Latest Policy Bytes

October 17, 2019 - As the Federal political parties count down to the October election, they must have policy positions that speak to all national issues. Access to transportation is important to Canadians everywhere. It would be valuable to learn the leaders’ positions on transportation access to the remote northern communities, and whether or not, they have formed an opinion on the use of cargo airships to provide year-round freight transport.

October 2, 2019 - This blog first appeared in Northern Ontario Business.

October 2, 2019 - Egli's Sheep Farm is the story of how a small Swiss farming dream became a big Northern Ontario successful reality.

September 17, 2019 - The Government of Ontario has been clear in its desire to reduce the deficit, cut spending, and streamline service delivery, and the 2019 budget included expansive plans intending to do exactly that. One sector that has faced government scrutiny has been health care which they have defined as being disconnected and uncoordinated.

September 10 , 2019 - The opioid crisis has been affecting communities throughout Canada for years. Many communities have felt the consequences, and it continues to pose major policy challenges for each level of government. The crisis has shown no signs of slowing down in Ontario, with opioid use disorders increasing by 42 percent from 2014 to 2017 and rates of emergency room visits due to opioid poisoning jumping by 73 percent from 2016 to 2017. 

September 4, 2019 - Forestry is the science or practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests. One of the defining features of Northern Ontario is the vast beautiful forest that surrounds Northern communities, but this forest does not stay beautiful on its own.

September 3, 2019 - Every year we are blown away by the enthusiasm and skills each of our Experience North interns bring. Located in Timmins, Sudbury and Kenora, these bright individuals worked on projects ranging from housing affordability and availability to the economic impact of international students. We will certainly miss their creativity and research capabilities as their insights have helped contributed toward a self-sufficient and prosperous Northern Ontario.

August 27, 2019 - Every September, Indigenous students across Northwestern Ontario travel to Thunder Bay to attend high school. While they are there, some report experiencing harassment and racial slurs when out in the community, among other experiences. Staff at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (DFC), students, and leaders in the community knew change was needed.

August 21, 2019 - This blog first appeared in Northern Ontario Business.

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.