As part of our networking and experiential efforts for our MPP students, we were honoured to invite a series of guest speakers to share their public policy expertise. Our students were given the opportunity to learn about and discuss various areas of public policy during these lunchtime talks in between their classes.
Dr. Joanne Liu
In October, Dr. Joanne Liu, a veteran humanitarian aid worker, Canadian pediatric emergency physician at the University of Montreal and a professor at ş«ąúÂăÎč’s School of Population & Global Health, discussed her new book, .
She explained that the motivation behind her book stemmed from living in an era dominated by fear and the rise of security-driven agendas since 9/11. She emphasized that the goal of her book was to explain the underlying dynamics of this “era of fear” and inspire readers to consider what they can do within their own scale to make a difference.
The discussion focused on the challenges faced by humanitarian workers, particularly the troubling trend of hospitals being targeted as part of military strategies. Dr. Liu recounted her experiences addressing these issues at the United Nations, highlighting the crucial role of dialogue and the constant risks faced by humanitarian teams. She focused on the global response to pandemics, noting that while awareness has increased, significant gaps in readiness persist.
Dr. Liu also shared her perspective as the Chair of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, highlighting the limitations of traditional diplomacy. She emphasized the necessity of back-channel diplomacy and noted that progress often requires financial independence and a commitment to collaboration. The idea of having “skin in the game” by giving the importance of genuine investment in humanitarian initiatives.
Alasdair Roberts
Max Bell welcomed professor and author Alasdair Roberts in November for a talk on his new book, . Roberts began his discussion with background information from his previous research. He cited the premises that guided his new writing, including a common instability shared by political systems across history, and most importantly for his new book, how adaptability in governance can solve this instability.
Roberts then shared the central claim of his book, saying “What I’m going to argue very briefly is that adaptability in Canada has declined- that we're not as good at looking at long-term challenges as they used to be, that we're not as good at building political agreements so far as we can on national strategy.”
An important focus of his new book is how adaptability in Canada can be rehabilitated through public policy. He framed past failures of governance as “problems that could’ve been anticipated but weren’t”, arguing that adaptability can be increased by building policy that aims to anticipate upcoming problems. To create such policy, Roberts advocated for conferences and commissions that could have an “anchoring effect” on the public and policy sphere, such as a G7 summit.
Roberts concluded his talk with a Q&A with Max Bell students. Together, they discussed the role of Canada’s relationship to the United States within the context of adaptability.
Howard Alpert
In December, chemist and former Chair of the Canada council for Science, Technology, and Innovation Howard Alper spoke to MPP students about the role of public policy in facilitation research. Alper began his discussion with a comparison of Canada’s funding structures to other countries such as the UK and Japan, arguing that support for research and development in Canada needs to be increased.
Alper shared his ideas for how to best support science, technology, and innovation through public policy. These included encouraging universities and institutions to apply for awards, increasing research funding, and engaging in international partnerships.
He additionally emphasized the importance of collaboration between students, scholars, universities, and governmental institutions, arguing that even though consensus building takes time, it is crucial to creating a culture that encourages research and development.
Looking forward, Alper said, “and for the future, I think there are opportunities to do even better, to be leaders in areas where we've developed expertise, with an example being artificial intelligence or quantum physics.”
Through their lectures and discussions, this semester’s esteemed lecturers shared their experiences in varied sectors of public policy. By doing so, they provided MPPs with important insight into real-world applications of what they are studying.
