Marnie Cluckie, city manager for Hamilton, has taken a new role as the chief administrative officer of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Cluckie is one of several bureaucrats who have left Hamilton over the course of the last year. Zachary Spicer, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at […]
A recent The Canadian Press article examines the growing number of members of Parliament leaving office and the costs associated with replacing them through byelections. Elections Canada predicts this will cost taxpayers upwards of 24 million dollars with as many as 12 byelections by 2026, which is the highest amount since 1978. The high number of resignations is likely due to the Liberals winning the 2025 […]
Dennis Pilon, a professor in the Department of Politics, was consulted for a recent Newmarket Today article on the importance of voting in municipal elections. The article details why municipal politics is often disregarded and the important decisions made by municipal leaders.    In the article, Pilon says that municipal government is the most forgotten of the three levels of government, since it receives less media coverage […]
Sudeshna Maitra, an assistant professor in the Department of Economics, has written an article in The Policy Edge titled Why Caste Inequality Persists Despite Greater Mobility. In the article, she explores why caste-based inequality in India persists across generations, even as exclusion from education and employment becomes less central. Drawing on a simulated model calibrated to 2025 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, she identifies two distinct drivers of disadvantage […]
Ian Stedman, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration, was recently quoted in a Timmins Today article examining public scrutiny surrounding Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott. The article discusses Scott’s conduct following reports that he had a workplace affair with a staff member before allegedly assaulting his wife. Scott was arrested and charged with assault on September 2, 2025, and ejected from […]
Natasha Tusikov, an associate professor in the Department of Social Science, recently co-authored an article in Policy Options examining a proposed bill by Mark Carney to regulate social media.  The proposed bill, known as the Safe Social Media Act, aims to create guidelines for social media companies to act responsibly within Canada. However, the authors note that since social media companies have done nothing in the past to suggest they will act responsibly, the regulatory model needs to focus […]
Canadian CEO Tobi Lutke recently endorsed the idea of giving the wealthy greater voting powers, facing criticism. Dennis Pilon, a professor in the Department of Politics, was interviewed on the topic, saying the comments reflect a growing trend of the wealthy elite commenting on politics without worrying about consequences. Historically, wealthy individuals have influenced politics discreetly, whereas in […]
Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke recently stated that he believes people who are on a pension are dependents and should no longer be allowed to vote, claiming they have less of a stake in the future. This started an extensive discussion online related to pensions, homeownership and voting power. Despite his argument, Moneywise writer Godwin Oluponmile […]
A recent article in The London Free Press discusses the upcoming civic elections in London, Ontario and looks at who can donate to election campaigns, what happens to leftover funds and the contribution rules around campaigns, including caps on campaign spending and on donations by citizens. Zachary Spicer, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy […]
A recent situation sparked a debate about ethics laws governing MPs. Nunavut MP Lori Idlout announced that she owns a stake in an Ottawa Consulting firm which has received 19 federal contracts worth more than $600,000 since her election in 2021 to the House of Commons. She claimed she has not benefitted financially and does […]