2012 « Public Policy and Governance Review

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Call for Submissions – Volume 3, Issue 2

In Uncategorized on February 9, 2012 at 2:17 pm

The Public Policy and Governance Review is now accepting submissions for Volume 3, Issue 2. All papers, excluding Sylvia Ostry Prize submissions, must be submitted by February 24, 2012 for review. Submission details can be found at www.ppgreview.ca/submissions.

The PPGR is also accepted submissions for its annual essay competition, the Sylvia Ostry Prize in Public Policy. The author of the top paper shall be awarded $1000 CAD and publication in the next issue of the PPGR. Please see the poster below for details of this year’s Ostry Prize competition.

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Chevrolet Volt, Fitocracy, Games, Gamification, Public Policy

Gamification and Public Policy

In Brent Barron, Public Policy on February 8, 2012 at 10:00 am

Brent Barron

Policy professionals had better start getting used to playing games. Not because we’re dour individuals in need of some fun (although maybe we are a bit dour: federal layoff fears led to less Christmas spending spirit in Ottawa), but because games and friendly competition have the power to seriously change how people behave.

One of my favourite features about the Chevy Volt (I swear this isn’t a paid blogvertisement, even though it starts exactly like one) is the dashboard, specifically the green bubble on the right side. The car automatically calculates how efficiently you’re driving and gives you a visual representation of it: green is efficient, while yellow means aggressive and inefficient braking or acceleration. Read the rest of this entry »

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Alberta, Alison Redford, Canada, Energy, Stephen Harper

A National Energy Strategy for Canada: Current Opportunities and Challenges

In Leonardo Tovar, Public Policy on January 13, 2012 at 10:00 am

Leonardo Tovar

You’ve probably heard this argument many times. The U.S. needs energy resources. Canada has the human capital and physical infrastructure to deliver them cost-efficiently. Let the market do its job and Canada benefits from its trade surplus with its southern neighbour. What about the environment, you say? Well, according to the Federal government, Canadians want to focus on the Copenhagen and Cancun accords that are as hazy as the mechanisms currently available to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.

This has been essentially Canada’s approach to energy since the 1980s.

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Dalton McGuinty, Health Care, Liberal Party, Ontario, Tim Hudak, Value

Is Ontario’s Ensuing Fiscal Squeeze Salvageable?

In Andrew Perez on January 11, 2012 at 10:00 am

Andrew Perez

The Backdrop

Ontario just can’t get a break. Once the economic backbone of Canada, the province was paralyzed by the global economic crisis that ravished the globe three years ago. Fast forward to January 2012: the province is saddled with a $16-billion dollar deficit and a rate of growth that is slower than that of some other provinces. With scarce natural resources to draw upon and a deep reliance on the U.S. economy, Ontario’s fiscal outlook is more severe than that of other provinces.

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Volume 3 Issue 1

In Announcements on January 10, 2012 at 10:00 am

The Public Policy and Governance Review is pleased to announce the release of its Winter 2012 Issue.

Click here for the new issue.

The articles in this issue reflect the themes of the past year, as well as other longstanding policy challenges. We lead off Volume 3, Issue 1 of the Review with a call to action from Senator Roméo Dallaire to policy leaders present and future. Other articles in this issue highlight current policy discourse on the topics of income inequality, the intervention in Libya, and the European debt crisis. Additionally, this collection features articles on Canadian national security, aboriginal education, tax policy, and foreign policy.

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