PP+G REVIEW

Science & Policy: Time for an Old Idea to Enter the Modern Conversation

By: David Côté Questions of science have penetrated the daily political discourse: What is the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in children? Is social media dangerous to mental health? What proportion of greenhouse gas emissions are produced through factory farming? The list goes on. People increasingly rely on their perception of science as objective and categorical…

COVID-19 Policy and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

By: David Côté Whether it be non-essential business closures, vaccine passports, social gathering limits, or otherwise, COVID-19 policy and civil liberties have become intertwined. Now two years into the pandemic, people are increasingly wondering when and why certain government actions are justified. A basic understanding of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“Charter”) is…

A Look at Recent Changes to the Ontario Autism Program

By: Emerson Iudiciani In February 2019, the Ontario government announced its revised approach to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and launched it in March 2021. Part of this amended commitment was the result of significant backlash from parents and community organizations against the program previously announced the year prior, by former Minister of Children, Community and…

Holistic “Education for All”: The Case for Student Services

By: Ally Buchanan “Education for all” has existed as a policy goal and buzzword for years. Increasing education in a population, especially historically excluded groups, provides social mobility, improved labour forces, and increased diversity in academia. However, universities and colleges as they currently exist are not built for “all,” and neither are the priorities of provincial education…

Canada’s COP26 Emissions Reduction Pledges

By: Sean Cameron Canada entered the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow as one of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emitters in the world, with the largest increase in emissions of any G7 nation since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2016. Earlier this year, the federal government released A Healthy Environment and A Healthy Economy plan,…

Can Toronto’s Inclusionary Housing Policy Overcome Exclusionary Market Forces?

By: Anna Hardie It is hard to walk through downtown Toronto without coming across a new condominium. This is in part because housing policies incentivize condo development over any other type of housing. Between 1998 and 2018, 77% of all new housing supply in Toronto were condominiums. However, most people cannot access the new supply of housing…

A Resource Gap: Why First Nations Need Access and Authority Over Water

By: Sophia Stavropolous Indigenous communities in Canada have long faced a lack of access to safe drinking water. Since 2015, the Liberal federal government has invested $5.2 billion towards clean water and eliminated 119 long-term drinking water advisoriesin First Nations communities, yet many continue to have boil water advisories in place. To properly address this issue, it is imperative that…

Income Inequality in Canada: A Pre-Election Primer

By: Hugh Ragan and Jack Pankratz With the inequities exposed by the pandemic fresh in people’s memory, and an election looming for September 20, Canadians will be looking for their political leaders to promise progress on economic inequality in the month ahead. Although the troubling patterns of American inequality may have spurred a worldwide reckoning on the…

From Government Exclusion to Hate Crimes: The Origins and Resurgence of Anti-Asian Racism

By: Sabrina Gilmour In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a disturbing surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and racism in Canada. According to a report by the Chinese Canadian National Council – Toronto Chapter (CCNC),1150 cases of racist attacks were reported across Canada between March 2020 and February 2021. Victims have experienced…

Ontario’s Covid-19 Vaccine Immunization Program: Highlighting disparities and accessibility concerns

By: Ruth Rosalle and Megan Annable Amidst climbing rates of virus transmission and the government working to implement “Phase 2” of the COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Program, Ontario faces a pressing challenge of working against the clock to implement policy to help curb the spread of COVID-19 effectively. As the new variant strains of COVID-19 continue to…

Climate Action in Canada During the Biden Era: Is Canada on Track?

By: Sonja Perisic On April 22 and 23, in advance of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) climate talks in November, President Joe Biden will host a Leaders’ Climate Summit. As the United States proposes new climate investments, Canada could potentially fall behind in the global forefront of climate leaders. The Climate Summit…

Everything You Wanted to Know about Laicity But Were Afraid to Ask

By: Rachel May The Quebec ban on religious symbols, enacted as “An Act respecting the laicity of the State” and commonly known as Bill 21, has always been controversial. Canadians are both passionate and sensitive about the subject matter, an explosive combination. Combine that with the apparent contradiction of certain rights and freedoms guaranteed by…

The Real Culprit in Toronto’s Housing Crisis

By: Sonja Perisic Khaleel Seivwright has become something of a household name in Toronto in the last few weeks. With the support of over $200k in GoFundMe donations, the Toronto carpenter has been building tiny insulated shelters for Toronto’s homeless community as an alternative to tents or park benches. Many of the city’s homeless shelters…

Initiatives to Improve Indigenous Housing: A Panel with Policy Leaders

By Serena Rawn The Indigenous Policy Initiative (IPI), is a student organization driven by a single goal; to do our part in promoting open, cross-cultural dialogue regarding Indigenous issues. Housed in the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, we hope to inspire strategic changes within our community. We strive to foster productive partnerships and make a positive impact…

Houston, We Have a Problem…There’s No Power

By: Rachel May There has been much talk about increasing political polarization in recent times. This chatter took on a new, intensified meaning when severe winter weather conditions created an entirely different kind of polarization in Texas. There are many theories about the cause of the Texas freeze – Tucker Carlson blamed wind turbines, and…

Challenges and Potential Solutions for Northern Ontario’s Internet Service

By: Sean McGowan The Government of Ontario recently committed $1Billion towards improving internet infrastructure in Northern Ontario. This funding adds to the $6Billion in investments that the Government of Canada has allocated nationwide through the Universal Broadband Fund. This is a good sign for Northern Ontario, where internet service speeds and coverage greatly trail behind…

What does it mean for Canada that Biden cancelled the Keystone XL Pipeline?

By: Ella Hartsoe Unpacking Equity is a collaboration between the Public Policy and Governance Review and the Equity, Diversity and Public Policy Initiative (EDPP) at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This series aims to explain equity-related policy issues and break down complicated topics involving equity, diversity and inclusion. Policy professionals can…

Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Need for an Intersectional Lens in Policy Analysis

Unpacking Equity is a collaboration between the Public Policy and Governance Review and the Equity, Diversity and Public Policy Initiative (EDPP) at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This series aims to explain equity-related policy issues and break down complicated topics involving equity, diversity and inclusion. Policy professionals can gain a better…

The Challenges of Confronting Racial Inequity

By: Hugh Ragan This summer’s Black Lives Matter protests led to the most widespread and profound consciousness-raising that I have experienced in my lifetime. The killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd drew attention to injustices experienced by African Americans and racial minorities but also prompted fundamental questions about justice that transcend race. Four points,…

The ‘Cold’ Shoulder: Toronto’s Response to Homelessness as the Pandemic Rages On

By: Sabrina Gilmour As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the middle of the winter, most Torontonians will likely find themselves seeking warmth and safety within their homes. For people experiencing homelessness, the colder season might have meant going to one of the 63 shelters the city has to offer. However, this is no typical…

#TrumpTwitterTroubles: An Explanation of Regulatory Issues Concerning the President’s Social Media Ban

By: Rachel May Donald Trump’s presidency changed historical norms in too many ways to count. One of the most important was the use of social media for frequent, direct communication with American citizens, international counterparts, and members of his own administration. In the final stages of the Trump presidency the focus on social media heightened…

Criminalization vs. Public Health: The Legacy of Canada’s Racially Biased Drug Laws

By: Jenny Zhang Unpacking Equity is a collaboration between the Public Policy and Governance Review and the Equity, Diversity and Public Policy Initiative (EDPP) at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This series aims to explain equity-related policy issues and break down complicated topics involving equity, diversity and inclusion. Policy professionals can…

In Conversation with Josh Hjartarson

By Alyssa Bishop and Alexandrea Johnston On October 16th, the Consulting Careers Initiative (CCI) hosted an in-depth discussion with Josh Hjartarson about the private consulting industry’s role as a policy actor in Canada. Dr. Hjartarson is a Partner and the National Leader for Human Services at Deloitte Canada, one of the country’s largest consulting firms….

Federal Prisons and COVID-19: The Call for Decarceration

By: Danielle Foppiano The Equity, Diversity and Public Policy Initiative (EDPP) is a graduate student-led organization at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. We aim to explore the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy. We promote the adoption of an…

The Government of Canada’s Current Fiscal Deficit Doesn’t Matter

By: Noah Clarke In Canada, the economic impact of the pandemic quickly made itself known. In March and April alone, more than three million Canadians lost their jobs as travel and non-essential services were shut down to limit the spread of the virus. The unemployment rate quickly soared to 13 per cent. Now, those that…

Perhaps too early to start celebrating: Fairness and Equity in the Distribution of a COVID-19 Vaccine

By: Sonja Perisic The world was roaring with the recent week’s announcement that Moderna, an American pharmaceutical company, has developed a vaccine more than 94% effective in preventing COVID-19. Canada has already secured up to 358 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from a wide range of different manufacturers and has signed six contracts for tens of millions more vaccine doses with pharmaceutical giants, such as AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer….

Nations Divided: How Barriers to Interprovincial Trade Cause Differing Canadian Opinion on the US Election

By: Sean McGowan During the week of November 4th, people around the world patiently waited to hear who would win the 2020 United States Presidential Election. Canadians were overwhelmingly hoping for Biden, especially in Ontario, where 84% of the public would have voted for Biden if given the chance. Across the country, however, Albertans were…

The Pandemic Spoke Loud and Clear – it is Time to Care About our Most Vulnerable

By: Anastasia Volkov There is little doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted all of our lives. However, several snapshots released by Statistics Canada in late August report a disproportionate impact on individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, the disability community frequently does not receive the attention it deserves. Yet, nearly 25 per cent of Canadians over the…

We are All Treaty People – Racism and Jurisdiction in L’nu* Territory and Beyond

By Keith Cherry *Note: the word L’nu is the autonym of the people otherwise known as Mi’kmaq, an Indigenous group spanning much of what is sometimes called Atlantic Canada. When Indigenous L’nu fishers launched their own lobster fishery in pats of Nova Scotia this fall, they faced brutal, racist violence and chilling police indifference. For…

Current Competition Law Only One, Dull Tool to Rein In Google and Big Tech

By: Hugh Ragan Last month, the U.S. Justice Department launched a lawsuit against Google accusing the company of illegally protecting the cornerstone of its empire: search and advertising. This demonstration of government resolve is welcomed by many Americans who are wary of the threats that Google, and other Big Tech behemoths, pose by harnessing mountains…

A Fine Kettle of Disputed Fish: An Explanation of the Mi’kmaq Fishery Dispute

By: Rachel May The very foundations of the true Canadian archetype are of a polite and apologetic people, of populations with different backgrounds living together peacefully in a rich and beautiful land with abundant resources. On those lines, the recent images of violent disputes erupting along our picturesque Nova Scotian coast, with scenes of destructive…

Liberty, Freedom and the Pursuit of Mass-Surveillance: An Analysis of the 2013 Snowden Revelations

By: Karishma Firdausi Unpacking Equity is a collaboration between the Public Policy and Governance Review and the Equity, Diversity and Public Policy Initiative (EDPP) at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This series aims to explain equity-related policy issues and break down complicated topics involving equity, diversity and inclusion. Policy professionals can…

Inequality and COVID-19: The Adverse Effects of the Pandemic on Low-Income Communities

By: Alyssa Bishop The coronavirus has been a force to reckon with since the pandemic came to a head in March 2020. The pandemic has tested the capacity of the healthcare, education, and economic systems and yet, despite all of the chaos, COVID-19 was originally praised as the ‘great equalizer’. It was said that the…

Transnational Law, Reconciliation and the MOU on Wet’suwet’en Governance

Keith Cherry examines how concepts from transnational law could be used to further reconciliation within Canada.

What is an Economy for Anyways: A Talk with Dr. Yannick Beaudoin

by Steven Giallelis A Story of Wants: To those who don’t have much knowledge or experience in the field, hearing the word “economics” or “economy” may bring shivers down their backs at the mere thought of mathematic calculations. Even more so, such terms beyond use in conversation may not be truly understood. Many may find…

Breaking Down Canada’s Economic Response to COVID-19

Nick Thompson explains what Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan actually entails.

Technology in Education: Is It Helpful or Is It Harmful?

What are the key considerations when bringing technology into education? Joanne Soares and Anandu Nair created a helpful infographic to explain.

Build the Wall: Border and Migration

by Steven Giallelis Regardless of political opinion, a rising notion has persisted in the minds of many. Among our American neighbours to the South, assertions of “building a wall” continue to spark heated debates around dinner tables and international political debates alike. History of Border Walls and their Revival in the Modern Day: The use…

2019 Provincial budget: implications for the equitable administration of post-secondary education

by Anisa Jama Unpacking Equity is a collaboration between the Public Policy and Governance Review and the Gender, Diversity and Public Policy Initiative (GDPP) at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This series aims to explain equity-related policy issues and break down complicated topics involving equity, diversity and inclusion. Policy professionals can…

Canadian Sex Work Policy, the Failure of the “Nordic Model,” and Future Approaches

by Sabrina White (Spectrum) Spectrum is a student initiative aimed at professional and career development for LGBTQ+ students. We aim to foster an inclusive environment to ensure LGBTQ+ students and their allies have resources, information, and connections to maximize personal and professional success. Twenty-two days into the new year, a woman was killed in a hotel room…

Discrimination in Healthcare: How Indigenous Communities are Affected

by Carly Wigdor (Indigenous Affairs Student Initiative) IASI is a newly-established graduate student-led initiative that aims to provide a platform to discuss Indigenous issues from a policy-focused lens. In conjunction with our Advisory Board, consisting of Bob Rae, Grand Chief Arlen Dumas and Professor Douglas Sanderson, we seek to promote awareness of Indigenous issues and…

Let Them Lead: Tackling Indigenous Homelessness with Culturally Relevant Services

by Melissa Slauenwhite (Indigenous Affairs Student Initiative) IASI is a newly-established graduate student-led initiative that aims to provide a platform to discuss Indigenous issues from a policy-focused lens. In conjunction with our Advisory Board, consisting of Bob Rae, Grand Chief Arlen Dumas and Professor Douglas Sanderson, we seek to promote awareness of Indigenous issues and…

The Intersection of Climate Change and the LGBTQ+ Community: Where Does Canada Stand?

As the news cycle continues to broadcast the devastating effects of a warming climate, both the national and international community have rightly recognized the disproportionate impact that climate change has on vulnerable communities, particularly women and Indigenous communities.