Latest Policy Bytes

August 13, 2019 - Immigrants are essential for increasing cultural diversity and addressing labor shortages in Northern Ontario. According to Statistics Canada’s 2011 and 2016 Censuses, the percentage of the Northeast immigrant population had increased 27.68 per cent between 2011 and 2016 while the Northwest saw a 13.99 per cent decline in immigrants in the same period.[i] So, what is happening with the Northwest? To solve this puzzle, let’s zoom into the data and look at the change in number of immigrants in terms of continents and countries of origin.

August 7, 2019 - In the fall of 2018, Confederation College opened its new Technology, Education and Collaboration (TEC) Hub. This space was specially designed to enhance student learning and assist in growing skilled workers in Northern Ontario.

July 31, 2019 - This blog first appeared in Northern Ontario Business.

July 15, 2019 - This blog first appeared in The Walleye Magazine, July issue

July 3, 2019 - For two years now, Borealis Fresh Farms Inc. (BFF), a hydroponic farming facility co-founded by Marc Rodrigue and Alex Cochrane, has brought and continues to bring nutrient dense produce like kale and collard greens to Timmins and surrounding communities. The company’s remarkable success is evident by the continuous increase in sales and positive feedback from customers.

July 2, 2019 - This blog first appeared in the November 2018 edition of The Walleye

June 27, 2019 - Making policy decisions with low-quality, inaccurate or incomplete data is like making a meal with bad, wrong and missing ingredients. If it turns out well, you probably got lucky. Chances are, though, that stopped clock will be wrong for a long time before it happens to get it right again.

June 25, 2019 - This column first appeared in Northern Ontario Business.

June 25, 2019 - This blog first appeared in the September edition of The Walleye

June 11th, 2019 - Everyone deserves a home, but not everyone has access to a safe and affordable housing situation.