- Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation
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Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation 
Applied Public Policy Research Informed by Ontario's Reality.Formation 2009 Type Public Policy Think Tank Headquarters School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Toronto Location Toronto, ON Director Matthew Mendelsohn Affiliations University of Toronto Website http://mowatcentre.ca The Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation is an independent, non-partisan public policy research centre located at the University of Toronto School of Public Policy and Governance.[1][2]
The Mowat Centre undertakes collaborative applied policy research and engages in public dialogue on Canada’s most important national issues, and proposes innovative, research driven public policy recommendations, informed by Ontario’s reality.
The Centre believes a prosperous, equitable and dynamic Canada requires strong provinces, including a strong Ontario, and strong cities.
Contents
Research
A statue of Oliver Mowat found outside the West Entrance of the Ontario Legislative Assembly.
The Mowat Centre's research focuses on federal policy frameworks and strategies that will most strongly affect Ontario's prosperity and quality of life in the next century.[3]
The Mowat Centre has eight research streams:
- Employment Insurance and Income Support [4]
- Immigration [5]
- Economic Transformation [6]
- Cities [7]
- Federal Fiscal Transfers [8]
- Democratic Institutions and Processes [9]
- The Environment [10]
- Ontario's Relations with Other Jurisdictions [11]
Mowat Centre Research Model
The Mowat Research Model is the Mowat Centre's collaborative approach to knowledge development. Mowat Centre researchers begin by identifying a topic and outlining the scope, objectives, deliverables, and terms of reference for each research project.[12] Subsequently, the Mowat Centre identifies a lead academic researcher for each project and convenes a first meeting to prepare a prospectus on the research. Participants include the lead researcher and 3-4 partners, who are government officials, thought leaders and practitioners from the non-profit or private sector.[12] Project partners are actively engaged throughout the project; they help inform the project scope by providing input into the project prospectus, and provide feedback and advice as the research is conducted and materials are drafted.[12]
Major Projects
Employment Insurance Task Force
The Mowat Centre has convened a research-driven Employment Insurance Task Force that is examining Canada's support system for the unemployed. The objective is to develop an Ontario proposal for modernizing the EI system - conscious of the national context - that works for individuals and businesses.[13][14] The Task Force is bringing together a wide cross-section of Canadian leaders and researchers to develop its proposal. The Mowat EI Task Force has commissioned 18 independent research papers on the EI program. These papers each address different areas of the EI system and present potential options for reform. Keith Banting, one of Canada's leading scholars of social policy, is serving as the Task Force’s Research Director. To help ensure the success of the Task Force, an Advisory Committee, composed of thought leaders from all regions of the country, has been established to offer sectoral, technical and regional perspectives. Roy Romanow, former Premier of Saskatchewan, and Ratna Omidvar, President of the Maytree Foundation, are Co-Chairing the Advisory Committee.[15]
Annual State of the Federation Conference
The Mowat Centre partnered with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations at Queen's University to present the Annual State of the Federation Conference from 19–20 November 2010, Shifting Power: The New Ontario, and what it Means for Canada.[16][17] This year, the conference focused on the following issues: Fiscal Sustainability; The New Ontario; Positioning Ontario Higher on the Value Chain; Roles & Responsibilities for the 21st Century Economy; Innovation in Ontario; Regional Perspectives on the New Ontario; and an Ontario Perspective on the Social Contract in the Federation.[18]
Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region Summit
The Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto and the Brookings Institution are co-chairing a Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region Summit, taking place from June 21-22, 2011 at the St. Clair College for the Arts in Windsor, Ontario. There will be a reception to kick off the event at the Max Fisher Music Center in Detroit, Michigan on the evening of the 20th.[19]
Advisory board
- George R.M. Anderson, Forum of Federations
- Alan Broadbent, C.M., Avana Capital and Maytree Foundation
- Sean Conway, Queen's University
- Len Crispino, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
- Clint Davis, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
- Lisa de Wilde, TVOntario
- Tony Dean, University of Toronto
- Julia Deans, Toronto City Summit Alliance
- Giles Gherson, Government of Ontario
- Dr. Frederick F. Gilbert, Lakehead University
- Diane Gray, CentrePort Canada
- John A. Honderich, Torstar Corporation
- Shirley Hoy, Toronto Lands Corporation
- The Hon. Frances Lankin, P.C., United Way Toronto
- Dr. Danielle Martin, M.D., C.C.F.P, Canadian Doctors for Medicare
- Tim O'Neill, Duke University
- Andre Pratte, La Presse
- Rana Sarkar, Canada-India Business Council
- The Hon. Hugh Segal, C.M., Senator
- Mark Stabile, University of Toronto
- Carol Wilding, Toronto Board of Trade
References
- ^ Opportunities at the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation
- ^ School of Public Policy and Governance appoints founding Director of the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation
- ^ Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation
- ^ Employment Insurance Task Force
- ^ Immigration Research Stream
- ^ Economic Transformation Research Stream
- ^ Cities Research Stream
- ^ Federal Fiscal Transfers Stream
- ^ Democratic Institutions and Processes Stream
- ^ Environment Research Stream
- ^ Relations with Other Jurisdictions Stream
- ^ a b c Mowat Centre Research Model
- ^ Mowat Centre Employment Insurance Task Force
- ^ "Matthew Mendelsohn: Reforming Employment Insurance," The National Post, 26 March 2010.
- ^ "Year-long Task Force to issue final report in spring 2011"
- ^ Annual State of the Federation Conference
- ^ Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation: Annual State of the Federation Conference
- ^ Annual State of the Federation Conference Schedule
- ^ Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation: Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region Summit
External links
- Mowat Centre Official Website
- Official Mowat Centre Twitter Page
- Annual State of the Federation Conference - Shifting Power: The New Ontario and What it Means for Canada
Categories:- Political and economic think tanks based in Canada
- Charities based in Canada
- Non-governmental organizations based in Canada
- Non-profit organizations based in Canada
- University of Toronto
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