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 91��ɫ, says he doesn’t think Cluckie was “pushed out,” despite many recent firings of city staff and a new mayor. Cluckie is well-regarded in the country’s “small” municipal sector and has been an agent for change, leading Spicer to suggest her good reputation likely influenced her new role in Halifax.  

Spicer holds a PhD in political science from the University of Western Ontario. His research interests include politics and government, public administration, local government, smart cities, data governance and innovation policy.   

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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 elections. 

Dennis Pilon, a professor in the Department of Politics, commented on the trend in the article. While he said he doubts Canadians would want to prohibit MPs from resigning, the re-elections do come at a cost. Pilon also observed that many MPs are highly educated with a lot of economic and social privileges, which often means they get offered other professional opportunities.  

Pilon holds a PhD in Political Science from 91��ɫ. His research interests include politics and government, labour, elections, democratic reform, class analysis and Canadian/comparative politics. 

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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 because its lack of party affiliation. He says despite this, municipal governments handle things that affect our daily lives, such as transportation, garbage, recycling and infrastructure. It benefits citizens to select leaders who are aligned with what they want to change in their communities.  

Pilon holds a PhD in Political Science from 91��ɫ. His research interests include politics and government, labour, elections, democratic reform, class analysis and Canadian/comparative politics. 

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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 in urban India: barriers to entering higher-paying occupations and unequal rewards for disadvantaged-caste households once they enter those occupations. 

Maitra argues that policymakers need to match solutions to the source of inequality. Expanding access should be assessed through measures such as representation and mobility, while efforts to improve outcomes should focus on earnings, security and living standards. 

Maitra holds a PhD in economics from Princeton University. Her research interests are in development economics, health, gender, poverty and inequality. Her research often explores the economic processes that could be at work behind observed data. 

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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 Doug Ford’s PC caucus. While he has been an Independent MPP since then, many have been calling for him to step down.  

While there are no strict laws or rules preventing MPPs from having relationships with coworkers, it is generally discouraged because of the power dynamics. Stedman added that voters “have a right to know” about the situation, since it speaks to his judgement and ability to act morally.  

Stedman holds a PhD in law from Osgoode Hall Law School. His research interests include law and justice, science and technology, public sector ethics and accountability, as well as AI.   

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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 on restrictions related to advertising, design and business models, rather than simply providing an outline on corporate social responsibility. They argue that without��stronger restrictions, these companies will continue to cause harm.����

Tusikov’s research examines the intersection among law, crime, technology and regulation. Before obtaining her PhD at the Australian National University, she was a strategic criminal intelligence analyst and researcher at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ottawa. Her research interests include information technologies, crime, law and technology, private security industry, regulatory theory and criminology. 

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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 recent times this influence has become more public. Pilon says the comments were undemocratic since they suggest that only those with a certain amount of wealth and property should have political influence.    

Pilon holds a PhD in Political Science from 91��ɫ. His research interests include politics and government, labour, elections, democratic reform, class analysis and Canadian/comparative politics. 

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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 points out that Lütke benefits from his current governance at Shopify where he, his family and affiliates have 40% of the company’s voting power for as long as he stays. Richard Leblanc, a professor in the School of Administrative Studies, comments on this disproportionate level of power, saying “you’re essentially betting on the person now and not the company.” 

Leblanc is a leading expert in corporate governance and accountability. He is lawyer, public speaker and consultant and has taught corporate governance at Harvard University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario and an academic fellow of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes.  

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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 & Administration in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at 91��ɫ, says families often exert influence by working together to donate substantial amounts, since donation from unions and corporate entities was banned in 2018. However, neighbourhood associations and social media groups often influence council decisions more than campaign dollars.  

Spicer holds a PhD in political science from the University of Western Ontario. His research interests include politics and government, public administration, local government, smart cities, data governance and innovation policy. ��

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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 not have an influence over the company’s decisions.  

Ian Stedman, associate professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration, contributes his comments to the CBC article stating that Idlout’s actions were compliant with ethics stands, since she followed the ethic’s commissioner’s advice, disclosed the interest and moved to a blind trust. However, some critics argue that she should have placed her shares in a blind trust sooner and that there should be stricter rules around this for MPs. 

Stedman holds a PhD in law from Osgoode Hall Law School. His research interests include law and justice, science and technology, public sector ethics and accountability, as well as AI.   

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