Futureproofing Canada

Federalism and climate change, a Policy Options Podcast. The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change is the largest intergovernmental project to combat climate change in Canada’s history. Meeting the goals laid out in the framework will depend on effective coordination among Ottawa, the provinces, and the territories in their climate change mitigation efforts. However, this will not be an easy task, given the provinces and territories’ different economic situations. What are the factors that will determine how and how well governments coordinate with one another? Tracy Snoddon and Debora VanNijnatten, both associate professors at Wilfrid Laurier University, answered that question in a recent IRPP publication titled Carbon Pricing and Intergovernmental Relations in Canada. They stopped by the podcast to share their insights on the issue. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See Tracy Snoddon and Debora VanNijnatten's IRPP Insight “Carbon Pricing and Intergovernmental Relations in Canada" at http://on-irpp.org/2g39k3r

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, a Policy Options Podcast. The reconciliation agenda has made progress since the 1970s, but there’s still much work to be done. A legacy of loss and dispossession has left a sizable gap in the life conditions and self-determination for Indigenous Peoples, which has yet to be closed. How should Canada and Indigenous peoples move forward on reconciliation?  David Newhouse, chair of the Department of Indigenous Studies at Trent University and a member of the Onondaga Nation from the Six Nations of the Grand River community, near Brantford, Ontario, stopped by the podcast to share his insights on this topic. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See David Newhouse's IRPP Insight “Indigenous Peoples, Canada and the Possibility of Reconciliation" at http://on-irpp.org/2fzNG98

North American relations under President Trump,a Policy Options Podcast. If Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric is any indication of what his foreign policy will look like, then America’s relationship with its neighbours is about to change dramatically. Trump’s promise to renegotiate NAFTA is just one of the many policy proposals that has Ottawa and Mexico City on pins and needles. So what is the future of the North American relationship? Agustín Barrios Gómez, president of Mexico Image Foundation and a former member of the Mexican federal congress, discusses these issues with the IRPP’s Alex Shadeed, on a new episode of the Policy Options Podcast. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See the Policy Options event "Bridges or walls — what is the future of the North American relationship?" at http://bit.ly/2gccEgQ

Preparing for the transition in Washington, DC, a Policy Options Podcast. The race for the Oval Office is closerthanthis, and both candidates are preparing for victory. Their transition teams are putting in place plans for the aftermath of the election, which will include the naming of a new cabinet and thousands of senior government officials, as well as the setting of legislative priorities and foreign policy objectives. Canadian officials in Washington will be monitoring the transition of power closely, to see what the implications are for our own domestic interests and actions. Gary Doer, the former Canadian ambassador to the United States, talked with Policy Options editor-in-chief Jennifer Ditchburn about the state of American politics and what the future might hold for Canada-US relations. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See the Policy Options special feature "The US Presidential Election" at http://bit.ly/2f5G921

Why more academics should engage with the media, a Policy Options Podcast. Imagine putting months of work into an article to have it read by only 10 people. This is the situation in much of academia right now, where the influx of new material is making it increasingly difficult for academics to get their research out to the public and to policy-makers. What can academics do to get their work noticed? Noralou Roos, director of EvidenceNetwork.ca and professor at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, stopped by the podcast to offer some advice. Download for free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See Noralou Roos and Kathleen O’Grady’s Policy Options article "Linking academic research with the public and policy-makers" at http://bit.ly/2afhhEH

Protecting Canadians' Privacy, a Policy Options Podcast. Last week, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada submitted its 2015-2016 Annual Report to parliament. As well as giving a thorough account of the privacy risks facing Canadians today, the report calls on the federal government to update Canada's legislative, legal, and regulatory framework to better protect Canadians' privacy. Daniel Therrien, The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, stopped by the podcast to discuss the report's recommendations. Download for free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See the Privacy Commissioner's Policy Options article "Bringing privacy protection into the 21st century" at http://bit.ly/2d3VpL7

Public Policy and Young Canadians with PM Justin Trudeau, a Policy Options Podcast. Justin Trudeau is not just the Prime Minister, he’s also the Minister of Youth – the first time that such a portfolio has been a full position in cabinet. What is Trudeau’s vision for engaging youth? How will he shape the policies that address the specific challenges young Canadians face today? Carleton University journalism student Anna Desmarais led a special Policy Options Podcast interview with the PM in one of his Parliament Hill offices, with the help of the IRPP’s Alex Shadeed (himself a graduate student at Concordia University). Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See the Policy Options Special Feature "Public Policy and Young Canadians" at http://bit.ly/2cBLAR7 See the Prime Minister's Policy Options article "Feeding the ambitions of Canada’s youth" at http://bit.ly/2dDkX31

Democracy Promotion, a Policy Options Podcast. Earlier this month the Liberal government released a review of Canada’s international assistance efforts. The review recommends that we strengthen our international humanitarian response in a number of key areas – including democratic governance. What might this look like? Lisa Sundstrom, associate professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, stopped by to offer some insights into Canadian international assistance and democracy promotion. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See the Policy Options Special Feature “Democracy Assistance” at http://bit.ly/2dghFTa

Towards a new Canada-China relationship, a Policy Options Podcast. Justin Trudeau’s visit to China has come to an end. The takeaway from the Prime Minister’s meetings with the country’s economic and political elite – including President Xi Jinping – has been generally positive, with all signs pointing to closer ties between the two G20 partners. So what does the future hold for Canada-China relations? Gordon Houlden, director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta, stopped by the podcast to weigh in on the matter. We looked at trade, human rights and the need for more Chinese-language speakers in the Canadian public sector. Download for Free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See Gordon Houlden’s Policy Options article “China and the government’s recruitment challenge” at http://bit.ly/2cr5mo1 See the Policy Options Special Feature “Canada-China Relations” at http://bit.ly/2bbQsR5

Why Gawker's Bankruptcy is a Policy Issue, a Policy Options Podcast. Where should media outlets draw the line between revenue generation and content quality? Between truth and ethics? CBC News’ Lauren O’Neil stopped by the podcast to weigh in on these issues and more. We looked at the Gawker bankruptcy, the ethics and business of new media and Canada’s evolving media landscape. Download for free. New episodes every second Tuesday. See Lauren O’Neil’s CBC News article “Why Gawker matters: Bankruptcy auction could make or break the 'voice of a generation'” at http://bit.ly/2bLuamc