Futureproofing Canada

Canadian trade policy at a risky crossroads, a Policy Options podcast. Rising economic anxieties combined with challenges to the global multilateral trade framework has necessitated a re-evaluation of Canadian trade policies and priorities. What should the pillars of Canadian trade policy look like going forward? In the IRPP’s new trade volume titled "Redesigning Canadian Trade Policies for New Global Realities", co-editors Stephen Tapp, Ari Van Assche and Robert Wolfe lay out a blueprint for improving Canada’s trade performance. They stopped by the Policy Options podcast to share insights from their book. Download for free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See the IRPP’s new trade volume “Redesigning Canadian Trade Policies for New Global Realities” at http://irpp.org/research/trade/ Tweet your questions and comments to @IRPP or @AlexShadeed

Breaking down the French election, a Policy Options podcast. The runoff vote in France’s presidential election is less than a week away, in a campaign that has seen major political upheaval in the republic. The two parties that traditionally traded the keys to the Elysée Palace, the Republicans and the Socialist Party, have been sidelined in favour of Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, two disruptive candidates. Although Macron, head of the new En Marche! movement, is widely seen as the frontrunner against Le Pen (until recently the leader of the populist Front national), what happens after the election in the French legislature is likely to be the real drama. Canada’s former ambassador to France, Marc Lortie, joined the podcast to discuss this intriguing moment in French politics.

How the NDP's past can help the party today, a Policy Options podcast. A new leader isn’t the only thing that the federal NDP is searching for, in the wake of its third-place finish in the 2015 general election. The party is also grappling with existential questions around its core political philosophy. In a recent Policy Options article, historian Kenneth C. Dewar argued that the policy debates of the party’s past can provide some valuable guidance today. He stopped by the podcast to share his insights. Download for free. New Episodes every second Tuesday. See Kenneth C. Dewar’s Policy Options article “The NDP and the future of social democracy in Canada” at http://options-po.li/2nHypUf See Kenneth C. Dewar’s Active History essay “The Social Democracy Question” at http://bit.ly/2nZdq42

Where will automation lead us? A Policy Options podcast. It’s hard to measure the effect that automation will have on the Canadian economy. Advances in technology will not only make certain jobs obsolete, they may well change the very nature of some industries, as well as industries related to them. David Ticoll (senior fellow at the Innovation Policy Lab at University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs) wrote about the challenges facing Canada in the era of disruptive technological change as part of the Policy Options special feature, “The Changing Nature of Work”. He stopped by the podcast to share his insights on the topic. Download for free. New Episodes every second Tuesday. See David Ticoll’s Policy Options article “The automation elephant in the room” at http://options-po.li/2mkESrd See David Ticoll’s Innovation Policy Lab discussion paper “Driving Changes: Automated Vehicles in Toronto” at http://bit.ly/2n7BKAD

Budget 2017 analysis live from the lockup, a Policy Options podcast. What were the highlights of the new federal budget? IRPP's Jennifer Ditchburn, Joanne Castonguay, Stephen Tapp, and Alex Shadeed weigh in from the budget lockup. Download for free. New episodes every second Tuesday.

Canada's suburbs are no place to grow old, a Policy Options Podcast. Canada’s suburbs do not meet the needs of our aging population. The phenomenon of urban sprawl make driving a must, which isn’t an option for many seniors with limited mobility. According to the statistics, one in four Canadians will be 65 years old or older by 2041, so we need to ask: what would a move toward age-friendly communities look like? IRPP author Glenn Miller, a senior associate with the Canadian Urban Institute in Toronto, stopped by the podcast to share his insights on the topic. Download for free. New Episodes every second Tuesday. See Glenn Miller’s IRPP Insight “No Place to Grow Old: How Canadian Suburbs Can Become Age Friendly” at http://on-irpp.org/2mXLBrU

Countering violent extremism in Canada, a Policy Options Podcast. In its 2016 Public Report On The Terrorist Threat To Canada, Public Safety Canada said domestic, violent extremists who could be inspired to carry out an attack are the nation’s principal terrorist threat. This comes as terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State show they are still able to use the Internet very effectively to propagate their radical ideology online, and to inspire individuals to carry out attacks. How are Canadians being radicalized, and what is the government doing to counter domestic, violent extremism? Nadia Hai, a PhD candidate at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, studies how terrorist organizations communicate their message with Western audiences. She stopped by the podcast to share her insights on the topic. Download for free. New Episodes every second Tuesday. See Nadia Hai's article “Jihobbyists, Fanatics or Fan-attacks? Exploring Extremist Fan Cultures through Inspire Magazine” at http://bit.ly/2mGD8We

Improving Canada's sanctions legislation, a Policy Options Podcast. With the "Magnitsky law" now in effect in the United States, many have speculated that Canada might adopt similar legislation that would facilitate the application of sanctions on individuals and countries who commit grave human rights violations. How should Canada proceed? Andrea Charron, director of the Centre for Security, Intelligence, and Defence Studies at Carleton University, stopped by the podcast to share her insights on the matter. Download for free. New Episodes every second Tuesday. See Andrea Charron and Meredith Lilly's Policy Options article “More sanctions is the wrong tool for human rights protection” at http://options-po.li/2kufxew

Indigenous representation in the media, a Policy Options Podcast. How can we ensure that Indigenous issues are being covered regularly in the media and with sensitivity? Duncan McCue is the creator and curator of the website “Reporting in Indigenous Communities,” and he hosts CBC Radio One’s Cross Country Checkup. He stopped by the podcast to share his insights on the topic. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See the website of “Reporting on Indigenous Communities” at http://riic.ca/ See Duncan McCue’s article “Who is Jimmy Gwich?” at http://www.cbc.ca/radio/checkup/blog/who-is-jimmy-gwich-the-story-behind-my-radio-sign-off-1.3901020

Journalism and truth in the Trump era, a Policy Options Podcast. As Donald Trump moves into the White House, the American news media is scrambling to get its own house in order. How do they cover a president who is overtly hostile to reporters, and is moving to curtail their access? How does the media connect with a distrustful public, especially when there are powerful voices telling citizens to ignore journalists? What can journalists do to make sure that the truth does not fall victim to a political movement that has its own powerful means of communication? All of these questions swirl as the industry across North America is struggling financially. Policy Options’ editor-in-chief Jennifer Ditchburn discusses these issues on the podcast with one of America’s foremost journalism scholars, Michael Schudson of Columbia University. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday.