Our MPP candidates are hard at work on the 2024 Policy Lab, a culminating part of the Master of Public Policy program and a chance for them to apply their skills and knowledge in real-world contexts. Tackling challenges posed to them by the Max Bell School’s extraordinary network of partner organizations across all sectors and with coaching from professors and experts alike, this year's eight teams are addressing pressing problems in diverse issue areas from trade policy and climate change to housing affordability.
GHG Emissions in Canadian Telecom Networks | TELUS
From left to right: Abdul Hakim Fuseini, Rebecca Kresta, Emily Peden, and Adam Suleman.
Under the coaching of Ian Scott, MPPs Abdul Hakim Fuseini, Rebecca Kresta, Emily Peden, and Adam Suleman are tackling how can provincial and federal governments ensure that telecommunications networks and infrastructure effectively contribute to economy-wide reductions in GHG emissions.
“Our team has been gathering insights through research and stakeholder consultations including industry, governments, and academic experts to get an in-depth understanding of the complex and diverse incentives and barriers to adopting digital technology. Through these conversations, we have seen that telecommunications networks and infrastructure represent an important opportunity to enable citizens, corporations, and governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”Â
Newcomers in Canada's Non-Profit Sector | Imagine Canada
From left to right: MPP candidates Sarahà Nava Marquina, Jamil Tanimu, Chloe Aboud, Teodora Durca, and Joyce Selby.
MPPs Chloe Aboud, Jamil Tanimu, Joyce Selby, SarahĂ Nava Marquina, and Teodora Durca are working with Olivia Smith on identifying the employment challenges facing newcomers to Canada and the role nonprofits play in the labour market.
"It has been an eye-opening and humbling experience to learn about the challenges that newcomers face in Canada. Some of us being newcomers ourselves, we empathized with the journey of adaptation and integration. We truly hope our Policy Lab will shed light on the intricate dynamics of integration and provide comprehensive policy solutions for non-profits to advocate effectively for newcomers' labour market participation, fostering a more inclusive and supportive society and economy for all of Canada."
Refugee Housing Rights | Canadian Human Rights Commission - Federal Housing Advocate
From left to right: MPP candidates Francis Padi, Asha Sivarajah, Jibril Hussein, Elsie Mares, and Pallawi Anand.
How can Canada better fulfill its obligations to ensure the right to adequate housing for resettled refugees and asylum claimants in Canada? Asha Sivarajah, Elsie Mares, Francis Padi, Jibril Hussein, and Pallawi Anand are hard at work on this challenge posed by CHRC with the help of coach Pearl Eliadis.Â
"We are inspired by the passion, knowledge, and commitment of community non-profits, refugee-serving organizations, and government agencies who have consulted with us on this issue and informed our approach," said the team. "Developing human rights-based policy recommendations to address homelessness among resettled refugees and refugee claimants - one of Canada’s most pressing issues - has been an incredibly humbling experience. We believe that Canada has the potential to set the global standard in the provision of adequate housing for resettled refugees and claimants."
Flood Risk Reduction in Atlantic Canada | Intact Foundation
From left to right: MPP candidates Guadalupe Jolicoeur, Aislinn Hagan, Anita Dernovici, and Colleen Keilty.
The insurance industry needs to collaborate more efficiently with all levels of governments to accelerate climate adaptation strategies that reduce flooding risks. With the help of coach Rees Kassen, MPPs Aislinn Hagan, Anita Dernovici, Colleen Keilty, and Guadalupe Jolicoeur are working alongside Intact to offer practical solutions to address this challenge.Â
"Our work within this Policy Lab has underscored the transformative impact of collaborative, compassionate, and dedicated efforts in tackling urgent real-world challenges with tangible effects, particularly on vulnerable populations. It is a privilege to contribute to the resilience of communities facing the impacts of climate change."
Strengthening Federal Resilience in Transportation | Transport Canada
From left to right: MPP candidates Jillian Hayden, Maeve McGuire, Fiorella Becerra Ortiz, and Krystina Sorensen.
MPPs Fiorella Becerra Ortiz, Jillian Hayden, Krystina Sorensen, and Maeve McGuire coached by Vincent Rigby were tasked by Transport Canada to answer what the federal government can do to ensure supply chain resiliency in the territorial north.Â
“Our policy lab aims to improve the resiliency of transportation supply chains in Canada's Territorial North. The North faces unique challenges due to limited infrastructure, harsh weather, and a small population. These factors make it difficult to transport goods and services reliably, which hurts the economy and access to essential supplies.”
Accelerating Digital Government Services | INTERACÂ
From left to right: MPP candidates Gagan Gill, Arwa Emhemed, Sean Celi, Leona Bu, and Raihana Kamal.
Investigating the factors dictating delayed adoption of citizen-focused digital government services for INTERAC, MPPs Arwa Emhemed, Gagan Gill, Leona Bu, Raihana Kamal, and Sean Celi, are working with coach Taylor Owen for their Policy Lab.Â
“Working on this Policy Lab has allowed us to discover successful yet underrecognized digital innovations by the federal government and understand the complexity of digitalizing public services. We hope that our work can help make government services a better experience for all Canadians.”Â
Reducing Barriers in Canada's EV Charging Market | Competition BureauÂ
From left to right: MPP candidates Dara Joyce, Nina Hernandez Jayme, Tirzah Commey, Soomin Hanand, and Michael Kynaston.
What can the Competition Bureau do to encourage decision-makers to reduce barriers to competition in electric vehicle charging across provincial and territorial boundaries? MPPs Dara Joyce, Michael Kynaston, Nina Hernandez Jayme, Soomin Han, and Tirzah Commey are exploring these answers with coach Leslie Fierro.
"Our exploration of the challenges within Canada's electric vehicle (EV) charging market has enabled us to apply concepts learned in our economic courses to analyze the dynamics of supply and demand that influence market entry. It is evident that Canada has the potential to emerge as a frontrunner in EV infrastructure development, and we are eager to contribute our recommendations"Â
Federal Strategies to Boost Market Housing Units | Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
From the left to the right: MPP candidates Mercy Nwosu Baidoo, Ian Lupton, Adrita Rahman, and Abdelrahman Sherif.
MPPs Abdelrahman Sherif, Adrita Rahman, Ian Lupton and Mercy Nwosu Baidoo joined forces with coach Neil Bouwer to address how the federal government can incentivize productivity enhancing innovations to build more units of housing each year, a research question posed by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“As we delve deeper into this issue, we increasingly realize the entrenched complexity of the housing market, the interconnected factors such as chronic labour shortages, legal and regulatory frameworks and the inertia to adopt off-site construction technologies that have deterred market adoption of innovative technologies. Our goal is to propose innovative and practical solutions to help address the Canadian housing deficit using off-site construction technologies.” Â
We're looking forward to these presentations and reports in June, which will be posted on our website.
