Understanding religious radicalization and terrorism to support community well-being
Sami Aoun, Mohamed Ourya and Sylvana Al Baba Douaihy, Université de Sherbrooke
The rise of ideological radicalization and terrorism due to political and religious extremism has impacts throughout the world. For Canada to be able to prosper in the 21st century, with its diaspora communities, and for its citizens to live in harmony, it is vital to understand how discussions around radicalization happen, and how terrorism comes about. Analysis of factors leading to conflicts in the Middle East and the Arab and Islamic world will lead to preventive strategies to defend Canada’s liberal, secular society. Full report (in French)
Global green employment: Promising gender equity policies and practices
Bipasha Baruah, Western University
While the creation of green jobs is serving to lower countries’ carbon footprints worldwide, women remain remarkably underrepresented in these new sectors. Global manufacturing, construction and transportation sectors reveal promising, but largely reactive, policies and programs that cannot change persisting social hierarchies on their own. Targeted measures and monitoring are needed to improve access and retention of female workers in the new, green economy. Full report
Removing the barriers that prevent newcomers from practicing regulated professions in Canada
Jean-Luc Bédard, Université TÉLUQ
Regulated professions play a central role in the economic and political activity of contemporary societies. However, foreign-trained professionals wanting to practice a regulated career in their destination country face significant challenges to integration. This is why a number of countries, including Canada, have refocused policies at various levels to support efforts to integrate. Results show that improving collaboration between the services and institutions involved is crucial for integrating foreign trained professionals. Full report (in French)
Millennials and indebtedness: Demographic change and financial literacy
Stephanie Ben-Ishai, York University
Popular media commentaries often portray millennials—those born between about 1980 and 2000—as a generation struggling financially. However, these commentaries are largely rooted in anecdotes rather than fact. These inconclusive narratives pose considerable danger, as they cloud policy-makers’ and researchers’ ability to see the real consequences of increasing debt loads. They also hinder a generation’s ability—critical to our country’s economic health, stability and future potential—to combat these challenges. Full report
Safeguarding democracies: The politics of emotion in the “post-truth” media landscape
Megan Boler, University of Toronto
In a “post-truth” media landscape, the manipulation of public opinion is posing a genuine threat to democracy. There is an urgent need to theorize our understanding of emotions in order to make sense of the connections between digital media, prejudice and politics. Combining feminist studies of emotion with both digital communications and “affect” studies provides a framework to better understand this critical relationship. Full report
Aging in place with technology: Safeguarding older adults’ adoption of intelligent assistive devices
Richard Booth, Western University; and Josephine McMurray, Wilfrid Laurier University
Intelligent assistive technologies are becoming more commonplace to help older adults live independently and comfortably in their own homes and communities. Understanding how older adults build trust with these new technologies—interactions that influence behaviour and decision-making—is recognized as critical to examine; however, as yet, this is rarely looked at in literature. Further work will uncover ways to help ensure these technologies are successfully adopted and used. Full report
Global and local framings of Indigenous partnerships in Canada’s renewable energy and forest sectors
Ryan Bullock and Melanie Zurba, The University of Winnipeg
Although bioenergy—energy derived from living organisms—presents environmental and economic advantages, its growing use can be a point of contention among local Indigenous communities, government and industry. Understanding how different groups envision partnerships between local communities and industry is crucial for creating effective policies and initiatives, and furthering Indigenous involvement in renewable energy development. Full report
Social innovation shaping Canada’s future
Wendy Cukier, Ryerson University; and Suzanne Gagnon, McGill University
Governments around the world are increasingly working with private and nongovernmental organizations to tackle complex societal problems. Understanding social innovation concepts, stakeholders and processes is critical for Canada to thrive in an interconnected and evolving global landscape. A growing and rich body of research provides valuable insights to support diverse players driving Canada’s leadership in social innovation. Full report
Canada in a climate-disrupted world
Simon Dalby, Wilfrid Laurier University
Countries around the globe are more integrated than ever. As such, no country can successfully adapt to climate change without considering its relationship with the wider global community. Canada’s approach to climate change has been primarily inward-looking. More research is needed on the international dimensions of climate change, and how impacts and policy changes elsewhere—whether for mitigation or adaptation—may affect us going forward. Full report
Closing the Aboriginal education gap
Raywat Deonandan, University of Ottawa
Education plays a crucial role in improving the prosperity and well-being of Indigenous populations in today’s global economy. Often overlooked is the real economic impact. By one analysis, closing the Indigenous educational gap—and as a result the labour market outcomes gap—could result in gains of $500 billion by 2026. Both short- and long-term strategies are needed to attract, retain and ensure the success of Indigenous postsecondary learners. Full report
Inclusive teaching approaches and practices in Canadian nursing programs
Frédéric Douville, Université Laval
Over the past decade, the number of students with disabilities has increased steadily, and various inclusive teaching and evaluation strategies have been developed. This is especially the case in nursing. Despite methodological limitations, assessing the effectiveness of these strategies has helped identify a large number of inclusive approaches and interventions that have helped decrease marginalization for students with disabilities, and, thereby, helped ensure these students are more independent, motivated, and involved in the learning process. Full report
Finding a place in the world: Understanding youth outmigration from shrinking rural communities
Karen Foster and Hannah Main, Dalhousie University
The negative impacts of youth outmigration are often cited as a central issue of struggling rural communities; however, a review of Canadian and international research has found that youth outmigration itself cannot be the direct target for policy intervention. A better understanding of the complex factors that motivate young people to stay or leave, and return or stay away, is critical to guiding policy development. Full report
Educating young Canadians about digital citizenship in a globalized world
Viktor Freiman, Manon LeBlanc and Michel Léger, Université de Moncton
The rapidly and ever-evolving nature of the Internet and digital technologies has given rise to a generation of young Canadians who are increasingly active on social media. But, are these young people prepared to deal with the cyberbullying, fraud, racism and extremism that exist online? There is a clear need to develop innovative policies, teaching approaches, and programs of study that enable the development of active, responsible young digital citizens. Full report (in French)
Towards an understanding of worker experiences in the global gig economy
Denise Gastaldo and Uttam Bajwa, University of Toronto
In spite of the growing importance of the gig economy—and widespread media coverage of platform businesses like Uber and TaskRabbit—there is very little known about gig workers’ motivations, characteristics and experiences. Gig work could present opportunities for flexibility and extra income, but the work is precarious and presents unique challenges for workers. Research is needed to better understand the effects of the gig economy on work and workers, and to identify appropriate approaches to protect the well-being of gig workers. Full report
The global race for STEM talent: Recruiting and retaining the best and brightest for innovation and growth
Martin Geiger, Amanda Bergmann, Nora Chahine, Bridget Healy, Fidan Karimli and Andrada Mihai, Carleton University
As the need for workers skilled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) intensifies, Canada continues to face significant barriers in its migration systems. This hinders Canada’s ability to attract and retain global talent. To remain competitive and innovative, Canada must continue to learn from global competitors and modify existing immigration pathways, to respond to political, social and economic changes and needs. Full report
Integrating Indigenous goals and concerns into the progressive trade agenda
Patricia Goff, Wilfrid Laurier University
The renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement has brought trade to the top of the political agenda. Central to this conversation in Canada are Indigenous peoples, who are directly affected by trade agreements but have rarely participated in their negotiation. It is critical to integrate First Nations, Métis and Inuit interests into Canada’s progressive trade agenda. This is also a significant gateway to reconciliation. Full report
Beyond infrastructure: Strategies to support broadband adoption and benefits in rural Canada
Lars Hallström, Kevin Jones, Robert McMahon and Michael McNally, University of Alberta
The Government of Canada has traditionally adopted an “if you build it, they will come” approach to broadband for rural communities. Assumptions under this economic model neglect issues of affordability, education and skills, and even certain populations’ desire for broadband. The slowly growing body of research can help provide greater understanding of the demand side of broadband, and support more sustainable decision-making in Canada’s rural communities. Full report
Russia and new patterns of conflict: Rethinking NATO deterrence, defense and diplomacy, and implications for Canada
Nicole J. Jackson, Simon Fraser University
Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 forced Canada's key security alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to respond before a comprehensive strategy was put in place. There is a persisting lack of evidence-based information on the root causes of Russia’s discontent, and uncertainty about its intentions and actions. These unknowns raise questions about how Canada’s responses in diplomacy, military, information and cyber security may improve—or fuel—conflict in the region. Full report
Virtual graveyards: Tracing race, gender and belonging in cyberspace
Yasmin Jiwani, Bipasha Sultana and Sarah Christina Ganzon, Concordia University
Cyber cemeteries and online memorials have bourgeoned, giving virtual social space to commemorate the lives of loved ones. Documented therapeutic benefits of these “thanatechnologies” show they can alleviate the economic, social and psychological impacts of loss and grief. If well-regulated and more accessible—particularly to underrepresented racialized groups—and with greater protections against online data mining, these assets can both help heal and capture the histories and contributions of peoples’ lives in Canada. Full report
LGBTQ2+ migrants living in Canada, and their rights
Edward Ou Jin Lee and Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, Université de Montréal; and Trish Hafford-Letchfield, Middlesex University
Interconnected factors of war, dictatorship, persecution, environmental disaster and human trafficking continue to influence and increase forced migration around the globe. Canada has recently implemented changes to its human rights legislation related to sexual and gender identity and expression-based refugee claims. However, LGBTQ2+ migrants with precarious status—such as refugees, temporary workers, students and undocumented people—still encounter complex intersectional forms of violence. Guided by a growing body of literature, policy-makers must continue to address these challenges. Full report
Protecting Canadian whistleblowers in a connected world
Florian Martin-Bariteau and Véronique Newman, University of Ottawa
Whistleblowers have contributed to the evolution of modern democratic societies by exposing scandals and corruption. Safeguarding these individuals is essential to ensuring open, equitable and secure societies. The Canadian legal system’s whistleblowing protections are full of gaps, and confusing at best. There is a need for both critical reflection and change, to ensure Canada’s legal framework adequately supports these protections. Full report
Navigating the threat of rising global populism
Bessma Momani, University of Waterloo
In recent years, the world has witnessed a wave of populist movements gaining increasing electoral success. While Canada often celebrates the strengths of its healthy multicultural makeup, we cannot ignore the sweeping threats these movements pose, or be complacent about escaping this phenomenon. Understanding the origins and interplay of economic and cultural drivers that give rise to modern day populists is critical to safeguarding democracy, both at home and around the globe. Full report
Addressing domestic violence in post-migration gender relations: A prerequisite for sustainable, resilient immigrant communities
Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika, University of Alberta
Recent immigrants to industrialized nations like Canada are at high risk of domestic violence, which threatens their ability to transition and integrate into society. Scholars, policy-makers and service providers must become more sensitive to victims’ diverse cultural, sexual and socio-economic situations, while recognizing cultures of origin or previous life conditions. They must also address the challenges families face while transitioning into a new society. Full report
Interventions to promote political representation and electoral participation in the OECD: Are they effective?
Mathieu Ouimet, Université Laval
Electoral participation and effective political representation are essential to strong and healthy democracies. Over the years, political institutions in countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have had difficulties adapting to the diversity of their electors. While studies suggest legislative interventions can increase the number of women in political leadership roles, and civic education courses may help increase voter turnout among young people, results have been inconclusive. More research is also needed on other marginalized groups and diverse electoral systems.
- Full report on interventions to increase voter turnout; and
- Full report on interventions to increase political representation.
Big data analytics: Accelerating innovation and value creation
Ajax Persaud and Sandra Schillo, University of Ottawa
The optimism about the potential for the analysis of big data to accelerate innovation and competitiveness in organizations has been widely justified. However, the transition from having data to creating value in organizations is not automatic. While overcoming technical challenges is important, embedding data-driven decision-making cultures across all levels of organizations is essential to reap the benefits of big data. Full report
Supporting refugee students in Canada: Building on what we’ve learned over the past 20 years
Snežana Ratković, Dragana Kovačević and Neelofar Ahmed, Brock University; Courtney Brewer, Western University; Claire Ellis, Emerging Scholars and Practitioners on Migration Issues Network; and Janelle Baptiste-Brady, University of Toronto
Between January 2015 and July 2017, over 84,000 refugees resettled to Canada. Of these, 43 per cent were school-aged youth. The current system is ill-equipped to support youth as they transition to Canadian classrooms and combat sociopsychological challenges. Recognizing that education can be a healing process for refugee and war-affected children, a greater study and collaboration across provinces is needed to address the gap in literature and policy on successful strategies and pedagogies. Full report
Environmental leadership for Canada: Indigenous lessons on mixing oil pipelines and water
Geo Takach, Royal Roads University
Canada has prioritized reconciliation with Indigenous peoples just as debates over the ecological impacts of extractive industries are coming to the forefront. Insights on interweaving Indigenous ways of knowing and western knowledge systems suggest there is opportunity for policy-makers to position Canada as a global leader in the sustainable management of natural resources. Full report
Implementing urban resilience: Pinpointing enablers, impediments and trade-offs
Marie-Christine Therrien, École nationale d’administration publique
A magnitude of changes is needed to the approaches for implementing urban resilience at a variety of different levels. How can theories of urban resilience be put into practice to achieve best results that address the growing number of natural and man-made disasters with ever-increasing financial consequences? A review of enabling strategies, impeding factors and trade-offs provides a resource for decision-makers to solve “resilience puzzles” specific to their contexts. Full report
Computational creativity: A cross-disciplinary endeavour
Douglas Van Nort, York University
The rapidly increasing use of AI to model, simulate or replicate human creativity is posing one of the most challenging problems, as well as opportunities, within the larger field of AI. Canada has taken leadership in the field of computational creativity, addressing the social, ethical and political implications of this human-led innovation. Interdisciplinarity within this field is critical to better understand the diversity of individuals shaping AI research, and the potential biases they can embed in technology. Full report
Digital threats to democratic elections
Mark Warren, Maxwell Cameron and Chris Tenove, The University of British Columbia
It is not new for foreign actors to use digital communication technologies to interfere in democratic processes such as elections and referendums. But, it is a growing, serious concern. To minimize threats, countries need to address a range of vulnerabilities, such as their citizens’ level of digital literacy, and outdated electoral regulations. More research is needed to address important gaps in knowledge on the impact of these digital interferences on citizens and institutions, and on measures to safeguard democracy. Full report