http://www.irpp.org/indexe.htm Policy analysis from Canada's foremost independent think tank en-ca All content copyright IRPP Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST jleonard@irpp.org (Jeremy Leonard) jleonard@irpp.org (Jeremy Leonard) http://www.irpp.org/pubs/IRPPStudy/no4_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Philippe Lagassé, author of the recent IRPP study "Accountability for National Defence: Ministerial Responsibility, Military Command and Parliamentary Oversight." http://www.irpp.org/pubs/IRPPstudy/IRPP_Study_no4.pdf Growing concern over accountability for military affairs in recent months and the controversy over the treatment of Afghan detainees has led to calls for the House of Commons to play a larger role in shaping defence policy. But, according to a new study published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, only minimal changes are needed to improve the ability of parliamentarians to hold the government to account for national defence. The study, "Accountability for National Defence: Ministerial Responsibility, Military Command and Parliamentary Oversight," examines the national defence responsibilities of Canada's Parliament, as well as proposals to strengthen the powers of the House of Commons and parliamentary committees in defence matters. http://www.irpp.org/po/index.htm In this month's issue we look at Canadians and their pensions. In an exclusive poll, Nik Nanos finds many Canadians worried about their pensions; Moshe Milevsky and Alexandra Macqueen ask, What exactly is a pension?, Ted Menzies and Keith Ambachtsheer look at pension reform from two different perspectives, Tina Di Vito finds ways to enhance personal retirement savings, Robin Sears sees a looming crisis of income security, and Bill Kyle asks, What pension crisis? Also in this issue, our Verbatim is Stephen Harper's vision of "enlightened sovereignty," Jeremy Kinsman expounds on the rise of Asia, Kevin Lynch examines Canada’s innovation deficit, and much more. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/mar10/nanos.pdf In his latest exclusive poll for Policy Options, Nik Nanos found that while Canadians didn't rank pensions anywhere near the top of their current priorities, they are deeply concerned about the viability of both public and private pension plans in the future. There is a significant demographic divide between older Canadians, who are confident in the system, and younger Canadians, who aren't. http://www.irpp.org/pubs/IRPPstudy/IRPP_Study_no3.pdf Despite considerable progress in immigrants' use of French in Quebec, further advances require looking beyond explicit language laws, according to a new study published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The study, "L'intégration linguistique des immigrants au Québec," by Michel Pagé in collaboration with Patricia Lamarre, concludes that what is needed for the successful linguistic integration of immigrants in Quebec is better economic and social integration into French culture and society, rather than tightening language policy. http://www.irpp.org/pubs/IRPPStudy/no2_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Mark Stabile, co-author of the recent IRPP study "Providing Pharmacare for an Aging Population: Is Prefunding the Solution?" http://www.irpp.org/pubs/IRPPstudy/IRPP_Study_no2.pdf A prefunded plan where Canadians would contribute to a dedicated fund during their working years to pay for their prescription drugs when they reach 65 would help protect public health care, according to the new IRPP Study, "Providing Pharmacare for an Aging Population: Is Prefunding the Solution?" The growth rate of spending on prescription drugs has exceeded the growth rate of overall health care expenditures. In addition, the elderly are more likely to need pharmaceuticals both now and in the future, and this need for pharmaceuticals is more evenly distributed across the elderly population than is the need for health care services more generally. http://www.irpp.org/pubs/IRPPStudy/no1_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Walid Hejazi, author of the recent IRPP study "Dispelling Canadian Myths about Foreign Direct Investment." http://www.irpp.org/pubs/IRPPstudy/IRPP_Study_no1.pdf Fears about the adverse economic effects of foreign direct investment are largely unfounded, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The study, “Dispelling Canadian Myths about Foreign Direct Investment,” by Walid Hejazi, argues that investment in Canada has brought new technology, high-paying jobs and more head offices, while Canadian investment abroad has stimulated the domestic economy through increased exports and head-office activities. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/feb10/troy.pdf Barack Obama marked his first year in the White House on January 20. Though he told his friend Oprah Winfrey that he gave himself a "a B+" for his first year in office, this review is better left to presidential historians such as McGill University’s Gil Troy, who notes that “the presidential learning curve, especially in foreign affairs, can be steep. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no11_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Tracy Snoddon, co-author of the recent IRPP study "Clearing the Air on Federal and Provincial Climate Change Policy in Canada." http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no11.pdf Canada's current climate change policy is fragmented, largely uncoordinated among governments and unlikely to produce cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gases, according to a groundbreaking new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The study, "Clearing the Air on Federal and Provincial Climate Change Policy in Canada," by Tracy Snoddon and Randall Wigle, argues that real emissions reductions won't be achieved until Canada undertakes an ambitious national policy built around a federal carbon tax, with revenues shared with the provinces. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/dec09/mccoll.pdf Can the Copenhagen negotiations yield a successor to the Kyoto Protocol? Policy Options Contributing Writer Velma McColl is attending the Copenhagen conference, and will be writing and reporting extensively on it in the February issue of Policy Options. During the conference, she can be reached at velma@earnscliffe.ca. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/nov09/nanos.pdf Nine Canadians out of ten support the principle of universal health care with a single insurer — the government. The principle of universality is itself the most popular feature of the public health care system, while waiting times are identified by a wide margin as the biggest problem. Seven Canadians out of ten also think Barack Obama is on the right track with his health care reform proposals in the United States. https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/854537441 The Institute for Research on Public Policy is pleased to invite you to a Webinar entitled "Family Law as a Tool of Social Progress: Past Reforms and Today’s Challenges" featuring Robert Leckey (McGill University) and Julie Lassonde (Law Commission of Ontario). It will take place on November 16, 2009 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time). http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/oct09/layton.pdf On September 15, New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton sat down in his Centre Block office for a half-hour conversation with Policy Options Editor L. Ian MacDonald on minority government, and how to make this Parliament work. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no10_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Laura Stephenson, co-author of the recent IRPP study "Ontario's Referendum on Proportional Representation: Why Citizens Said No." http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no10.pdf A new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) finds that even if the 2007 Ontario referendum campaign had been more informative, the proposed mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system would likely not have obtained the 60 percent support required in order to pass. In the referendum vote held in October 2007, Ontarians clearly rejected the proposed change. Only 36.9 percent voted in favour of changing the electoral system, compared with 63.1 percent who indicated a preference for the status quo. In the IRPP study, "Ontario's Referendum on Proportional Representation: Why Citizens Said No," authors Laura Stephenson and Brian Tanguay investigate several aspects of Ontario's recent experience with electoral reform, from the political context that brought about the process, to the details of the Citizens' Assembly, to Ontarians' general attitudes toward electoral reform. http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&lang=e&clipID=3109 The Septmber 14 event, held in Ottawa, featured presentations by Jeremy Leonard (IRPP), Thomas Courchene (IRPP and Queen's University) and Janice MacKinnon (Chair, IRPP and University of Saskatchewan). http://www.irpp.org/cpa/archive/suk_sppg.pdf "Two for One: Building a Versatile Canadian Priorities Agenda" by David Suk http://www.irpp.org/cpa/archive/thorburn_sppg.pdf "A Canadian Priorities Agenda: Ensuring Future Prosperity" by Karen Thorburn http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no9_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Reg Whitaker, co-author of the recent IRPP study "Accountability in and for National Security." http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no9.pdf As national security operations within government and between governments become increasingly integrated, accountability mechanisms must also be unified across institutional boundaries and the role of Parliament in the accountability process enhanced, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy by Reg Whitaker and Stuart Farson. http://www.irpp.org/books/archive/AOTS4/conclusion.pdf In the context of Prime Minister Harper's visit to the Arctic, the Institute for Research on Public Policy is releasing the concluding chapter, "The New Northern Policy Universe," from its pathbreaking book, Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects in Canada's North co-edited by Frances Abele, Thomas J. Courchene, F. Leslie Seidle and France St-Hilaire. The result of a two-year, multidisciplinary research program, this extensive and forward-looking collection examines the key elements of a truly integrated Northern Strategy including: Arctic sovereignty, climate change, science policy, Aboriginal and public governance, economic development, and human capital and education, with a unique focus on the views and perspectives of northerners. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no8_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Robert Leckey, author of the recent IRPP study "Families in the Eyes of the Law: Contemporary Challenges and the Grip of the Past." http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no8.pdf While family law has evolved to take into account new family situations, the legal framework for families is being rapidly outpaced by changing family relationships, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. In "Families in the Eyes of the Law: Contemporary Challenges and the Grip of the Past," author Robert Leckey analyzes contemporary family law in Canada, specifically questions of custody, marriage and divorce, parentage and the legal recognition of unmarried couples. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no7_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Daniel Hiebert, author of the recent IRPP study "The Economic Integration of Immigrants in Metropolitan Vancouver". http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no7.pdf Language plays the central role in shaping the economic opportunities available to newcomers, and if selection policies do not change - and there is no indication that they will in the near future - more attention must be devoted to the provision of high-quality English-language education to immigrants to Vancouver as soon as they arrive, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no6_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Mike Joyce, author of the recent IRPP study "Prudent Budgeting and Budgetary Process Effectiveness in Canada's Federal Government" http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no6.pdf The federal government's prudent budget planning has been a highly successful tool of fiscal discipline over the past 15 years, but it has also led to undesirable outcomes that have undermined both credibility and effectiveness of the budgeting process, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. "The onset of the current economic crisis has led to a reversal of long-standing political intolerance for falling back into deficit," says author Mike Joyce. "Temporary suspension of the 'no-deficit' era provides an opportune time to step back and examine the current budget planning framework." http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no5_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with Craig Forcese, author of the recent IRPP study "Canada's National Security 'Complex': Assessing the Secrecy Rules" http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no5.pdf Canada's secrecy laws go too far in an attempt to protect national security secrets, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The study, "Canada's National Security 'Complex': Assessing the Secrecy Rules," found that while it is clearly necessary to protect legitimate national security secrets, the credibility of Canada's security services is undermined by its overreaching secrecy laws. http://www.irpp.org/research/re_aots.asp The IRPP has just published "Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects in Canada's North," edited by Frances Abele, Thomas J. Courchene, F. Leslie Seidle and France St-Hilaire. The North is an increasingly important focal point of public policy as melting polar ice transforms the Arctic into the epicentre of new global economic and geopolitical interests. This multidisciplinary edited volume explores how the dramatic changes in Canada's North will affect its peoples, its governments, and the social, economic and political future of northerners. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no4_podcast.mp3 A ten-minute interview with James Brox, co-author of the recent IRPP study "Shoring Up the Competitive Posture of Canadian Manufacturers: What Are the Policy Levers?" http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no4.pdf Having endured nearly three years of declining output growth, the Canadian manufacturing sector is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis, with more hard times to come. While the recent weakness can be attributed to the deep US recession, Canadian manufacturers suffer from a longer-term competitiveness problem that, if not addressed, will continue long after the recession is over, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/may09/lynch.pdf The Clerk of the Privy Council, who will step down as of July 1, sees globalization, uncertainty and 24/7 connectivity as integral parts of the challenge of managing public policy through the current "synchronized global recession," and "the worst global financial crisis since the 1930s." In all of this, he adds, there is a difference between data and knowledge, and he calls the uncertainty "the civilian equivalent of the fog of war." http://www.irpp.org/miscpubs/archive/leonard_090506.pdf In an hour-and-a-half appearance on May 5 before the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance, Jeremy Leonard assessed diverse aspects of the stimulus measures in Budget 2009, including provisions concerning Employment Insurance and enhanced access to credit, as well as the economic outlook. http://www.irpp.org/events/index.htm Entitled "Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects in Canada's North," the book is edited by Frances Abele (Carleton University and IRPP), Thomas J. Courchene (Queen's University and IRPP), F. Leslie Seidle (IRPP) and France St-Hilaire (IRPP). The Ottawa event will be held on May 27 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and the Iqaluit event will be held May 30 from 8:30 am to 9:45 am. http://www.irpp.org/events/archive/20090403/papers.htm Entitled "'When I'm 64...' - Defining Care-giving Policy for an Aging Canada", this conference brought together 50 researchers and practitioners to explore the many policy questions surrounding the financing and delivery of elder care. http://www.irpp.org/fr/choices/archive/vol15no3.pdf In spite of a sound knowledge of French and superior levels of education, Moroccan and Algerian newcomers to the province of Quebec have extraordinarily high unemployment rates. The principal reasons for this discrepancy are explored in a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. In the analysis, the authors identified three perceptions. Firstly, that immigrants are finding it difficult to have their foreign work credentials recognized by employers in Quebec, secondly, that immigrants from the Maghreb lack certain useful qualifications - like the ability to speak English and previous Canadian work experience - and finally, that there is discrimination by employers against North Africans. [Please note that, while this study is available only in French, an English summary is available] http://www.irpp.org/events/index.htm The Institute for Research on Public Policy has made available the audio and PowerPoint presentations from its recent seminar entitled "Les enfants d'immigrants : le Canada et le Québec sont-ils des sociétés inclusives ?," including a keynote address by Patricia Rimok (Conseil des relations interculturelles du Québec) as well as presentations by Miles Corak (University of Ottawa), Maryse Potvin (Université du Québec à Montréal), Ross Finnie (University of Ottawa), Robert Sweet (Lakehead University) and Marie McAndrew (Université de Montréal). Note that the majority of presentations are in French. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/feb09/nanos.pdf Conducted by Nanos Research, the poll found that a majority of Canadians support federal and provincial governments going into deficit to stimulate the economy, with infrastructure spending and personal tax cuts being the preferred courses of action. The least popular option is rescue packages for industries such as the auto sector, and support for them is weakest in Ontario, home of the country's auto industry. http://www.irpp.org/research/re_aots2.asp The Institute for Research on Public Policy is re-releasing its 2005 project The Art of the State II: Thinking North America in a new single volume format. This edition reproduces all of the original material, including an introduction and an article from renowned economist and IRPP Senior Scholar Thomas Courchene, and contributions from some of Canada's leading thinkers, such as Scott Vaughan, Robert Wolfe, Michael Hart, Sylvia Ostry and Daniel Schwanen. "It is our view that the proposals, issues and ideas discussed in the volume remain as salient as they were when they were first published," says France St-Hilaire, the Institute's vice president of research. "This volume provides rich material and sound analysis for those who will be called upon to think about the future of North America in years to come." http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no1_podcast.mp3 In this interview, author Joseph Peters discusses the findings of "E-consultation: Enabling Democracy between Elections," published on January 8 by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no1.pdf In "E-consultation: Enabling Democracy between Elections," Joseph Peters and Manon Abud explore e-consultation, its strengths and weaknesses, using four case studies. The authors conclude that on-line forums are a valuable, if not essential, part of a new era of democratic governance. The study includes commentaries by Kathleen McNutt and Colin McKay. http://www.irpp.org/fr/choices/archive/vol14no17.pdf In "La montée des tiers partis au Québec à l'élection de 2007: conjoncture ou tendance ?," Éric Bélanger (McGill University) and Richard Nadeau (Université de Montréal), probe the results and implications of the 2007 provincial election, and examines why so many voters broke away from the province's two traditional parties, the Quebec Liberal Party and the Parti québécois. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/dec08/nanos_tables.pdf In this exclusive poll, Quebec Premier Jean Charest dominates a series of questions on leadership, and the Liberals have a clear advantage on the best party brand. Charest's leadership attributes have improved substantially since a similar poll conducted in the middle of the last campaign. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no16.pdf The study, "Factors of Risk, Vulnerability and School Readiness among Preschoolers: Evidence from Quebec," by Christa Japel (Université du Québec à Montréal), examines how risk factors like health status at birth, low income and poor parenting practices relate to children's cognitive ability and behaviour. It is the English translation of "Risques, vulnérabilité et adaptation : les enfants à risque au Québec" released in August 2008. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no15.pdf In "Restructuring the Canadian Senate through Elections," Bruce M. Hicks (Concordia University) and André Blais (Université de Montréal) examine the implications of the Harper government's Senate tenure and Senate consultative elections bills, which are expected to be reintroduced early in the new Parliament. These are significant pieces of legislation, since they propose changing the Senate from an appointed body to an elected body without holding federal-provincial negotiations and obtaining provincial legislative concurrence. http://www.irpp.org/pm/archive/pmvol9no4.pdf While Canada has not been the subject of terrorist attacks since 9/11, it has not been immune to the major trends in terrorism in the past and will not be in the future, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. In the study, "The (Un)Peaceable Kingdom? Terrorism and Canada before 9/11," author David Charters (University of New Brunswick) observes that experience from the period before 9/11 suggests it is best to be proactive rather than reactive in developing responses to terrorism, even when the threats are intermittent. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no14.pdf Canada invests large sums of money in academic research, but the fruits of these investments are not reflected in more industrial innovation and improved productivity, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. In the study, "Connecting the Dots between University Research and Industrial Innovation," author Jorge Niosi (Université du Québec à Montréal) argues that while academic researchers are primarily motivated to produce original research and to provide quality education, they should nevertheless capitalize on the market knowledge of the business community as they develop their research agendas. The study includes commentaries by Indira Samarasekera (President of the University of Alberta) and Ilse Treurnicht (Director of the MaRS Discovery District). http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no13.pdf In "Immigration in the Long Run: the Education and Earnings Mobility of Second Generation Canadians," author Miles Corak concludes that Canada's mobile society proves particularly beneficial for the children of immigrants. However, the results vary by region of origin, with the largest intergenerational gains in earnings made by daughters whose parents were born in Asia and virtually no gains made by sons whose parents originated in the Caribbean or South America. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no12.pdf In "New Evidence about Child Care in Canada: Use Patterns, Affordability, and Quality," Gordon Cleveland finds that while nearly 80 percent of preschool children with employed or studying mothers receive nonparental care regularly, much of Canada's existing child care services fail to provide adequate stimulation. http://www.irpp.org/pm/archive/pmvol9no3.pdf In "Defining the Federal Government's Role in Social Policy: The Spending Power and Other Instruments," Hamish Telford and Peter Graefe offer two analyses of policy options, and Keith Banting summarizes the discussions at an IRPP-sponsored round table of experts and practitioners on this issue. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no11.pdf While direct election of the Senate may be too ambitious a goal, revisiting the way senators are chosen is a more practical option, one that would be congruent with a range of interests associated with parliamentary reform, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The study, "Political Legitimacy for an Appointed Senate," by Campbell Sharman, examines the differing assumptions about the purpose of the Senate, as well as the goals for reform and the methods of achieving them. http://www.irpp.org/books/archive/AOTS4/huebert.pdf In this paper, part of the forthcoming IRPP volume Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects for Canada's North, Rob Huebert, an expert on military and strategic issues, concludes that Canada must improve its surveillance and enforcement capability in its northern regions and work with countries with important Arctic interests that potentially overlap with its own. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no10.pdf The programs and services available to help integrate newcomers into Toronto's labour market are in urgent need of evaluation, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The study, "Breaking Down Barriers to Labour Market Integration of Newcomers in Toronto" by Nan Weiner, found that while general awareness of the barriers has increased greatly in the past few years, little is known about how effective and efficient government, community agency and educational programs are in helping immigrants overcome these barriers. http://www.irpp.org/books/archive/AOTS4/griffiths.pdf In this paper, part of the forthcoming IRPP volume Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects for Canada's North, renowned Arctic policy expert Franklyn Griffiths argues for a radical reconsideration of the way most Canadians view our strategic interests in the Arctic. He calls for Canada and the United States to act not only as joint stewards, but also as neighbours determined to proceed with practical cooperation on priority issues. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no9_podcast.pdf In this 10-minute interview, IRPP author Martin Papillon talks about the impact of the James Bay Treaty on the well-being of the Cree and Inuit communities in Northern Quebec. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no9.pdf While there has been some improvement over the past 30 years, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement has not dramatically altered the living conditions of the Crees and Inuit, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. In "Aboriginal Quality of Life Under a Modern Treaty: Lessons from the Experience of the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee and the Inuit of Nunavik," author Martin Papillon found that infrastructure, health, education and income have improved since the 1970s. However, in other areas, such as housing, conditions for these Aboriginal people are considerably worse than they are for other Canadians. http://www.irpp.org/pm/archive/pmvol9no2_podcast.pdf In this 10-minute interview, IRPP author James Brox talks about Canada's infrastructure investment needs. http://www.irpp.org/pm/archive/pmvol9no2.pdf Canadian competitiveness and productivity depends on increased investment in our public infrastructure, according to a new study released by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. In "Infrastructure Investment: The Foundation of Canadian Competitiveness," author James Brox finds that investment in public infrastructure, including highways, port facilities, water treatment and distribution systems, as well as sewage treatment, has fallen dramatically since the 1970s, and an injection of up to $200 billion will be necessary to address the problem. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no7.pdf Aboriginal children, especially those in rural and northern Canada, are the least-supported in the country in terms of their access to the basic elements of quality of life, according to a new study released by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. The study, "Promoting Equity and Dignity for Aboriginal Children in Canada," found that a large proportion of young Aboriginal children continue to lack adequate housing, food security, clean water and access to services. Their situation is compounded by other factors, including the impact of residential schools on the parenting abilities of generations of Aboriginal mothers and fathers. Environmental risks and acute health problems appear to be at an especially critical level among First Nations children living on reserve and among Inuit children across the North, according to the study's author, Jessica Ball. http://www.irpp.org/miscpubs/archive/fsh_asdeq.pdf Title of presentation: "La myopie des gouvernements face aux grands enjeux économiques et sociaux : Plus qu'un problème de vision" http://www.irpp.org/miscpubs/archive/tjc_canada2020.pdf http://www.irpp.org/pm/archive/pmvol9no1.pdf Maher Arar's "extraordinary rendition" from a New York airport to the nightmare of a Syrian prison has left many unanswered questions about the future of Canadian-US intelligence-sharing practices, according to a new study entitled "Arar: The Affair, the Inquiry, the Aftermath" published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. According to author Reg Whitaker, who was a member of the five-person Advisory Panel to Justice O'Connor on Part 2 of the Commission's mandate, O'Connor's report contains two serious shortcomings: the exclusion of the role of Parliament in ensuring national security accountability, and the deliberate focus on whether government protocol was followed, rather than examining the efficacy of the national security operations themselves. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no6.pdf Parliament needs to develop an independent review system, similar to those in the United Kingdom and Australia, to scrutinize its anti-terrorism measures, according to a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. In "Fixing the Deficiencies in Parliamentary Review of Anti-terrorism Law: Lessons from the United Kingdom and Australia," author Craig Forcese argues that Canada's Anti-terrorism Act (ATA) overreached, and adopted a definition of terrorist activity that was far broader than necessary. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no5.pdf In the study, "The Impact of Economic Selection Policy on Labour Market Outcomes for Degree-Qualified Migrants in Canada and Australia," author Lesleyanne Hawthorne finds that Australia's revised selection criteria have dramatically improved its employment outcomes relative to Canada's.Hawthorne applauds the Canadian government's proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, whereby the minister would have the authority to identify priority occupations and issue instructions to immigration officers to enable rapid acceptance of applicants with skills and experience that correspond to employers' needs. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no4.pdf In "Social Housing and the Role of Aboriginal Organizations in Canadian Cities," author Ryan Walker (University of Saskatchewan) examines the quality of Aboriginal housing in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and urban areas in Quebec and Saskatchewan. He finds that Aboriginal housing organizations have developed innovative approaches to address these housing problems, but they are not receiving sufficient support from governments to cope with the current need. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no3.pdf Author Donald McFetridge argues that after 40 years, the government's "science-push" approach to federal science policy is clearly not working. It might be the political path of least resistance, but it is doing little to improve the climate of entrepreneurship in Canada. Instead, commercial innovation policy must focus on market incentives for entrepreneurship by reducing taxes on work, savings, investment and risk taking, as well as easing regulations that restrict business competition. http://www.irpp.org/fr/choices/archive/vol14no2.pdf With the Charest government intent on increasing annual immigration levels in coming years from their current ceiling of 45,000, a study released today by the Montrealbased Institute for Research on Public Policy casts serious doubt on the ability of existing support programs to fully integrate newcomers into the labour market. "Only a small number of immigrants benefit from them, and even then for a limited period of time," write authors Marie-Thérèse Chicha and Éric Charest (both of Université de Montréal). http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol14no1.pdf In the wake of the Harper government’s October 2006 decision to allow elderly Canadian couples to split their pension income to reduce their overall tax burden, there has been growing pressure to extend income splitting to other types of income, and polls show that three-quarters of Canadians would support such a move. However, eminent tax scholar Jonathan Kesselman (Simon Fraser University) urges governments to "pause for careful scrutiny" before changing such a basic design element of our income tax system. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol13no8.pdf Author Gillian Doherty (University of Guelph) reviews thirteen initiatives designed to enhance the development of vulnerable children and prepare them for healthy and productive adulthood. Her analysis suggests Canada’s targeted policies are not working as well as they should. Vulnerable children are found across all socio-economic groups, with the greatest number living in middle- and upper-middle income families. As a result programs that are restricted to the lowest-income group miss the majority of children experiencing difficulties. The author argues that improving early childhood develpoment in Canada will require the creation of a non-targeted, cost-effective early childhood education system. http://www.irpp.org/miscpubs/archive/aging_report.pdf The IRPP is pleased to announce that the rapporteur's report from the Expert Round Table on Older Workers is now available. Held in May 2007, the round table gathered 27 experts and practitioners representing government, academia and the non-profit sector to discuss the challenges faced by displaced older workers and the ways in which policies might be strengthened to address them. This round table was organized as a part of a new IRPP research program on aging. http://www.irpp.org/pm/archive/pmvol8no3.pdf In this study authors Henry Milner, Peter John Loewen and Bruce M. Hicks (all of Université de Montréal) test whether compulsory voting increases political knowledge in a unique experiment involving college students who were eligible to vote in the 2007 Quebec election. http://www.irpp.org/wp/archive/wp2007-01.pdf In this study author Henry Milner compares survey data on civic literacy from the US and Canada. He finds that young Canadians’ political knowledge is low – only slightly higher than that of their American counterparts and, therefore, well below the level of young Europeans. His research reveals that young Quebecers, whose level of political knowledge surpasses that of other Canadian youth, are the reason that Canada scores above the US. The situation requires redress if Canada is to stem the declining voter turnout and decreasing civic participation that currently plagues the country. http://www.irpp.org/fr/choices/archive/vol13no7.pdf In this paper, Brahim Boudarbat and Maude Boulet (both from Université de Montréal) compare the deterioration in the entry-level earnings of recent immigrants in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec and the factors at play. While the downward trend in immigrants’ labour market outcomes is well documented, less is known about the different patterns that exist in individual provinces. While the drop in the earnings of recent immigrants is less pronounced in Ontario for both genders, the study also reveals that the decline is most pronounced among male immigrants in British Columbia and female immigrants in Quebec. http://www.irpp.org/events/archive/20071025/youthpanel.mp3 The IRPP's Northern Exposure conference, held from October 25 to 27, 2007, opened with a panel discussion among six young leaders from across the North -- Udloriak Hanson (Nunavut), Elaine Alexie (Northwest Territories), George Berthe (Nunavik), Laura MacKenzie (Nunavut), Natan Obed (Nunatslavut/Nunavut) and Aynslie Ogden (Yukon). The panellists outlined their vision of the future of the North and underlined the importance of education, culture, Aboriginal languages and the land. http://www.irpp.org/newsroom/archive/2007/102407e.pdf The Institute for Research on Public Policy is pleased to announce that Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Nobel Prize nominee and citizen advocate on Arctic climate change, will address the IRPP's "Northern Exposure" conference being held on October 25 to 27, 2007. The audio podcast of her remarks will be available on the IRPP's Web site. http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol13no6.pdf Authors Bruce Minore and Mae Katt (both from the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, Lakehead University site) analyze moves toward Aboriginal self-determination in the important policy field of health. Their study is centred on community crisis teams in the Nishnawbe-Aski First Nations in northern Ontario. The teams, which resulted from suicide crisis within the region, are funded through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy, a joint Aboriginal/government of Ontario initiative. http://www.irpp.org/cpa/archive/tuohy_watson.mp3 In this audio podcast, Carolyn Tuohy (Professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto and Senior Fellow at the U of T's School of Public Policy and Governance) and William Watson (Chairman of the economics department at McGill University and columnist for the National Post and Montreal Gazette) talk about the policy recommendations they made for the IRPP's Canadian Priorities Agenda project and how those choices square with the recent Throne speech. http://www.irpp.org/cpa/index.htm In the context of the Throne speech, the IRPP has unveiled the results of its Canadian Priorities Agenda project, a policy road map for the country that was two years in the making and involved 45 of Canada's leading public policy experts. The project unfolded in three phases, each involving some of Canada's top policy minds. First, a group of agenda-setters helped identify Canada's most pressing policy challenges. Then, analysts put forth and defended three specific proposals that would most effectively address each of the challenges at hand. In the final phase, six judges (Wendy Dobson, Alain Dubuc, John Helliwell, Richard Lipsey, Carolyn Tuohy and William Watson) chose from among the 24 proposals put forth by the analysts the package of policies that in his or her view would be the most likely to enhance Canadians' economic and social well-being over the medium term.