Faculty

Taylor Owen on Combating Election Interference and Reimagining Canada’s Digital Policy | The Paul Wells Show

admin — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:31:47 +0000

April 16, 2025 | In an interview on The Paul Wells Show, Taylor Owen, founding director of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy at 91ֱ��, raised urgent concerns about online election interference in Canada. Drawing from his work with the Media Ecosystem Observatory, Owen explains how foreign and domestic actors attempt to sway public opinion through misinformation and platform manipulation. He emphasizes that while online interference is not always overt, its cumulative effect undermines democratic processes.

Neil Bouwer and Gabriel Blanc on Rethinking Cabinet Process Under Prime Minister Carney

admin — Mon, 26 May 2025 21:52:16 +0000

May 22, 2025 | In an op-ed for Policy Magazine, MPP ’25 Gabriel Blanc and Visiting Professor Neil Bouwer highlight why the way decisions are made in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet matters just as much as who is making them. They explain how Carney has brought back a more traditional cabinet structure, with focused committees aimed at setting priorities and managing operations. While they welcome some changes—like new committees on national security and government efficiency—they raise concerns about the removal of others, such as the committee for Canada-U.S. relations.

Vincent Rigby on Strategic Autonomy Amidst G7 Uncertainty | The Globe and Mail

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:44:41 +0000

June 14, 2025 | Vincent Rigby, quoted in The Globe and Mail, sees Carney’s foreign policy as a clear break from traditional diplomacy rooted in values. He argues that Canada is embracing a more pragmatic, hard-headed approach in response to global volatility. While diversification of defence partnerships—such as working with European suppliers—is on the table, Rigby stresses that close coordination with the U.S. remains essential.

Chris Ragan on Rethinking Canada's Industrial Strategy | The Suburban

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:44:55 +0000

July 24, 2025 | Chris Ragan is quoted in The Suburban emphasizing the long-term economic benefits of cutting corporate taxes over relying on large-scale business subsidies. Nearly 25 years ago, Ragan argued that reducing taxes which inhibit investment—particularly corporate income taxes—would spur productivity, attract capital, and raise living standards. His perspective is resurfacing in current policy debates as concerns grow over the effectiveness of multibillion-dollar subsidies offered to major corporations, such as those in the electric vehicle sector.

Jennifer Welsh on what’s at stake as the UN General Assembly convenes | The Sunday Magazine

admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:25:58 +0000

September 21, 2025 | On The Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay, Jennifer Welsh joined to talk about the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level meeting, which begins Monday. With Israel’s bombardment of Gaza expected to dominate members’ concerns, she outlined the mechanics of the gathering, the UN’s role in the current political climate, and Canada’s place on the international stage.

Husein Pumaya Yakubu on Transparency as a Tool for Long-Term Governance in Ghana | Policy Magazine

admin — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:09:15 +0000

April 15, 2025 | MPP '25 Husein Pumaya Yakubu highlights the limitations of transparency in Ghana’s post-pandemic governance. While former president Nana Akufo-Addo’s transparent communication during COVID-19 initially unified citizens, Yakubu argues it masked deeper issues like economic mismanagement and rising debt. Drawing a parallel with Canada, Yakubu suggests that transparency, while crucial during crises, must be sustained through regular financial updates, stronger oversight, and grassroots participation.

Norman Hillmer on Canada becoming the 51st State of the US | LCSC

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:01:41 +0000

March 10, 2025 | Norman Hillmer, a Slater Family Visiting Scholar spoke on “Canada as the 51st State? A History and a Reckoning,” at the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canadian History, Wilfrid Laurier University. President Donald Trump wants Canada to be his 51st State. This isn’t the first time that an American leader thought this way.

Pearl Eliadis on Taking Bill 96 and Bill 21 to the United Nations Human Rights Committee | Montreal Gazette

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:36:58 +0000

June 12, 2025 | Reporting on a public forum organized by the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, the Montreal Gazette highlights Pearl Eliadis’s warning that if the Supreme Court of Canada does not intervene to limit Quebec’s use of the notwithstanding clause in laws like Bill 96 and Bill 21, the anglophone community should consider taking their case to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Marc Fortin on Rethinking University Research to Drive Canadian Innovation | Canada's National Observer

admin — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:04:44 +0000

July 11, 2025 | In an opinion piece published in Canada’s National Observer, Marc Fortin, alongside Richard Gold, Evan Henry, and Martin Bader, argue that Canada should seize the moment created by U.S. research setbacks to build a stronger, more collaborative innovation ecosystem. With American universities facing cuts and instability, the authors call on Canada to rethink how they support research, moving away from patent sales toward long-term industry partnerships, open data, and simplified licensing.

Chris Ragan on Why Central Bank Independence Matters Amid Political Pressure | The Financial Post

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:21:43 +0000

August 8, 2025 | Christopher Ragan was quoted by The Financial Post in the context of Ontario Premier Doug Ford publicly urging the Bank of Canada to cut interest rates—a move the article compares to Donald Trump’s public pressure on the U.S. Federal Reserve. Ragan emphasized that central bank independence from “day-to-day politics” is crucial for maintaining market and economic confidence.

Taylor Owen on Social media platforms’ election-integrity initiatives lack transparency | The Globe and Mail

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:59:14 +0000

April 1, 2025 | Professor Taylor Owen spoke on the new social media regulations as the elections approaches closer. If social-media companies wanted to help improve election integrity, they could share what’s happening on their platforms with researchers, said Owen. X used to give researchers access to its application programming interface (API), or data, but now its most in-depth access level costs about $40,000 a month, mentioned Owen, which effectively shuts out Canadian researchers.

Alexandra Ages on the Urgent Need for a National Gender-Based Violence Commissioner in Canada | Policy Options

admin — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 18:56:31 +0000

February 18, 2025 | MPP '21 Alexandra Ages writes how the alarming rise in intimate-partner violence and femicide across Canada, emphasizing that urgent action and accountability are needed to address this crisis. She argues that appointing a national gender-based violence commissioner would provide crucial oversight and help ensure effective implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

Vincent Rigby on the Risks and Realities of Canada’s New EU Defence Pact | The Globe and Mail

admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:40:00 +0000

July 9, 2025 | Vincent Rigby, along with retired vice-admiral Mark Norman, former deputy trade minister Tim Sargent, former defence minister Perrin Beatty, and professor Fen Hampson, wrote a report highlighted in The Globe and Mail that raises concerns about Canada’s new Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union. The pact, signed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, aims to reduce Canada’s reliance on U.S. military contractors and boost the Canadian defence industry by tapping into the EU’s growing defence market.

Jennifer Welsh on Canada’s Role in Filling the Global Leadership Void | The Red Passport Podcast

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:42:10 +0000

July 31, 2025 | On The Red Passport Podcast, Jennifer Welsh joins Louise Blais, Jeremy Kinsman, and Peter Donolo to discuss the consequences of the United States abandoning its traditional role in global leadership. Together, they reflect on what this shift means for today’s major international challenges — and how countries like Canada can help fill the gap.

Jennifer Welsh on Canada Surviving in the Era of Trump's Administration | TVO Today

admin — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 21:18:32 +0000

March 11, 2025 | Director Jennifer Welsh spoke about Canada surviving under Trump administration on TVO Today. Canada's foreign policy has long been influenced by the USA. So an important question arises now, how does Canada navigate in this new political climate? And how independent can Canada really become from the USA?