Bringing policy discussions to the forefront

Bringing policy discussions to the forefront

By Communications Staff

August 16, 2017

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As Canada continues to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the School of Policy Studies continues its Public Policy and Canada’s 150 series with an exciting lineup of conferences and special speakers touching upon topics such as inclusivity, economic integration and how universities can play a role in helping governments address complex policy challenges.

The next event, being held Aug. 16-18, is the Queen’s International Institute on Social Policy, which brings together leading policymakers and researchers to review the latest findings and to discuss major directions in social policy. This year’s conference, organized with support from the governments of Canada, Ontario, the Region of Peel, and the City of Toronto, is entitled “Inclusive Economy, Inclusive Society: Canadian Social Policy in an Age of Disruption.”

"Pippa Norris"
Pippa Norris, McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, delivered the opening keynote address of the Queen's International Institute on Social Policy. (Supplied Photo)

The opening keynote address will be delivered by Pippa Norris, McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, who will discuss “The Rise of Populism: Economic Insecurity or Cultural Backlash.”

From Oct. 15-17, the Queen’s Institute on Trade Policy will approach the theme of “Toward a new model for North American economic Integration.” Drawing on the experience of former negotiators and academic trade experts, the objective is to help trade policy practitioners acquire the skills and perspectives needed to develop trade negotiation strategies, and to provide networking opportunities with their colleagues in other departments and levels of government.

The Queen’s Policy Forum, to be held Nov. 4 at the Donald Gordon Centre, will ask how relations between the academy and the policy world have changed in recent years and will seek answers to the question of “How can universities help respond to Canada’s complex policy challenges?”

In addition to these and other significant conferences throughout the year QSPS offers the Policy Speaker Series which has enabled the Queen’s community to hear from leaders, experts and researchers from a variety of policy backgrounds. The weekly series starts on Thursday, Sept. 14, with Naomi Alboim, Professor and Distinguished Fellow at the School of Policy Studies and a former deputy minister with the Government of Ontario, followed by Malcolm Brown, Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada (Sept. 21); and Steve Orsini, Secretary of the Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service, and Clerk of the Executive Council (Sept. 29).

“These important conferences and speakers provide a forum for the exchange and promulgation of public policy drawing together thought leaders, faculty, students and the public, from within and far outside the academy,” says David Walker, Executive Director of the School of Policy Studies. “During a time of challenge to our social constructs these events are all the more important and represent the best of Queen’s University’s accountability to society”.

Visit the School of Policy Studies website for more information.

Public policy studies have played an important role at Queen’s University for over a century, and its alumni have been a great source of institutional strength in the public sphere. In September 2016, Principal Daniel Woolf established a commission to study and develop recommendations for revitalizing Queen’s presence in the arena of public policy. The Principal’s Commission on the Future of Public Policy at Queen’s University submitted an interim report in May 2017.