According to the Government of Ontario’s population projections, the number of seniors aged 70 and over will jump from 1.9 million in 2022 to nearly 3.5 million in 2046. An aging population puts significant pressure on long-term care and healthcare capacity in the province. It has real-life implications for seniors and their families. 

This episode explores whether a paradigm shift in seniors’ care is needed. The CEO of the Ontario Retirement Communities Association Cathy Hecimovich and StrategyCorp Senior Advisor Philippe Couillard join the podcast to discuss the continuum of care and the role of retirement communities. They also share their thoughts on how governments can help seniors be in control of their care.

Listen to our panelists Ana Bailão from Dream, Steven Paynter from Gensler, and Aidan Grove-White and Mary Ellen Bench from StrategyCorp, discuss how building conversion works, what needs to happen for these kinds of projects to move forward, the roadblocks that can hinder the reorganization of space, and how different levels of government can help.

The launch of ChatGPT has forced organizations and institutions across the economy to ask themselves what generative AI means for them in terms of risks and opportunities. Governments and regulators find themselves asking similar questions. Artificial intelligence “going mainstream” because of ChatGPT accelerated regulatory efforts and shaped the policy and political conversation on AI.  

 The Director of the Center for Data Innovation Daniel Castro joins us on the podcast to discuss how countries around the world are going about regulating artificial intelligence and stimulating innovation. He provides his insight on the different approaches to AI in Europe, Asia and North America.

Le transport en commun est essentiel pour permettre aux gens de se déplacer d'un point A à un point B. Il joue aussi un rôle crucial dans la lutte contre les changements climatiques. Dans cet épisode, l'Institut de StrategyCorp aborde le sujet de la mobilité et des infrastructures de transport en commun. Catherine Morency, professeure à Polytechnique Montréal, et Philippe Couillard, conseiller principal à StrategyCorp, partagent leurs points de vue sur les bénéfices du transport en commun, l'acceptabilité sociale des projets et comment éviter les retards et les dépassements de coûts. Ils discutent également des facteurs nécessaires pour créer des communautés axées sur le transport en commun.

Public transportation is essential to enable people to move from point A to point B. It also plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change. In this episode, the StrategyCorp Institute looks at the topic of mobility and public transit infrastructures. University of Toronto Professor Shoshanna Saxe and StrategyCorp Senior Advisor Philippe Couillard provide their insights on the benefits of public transportation, the social acceptability of projects, transit-oriented communities and how to finance new infrastructures in an era of fiscal restraint. They also share their thoughts on what can be done to limit project delays and budget overruns.

The StrategyCorp Institute begins the ninth season of Intended Consequences with an extensive conversation on the state of entrepreneurship in Canada. The CEO of Startup Canada, Kayla Isabelle, joins us to discuss the opportunities and challenges entrepreneurs face amid significant uncertainty. She highlights the important role women-identifying and Indigenous entrepreneurs play in the economy. The episode also looks at a variety of top-of-mind issues for business leaders including talent, digital adoption and international trade.

Our year-in-review and look-ahead episode is back to close out this season of Intended Consequences. Our StrategyCorp guests discuss the most important developments of 2023 at all levels of government and their significance for Canadian politics and economics. They also share with us what they will be keeping an eye on in 2024 and why. 

Convened under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP28 will take place in Dubai between November 30th and December 12th. The event is expected to bring together over 70,000 delegates from all over the world. Delegates will include politicians, civil servants, non-government organizations, industry, Indigenous stakeholders and many others.

A wide array of issues will be discussed at COP28. To help us get ready for the event, we were joined by Lorraine Audsley, Senior Vice-President and Chief Risk and Sustainability Officer at Export Development Canada, and Patricia Fuller, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp and Canada’s former ambassador for climate change. Our guests shared their thoughts on why COPs still matter, climate finance, what to watch for and how delegates can make the most of the conference.

Enjoy a special episode of Intended Consequences. On November 23, the StrategyCorp Institute hosted a live webinar on Canada’s energy transition journey. Our panel of experts looked at how Canada can achieve its energy and climate goals and thrive. Panelists provided their insight into what this transition and the broader electrification of the economy means from the perspective of power generation, distribution, demand and social acceptability. 

Ontario faces severe housing affordability challenges on both the homeownership and the rental sides. The current conditions have significant impacts across the entire housing sector, including non-profit housing. StrategyCorp released in October its first Ontario Non-Profit Housing CEO Survey which brought to light the most pressing challenges and opportunities faced by the sector.

Intended Consequences welcomed three experts to talk about the report and non-profit housing. Marlene Coffey is the CEO of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. Lori-Anne Gagne is the CEO of Victoria Park Community Homes and Stéphane Giguère is the CEO of Ottawa Community Housing.

After winning a majority on May 29th, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP returned to the provincial legislature for the fall sitting. The session began with a Throne Speech that outlined the priorities of the Premier and the tense relationship between Alberta and the federal government.

From energy to affordability to infrastructure, the Throne Speech touched on several topics of importance to Albertans, businesses, municipalities and Indigenous communities. Three Alberta-based experts join the podcast to unpack the Speech and what comes next. Our guests include Dale Swampy, President of the National Coalition of Chiefs, Jeff Davison, a former Calgary City Councillor and the current CEO of the Prostate Cancer Centre and Elan Harper, a Vice President at StrategyCorp.

As interest rates rise, countries are increasingly worried about their debt. For commodity-producing states, the impact of the energy transition on their revenues is top of mind. How can jurisdictions navigate these challenging circumstances to ensure the long-term financial prosperity of their economy and population? Sovereign wealth funds can be part of the answer.

Elena Mantagaris, a Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp, and Matthew Bianco, a former Managing Director at CPP Investments, join the podcast to discuss the key drivers and principles that should guide sovereign wealth funds. They make the case that Canada would benefit from establishing a sovereign wealth fund.

On June 26, 2023, Torontonians elected Olivia Chow as their next Mayor in a by-election. As it is often the case when a new mayor comes into office, there was some uncertainty around how Olivia Chow would govern and what the relationship with other levels of government would look like.

A lot has happened in Toronto city politics since the election. The City reached a New Deal with the Government of Ontario and Council passed the Mayor’s first budget. To look back on the last year and discuss what comes next in Toronto, Aidan Grove-White, Fraser Macdonald and Marco Bianchi from StrategyCorp join the podcast

From extreme weather events to fiscal pressures, municipalities across Canada are facing a wide array of challenges. Having quality municipal management has never been this essential and it often begins with City Managers.

Using the book The Role of Canadian City Managers: In Their Own Words as a starting point, three former City Managers and senior Ontario government executives join this episode. They provide their insight on crucial aspects of the work of City Managers, including managing the relationship with elected officials, building intergovernmental relations and dealing with emergencies related to climate change and public health. Our panelists also discuss the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the municipal context and what it looks like in action.

The Ontario legislature resumes on September 25th. MPPs return to Queen’s Park after a uniquely eventful summer in Ontario politics, which sets the stage for a heated fall sitting. Alex Armanious, Fraser MacDonald and Aidan Grove-White join the podcast to analyze what happened during the summer and discuss what to expect this fall.

After a busy summer where housing, the cost of living and wildfires dominated headlines, Members of Parliament will return for the fall sitting on September 18th. StrategyCorp has you covered on everything you need to know about how the summer played out for each party and what to expect this fall. Andrew Steele, Garry Keller and Nasha Brownridge discuss what the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP will be focused on in the coming months and the risks they must navigate. 

StrategyCorp partnered with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce to host a live webinar on housing in Atlantic Canada. Amid rising prices, this timely event looked at innovative solutions and the role of the three levels of government in tackling the housing crisis in the Atlantic provinces. Moderated by the CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, Krista Ross, this special episode brought together three expert panelists: New Brunswick’s Minister responsible for Housing, Jill Green, the Mayor of Fredericton, Kate Rogers, as well as Aidan Grove-White, a Vice President at StrategyCorp.

As countries around the world strive to reduce carbon emissions, every industry must adapt. In the transportation sector, electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly popular among consumers. However, electrifying other means of transportation is significantly more complicated and will require ambitious innovation. In this latest episode, we look at the aviation sector and how it can do its part in the fight against climate change with Professor Suzanne Kearns, the Founding Director of the Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Aeronautics.

Following the result of the 2023 Alberta election which saw the UCP re-elected with a reduced majority, the StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy was pleased to host an impressive panel that discussed the re-election of the UCP with a reduced majority and what comes next for the UCP, the NDP, Albertans and businesses. 

With opening remarks from StrategyCorp's Alberta practice lead Elan Harper, the panel was moderated by Joanne Chianello and included Jen Gerson, Anne McGrath, and Garry Keller.

In this special episode, we're pleased to present the webinar in an audio-only format. 

“Innovation” is a buzzword in policy and financial circles. Every business wants to be innovative and every government strives to stimulate innovation in order to support economic growth. In this episode, we look at innovation in the Canadian context with the President of the Council of Canadian Innovators, Benjamin Bergen. We discuss the state of innovation policy and some of the key tools the federal government should focus on. Benjamin also provides an industry perspective on timely issues such as tax, access to capital, talent and training.

StrategyCorp continues its coverage of the Alberta election by taking a look at the economy of the province. Ann-Marie Lurie, the Chief Economist of the Alberta Real Estate Association, joins us to talk about Alberta’s growth and what it means for the economy, the labour market and housing. We discuss the evolution of housing demand and supply in the province and its major urban centres before, during and after the pandemic.

The Alberta election is officially underway! The NDP and the UCP begin this election deadlocked in the polls. Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley have until May 29th to convince Albertans their respective parties should form government. To discuss what to expect in this election and why the rest of Canada should pay close attention, we are joined by Elan Harper and Garry Keller, two Vice Presidents at StrategyCorp.

This week’s episode looks at the role of electricity in enabling Canada’s transition to net zero by 2050. As policymakers and industry prepare for a greener economy, electrification is top of mind to reduce emissions. Demands for electricity are increasing and concerns around supply are beginning to emerge in some parts of the country.

Francis Bradley, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Electricity Canada joins us on the podcast to discuss important dimensions of electricity such as the role of government, supply and capacity, the power generation mix as well as resilience in light of climate and cyber risks.

Satellites play an increasing role in enabling the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in some parts of Canada. Innovation in low earth orbit (LEO) satellites reminds us that satellite technology is evolving rapidly. 

Jason Trembley, Manal Hauenstein and Dennis Béland from Terrestar Solutions join the podcast to discuss the emergence of LEO satellites and what it means for the regulatory regime. With an increasing number of satellites in orbit, we explore how industry and governments can work together to limit risks associated with satellite collisions and the proliferation of space debris. Our guests also highlight interesting IoT use cases powered by satellites.

The StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy recently hosted a live solutions-focused webinar on the future of healthcare in Canada. Moderated by The Globe and Mail's Carly Weeks, this event brought together recognized experts with extensive experience in healthcare policy, including Christine Elliott, Jane Philpott, and Philippe Couillard. This impressive lineup of speakers shared their ideas and recommendation on how to improve several aspects of the Canadian healthcare system, including primary care, mental health and addictions and the role of the private sector.

This episode looks at ESG through the lens of finance, economics and policy. We are joined by the CEO of ESG Global Advisors, Sarah Keyes, to discuss the current state of ESG reporting in Canada and what the role of government should be in this sphere. We deep dive into what ESG means for municipalities across the country and explore how Reconciliation fit into the ESG conversation. Join us as we explore these topics and so many more to learn why ESG matters to businesses, investors, governments and municipalities!

Earlier this year, the StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy released a policy paper on financial resilience. As many Canadians face challenges related to high interest rates, inflation and a potential recession, the concept of financial resilience is extremely timely from an economic and public policy standpoint. In this episode, we sit down with Tashia Batstone, the President and CEO of FP Canada to discuss the state of financial resilience and how financial planning can help improve the resilience of households.

This week’s episode looks at the important topic of cyber security. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools and services. Unfortunately, as our reliance on the Internet grows, so does the risk of cyber threats. Every organization can be a target: businesses, municipalities, government departments and agencies, and even hospitals.

Governments around the world are working to prevent attacks and improve the cyber resilience of citizens and organizations. This comes at a time when new technologies like cloud-based solutions and the Internet of Things bring new opportunities and threats. To tackle some of the most pressing questions on cyber security and what it means for governments and businesses in 2023, we are joined by Jennifer Quaid, the Executive Director of the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange, and Andrew Loschmann, Co-Founder and COO of Field Effect.

Intended Consequences begins its seventh season with a deep dive into the economic and population growth of Atlantic Canada with Patrick Brannon, Senior Researcher and Director, Major Projects, at the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.

We discuss the strong population growth several Atlantic cities saw in 2021/2022 and the role of interprovincial migration and immigration. We also look at the impacts of accelerated growth on the labour market and local economic development as well as the housing affordability challenges facing Atlantic Canada.  

To close out this season of Intended Consequences, we look back on what was an eventful 2022 and look ahead to next year. Our StrategyCorp guests discuss the most important developments of 2022 and their significance for Canadian politics and economics. Our guests also tell us what they will be keeping an eye on in 2023 and why. Some even ventured to make a few predictions! 

The Government of Canada released its highly anticipated Indo-Pacific Strategy on November 27. The Strategy identifies five specific objectives and commits to making investments of $2.3 billion over the next five years. Dubbed a “generational response” to the rising influence of the Indo-Pacific region, the Strategy will shape Canada’s diplomatic and commercial approach to this part of the world.

But what does an Indo-Pacific Strategy actually mean for Canada? What should Canadian businesses operating in the region or looking to export there know about the Strategy? To tackle these important questions and analyze the overall Strategy, we are joined this week by Canada’s former Ambassador to NATO, Kerry Buck, and StrategyCorp Vice President, Garry Keller.

When it comes to fighting climate change, taking actions at home is as important as working with global partners. At the national level, the Government of Canada has taken several measures to fight climate change including rolling out a carbon pricing system. On the world stage, Canada is an active player at events like COPs. However, how domestic policy and diplomacy are coordinated to work together can be a bit of a black box.

Canada’s former ambassador for climate change, Patricia Fuller, joins us to discuss this fascinating topic and share the findings of a new report she co-authored titled Climate Change and Canada’s International Engagement.

The Ontario government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act on October 25. The proposed law marks the most significant changes to Ontario’s planning and development system in a generation. It would fundamentally alter the province’s land use planning system and municipal governance frameworks. Nearly every part of the development sector will be touched by these changes.

In this episode, StrategyCorp has you covered on what you need to know. Sabine Matheson, a Principal at StrategyCorp and Aidan Grove-White, Vice President at StrategyCorp, join Sebastien to discuss the changes and what they mean for the province, municipalities, developers, planners, and more. 

In a rising interest rate environment, the topic of infrastructure financing and borrowing costs could not be timelier. There is no shortage of infrastructure projects Canadian municipalities want to undertake. However, they often have limited financial resources, which means the question of how to finance infrastructure projects is front and center for municipal officials.

Join our two municipal experts as we explore how tax-free municipal bonds, a mechanism widely used in the United States, could be leveraged in Canada.

Despite Bitcoin having been around since 2009, crypto and blockchain remain relatively misunderstood. Several myths persist around what the technology is and is not. Many also underappreciate the role of crypto and its innovation potential. As crypto attracts more attention and users, a variety of regulatory frameworks are emerging around the world.

To help us understand the world of blockchain, web3 and crypto, we are joined by Justin Wales, SVP and Head of Legal for the Americas at crypto.com. He is the author of a new book titled The Crypto Legal Handbook: A Guide to the Laws of Crypto, Web3, and the Decentralized World.

This special episode is all about Alberta and the results of the United Conservative Party leadership race. On the sixth ballot, the former leader of the Wildrose Party Danielle Smith prevailed defeating six other candidates, including former Finance Minister Travis Toews and former Opposition leader Brian Jean. Join us as we deep dive into the outcome of the race, what it means for Alberta and Canada, and what’s next.

Intended Consequences kicks off its sixth season with a timely discussion on local economic development. Coming out of the pandemic, communities are looking for innovative and sustainable ways to grow their economy and work collaboratively with businesses. The role of the economic development department has never been more important and multifaceted.

How do you ensure the social acceptability of growth? What is the role of provincial and federal governments in supporting local economic development? These are just some of the important questions our panelists Nancy Huether, Director, Economic Development and Airport Services for the County of Simcoe and Ed Sajecki, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp discuss in this episode.

With the Ontario election in the rear view mirror, a new Cabinet in place, and a summer sitting of the Legislature on the horizon, StrategyCorp digs into what’s next for the Ford Government. In this episode of Intended Consequences, we sit down with our very own public affairs strategists, Kailey Vokes and Garry Keller, to discuss Premier Ford’s new Cabinet, the key players around the table, and the challenges and opportunities they face as they tackle their new mandate.

This episode was brought to you and produced by Chris Loreto, Kyle Sholes, and Chloe Ketels.

Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Ontario Green Party and MPP for Guelph joins the podcast to talk policy and politics heading into the next Ontario election, which is just 6 months away. In the 1st half of the episode we do a deep dive into everything from COVID-19 recovery to housing to climate change and highways. On the 2nd half of the podcast we talk politics, the Green's approach to the election, and what a successful result looks like for the growing party.

International events and geopolitical shifts have massive impacts on Canada. More than ever, governments and companies find themselves navigating uncertain geopolitical dynamics. To assess what this means in practice, we are joined by Arif Lalani, a Senior Advisor with StrategyCorp’s Geopolitical and International Business Advisory Practice. He shares his insight on what a declining western liberal democratic order concretely entails and why technology is now a form of hard power. We discuss how a changing geopolitical order impacts foreign policy and the way Canadian companies conduct business abroad.

Economist and Atkinson Fellow On The Future Of Workers, Armine Yalnizyan, joins Intended Consequences to discuss Canada's key policy priorities for pandemic recovery. In this episode we discuss the role of the care economy in a post COVID Canada, the rise of pro-worker ideas in centre-right political parties, and changing labour trends that highlight the importance of access to childcare.

Former President and CEO of Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator and new StrategyCorp Senior Advisor, Terry Young, joins the podcast to discuss the future of Canada's energy and electricity sectors. The podcast dives into pan-Canadian electricity and energy policy, climate change and COP26, the future of electric vehicles and cross-border energy trading, and more!

The Honourable Monte McNaughton joins us in our season 4 premiere to discuss the ever changing labour sector in the wake of COVID-19 and the future of work in Ontario. In this episode McNaughton expands on the province's plans to address the expected 100,000 skilled trade worker shortage by 2030, his bold new legislation to protect workers in a post COVID-19 economy, and the impacts on inter-provincial migration to rural Ontario. 

StrategyCorp hosted the 'Federal Election 2021 - The Results Are In' webinar on Tuesday September 21 the day after Election 44. The webinar dives into the election results, what they mean, and what happens next. StrategyCorp Principal Lisa Samson moderates a panel of esteemed strategists, Garry Keller (StrategyCorp VP), Kim Wright (Principal, Wright Strategies), and Andrew Steele (StrategyCorp VP).