Latest Policy Bytes

December 2, 2020 - What does high-speed internet service and snowmobiling have in common? No, it’s not a trick question. The Township of Manitouwadge, in partnership with Northern Broadband Wireless, found a way to combine the two by using a decommissioned rail bed, now turned multi-use trail. With the repurposing of the old rail bed, Manitouwadge became connected in more ways than one – both through broadband internet access and a snowmobile route linking it to other parts of the region.

December 2, 2020 - Charities play a large, but often unrecognized, role in our everyday life. Did you know, when you go exercise at your local YMCA, go see a play at the Capitol Centre, or check out a book at the library, you are interacting with, or using services provided by, a charity?

November 11, 2020 - This blog first appeared in The Walleye Magazine, November issue

November 4, 2020 - In 1984, Jinnie Bradshaw was inspired after learning about the Corporate Angel Network in the United States, which transported cancer patients to their treatment using corporate planes.

October 27, 2020 - In Ontario, well known national sports teams are most commonly found in Southern Ontario such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Ottawa Senators, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Raptors. Many successful athletes move to southern Ontario to join these teams by default of not having options in the North. But there is one sport that has a national ‘Northern Ontario’ team. It is curling!

October 20, 2020 - This article was first published in Anishinabek News. Reposted with permission from author.

October 13, 2020 - There are a few things about the organization of public health in the province of Ontario that have complicated the kind of coordinated and organized response a crisis of the scale we are facing with COVID-19 requires.

October 7, 2020 - Along a 450 km route from Wawa to Thunder Bay is a massive transmission project known as the East-West Tie. 

September 29, 2020 - Since 1976, seven out of 11 districts in Ontario’s western, northern, and central regions have faced a decline in population; all are experiencing a population shift. Communities in Ontario’s northern and western regions are experiencing high levels of youth out-migration, low birth rates, and a rapidly aging population. With a large portion of the population aging out of the workforce, and a lack of younger generations to fill their spots, labour market shortages will arise. Thus, attracting and retaining immigrants is a crucial step in ensuring current levels of life quality remain, despite the challenges faced.

September 22, 2020 - Ontario’s northern and western regions need immigration. Since 1976, seven out of 11 districts in Ontario’s western, northern, and central regions have faced a decline in population; all are experiencing a population shift. Demographically, the population is aging and youth are out-migrating in search of education and employment opportunities elsewhere. Thus, labour market shortages have, and will continue to, arise. Attracting and retaining immigrants is a crucial step in ensuring current levels of quality of life remain, despite demographic factors working against our favour.