he says, is now losing capital, talent, and competitiveness, while its institutions have become slow, indecisive, and unable to execute. Drawing historical parallels, he suggests the country still has the tools to renew itself if institutions and leaders choose to act decisively.