Janet Hope

Janet Hope is a public policy leader with 38 years of diverse experience across the government and the not-for-profit sectors, primarily in the fields of post-secondary education, housing and homelessness and municipal government.  

Throughout her career, Janet has developed a reputation as a trusted and inclusive partner who works collaboratively to find creative solutions to public policy challenges. A keenly strategic thinker, she quickly grasps new technical subject matter and can effectively translate complex concepts for diverse audiences.  

Janet’s experience in the post-secondary sector includes three years as Vice-President, Policy with Colleges Ontario, where she led the team supporting the 24 college presidents to develop consensus policy positions on issues such as financial sustainability, international student standards and the expansion and reform of critical health sciences programs. This built on previous experience with the province where, as Director, Colleges Branch, Janet led the development and implementation of an updated governance, accountability and program quality framework, including modernized legislation and an award-winning set of key performance indicators. 

As Assistant Deputy Minister of Housing with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for nine years, Janet brings in-depth, practical policy, program and financial experience in market and community housing and homelessness. She led Ontario’s negotiating team to conclude a bilateral agreement under the National Housing Strategy, focused on achieving increased flexibility for Ontario’s housing partners. She also led the design, approval and implementation of an innovative approach to sell or lease provincial surplus lands to achieve more than 2,100 market and affordable rental housing units. She is particularly proud of her team’s work to secure approvals, design and implement Ontario’s first supportive housing program focused on reducing chronic homelessness.  

Janet integrates policy, program, operational and transfer payment experience from across diverse fields. As Assistant Deputy Minister of Long-Term Care Policy, Janet led the development of the province’s long-term staffing plan. As Director, Municipal Finance Policy, she was a key player in the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review, the development of new tax tools for the City of Toronto and the development of a new governance approach for the OMERS pension plan. 

Janet has a Master of Arts from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Waterloo University (both in political science) and is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Leadership Conference. She has extensive experience in a variety of roles on boards and committees, including stints as chair of the Centre of Innovation for Campus Mental Health and the Ontario Mortgage and Housing Corporation.