A newly released Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) report says Canada’s data-centre sector, while central to the country’s economy, AI ambitions and digital sovereignty, will also face risks of issues like cyberattacks, supply-chain disruptions and foreign interference. The report highlights the need for stronger security and Canadian-controlled infrastructure.  

In a recent article on the subject in the Calgary Herald, Natasha Tiskov, professor in 91��ɫ’s Department of Social Science, says it is vital to create additional safeguards of data to ensure it has extra protections and is not connected to an American company. While she agrees with the need for Canadian companies to store data, there are currently no companies able to do this at the required scale.  

Tusikov’s research examines the intersection among law, crime, technology and regulation. She is also a senior fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo and a visiting fellow with the Justice and Technoscience Lab (JusTech Lab), School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) at the Australian National University. Her research interests include information technologies, crime, law and technology, private security industry, regulatory theory and criminology. 

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An article in the Toronto Star examines how the Canadian government will soon implement “equal treatment” provisions in the Canada Labour Code. This will prohibit federally regulated employers from paying different wage rates based solely on a worker’s status as part-time, temporary or permanent when they perform the same work. Some experts point out the amendment requires workers to request wage reviews and file complaints themselves, rather than placing responsibility on employers, which might limit the law’s effectiveness if employees are vulnerable or don’t know their rights.  

Leah Vosko, a distinguished research professor of political economy in 91��ɫ’s Department of Politics, says she worries that since employees will need to complain or seek a review, this law may not help support them. She says the government should make it mandatory for employers to review wages, make pay structures transparent and confirm their compliance. 

Vosko’s research examines labour market insecurity/precarious employment, employment standards enforcement, international mobility programs and deportability among workers labouring transnationally. 

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A recent article in CityNews discusses how business leaders and advocacy groups have become concerned about the economic impact of Alberta separatism. Richard Leblanc, a professor in the School of Administrative Studies, says executives are often reluctant to enter political debates due to the risk of disrupting relationships with customers and stakeholders. He notes however, that if the political situation poses a greater risk than speaking out does, there is a greater incentive to take a stance. Some corporate leaders in Alberta have showed support to remain part of Canada, since separatism could affect business operations. 

Leblanc is a leading expert in corporate governance and accountability. He is a 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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Aurora municipal election candidates are divided over whether mayors and councillors should face term limits. Opponents argue voters already have the power to remove elected officials every four years and that experienced representatives provide valuable continuity and institutional knowledge. Supporters say term limits would prevent the concentration of power, encourage fresh ideas and create opportunities for new candidates. The debate comes amid concerns about low voter turnout and engagement in municipal politics.  

Dennis Pilon, professor in the Department of Politics, notes in the Aurora Today article on the topic that local elections tend to get overlooked compared to elections focused on other levels of government, which can make it harder for voters to assess candidates and issues. He says that some structural reforms could make municipal elections more democratic.  

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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The research of Kristin Andrews, professor in the Department of Philosophy, and PhD candidate, Marriah Alcantara, has been featured in several media stories regarding the ethics of using artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate communication with animals. The topic was recently highlighted in the and on .   

Andrews and co-author Alcantara explore this topic in their work, , published by Springer Nature on April 4, 2026. The scholars examine how machine learning is being used to identify patterns in the meaning of animal sounds and how these technologies could be employed to communicate with animals. 

The authors explore the ethical considerations that should guide this emerging field of research, as well as its possible outcomes. Their research suggest that while advances in interspecies communication could provide important benefits for animal communities, it may also pose risks.  

Kristin Andrews is 91��ɫ Research Chair in Animal Minds and professor of philosophy at 91��ɫ, CIFAR fellow in the Future Flourishing program, and was elected to the College of the Royal Society of Canada. She works on questions related to animal consciousness and animal culture, and the impacts these have on conceptions of human nature.  

Marriah Alcantara is a PhD candidate in philosophy at 91��ɫ. Her research focus is on the complexity of the social lives of nonhuman animals and how this should inform interspecies interactions. 

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Political parties in Vancouver and Surrey are pushing to replace the current “at-large” municipal election system with a “ward” system, where smaller districts would elect their own councillor. The ward system is currently used in every other major city in Canada and parties argue it would improve local representation, accountability and voter engagement. Supporters of the proposal say voters would have fewer candidates to assess, and councillors would serve the specific needs of neighbourhoods. While recent polling shows growing public support for wards, experts caution the transition to a new system could be difficult.

Dennis Pilon, professor in the Department of Politics, is quoted in the article, stating that reform on this scale rarely happens on its own, and that it usually requires a crisis to galvanize changes. He points to Vancouver’s history, where the current at-large system was implemented to limit working-class and left-wing 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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A new CBC podcast series titled How to Defeat Authoritarianism examines what history can teach us about resisting authoritarian rule. The podcast brings scholars together to discuss the rise and fall of authoritarian regimes and the lessons they offer today. Aitana Guia, associate professor in the Department of History, is featured on the panel for an episode on Benito Mussolini’s Italy.  

Guia is a social and political historian of modern Europe, particularly Spain. Her areas of research interest include social movements, nationalism, migration and minorities in the post-war period.��

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An article in the Toronto Star examines ongoing criticism of Premier Doug Ford’s management of the Skills Development Fund. One year after Ontario's auditor general found that funding was awarded to weaker applicants that employed well-connected lobbyists, the Ford government says it has tightened oversight, increased transparency around lobbyists activities and prioritized investments in skilled trades, construction and manufacturing jobs. Critics still argue that the reforms fails to address the most significant concern, which is political involvement in funding decisions.  

Thomas Klassen, professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration, was quoted in the article. While Klassen praises the changes, he says the government has yet to implement what he considers the most important change in the program which is to remove the minister’s office from the funding selection process.  

Klassen holds a PhD from the University of Toronto. His research specializes in employment and labour, public administration, comparative labour market policies, income security policies, retirement and pensions, Korea and East Asia.   

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An article in CTV News discusses how political endorsements can impact voting outcomes for municipal elections. Several notable public figures have shared their endorsements of Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow in the run up to the mayoral elections.   

Zac Spicer, associate professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration (SPPA), says that while it can be difficult to evaluate how much endorsements matter in a campaign, they tend to have more impact in elections where voters have less information about candidates, such as municipal elections. He says that while celebrity endorsements can spark conversations, endorsements from leaders and politicians are often more meaningful to voters, since voters care about first-hand experience.  

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 new article by Carlo Fanelli, associate professor and chair of the Department of Social Science, explores whether the traditional 40-hour work week remains suited to today’s economy. 

Writing for Policy Options, Fanelli argues that while worker productivity has increased significantly over time, compensation has not kept pace with those gains. He examines the history of the 40-hour work week, why it is still in place and the challenges the model poses for today's workforce. The article also considers whether alternative approaches to working time could better reflect modern economic and social realities. 

Fanelli teaches and conducts research in the areas of work and labour market restructuring, labour and employment law, public policy, political economy and socio-economic inequality. Since 2009, he has been editor-in-chief of Alternate Routes: A Journal of Critical Social Research. In addition to his scholarly writing, he has written for The Huffington Post, iPolitics, Policy Options, The Hill Times, Jacobin and other outlets. His work has also been featured in The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Global News, Financial Post, CBC News and more. 

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