Intended Consequences (StrategyCorp Institute)

Intended Consequences begins its seventh season with a deep dive into the economic and population growth of Atlantic Canada with Patrick Brannon, Senior Researcher and Director, Major Projects, at the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.

We discuss the strong population growth several Atlantic cities saw in 2021/2022 and the role of interprovincial migration and immigration. We also look at the impacts of accelerated growth on the labour market and local economic development as well as the housing affordability challenges facing Atlantic Canada.  

According to the Government of Ontario’s population projections, the number of seniors aged 70 and over will jump from 1.9 million in 2022 to nearly 3.5 million in 2046. An aging population puts significant pressure on long-term care and healthcare capacity in the province. It has real-life implications for seniors and their families. 

This episode explores whether a paradigm shift in seniors’ care is needed. The CEO of the Ontario Retirement Communities Association Cathy Hecimovich and StrategyCorp Senior Advisor Philippe Couillard join the podcast to discuss the continuum of care and the role of retirement communities. They also share their thoughts on how governments can help seniors be in control of their care.

The Honourable Vic Fedeli joins us in our second episode of the season to discuss economic development in the age of COVID-19. Fedeli - the Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade - shares his views on working from home, the future of the auto sector, and responds to our recently published Ontario 360 paper on the next steps for investment and job attraction in the province through a new agency called Invest Ontario. 

Ontario faces severe housing affordability challenges on both the homeownership and the rental sides. The current conditions have significant impacts across the entire housing sector, including non-profit housing. StrategyCorp released in October its first Ontario Non-Profit Housing CEO Survey which brought to light the most pressing challenges and opportunities faced by the sector.

Intended Consequences welcomed three experts to talk about the report and non-profit housing. Marlene Coffey is the CEO of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. Lori-Anne Gagne is the CEO of Victoria Park Community Homes and Stéphane Giguère is the CEO of Ottawa Community Housing.

The StrategyCorp Institute begins the ninth season of Intended Consequences with an extensive conversation on the state of entrepreneurship in Canada. The CEO of Startup Canada, Kayla Isabelle, joins us to discuss the opportunities and challenges entrepreneurs face amid significant uncertainty. She highlights the important role women-identifying and Indigenous entrepreneurs play in the economy. The episode also looks at a variety of top-of-mind issues for business leaders including talent, digital adoption and international trade.

International events and geopolitical shifts have massive impacts on Canada. More than ever, governments and companies find themselves navigating uncertain geopolitical dynamics. To assess what this means in practice, we are joined by Arif Lalani, a Senior Advisor with StrategyCorp’s Geopolitical and International Business Advisory Practice. He shares his insight on what a declining western liberal democratic order concretely entails and why technology is now a form of hard power. We discuss how a changing geopolitical order impacts foreign policy and the way Canadian companies conduct business abroad.

Our annual year-in-review & look-ahead episode is back to close out this season of Intended Consequences. Our StrategyCorp guests discuss the most important national and international developments of 2024 and their significance for Canadian politics and economics. They also share with us what they will be keeping an eye on in 2025 and why.

In a rising interest rate environment, the topic of infrastructure financing and borrowing costs could not be timelier. There is no shortage of infrastructure projects Canadian municipalities want to undertake. However, they often have limited financial resources, which means the question of how to finance infrastructure projects is front and center for municipal officials.

Join our two municipal experts as we explore how tax-free municipal bonds, a mechanism widely used in the United States, could be leveraged in Canada.

As interest rates rise, countries are increasingly worried about their debt. For commodity-producing states, the impact of the energy transition on their revenues is top of mind. How can jurisdictions navigate these challenging circumstances to ensure the long-term financial prosperity of their economy and population? Sovereign wealth funds can be part of the answer.

Elena Mantagaris, a Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp, and Matthew Bianco, a former Managing Director at CPP Investments, join the podcast to discuss the key drivers and principles that should guide sovereign wealth funds. They make the case that Canada would benefit from establishing a sovereign wealth fund.

The Ontario legislature resumes on September 25^th. MPPs return to Queen’s Park after a uniquely eventful summer in Ontario politics, which sets the stage for a heated fall sitting. Alex Armanious, Fraser MacDonald and Aidan Grove-White join the podcast to analyze what happened during the summer and discuss what to expect this fall.

In our Season 2 Premiere, noted journalist, TV host, and author Steve Paikin joins us for a state of the union on Ontario politics. We discuss the impact of the pandemic on Premier Ford's approval ratings, the state of each of the main parties, the road to the 2022 election, and changes to the deep seeded rural/urban divide in Ontario. Steve brings his decades of covering Queen's Park to the conversation with a unique look at how today's politicians can learn from Premier's past. Don't forget to subscribe!

StrategyCorp continues its coverage of the Alberta election by taking a look at the economy of the province. Ann-Marie Lurie, the Chief Economist of the Alberta Real Estate Association, joins us to talk about Alberta’s growth and what it means for the economy, the labour market and housing. We discuss the evolution of housing demand and supply in the province and its major urban centres before, during and after the pandemic.

On our last episode of the season, Linda Franklin (President and CEO of Colleges Ontario) joins us to talk about their vision for the future of Ontario's post-secondary system as it responds to changing labour market needs caused by automation and COVID-19. We discuss the details of our new full-length StrategyCorp Institute white paper, "The Future of Ontario's Workers." The paper and its recommendations can be found here.

On this episode we're joined by Bonnie Lysyk, Ontario's first female Auditor General. The Auditor is a non-partisan officer of the Legislature responsible for ensuring value for money spent by government. Auditor Lysyk was appointed in 2013 in the middle of an infamous audit on the true costs of the 2011 gas plant scandal. After releasing that report it became clear that the new Auditor was competent, sharp, and determined to get to the bottom of Ontario's finances. Throughout her term she's seen her power to veto government advertisements removed and had two major accounting disputes with government over the Fair Hydro Plan and pension surpluses. How did that happen? How do these multi-billion dollar issues get resolved? What changes need to be made for the Auditor to continue to provide a trusted and important role? We dig into all that and more!

The second episode of the podcast features Canada's former Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton. The episode covers his time as Principal Secretary to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and his key role throughout the re-negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with President Donald Trump's administration.

“Innovation” is a buzzword in policy and financial circles. Every business wants to be innovative and every government strives to stimulate innovation in order to support economic growth. In this episode, we look at innovation in the Canadian context with the President of the Council of Canadian Innovators, Benjamin Bergen. We discuss the state of innovation policy and some of the key tools the federal government should focus on. Benjamin also provides an industry perspective on timely issues such as tax, access to capital, talent and training.

On June 26, 2023, Torontonians elected Olivia Chow as their next Mayor in a by-election. As it is often the case when a new mayor comes into office, there was some uncertainty around how Olivia Chow would govern and what the relationship with other levels of government would look like.

A lot has happened in Toronto city politics since the election. The City reached a New Deal with the Government of Ontario and Council passed the Mayor’s first budget. To look back on the last year and discuss what comes next in Toronto, Aidan Grove-White, Fraser Macdonald and Marco Bianchi from StrategyCorp join the podcast

Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Ontario Green Party and MPP for Guelph joins the podcast to talk policy and politics heading into the next Ontario election, which is just 6 months away. In the 1st half of the episode we do a deep dive into everything from COVID-19 recovery to housing to climate change and highways. On the 2nd half of the podcast we talk politics, the Green's approach to the election, and what a successful result looks like for the growing party.

Ken Boessenkool, a native of Alberta, was once described as "an election strategist and policy chef who lurks around conservative parties everywhere in Canada.” True to form, Ken recently came up with the idea of a Crisis Basic Income - a temporary universal basic income that could be taxed back from wealthier people next year - to respond to COVID-19. On this episode, we discuss that idea in-depth as well as what negative oil prices may mean for Alberta's COVID-19 recovery efforts. 

This week’s episode looks at the role of electricity in enabling Canada’s transition to net zero by 2050. As policymakers and industry prepare for a greener economy, electrification is top of mind to reduce emissions. Demands for electricity are increasing and concerns around supply are beginning to emerge in some parts of the country.

Francis Bradley, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Electricity Canada joins us on the podcast to discuss important dimensions of electricity such as the role of government, supply and capacity, the power generation mix as well as resilience in light of climate and cyber risks.

Ontario's Education Minister, the Hon. Stephen Lecce, spent the first half of this year fighting to keep kids inside the classroom. Little did he know, he'd spend the second half fighting to ensure they had the resources needed to learn outside the classroom because of COVID-19. Minister Lecce joins the podcast for a fascinating talk about the decision to close Ontario's schools to protect from the pandemic, the path forward when schools resume, the future of child care in Ontario, and a look back at the recently concluded round of negotiations with the province's big 4 teachers' unions.

The Alberta election is officially underway! The NDP and the UCP begin this election deadlocked in the polls. Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley have until May 29th to convince Albertans their respective parties should form government. To discuss what to expect in this election and why the rest of Canada should pay close attention, we are joined by Elan Harper and Garry Keller, two Vice Presidents at StrategyCorp.

We begin the 10^th season of Intended Consequences by looking at the return of the House of Commons. There was no shortage of political news over the summer, including the end of the Supply and Confidence Agreement between the Liberals and the NDP.

Andrew Steele, Garry Keller and Nasha Brownridge join the podcast to discuss the political dynamics at play and how the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP will be approaching the fall sitting.

Following the result of the 2023 Alberta election which saw the UCP re-elected with a reduced majority, the StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy was pleased to host an impressive panel that discussed the re-election of the UCP with a reduced majority and what comes next for the UCP, the NDP, Albertans and businesses. 

With opening remarks from StrategyCorp's Alberta practice lead Elan Harper, the panel was moderated by Joanne Chianello and included Jen Gerson, Anne McGrath, and Garry Keller.

In this special episode, we're pleased to present the webinar in an audio-only format. 

To close out this season of Intended Consequences, we look back on what was an eventful 2022 and look ahead to next year. Our StrategyCorp guests discuss the most important developments of 2022 and their significance for Canadian politics and economics. Our guests also tell us what they will be keeping an eye on in 2023 and why. Some even ventured to make a few predictions! 

This week’s episode looks at the important topic of cyber security. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools and services. Unfortunately, as our reliance on the Internet grows, so does the risk of cyber threats. Every organization can be a target: businesses, municipalities, government departments and agencies, and even hospitals.

Governments around the world are working to prevent attacks and improve the cyber resilience of citizens and organizations. This comes at a time when new technologies like cloud-based solutions and the Internet of Things bring new opportunities and threats. To tackle some of the most pressing questions on cyber security and what it means for governments and businesses in 2023, we are joined by Jennifer Quaid, the Executive Director of the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange, and Andrew Loschmann, Co-Founder and COO of Field Effect.

On our season 3 premiere, the Honourable Caroline Wawzonek - Northwest Territories' Minister of Finance - joins us to discuss the recently tabled 2021 Budget and the impact of COVID-19 on Canada's North. More than 40% of the NWT's adult population has been vaccinated as of March 1st, meaning re-opening may be on the horizon. In this episode, we discuss the path to recovery and the NWT's unique positioning as one of Canada's first jurisdictions to attempt the return to normal.

On this episode, Dr. Michelle Gagnon, a Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp and an experienced public health professional, joins us to talk about her new whitepaper Public Health in the Public Eye. The paper dissects the role of public health in Canada's healthcare landscape and provides three recommendations to ensure a strong public health system that is better prepared for crises such as COVID-19. The paper can be found at www.strategycorp.com/institute

After a busy summer where housing, the cost of living and wildfires dominated headlines, Members of Parliament will return for the fall sitting on September 18^th. StrategyCorp has you covered on everything you need to know about how the summer played out for each party and what to expect this fall. Andrew Steele, Garry Keller and Nasha Brownridge discuss what the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP will be focused on in the coming months and the risks they must navigate. 

On our 27th episode, Toronto Region Board of Trade President and CEO Jan De Silva joins us to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the Toronto Region's economy and how governments can kickstart recovery efforts in the country's largest employment centre. Recorded shortly after the beginning of the third wave, Jan gives an inside look at what the downtown office will look like post-pandemic and the importance of transit for the Region's future.

The Honourable Monte McNaughton joins us in our season 4 premiere to discuss the ever changing labour sector in the wake of COVID-19 and the future of work in Ontario. In this episode McNaughton expands on the province's plans to address the expected 100,000 skilled trade worker shortage by 2030, his bold new legislation to protect workers in a post COVID-19 economy, and the impacts on inter-provincial migration to rural Ontario. 

The StrategyCorp Institute continues its miniseries on artificial intelligence by looking at the Canadian context.

We discuss the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act in bill C-27 and the federal government’s overall approach to regulating AI. We also explore Canada’s leadership in AI, how companies are adopting the technology and whether it will lead to greater productivity.

Christelle Tessono and Viet Vu from The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University join us for this timely conversation. 

Curious to also learn about how other countries are regulating AI? Listen to the first instalment  of our miniseries with the Director of the Center for Data Innovation Daniel Castro.  

Earlier this year, the StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy released a policy paper on financial resilience. As many Canadians face challenges related to high interest rates, inflation and a potential recession, the concept of financial resilience is extremely timely from an economic and public policy standpoint. In this episode, we sit down with Tashia Batstone, the President and CEO of FP Canada to discuss the state of financial resilience and how financial planning can help improve the resilience of households.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit it closed bars and restaurants around the country, causing thousands of untapped kegs to be returned to breweries. Andrew Oland, President and CEO of Moosehead Breweries in Saint John N.B., joins us to talk about the impact of the pandemic on the beer industry and what's next. From changing consumer behaviour to restrictive taxes and regulations to competing with cannabis, the beer industry in Canada is at a critical stage. Andrew speaks to about all this and more!

The fourth episode of the podcast features Dr. Bob Bell, former Ontario Deputy Minister of Health and a 40 year medical expert. Dr. Bell talks about the challenges of dealing with Corona Virus in Ontario and what comes next on that front. He also touches on managing a $64 billion Ministry, the future of Ontario health care, and what drove him to become a partisan Liberal for the first time in a more than 40 year career. 

Intended Consequences kicks off its sixth season with a timely discussion on local economic development. Coming out of the pandemic, communities are looking for innovative and sustainable ways to grow their economy and work collaboratively with businesses. The role of the economic development department has never been more important and multifaceted.

How do you ensure the social acceptability of growth? What is the role of provincial and federal governments in supporting local economic development? These are just some of the important questions our panelists Nancy Huether, Director, Economic Development and Airport Services for the County of Simcoe and Ed Sajecki, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp discuss in this episode.

This special episode is all about Alberta and the results of the United Conservative Party leadership race. On the sixth ballot, the former leader of the Wildrose Party Danielle Smith prevailed defeating six other candidates, including former Finance Minister Travis Toews and former Opposition leader Brian Jean. Join us as we deep dive into the outcome of the race, what it means for Alberta and Canada, and what’s next.

Walied Soliman is successful in his own right as the Canadian Chair of the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright and the 2019 recipient of the UN Association of Canada's Global Citizen Laureate award but, he's a politico at heart. Most recently, Walied served as the campaign co-chair for Erin O'Toole's successful bid to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Walied joins us to talk about that race, the future of campaigns, and the challenges ahead for Erin O'Toole. 

The launch of ChatGPT has forced organizations and institutions across the economy to ask themselves what generative AI means for them in terms of risks and opportunities. Governments and regulators find themselves asking similar questions. Artificial intelligence “going mainstream” because of ChatGPT accelerated regulatory efforts and shaped the policy and political conversation on AI.  

 The Director of the Center for Data Innovation Daniel Castro joins us on the podcast to discuss how countries around the world are going about regulating artificial intelligence and stimulating innovation. He provides his insight on the different approaches to AI in Europe, Asia and North America.

Public transportation is essential to enable people to move from point A to point B. It also plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change. In this episode, the StrategyCorp Institute looks at the topic of mobility and public transit infrastructures. University of Toronto Professor Shoshanna Saxe and StrategyCorp Senior Advisor Philippe Couillard provide their insights on the benefits of public transportation, the social acceptability of projects, transit-oriented communities and how to finance new infrastructures in an era of fiscal restraint. They also share their thoughts on what can be done to limit project delays and budget overruns.

On our Season 3 finale, we're joined by Paul Wells, Senior Political Writer at Maclean's Magazine to chat everything Canadian politics. Paul breaks down Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's performance throughout the pandemic and sets the stage for the (likely) upcoming election by detailing each party's prospects and problems. As always, Paul showcases his colourful personality and gives a unique reflection on former PM Stephen Harper's tenure that only Canada's foremost 'Harperologist' can deliver!

The StrategyCorp Municipal Chief Administrative Officer Survey 2024 highlighted that municipal finance is a top area of concern. The report noted that “many CAOs spoke of financial challenges not just in terms of the gaps and shortfalls they are trying to fill, notably with respect to infrastructure, but in the context of affordability for residents.”

Two StrategyCorp Senior Advisors, Michael Fenn and Tony Haddad, join the podcast to talk about the state of municipal financial sustainability in Ontario. They provide their insight on the financial challenges municipalities face and the importance of financial planning to navigate uncertain times. Tony and Michael also discuss ways senior levels of government can help alleviate some of the financial pressures municipalities are dealing with.

When we first scheduled this episode with Dr. Christopher Sands, the Director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies, we figured the U.S. Presidential election results would be known. Instead, at the time of recording, the contest was still too close to call. In the first of a special two-part episode, Dr. Sands shares valuable insights about the changing bases of both the Republicans and Democrats, the rise of blue collar millennials as a voting bloc, and what the election could mean for Canada. 

Convened under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP28 will take place in Dubai between November 30^th and December 12^th. The event is expected to bring together over 70,000 delegates from all over the world. Delegates will include politicians, civil servants, non-government organizations, industry, Indigenous stakeholders and many others.

A wide array of issues will be discussed at COP28. To help us get ready for the event, we were joined by Lorraine Audsley, Senior Vice-President and Chief Risk and Sustainability Officer at Export Development Canada, and Patricia Fuller, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp and Canada’s former ambassador for climate change. Our guests shared their thoughts on why COPs still matter, climate finance, what to watch for and how delegates can make the most of the conference.

Le transport en commun est essentiel pour permettre aux gens de se déplacer d'un point A à un point B. Il joue aussi un rôle crucial dans la lutte contre les changements climatiques. Dans cet épisode, l'Institut de StrategyCorp aborde le sujet de la mobilité et des infrastructures de transport en commun. Catherine Morency, professeure à Polytechnique Montréal, et Philippe Couillard, conseiller principal à StrategyCorp, partagent leurs points de vue sur les bénéfices du transport en commun, l'acceptabilité sociale des projets et comment éviter les retards et les dépassements de coûts. Ils discutent également des facteurs nécessaires pour créer des communautés axées sur le transport en commun.

Listen to our panelists Ana Bailão from Dream, Steven Paynter from Gensler, and Aidan Grove-White and Mary Ellen Bench from StrategyCorp, discuss how building conversion works, what needs to happen for these kinds of projects to move forward, the roadblocks that can hinder the reorganization of space, and how different levels of government can help.

In our season 2 finale, former Premier Kathleen Wynne joins us for a behind the scenes look at the highest office in the province. Premier Wynne takes us through her leadership and general election victories, her policy successes and mistakes, her legacy in office, and the path she helped carve for future women leaders in Ontario and Canada. This honest, insightful, and revealing conversation is a can't miss for anyone in Ontario or Canadian political circles.

Tim Hudak, CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association, joins us to talk about the recent StrategyCorp Institute white paper "Rebuilding Ontario: A Framework for Recovery." The paper puts forward 15 ideas to help real estate drive the economic recovery from COVID-19, including options like a temporary land transfer tax holiday and a home renovation tax credit. As former Leader of the Ontario PC Party, Tim also gives his thoughts on Ontario politics and the government's performance as of late.

In honour of the 2021 federal snap election, Intended Consequences presents the State of Play mini-series which will have influential strategists on the program to talk all things elections, including campaigns, regionality, and communications. For our first episode, we have renowned campaign strategist and StrategyCorp co-founder, John Duffy. Since he wrote the book on pivotal elections in Canada, we wanted to bring him on the podcast to talk all things campaigns and the defining issues of the 2021 federal election.

Satellites play an increasing role in enabling the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in some parts of Canada. Innovation in low earth orbit (LEO) satellites reminds us that satellite technology is evolving rapidly. 

Jason Trembley, Manal Hauenstein and Dennis Béland from Terrestar Solutions join the podcast to discuss the emergence of LEO satellites and what it means for the regulatory regime. With an increasing number of satellites in orbit, we explore how industry and governments can work together to limit risks associated with satellite collisions and the proliferation of space debris. Our guests also highlight interesting IoT use cases powered by satellites.

This episode looks at ESG through the lens of finance, economics and policy. We are joined by the CEO of ESG Global Advisors, Sarah Keyes, to discuss the current state of ESG reporting in Canada and what the role of government should be in this sphere. We deep dive into what ESG means for municipalities across the country and explore how Reconciliation fit into the ESG conversation. Join us as we explore these topics and so many more to learn why ESG matters to businesses, investors, governments and municipalities!

The Government of Canada released its highly anticipated Indo-Pacific Strategy on November 27. The Strategy identifies five specific objectives and commits to making investments of $2.3 billion over the next five years. Dubbed a “generational response” to the rising influence of the Indo-Pacific region, the Strategy will shape Canada’s diplomatic and commercial approach to this part of the world.

But what does an Indo-Pacific Strategy actually mean for Canada? What should Canadian businesses operating in the region or looking to export there know about the Strategy? To tackle these important questions and analyze the overall Strategy, we are joined this week by Canada’s former Ambassador to NATO, Kerry Buck, and StrategyCorp Vice President, Garry Keller.

Governments spend large sums of money on procurement every year. According to Global Affairs Canada, estimates show that government procurement represents between 13 and 20 per cent of a country’s gross domestic product.

Given the size of the budgets and the wide array of goods and services governments need, procurement is a big opportunity for potential suppliers. However, procurement processes are often complex and hard to navigate.

To explore the topic of federal procurement, we are joined by the President of AES Inc., Annie Randell, and Martin Rust, a Senior Advisor and a member of the StrategyCorp Procurement Solutions team. We explore why government procurement matters, the lifecycle of a process and how it could be improved. A member of Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, Annie Randell also discusses the obstacles Indigenous-led organizations face when they partake in government procurement processes.

Later in the show, Julie Gonyou explains what makes municipal procurement unique and debunks common misconceptions. A former Chief Administrative Officer, Julie Gonyou is a Director at StrategyCorp and a member of the firm’s Procurement Solutions team.

This episode was brought to you and produced by Chris Loreto, Kyle Sholes, and Chloe Ketels.

The Ontario government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act on October 25. The proposed law marks the most significant changes to Ontario’s planning and development system in a generation. It would fundamentally alter the province’s land use planning system and municipal governance frameworks. Nearly every part of the development sector will be touched by these changes.

In this episode, StrategyCorp has you covered on what you need to know. Sabine Matheson, a Principal at StrategyCorp and Aidan Grove-White, Vice President at StrategyCorp, join Sebastien to discuss the changes and what they mean for the province, municipalities, developers, planners, and more. 

How will COVID-19 change the Canadian economy? What do policy makers need to do to ensure we can properly recover from COVID-19? Where can relief packages be strengthened and what policies are needed next? On this episode, we're joined by Karim Bardeesy - former Deputy Principal Secretary to the Premier of Ontario and current head of the Ryerson Leadership Lab to talk policy shop related to COVID-19. Listen to Karim's unique thoughts and ideas on everything from auto insurance relief to a made in Ontario small business lender to the need to protect equality and human capital in the policy responses in the months to come. 

In part 2 of our special two-part series on the U.S. election, Professor Christopher Sands (Director of the Canada Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies) returns to talk about the policy implications of a now known Biden administration. We discuss the President-elect's views on trade and U.S.-China relations, the role of Congress in a post-Trump era, and what it all means for Canada moving forwards. 

Despite Bitcoin having been around since 2009, crypto and blockchain remain relatively misunderstood. Several myths persist around what the technology is and is not. Many also underappreciate the role of crypto and its innovation potential. As crypto attracts more attention and users, a variety of regulatory frameworks are emerging around the world.

To help us understand the world of blockchain, web3 and crypto, we are joined by Justin Wales, SVP and Head of Legal for the Americas at crypto.com. He is the author of a new book titled The Crypto Legal Handbook: A Guide to the Laws of Crypto, Web3, and the Decentralized World.

Ontario Long-Term Care Association CEO Donna Duncan joins us to discuss a sobering but important topic: the state of Ontario's long-term care system in the wake of COVID-19. As Ontario ages, the future of long-term care policy is becoming critically important. Donna takes us through what went wrong in the early days of the pandemic, how it was handled, and the lessons learned to prevent future outbreaks as Ontario embarks on an ambitious pledge to build 30,000 new beds over the next decade. 

The third episode of the podcast features Kim Moran, CEO of Children's Mental Health Ontario. Kim discusses the challenges of navigating Ontario's mental health system for the 28,000 children and youth currently on waiting lists for treatment. She candidly shares her personal experiences with the system and explains what Ontario can do to solve the growing backlog.

From extreme weather events to fiscal pressures, municipalities across Canada are facing a wide array of challenges. Having quality municipal management has never been this essential and it often begins with City Managers.

Using the book The Role of Canadian City Managers: In Their Own Words as a starting point, three former City Managers and senior Ontario government executives join this episode. They provide their insight on crucial aspects of the work of City Managers, including managing the relationship with elected officials, building intergovernmental relations and dealing with emergencies related to climate change and public health. Our panelists also discuss the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the municipal context and what it looks like in action.

Much of Ontario – including most of the province’s main urban centres – are served by local electricity distributors (LDCs) owned by municipalities. Both the federal and Ontario governments have recently announced measures that could enable more private sector or pension fund investment in those municipally owned LDCs.

This podcast looks at the current situation, the proposed changes and what more private or pension fund investment could entail for municipalities, investors and the Ontario Energy Board. We are joined by Mary Anne Aldred, Strategic Advisor at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada, and StrategyCorp’s very own Aleck Dadson and Michael Fenn.

StrategyCorp hosted the 'Federal Election 2021 - The Results Are In' webinar on Tuesday September 21 the day after Election 44. The webinar dives into the election results, what they mean, and what happens next. StrategyCorp Principal Lisa Samson moderates a panel of esteemed strategists, Garry Keller (StrategyCorp VP), Kim Wright (Principal, Wright Strategies), and Andrew Steele (StrategyCorp VP).

On this episode, Toronto City Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Ward 25, Scarborough-Rouge Park) joins us on her first ever podcast to talk about three important issues: the financial impact of COVID-19 on the City's books, the future of transit in Toronto, and actions that can be taken to address systemic racism within the City. In the discussion, Councillor McKelvie draws on her past career as a renowned geoscientist and proposes a thoughtful and intriguing green lens on the City's recovery efforts. Tune in to find out more!

Dr. Kate Graham had a busy couple of years. After finishing 3rd for the Ontario Liberal Party in London North Centre in 2018, she decided to run for party leader. Running a grassroots campaign and impressing many, while pregnant she might add, she finished an impressive 3rd in that race. Now, she's the party's platform co-chair and a nominated candidate in the 2022 election. She joins us to look back on those races, discuss the platform process, and speak to the future of the Liberal Party in Ontario.

Nathan Cullen, former 15 year British Columbia NDP Member of Parliament, joins us to talk about the impacts of COVID-19 out West, the future of the New Democratic Party, and he gives us an update on what he's up to - including his role as British Columbia's liaison with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs negotiating over the Coastal Gas Link pipeline. Nathan gives his thoughts on what to watch for in a COVID-19 recovery, a behind the scenes look at what life as an MP was really like, and a synopsis on the state of federal politics today.

For the second episode of the State of Play Election 44 mini-series, we are delighted to have Quebec-based public affairs consulting firm MERCURE Conseil Director, Daniel Dufort, join us to talk Quebec politics in Election 44. The discussion ranges from understanding the 2021 Bloc Quebecois and their election strategy, paths to victory in Quebec for each of the main political parties, as well as Quebec ridings to watch for on election night.

The StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy recently hosted a live solutions-focused webinar on the future of healthcare in Canada. Moderated by The Globe and Mail's Carly Weeks, this event brought together recognized experts with extensive experience in healthcare policy, including Christine Elliott, Jane Philpott, and Philippe Couillard. This impressive lineup of speakers shared their ideas and recommendation on how to improve several aspects of the Canadian healthcare system, including primary care, mental health and addictions and the role of the private sector.

The Ontario legislature returns after a long summer break. MPPs head back to Queen’s Park under interesting circumstances as parties are also getting ready for a potential snap election.

Aidan Grove-White, Fraser Macdonald and Kelly Baker join the podcast to analyze what the priorities of each party will be this fall. They also highlight the key risks and opportunities the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, NDP and Liberals could face. With an election looming, our guests discuss how the parties are preparing to hit the campaign trail.

This first episode of the podcast is meant to introduce listeners to the StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy and its podcast, Intended Consequences. It features a live interview from the Institute's launch event.

While the war in Ukraine rages on, another fight continues in its neighbour to the north, Belarus.  In 2020, its dictator Alexander Lukashenko faced massive protests in the streets and is widely seen by the international community to have lost the presidential election to an unlikely opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Tsikhanouskaya ran in the place of her husband Siarhei, who was arrested by the authorities in May 2020.  While Siarhei remains in prison in Belarus, Sviatlana, who was exiled almost immediately, leads the opposition from abroad. Her goal is to work with international allies to build the framework for a post-Lukashenko future for Belarus.

She was in Canada this week for high-level meetings with the Government of Canada, allied ambassadors and the Belarusian community. She joined StrategyCorp’s Garry Keller for a conversation on the challenges she faces, and what Canadians can do to support freedom and democracy in Belarus.

On our latest episode, Vancouver's 40th Mayor, Kennedy Stewart, joins us to give SCI listeners a west coast perspective on housing, COVID-19, transit, and the opioid crisis. We take a deep dive into British Columbia's artful balance between lockdowns and re-opening, what to do about surging home prices, the federal/municipal relationship in a crisis, and even discuss Vancouver's bold, but controversial, pilot to decriminalize drug possession. Check it out and don't forget to subscribe!

The Ring of Fire may be the single largest resource development opportunity Ontario will ever see. The only problem is the Ring's mineral deposits are located hundreds of kilometres from the nearest road. The Province has put aside $1 billion to build a set of roads to the Ring, but everything from negotiations with local Indigenous communities to complex infrastructure requirements have to be sorted first. Noront owns over 70% of all mining claims in the Ring of Fire. Noront's CEO, Alan Coutts, joins us to discuss this once in a generation opportunity.

Enjoy a special episode of Intended Consequences. On November 23, the StrategyCorp Institute hosted a live webinar on Canada’s energy transition journey. Our panel of experts looked at how Canada can achieve its energy and climate goals and thrive. Panelists provided their insight into what this transition and the broader electrification of the economy means from the perspective of power generation, distribution, demand and social acceptability. 

Is Canada's deficit out of control? Can we afford the COVID-19 relief programs already in place? How will we pay back the cost of pandemic relief? Can we get back to budget balance? What does a proper fiscal recovery look like? The COVID-19 pandemic has simply uprooted Canada's fiscal plan.

Kevin Page, President and CEO of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy and Canada's first ever Parliamentary Budget Officer, joins us to talk about these questions and more in an in-depth conversation about the country's financial state.

As countries around the world strive to reduce carbon emissions, every industry must adapt. In the transportation sector, electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly popular among consumers. However, electrifying other means of transportation is significantly more complicated and will require ambitious innovation. In this latest episode, we look at the aviation sector and how it can do its part in the fight against climate change with Professor Suzanne Kearns, the Founding Director of the Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Aeronautics.

Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain are changing the game for governments, companies, and workers. As these emerging technologies gain traction and get adopted, questions around their impact on people are top of mind. Will they create a digital divide where some individuals get left behind in both their personal and professional lives?

Faun Rice from the Information and Communications Technology Council joins the podcast to discuss what the digital divide means for individuals and businesses. She also provides insight into how students and workers can develop the right skills for a rapidly changing digital economy.

In the face of an uncertain economic future, where housing starts have plummeted and residential sales are down, but demand shows no signs of abating, the key goal of the industry is to somehow make it through 2025.

StrategyCorp Ontario Developer Survey 2024

Dave Wilkes, President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association, and Jason Burggraaf, Executive Director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, join the podcast to discuss the state of the development industry in Ontario. They provide their insight on the development financial model and the barriers developers are currently facing. Our guests also highlight how the different levels of government can support the sector.

StrategyCorp partnered with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce to host a live webinar on housing in Atlantic Canada. Amid rising prices, this timely event looked at innovative solutions and the role of the three levels of government in tackling the housing crisis in the Atlantic provinces. Moderated by the CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, Krista Ross, this special episode brought together three expert panelists: New Brunswick’s Minister responsible for Housing, Jill Green, the Mayor of Fredericton, Kate Rogers, as well as Aidan Grove-White, a Vice President at StrategyCorp.

Our year-in-review and look-ahead episode is back to close out this season of Intended Consequences. Our StrategyCorp guests discuss the most important developments of 2023 at all levels of government and their significance for Canadian politics and economics. They also share with us what they will be keeping an eye on in 2024 and why. 

You may recognize her as the person behind Heather's picks, the CEO and founder of Indigo Books and Music, the author of the new book "Imagine It!", or from the Financial Times' top 50 most powerful women in world business - the point is Heather Reisman knows a thing or two about running a successful retail business. She joins us on this episode to breakdown what COVID-19 has done to the retail industry, where retail will go next, and how automation will be coming to a store near you before you know it. Take a listen and don't forget to subscribe!

With the Ontario election in the rear view mirror, a new Cabinet in place, and a summer sitting of the Legislature on the horizon, StrategyCorp digs into what’s next for the Ford Government. In this episode of Intended Consequences, we sit down with our very own public affairs strategists, Kailey Vokes and Garry Keller, to discuss Premier Ford’s new Cabinet, the key players around the table, and the challenges and opportunities they face as they tackle their new mandate.

Canada is undergoing a transformation in how we manage our waste. Transitioning to a circular economy that extends the life cycle of products and reduces waste can have significant environmental benefits. To be successful, this transition requires the right policies, investments and infrastructures. Individuals, businesses and governments ultimately all have a role to play. In this episode, StrategyCorp’s Elena Mantagaris and Fraser MacDonald provide their insight on the key dimensions of the circular economy. 

Read StrategyCorp's circular economy newsletter for more information on this topic: https://strategycorp.com/2024/02/strategycorp-february-newsletter-from-trash-to-cash/  

The Canadian auto show was supposed to be the highlight of early 2020 - but then COVID-19 hit. Flavio Volpe, President of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association put out the call to convert assembly lines for car doors and engines into factories making everything from ventilators to medical gowns. In a matter of days, they re-tooled and launched the largest peace time manufacturing mobilization Canada's ever seen. Flavio takes us through it and talks about the future of auto as we emerge from COVID-19.

The StrategyCorp Institute concludes its miniseries on artificial intelligence with an episode on AI in the municipal context. From building permit approvals to smart infrastructure to answering residents’ questions, there are many opportunities for municipalities to integrate AI-based solutions. 

However, with all the hype around AI, it can be difficult for local governments to cut through the noise and adequately consider the risks and challenges associated with the technology. Ensuring the social acceptability of AI among City Council, staff and residents is also essential.

The City of Burlington is at the forefront of safe and effective AI adoption. It provides a model for municipalities across Canada. Chad MacDonald, the Executive Director, Digital Service, and Chief Information Officer of Burlington joins us to discuss the City’s experience with artificial intelligence and what comes next in the municipal context.

You can catch up on the first two episodes of our miniseries on AI by clicking the links below:

Episode 81: Artificial Intelligence Regulation and Innovation in Canada

Episode 79: Artificial Intelligence Regulation Around the World

Like the rest of the Canadian economy, the construction industry is badly hit by a decline in labour productivity. Looking at historical data, labour productivity in the construction sector is lower today than it was before the pandemic. This comes at a time when communities are growing and we need to build more houses and infrastructure.

Increasing productivity will require a variety of tools and one of them is technology. To discuss the impacts of technology adoption in the construction sector, we are joined by Hamid Alemohammad, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Brickeye.

After winning a majority on May 29th, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP returned to the provincial legislature for the fall sitting. The session began with a Throne Speech that outlined the priorities of the Premier and the tense relationship between Alberta and the federal government.

From energy to affordability to infrastructure, the Throne Speech touched on several topics of importance to Albertans, businesses, municipalities and Indigenous communities. Three Alberta-based experts join the podcast to unpack the Speech and what comes next. Our guests include Dale Swampy, President of the National Coalition of Chiefs, Jeff Davison, a former Calgary City Councillor and the current CEO of the Prostate Cancer Centre and Elan Harper, a Vice President at StrategyCorp.

In this bonus episode, we are doing things a little differently. Following the Federal government's 2021 Budget, the StrategyCorp Institute hosted a webinar with a panel of experts to break down financial and political implications of the Budget. Our own Lisa Samson hosts renowned pollster Nik Nanos, former Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page, and SCI's own senior advisor and former Saskatchewan cabinet minister the Hon. Nancy Heppner. They debate and discuss everything from Canada's record debt levels to the newly announced $10 a day national childcare program. You won't want to miss it!

On our 30th episode, Leslee White-Eye of the First Nations with Schools Collective in Ontario and former Chief of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation joins us along with StrategyCorp Senior Advisor Gabe Sekaly. On this episode we discuss the StrategyCorp Institute's latest paper "A Critical Perspective on the Canadian Education Gap: Assessing First Nation Education Outcomes in Canada" and its recommendations around curriculum, recruiting teachers, and providing more funding autonomy for First Nations leaders. Check out the paper here: https://strategycorp.com/2021/05/assessing-first-nation-student-education-outcomes-in-canada/

When it comes to fighting climate change, taking actions at home is as important as working with global partners. At the national level, the Government of Canada has taken several measures to fight climate change including rolling out a carbon pricing system. On the world stage, Canada is an active player at events like COPs. However, how domestic policy and diplomacy are coordinated to work together can be a bit of a black box.

Canada’s former ambassador for climate change, Patricia Fuller, joins us to discuss this fascinating topic and share the findings of a new report she co-authored titled Climate Change and Canada’s International Engagement.

Former President and CEO of Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator and new StrategyCorp Senior Advisor, Terry Young, joins the podcast to discuss the future of Canada's energy and electricity sectors. The podcast dives into pan-Canadian electricity and energy policy, climate change and COP26, the future of electric vehicles and cross-border energy trading, and more!

For the last episode of Intended Consequence's Election 44 mini-series, we have StrategyCorp Principal and communications expert, John Perenack, on the program to unpack the Election 44 campaign messaging and communications. John also shares his thoughts on politician reputation and image, digital campaigns, and slogans in the context of elections and politics.

StrategyCorp hosted a webinar on November 7th to analyze the results of the U.S. election. Three expert panelists joined Garry Keller, Head of the StrategyCorp's Geopolitical and International Business Advisory Practice, to discuss what the return of Donald Trump to the White House could mean for Canada:

• Louise Blais, Former Canadian Diplomat
• Richard Madan, CBC Washington DC Correspondent
• Christopher Sands, Director of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute

Economist and Atkinson Fellow On The Future Of Workers, Armine Yalnizyan, joins Intended Consequences to discuss Canada's key policy priorities for pandemic recovery. In this episode we discuss the role of the care economy in a post COVID Canada, the rise of pro-worker ideas in centre-right political parties, and changing labour trends that highlight the importance of access to childcare.