On June 2, IRPP president and CEO Jennifer Ditchburn moderated a panel examining the opportunities and challenges of reorienting Canada’s trade priorities for the future.
Canada’s relationship with its largest trading partner has undergone significant disruption, ushering in a period of economic uncertainty. This moment calls for a reassessment of our global trade strategy, with an eye toward revitalizing and diversifying partnerships. Canada’s natural allies include G7 members such as the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union through France, Germany and Italy. With Mark Carney hosting the G7 meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta from June 15 to 17, this was an ideal opportunity to focus on these economic relationships.
This panel featured remarks from:
Opening remarks were delivered by Cindy Termorshuizen, Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Personal Representative of the Prime Minister (Sherpa) for the G7 Summit.
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What does it take to craft a message that breaks through during a federal election? How do political parties adapt their communications strategies to Canada’s shifting political, media and cultural landscapes? This webinar explored the inner workings of political communications on the campaign trail.
Moderated by Cléa Desjardins, director of communications at the Institute for Research on Public Policy, this conversation brought together five seasoned communications professionals who’ve shaped federal campaigns from the inside out:
Together, they discussed:
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With the federal election now decided, the spotlight turns once again to Canada’s recurring flashpoints.
Where do Alberta’s and Saskatchewan’s autonomist currents and the resentment underpinning them stand after the vote, and how does Quebec’s long-running sovereignty project compare? What do these movements mean for national unity, intergovernmental relations and Ottawa’s new policy agenda? And how does the long shadow cast by the U. S. affect relations within the Canadian federation?
In this webinar, Charles Breton, executive director of the IRPP’s Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation had a conversation with two leading scholars of regional politics: Loleen Berdahl, executive director of Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan; and Jared Wesley, professor of political science, at the University of Alberta and lead of the Common Ground initiative.
Together they unpacked the election’s regional verdicts, dissected the similarities and differences between the Quebec sovereignty and Prairie autonomist movements, and outlined the implications for the federation.
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On Wednesday, May 14, IRPP postdoctoral fellow Anika Ganness gave a talk about why children from racialized and immigrant backgrounds are more likely to end up in child welfare systems, and what we can learn from the past to address this persistent challenge.
Drawing on her research in Ontario, Anika discussed how past child welfare practices affect children today — especially those who are facing discrimination. With Ontario’s child welfare system under review and with efforts to promote equity, diversity and inclusion facing new challenges, this discussion offerd a clear-eyed look at the history, current state and future of child welfare.
Through real-life examples and practical policy insights, Anika shows how these issues continue to shape the lives of children, and what steps we can take to ensure every child gets fair and supportive care.
This was an in-person event that took place at the IRPP offices in Montreal. IRPP senior research director Shaimaa Yassin moderated the conversation, which was followed by a Q&A.
Something important is happening in Canada. This is an event about that and it’s going to be fun. Please register and come see our guests talk about stuff.
Jennifer is the moderator and CEO.
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The second Trump administration is turning into an unsettling roller-coaster ride, and Canadians can’t seem to get off. Every day seems to bring a new set of goalposts, demands and threats. Leadership demands nimbleness, but also integrity and forward planning.
On March 5, 2025 we held a webinar with veteran leaders (and IRPP Board members!) Jean Charest, Janice Charette, Ian Brodie and Christopher Sands. They unpacked the challenges facing Canadian governments in these tumultuous times and discussed what it will take to build economic and social resilience for the long haul.
The discussion was moderated by IRPP president and CEO Jennifer Ditchburn.
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On February 19, the IRPP hosted an event featuring Marcelin Joanis (professor, Polytechnique Montréal, and former of the Seguin Commission Secretariat) and Catherine Mathieu (professor, UQAM and member of the Advisory Committee on Constitutional Issues). Charles Breton, Director of the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation, moderated the conversation.
Fiscal imbalance, equalization, spending power, health transfers: Quebec’s recent history is punctuated by moments when these issues have been relevant. This history is also marked by Quebec government initiatives aimed at identifying problems and proposing solutions. The Séguin Commission on Fiscal Imbalance is the clearest example, while last November’s report by the Advisory Committee on Constitutional Issues is the most recent.
With the publication by the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation of a text by Marcelin Joanis on 20 years of the Séguin Commission, the Centre was pleased to host a discussion on the evolution of the issues surrounding fiscal federalism from a Quebec perspective, both in terms of the nature of the problem and potential solutions.
As a new U.S. administration issues repeated threats to impose punishing tariffs on Canadian exports, the IRPP hosted a panel discussion on how to address the intersecting affordability and climate crises.
Increasing costs from extreme weather events, uncertainty about energy and supply chains and added pressure on already inadequate infrastructure and housing mean new, comprehensive solutions are needed to keep Canadians safe. The panel focused on how to protect households from the rising cost of living, how to minimize the impacts of extreme weather events and how to keep affordable food on the table.
Hosted in partnership with the Affordability Action Council, the panel featured Tyler Meredith, former economic policy adviser to the Liberal government, Kathleen Monk, former director of communications to NDP leader Jack Layton, and Karen Restoule, vice-president of Toronto-based Crestview Strategy and senior fellow at Macdonald-Laurier Institute. The discussion was moderated by IRPP president and CEO Jennifer Ditchburn.
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Join IRPP lead data analyst Ricardo Chejfec for an insightful webinar exploring the Institute’s recently launched Community Transformations Project, a groundbreaking research initiative addressing the challenges and opportunities for Canadian communities susceptible to economic disruption resulting from global efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
During this session, Ricardo:
This webinar is perfect for policymakers, community leaders, economic development experts and anyone interested in how Canada can navigate the workforce challenges brought about by the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The presentation was given in English.
The Community Transformations Project is an initiative of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, in collaboration with the Canadian Community Economic Development Network’s Community Data Program, The Energy Mix and several experts. This project was made possible in part thanks to support from Vancity, the McConnell Foundation, and the Max Bell Foundation. Research independence is one of the IRPP’s core values, and the IRPP maintains editorial control over all publications.
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Donald Trump’s decisive victory in fall 2024 immediately changed the policy landscape for Canada, as key players here try to anticipate the 47th President’s moves around trade, immigration and defence. The new makeup of Congress will also figure into the strategic calculations of Canadian government officials.
Christopher Sands, director of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute, and Jennifer Welsh, the incoming director of McGill’s Max Bell School of Public Policy, examined the tools that Canada and the United States have to manage the relationship through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
The conversation was moderated by IRPP president and CEO Jennifer Ditchburn.
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