Insights

The Future of Ontario’s Workers

On June 23, 2020 / Education, Institute, Provincial Highlight

The StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy’s white paper, The Future of Ontario’s Workers, examines the impact of the future of work and COVID-19 on Ontario’s labour force and how Ontario’s 24 public colleges can be empowered to tackle those challenges. The 17 recommendations outlined in

Shifting From COVID-19 Response to Recovery

On June 19, 2020 / Our Thinking

In the 100 days since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, governments across Canada were quick to act, adjusting the activities of legislatures. In the early stages, unprecedented levels of cooperation – across both aisles and jurisdictions – defined the emergency response. But as the pandemic has

A Playbook for Voluntary Regional Governance in Greater Toronto

On June 19, 2020 / Institute, Municipal, Our Thinking

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown into relief a range of health, social, and economic challenges for municipalities in the Greater Toronto region. These challenges – such as lack of affordable housing, income inequality, the need to spur economic development, and the impact of climate change – all

Federal Parliament Gets Political Again

On June 16, 2020 / Our Thinking

The week of June 15th was to be the last sitting week for the House of Commons before summer. However, COVID-19 forced Parliament to quickly reinvent itself to deal with pandemic related priorities. Parties put aside their own interests to support the healthcare and finance measures required

The Thoughtful Appointment of Jamil Jivani Breaks the Conservative Mold

On June 16, 2020 / Institute, Provincial

I used to work with a colleague in government who, whenever the opportunity presented itself, would quip “you know, this is exactly what Liberals think we do.” He was referring to the fact that every political party has negative connotations associated with it. Common refrains are that

Ontario’s Regional Approach to Stage Two Reopening

On June 9, 2020 / Our Thinking, Provincial

The Ford government has announced the details of stage two of its framework to reopening the economy, which introduces a regional approach, given some parts of the GTA still account for over 70 per cent of new COVID-19 cases. Regions which remain in stage one include the

Supporting a Safe Restart: A Long Road Ahead

On June 5, 2020 / Our Thinking

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the federal government is offering $14 billion to the provinces and territories as part of a safe restart agreement. The offer is a federal contribution to support the safe re-opening of the Canadian economy over the next six to eight

Infrastructure Gas Tax Dollars Fast-Tracked to Municipalities by Feds

On June 1, 2020 / Our Thinking

As financial pressure increases on provinces and municipalities across Canada from a massive decline on revenues due to COVID-19, the traditional debate about “who pays for what” is top of mind for governments at all levels. Prime Minister Trudeau and Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna announced that the

Remember the Jolly Banker — the Bill Will Come Due

On May 29, 2020 / Finance, Institute, Our Thinking

There is an old American folk song by Woody Guthrie called “Jolly Banker.” In it, Guthrie (a noted union activist) depicts a helpful banker with a constant smile who is there for families in need with loans for furniture, lines of credit, and deferred mortgages. Over the course of

CAF Reports Issues in Long-term Care Homes

On May 26, 2020 / Our Thinking

Long-term care facilities, especially those in Ontario and Quebec, have been hard-hit by outbreaks of COVID-19. Premiers Ford and Legault specifically requested the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) medical teams in April to help manage the outbreak in some long-term care facilities. A report written