Policy Options - the digital magazine of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (@irpp.org)// Le magazine numérique de l'Institut de recherche en politiques publiques (IRPP)
Cities are on the front lines of major social, economic and democratic transformations. Homelessness. Housing. Mobility. Climate change. Municipal finances. Our new series explores the challenges and the solutions that will shape the future of urban Canada.
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We are saddened by the death of L. Ian MacDonald, editor-in-chief of Policy Options from 2002 to 2012. Ian helped shape the magazine for a decade and left a rich body of writing and interviews on Canadian politics and public policy.
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Ian brought a deep knowledge of Canadian politics and public policy. In his final editor’s note in 2012, Ian reflected on a principle stretching back to founding editor Tom Kent: the editorial independence of Policy Options. It was, he wrote, “sacrosanct.”
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We remember Ian with gratitude and offer our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. We invite readers to revisit some of his Policy Options work in our archive.
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Who really pays to train skilled workers? Across the OECD, immigrants account for up to 35% of the highly skilled workforce. @bridgdivides.bsky.social researcher Hari KC looks at where these workers come from, and the cost of their training on global equality. Read more in @policyoptions.irpp.org:
Et si l’approche d’Ottawa pour soutenir les Premières Nations limitait en réalité leurs capacités ?
Dans un nouveau mémo, l’ancienne sous-ministre Gina Wilson explique comment les mécanismes de financement peuvent mieux soutenir les communautés de Premières Nations.
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What if Ottawa’s approach to supporting First Nations actually limits their capacity?
In a new memo, former deputy minister Gina Wilson shares how federal funding arrangements can better support First Nations communities.
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My latest for @policyoptions.irpp.org: Canada's wealth stats hide women's economic vulnerability. They document household wealth, not how it's split within families.
Property ownership in modern unions is individualized and unequal. Our data must catch up. policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/06/gend...
Près de 2/3 des Canadiens doutent en la capacité de la fonction publique fédérale à planifier à long terme.
@jenditchburn.bsky.social écrit que renforcer la capacité du gouv. à livrer la marchandise est essentiel à l’atteinte des ambitions économiques du pays.
policyoptions.irpp.org/fr/2026/06/p...
@jenditchburn.bsky.social codirige La Capacité de changer, un projet de recherche de l’@irpp.org visant à explorer des solutions concrètes et fondées sur la recherche pour relever certains des défis les plus pressants du gouvernement fédéral en matière de capacité.
👉 irpp.org/fr/capacite-...
Nearly 2/3 of Canadians lack confidence in the federal public service's ability to plan for the long term.
@jenditchburn.bsky.social(@irpp.org) writes that strengthening government's capacity to deliver is essential to Canada achieving its economic ambitions.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/06/publ...
@jenditchburn.bsky.social is co-leading Capacity for Change: Designing a Public Service Built to Deliver, an @irpp.org research project exploring practical, research-backed solutions to some of the federal government's most pressing capacity challenges.
Check it out: irpp.org/capacity-for...
Les villes sont en première ligne des grandes transformations sociales, économiques et démocratiques. Itinérance, logement, mobilité, climat, finances municipales: notre nouvelle série explore les défis & les solutions qui façonneront l’avenir urbain au Canada.
policyoptions.irpp.org/fr/series/vi...
Today is #RedDressDay, a day to honour and remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.
This article reflects on the history of violence & oppression, and highlights the ongoing need for awareness & concrete action:
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/07/viol...
In @policyoptions.irpp.org, Milad Moghaddas argues that protecting migrant workers from abuse requires a rights-based framework, which would also benefit the Canadian economy overall. He maps out four policy directions for achieving this transition.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/prot...
On May 5 in MTL, join us for Beyond the Feed, an IRPP event on how online personalities are transforming political communication.
Panel 2: Campaigns and Influencers, w/ Dr. Katharine Dommett and Dr. Samuel Woolley.
🎟️RSVP: events@irpp.org
More information: irpp.org/irpp-event/h...
Stéphane Dion, ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères, de l’Environnement et des Affaires intergouvernementales, sur les politiques climatiques.
👉 policyoptions.irpp.org/fr/2026/04/c...
Canada lacks the workforce to meet its ambitions, Laura McDonough & Tricia Williams of @fsc-ccf.bsky.social write in @irpp.org. Bridging the gap will require coordination and collaboration to ensure Canada has the right skills in the right place at the right time. Read more:
Latest by Kevin G. Lynch and Jim Mitchell: The Carney government’s policy pivot amid global turmoil requires reshaping how government works.
Read it here: policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/fix-...
"Public organizations avoid political positioning in the name of impartiality. These criteria are often framed as protecting against discrimination, yet in practice they can reproduce it."
Latest, by Karine Coen-Sanchez.
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"In a world with a growing range of highly contagious airborne infectious diseases that increase workplace illnesses and absences, improved indoor air is critical to public health, productivity and competitiveness." - @irpp.org
Any push to increase school attendance has to deal with the fact that schools are where sickness spreads - and it doesn't stay there. Forcing sick kids to go anyway will make that even worse.
If they're serious, start by cleaning the air. Attendance and learning will improve as kids get healthier.
Pour devenir une puissance mondiale en IA, le Canada doit développer une infrastructure de calcul publique, afin de maximiser les retombées tout en encadrant les impacts éthiques et environnementaux.
Un article de @gbeaumier.bsky.social et Hubert Cadieux
policyoptions.irpp.org/fr/2026/04/i...
Ottawa is missing how community food systems can strengthen resilience, reduce supply chain risks and anchor national security at the local level.
An article by Sara Edge and Jenelle Regnier-Davies
Read it here: policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/food...
"Disrupting terrorist financing is not just about following the money trail. It’s about fewer attacks and fewer lives lost." says Ken Chan
Read his article about Canada's Financial Crimes Agency here: policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/fina...
AI tools are cutting doctors’ paperwork, but weak safeguards risk patient privacy, accuracy and equity in Canada’s health system.
Read the article by Helen Beny, PhD here 👇 policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/ai-s...
"Until the foundations of health and primary education are secure, INU will be not a triumph of higher learning, but a $156-million monument to building the roof before the foundation." - Chanelle Joy Firth
Read the full article 👇
policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/nort...
Clear national standards are needed as a response to exclusionary sport policies gathering steam in women’s sport.
An article by Marcus Mazzucco and Bruce Kidd.
Read it here 👉 policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/03/wome...
The decision to close Canada’s anti-Islamophobia office is a dangerous retreat, @torontomet.bsky.social professors Asmaa Malik and Fahad Ahmad tell @irpp.org. They say it shows a lack of desire for an honest conversation about the realities Canadian Muslims face. Read more:
"The percentage of Canadians who are moderately to severely food insecure doubled between 2019 and 2023. Almost 20 per cent of the population is worried that they will not have enough food to eat."
Related: Slaying myths about income support.
Latest piece by @rsamson.bsky.social, @shaimaayassin.bsky.social and @gillianpetit.bsky.socialpolicyoptions.irpp.org/2026/02/inco...
Groceries & essentials are straining lower income household budgets.The CGEB could reach 12M+ Canadians.Who qualifies? How much will people receive? Who will benefit the most?
@gillianpetit.bsky.social & @shaimaayassin.bsky.social break it down in their new IRPP commentary: irpp.org/research-stu...