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Sean Mullin

@mullinsean.bsky.social
167 followers 225 following 66 posts

Economics | Technology & Innovation | Public Policy | Senior Fellow @ Munk School | Former economic advisor to the PM | Founder of Brookfield Institute | www.seanmullin.ca

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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Canada bids to lead middle powers in AI sovereignty race politi.co/4o7m3V7 via @politico.com
politi.co
Canada bids to lead middle powers in AI sovereignty race
The Liberal government is betting that Canada can carve a path away from U.S. technology.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Some thoughts from Jaxson Khan and I in today's @theglobeandmail.com on Canada's new National AI Strategy ("AI for All"). www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: Canada’s new AI strategy has to make up for a lot of lost time
Success will depend on a mix of determined implementation and continuing responsiveness to new challenges and developments
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
1/Last Thursday (May 28th), I had the honour of appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, as part of its study on the Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries. 🧵
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Excited to be speaking at AI CON Canada in Halifax on May 29th on "Sovereign by Design: A Pragmatic Path for Canadian AI". Event details can be found here: ai-con.ai/canada
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
How will the lawsuits against OpenAI affect the development of the AI industry? Pleased to have shared some thoughts with Global News last night. 👇👇 globalnews.ca/video/118233...
globalnews.ca
Musk lawsuit against Altman, Microsoft gets heated; seeks to revert OpenAI to non-profit | Watch News Videos Online
Watch Musk lawsuit against Altman, Microsoft gets heated; seeks to revert OpenAI to non-profit Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Fantastic work by The Logic to find and map every data centre in Canada... thelogic.co/news/the-big...
thelogic.co
We found every data centre in Canada - The Logic
From the building boom in Alberta to a host of legacy facilities near Toronto and Montreal, our reporting reveals the scale of Canada’s data centre industry—and the challenges it faces
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Check out this amazing article on the stupidity of the Trump tariff regime. In short, 50% tariffs caused Canada to redirect almost 60% of aluminum production to elsewhere in the world -- and now the US has a shortage, just as they need to rearm due to the Iran war. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
bloomberg.com
The World's Dumbest Tariff Has Been Revealed
With the Iran war threatening supplies of critical, energy-intensive materials, one might assume the US government was prepared for this risk and has been working hard to soften the blow. In the case ...
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Last call: If you're interested in AI sovereignty in Canada, join Jaxson Khan and I on Monday @ 4pm. 👇 munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/canada...
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Fantastic idea and amazing partnership..... Mila teams up with Mozilla to build open-source AI tools betakit.com/mila-teams-u...
betakit.com
Mila teams up with Mozilla to build open-source AI tools | BetaKit
The Firefox maker is investing an initial $1 million into the partnership with Montréal's AI institute.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Canada needs data centres and its own cloud for AI sovereignty, report says - The Logic thelogic.co/briefing/can...
thelogic.co
Canada needs data centres and its own cloud for AI sovereignty, report says - The Logic
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Very proud to launch Sovereign by Design, a new report I co-authored with Jaxson Khan at U of T's Munk School. At ~80 pages, it's the most comprehensive treatment of AI sovereignty in Canada to date. Read it at aicompetitiveness.ca
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
🚨 This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in building new capacity to help Canada solve our challenges related to economic growth. Help build a new Growth Lab in partnership with the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill and the Harvard Growth Lab. www.mcgill.ca/maxbellschoo...
mcgill.ca
Director of McGill Growth Lab and Assistant or Associate Professor
The Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University invites applications for the position of Director of the McGill Growth Lab and Assistant or Associate Professor. This is a leadership position...
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Carney says he explained to Trump that Canada paid for the bridge, that the ownership is shared between the government of Michigan and the government of Canada and that steel from both countries was used in its construction. nationalnewswatch.com/2026/02/10/c...
nationalnewswatch.com
Carney spoke to Trump about dispute over Gordie Howe bridge
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Billionaires, tech titans and their opponents are amassing multimillion-dollar war chests for a chaotic, bruising battle over AI regulation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections www.wsj.com/tech/ai/tech...
wsj.com
Tech Titans Amass Multimillion-Dollar War Chests to Fight AI Regulation
Some are battling state AI laws and threatening to punish candidates who oppose rapid deployment of the technology.
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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
theonion.com/fact-checkin...
Claim: My uncle says Mamdani will abolish the entire NYPD.

True: Your uncle does say that.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
A flurry of circular deals in the AI sector have uncomfortable similarities to the dot-com bubble era. 🤔 www.wsj.com/tech/ai/is-t...
wsj.com
Is the Flurry of Circular AI Deals a Win-Win—or Sign of a Bubble?
How round-trip deals could echo history and hit a wall.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
George Soros has the opportunity to do the funniest thing.... :) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
nytimes.com
U.S. Stakes Taxpayer Money on Big Argentina Bet
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Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Everything is computer www.slowboring.com/p/the-ai-boo...
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Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
NEW CANADIAN JOBS DATA: Employment Growth: +60k Unemployment Rate: 7.1% (+0%) Prime Age (25-54) Employment Rate: 83.3% (+0.6%) Employment Level: 21.0M
a graph of Canadian jobs data
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Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
NEW from me: In his 2nd term, Trump has pursued the largest trade war in modern US history—with 1 glaring omission. Computer imports are almost entirely exempt from tariffs It's a special carveout that AI companies are now reliant on for their data center buildout🧵 www.apricitas.io/p/the-tariff...
apricitas.io
The Tariff Exemption Behind the AI Boom
Data Centers get Tariff-Free Imports. Why Shouldn't we All?
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Join me at Canada 2020 Conference in Ottawa tomorrow, where I'll be speaking on the "Economics of the AI Boom"
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Heading to Halifax this week for the 2025 IPAC Conference (Sept 11–12)! Excited to join the panel “Reframing Social Spending: Investing in Canada’s Future” with Karen Myers, Tracey Barbrick & Aaron Stauch. Looking forward to the discussions & new connections! 👉 www.ipac.ca/en/ac2025
ipac.ca
2025 National Public Service Symposium / Symposium national sur la fonction publique 2025
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Michael de Adder @deadder.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
For new director of Mila, scientific discovery is the primary mission /via @globeandmail www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
theglobeandmail.com
For new director of Mila, scientific discovery is the primary mission
Hugo Larochelle begins appointment to succeed Yoshua Bengio at non-profit AI institute
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Latest PBO analysis shows that after accounting for 2024 immigration policy changes, the size of Canada’s “housing gap” is much smaller than comparable studies by CMHC and others. Housing completions need to increase by 69,000 / year: a much more attainable target. www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publicati...
pbo-dpb.ca
Household Formation and the Housing Stock: Estimating the Housing Gap in 2035
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Artificial intelligence is profoundly limiting some young Americans’ employment prospects, new research shows
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/eco...
theglobeandmail.com
The economic promise – and peril – of higher defence spending
Economists expect higher defence spending will give the economy a short-term boost. The long-term effect is another question
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/stat...
pm.gc.ca
Statement by the Prime Minister on CAN-U.S. trade
These negotiations have been taking place as the United States has been fundamentally transforming all its trading relationships.
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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
For @techpolicypress.bsky.social this week I wrote about how Canada's tech accountability efforts should be squarely focused on protecting Canadian sovereignty in an unstable geopolitical environment. www.techpolicy.press/a-tech-antim...
techpolicy.press
A Tech Anti-Monopoly and Accountability Agenda for Canada | TechPolicy.Press
Amid a shifting relationship with the US and new geopolitical realities, Keldon Bester urges Canada to rethink its tech policy to defend national sovereignty.
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Les Perreaux @perreaux.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Inu Manak & Victoria Fenton: Why no trade deal with Trump might be good for Canada policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/au... @inumanak.bsky.social @policyoptions.irpp.org
policyoptions.irpp.org
Canada holds firm in Trump’s tariff war after no-deal outcome
Trump’s tariffs hit Canada hardest. Ottawa must hold firm, diversify trade, and resist caving to U.S. demands.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Canada’s prohibition on U.S. alcohol is creating a headache for American liquor and winemakers www.wsj.com/business/us-...
wsj.com
The U.S. Alcohol Industry Is Reeling From Canada’s Booze Boycott
The trade fight is prompting a pullback in purchases by the biggest export market for U.S.-made wines, costing American brands tens of millions in sales.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Fascinating. Unlikely to happen, but this is nonetheless a big swing for Perplexity. www.wsj.com/tech/perplex...
wsj.com
Exclusive | Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5 Billion Offer for Chrome
In mounting an unsolicited bid for Google’s browser, the AI startup seeks to take advantage of uncertainty over a pending antitrust ruling.
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 03/08/2025
theglobeandmail.com
Tech jobs were supposed to be the safe career route. What changed?
Many companies said they expanded too quickly since the pandemic or struggled to adapt to higher interest rates, leading to scores of layoffs
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Details not yet released, but looks like Japan has agreed to a 15% baseline tariff rate… www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
wsj.com
U.S. and Japan Reach Trade Deal
President Trump says Tokyo will face 15% reciprocal tariffs instead of the 25% he had threatened while the nation invests $550 billion into the U.S.
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Matt Clancy @mattsclancy.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
The Abundance and Growth Fund at Open Philanthropy is hiring! We’re looking for 2-4 people to help expand this new $120+ million program to accelerate economic growth and reduce the cost of living through strategic grantmaking and research. (1/4) www.openphilanthropy.org/research/ann...
openphilanthropy.org
Announcing Our New $120M Abundance And Growth Fund | Open Philanthropy
We are excited to announce the launch of our new Abundance and Growth Fund, which will spend at least $120 million over the next three years to accelerate economic growth and boost scientific and tech...
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Great article by @aradwanski.bsky.social that is ostensibly about Michael Sabia, but is really about the case for broader public sector reform. We need a serious effort to renew our state capacity if we truly want to get things done in Canada. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
theglobeandmail.com
How Michael Sabia can make Ottawa move fast and build things
Canada’s top bureaucrat is expected to light a fire under a federal public service accustomed to moving more slowly than the moment demands
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Stephanie Carvin @stephaniecarvin.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Over the last free months Canada has upped its border security, agreed to participate in the Golden Dome, and spend 5% of GDP on defence and it basically all means nothing. No agreement will be stable or secure, even if we can eventually reach one. The new normal in Canada-US relations.
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Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
The court ruling against many of Trump's tariffs today would lower US overall tariff rates by roughly 10%, only leaving the tariffs on cars, steel, & aluminum If it holds (a very big if) tariffs would drop to the lowest rate since March & importers would get retroactive relief
a timeline graph of Trump's 2nd-Term tariffs
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 22/05/2025
theglobeandmail.com
AtkinsRéalis moves to secure heavy water supplier in Argentina
The Canadian company is seeking to build new Candu nuclear power reactors, which depend on heavy water
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Kevin Milligan @kevinmilligan.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
A US deficit of $2.3 trillion is about 7.5% of expected US GDP in 2026. Canada is in the range of 2% defict/GDP. Their 10 year bond is about 4.5%; ours is about 3.5%.
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Phil Smith @philsmith26.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
If you are interested in Canadian employment statistics, I have a new piece on Substack (free) comparing LFS and SEPH here: philip635.substack.com/p/comparing-...
philip635.substack.com
Comparing Canada's two employment surveys
Introduction
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
US loses its AAA credit rating… www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
wsj.com
U.S. Loses Last Triple-A Credit Rating
Moody’s Ratings downgraded the U.S. government, citing large fiscal deficits and rising interest costs.
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Fascinating piece from Yoshua Bengio on an alternate (and safer) path for developing “superhuman” AI. time.com/7283507/safe...
time.com
A Potential Path to Safer AI Development
Yoshua Bengio warns that the current approach to developing AI models carries potentially catastrophic risks.
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Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
"These aren't deals. Britain didn't get a deal... Every country is getting a 10% tariff, and if you wanna turn up for a photo opportunity, you're allowed to get an asterisk next to that 10%."
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Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
It's a "deal," not a deal: "This document serves to define the general terms for the EPD that set forth the shared desires of the US and the UK... Both the US and the UK recognize that this document does not constitute a legally binding agreement." ustr.gov/sites/defaul...
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
A very good overview from the WSJ on the implications of the UK-US trade deal for the rest of the world: - Trump very eager to make a deal to show progress - Little precedent value for other countries - No commitment from UK to "isolate China" 👇
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
U.S. “exceptionalism” under Trump: Imagine having a research institution with the size and scale of Harvard and the government decides to wage an all-out war to cripple it? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/u...
nytimes.com
Harvard Leaders See Only Bad Outcomes Ahead as They Battle Trump
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
TD Economics - U.S. Cuts Its First Trade Deal With UK – More Symbolic than Economic economics.td.com/us-uk-trade-... via @TD_Economics
economics.td.com
U.S. Cuts Its First Trade Deal With UK – More Symbolic than Economic
U.S. Cuts Its First Trade Deal With UK – More Symbolic than Economic
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Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Good morning. It is now 12:01 AM, which means a 25% tariff on all $114B in non-USCMA-compliant auto part imports has now gone into effect, alongside a hideously complex system allowing carmakers to rebate tariffs on 15% of the content in a US-made car this year & 10% next year
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Sean Mullin @mullinsean.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Today is election day! 🇨🇦 If you live in Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park, I strongly recommend voting for my friend and colleague, Karim Bardeesy, who will be a fantastic MP and is the type of person we need up in Ottawa right now. But, most importantly, please vote! Democracy matters!
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