Engineering a 鈥榞reen recovery鈥� is a terrible idea | The Globe and Mail
June 1, 2020 | In the coming weeks, the federal government is expected to begin crafting a stimulus package to lift Canada out of the economic crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on which cabinet ministers have been assigned to the project, it seems clear the Liberals want to incorporate their climate goals into the package, addressing climate change and economic recovery at the same time. Is a stimulus package the best way to deal with a pandemic recession?
COVID-19 pandemic uniting Canadians like no other event in decades
Canada's response to the pandemic contrasts markedly with the political partisanship displayed in U.S.
A new study by researchers from 不良研究所 and the University of Toronto finds a cross-partisan consensus on battling COVID-19 in Canada. Unlike in the U.S., this consensus is fostering broad agreement on the threats posed by the pandemic and the actions necessary to contain it 鈥� all of which is crucial to efforts to fight the virus.
COVID-19 pandemic unites Canadians like no other event in recent history: study | CTV News
May 25, 2020 | The study co-led by Professor Taylor Owen found that among Canadians, there is cross-partisan consensus on the threat the virus poses and measures that need to be taken to battle it. The study also found that when there isn鈥檛 a consensus 鈥� which is the case in the United States 鈥� compliance with physical distancing guidelines is undermined, which poses an obvious threat.聽
Opinion: Support Canadians now, but not at the expense of our future | The National Post
May 21, 2020 | In light of the pandemic, governments have moved quickly to support hard-hit workers and businesses. This provision of economic 鈥渞elief鈥� is different from conventional 鈥渟timulus鈥� common during normal recessions. Whereas stimulus policies are all about getting people back to work and businesses back to normal levels of operation, the current relief policies are about replacing people鈥檚 incomes while they are safely isolating at home.
A Rare Moment of Cross-Partisan Consensus: Elite and Public Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada | Canadian Journal of Political Science
April 16, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic has placed nearly unprecedented pressure on policymakers and citizens alike. Effectively containing the pandemic requires a societal consensus. However, a long line of research in political science has told us that polarization tends to occur on highly salient topics because partisans 鈥渇ollow the leader.鈥� Elite consensus is thus essential to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.
The Causes and Consequences of COVID-19 Misperceptions: Understanding the Role of News and Social Media | OSF Preprints
May 4, 2020 | This research investigates the relationship between media consumption, misinformation, and important attitudes and behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Professor Taylor Owen, co-author of this article, finds that comparatively more misinformation circulates on social media platforms, while traditional news media tend to reinforce public health recommendations like social distancing.
Anti-intellectualism and Information Preferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic | OSF Preprints
May 14, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates widespread voluntary and sustained public compliance with expert-guided public health directives, like social or physical distancing. Understanding which citizens seek out and engage with expert messages regarding COVID-19 is thus of central importance. Anti-intellectualism - the generalized distrust of experts and intellectuals 鈥� is likely to be a dominant factor.
Prospective Economic Costs Undermine Expectations of Social Distancing | OSF Preprints
May 20, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an extraordinary burden on governments and citizens alike. In order to contain the spread of the pandemic and limit its effect on health care systems, citizens have been asked to forego social and economic activity to protect others at a tremendous cost to themselves.
Forget about schools 鈥� open the summer camps in spring | The Globe and Mail
May聽6, 2020 |聽Camps are the solution to many of the problems the school reopening is designed to solve, while significantly mitigating the risks of exposure and transmission. Going to camp gets children out of the house and lets their parents return to work.鈥� Andrew Potter, Associate Professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, explains how mass childcare and summer camps are a precursor to restarting the economy in the face of COVID-19.
The coronavirus is costing us more than just our health and economy | The Conversation
May 6, 2020 | 鈥淐ivil liberties are not designed only for times of peace and stability. They assume special, even critical, importance during public emergencies.鈥� In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergent lockdown policies, Pearl Eliadis discusses the importance of upholding civil liberties.
Do not allow Saudi Arabia鈥檚 flogging ban to distract from the repression that still exists | The Globe and Mail
April 30, 2020聽| In this op-ed, Irwin Cotler argues that while the recent reforms in Saudi Arabia should be welcomed, the international community, Canada included, cannot give Saudi Arabia a pass.
Give me liberty, and give me death? The enduring legacy of America鈥檚 penchant for freedom | The Globe and Mail
April 23, 2020 | For centuries Americans have battled others, and each other, in the name of freedom, sometimes weaponizing the word, sometimes twisting the notion out of recognition. David Shribman comments on the shifting definition of American liberty, and what it means in the context of the current protests against COVID-19 lockdown measures.
A Post-COVID-19 Digital Bretton Woods | Project Syndicate
April 17, 2020聽| The digital age has completely disrupted global governance. Now that COVID-19 has disrupted nearly everything else, it is time to start planning for what comes next, say Max Bell School professor聽Taylor Owen and聽Rohinton P. Medhora.
Opinion: The dangers of governing Quebec by decree | Montreal Gazette
April 22, 2020 | History has shown that human rights do not co-exist easily with states of emergency. With Quebec鈥檚 declaration of a state of emergency, Pearl Eliadis expresses the need to consider how these extraordinary measures will impact the most vulnerable among us.
Chris Ragan on Climate Change and Carbon Pricing | Culture at Crossroads
April 16, 2020 | With climate change being one of the most contentious issues in the 2019 federal election, it has become evident that Canadians are concerned with reducing the national carbon footprint. Despite this, policy responses to this issue have not been united. In this podcast, Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan elaborates on the nuances of environmental policy, and how it serves both the economy and the climate.聽
