The Canada School of Public Service, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA), the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (GAGS), is proud to announce that Rajender Singh (from Western University), with the paper “Hooked Online: A Call for Canadian Leadership in Addressing Internet Addiction”, is the winner of the 11th NSPC. Want to learn more about their ideas for improving Canada’s federal public service? Click on the title to read the winner’s essay and those of the other finalists.
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Rajender Singh (Winner)
Biography
Rajender Singh is a PhD candidate at Western University. He conducts policy research at the intersection of technology, society, and the market. Specifically, his research investigates the novel strategies employed by Big Tech companies to enter and dominate the global education market while positioning themselves as neutral and altruistic players. His other research involvements include studying the policy responses of U-15 Canadian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing internet data and digital methods for social and educational research, and examining pedagogic practices in neurodiverse settings to formulate recommendations that transform educational practice.
Abstract
This policy paper argues that popular internet platforms driven by the attention economy employ addictive design practices that contribute to a silent pandemic of mass behavior addiction in our populations. Drawing on psychological and neurological research, it highlights the societal ramifications of internet addiction, particularly on mental health and well-being. The paper proposes a three-dimensional policy approach for the Canadian government to address this issue, including the recognition of internet addiction as a clinical disorder, regulatory measures to hold internet companies accountable for addictive design, and global leadership in coordinating efforts to mitigate internet addiction on an international scale.
Hooked Online A Call for Canadian Leadership in Addressing Internet Addiction by Rajender Singh
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Zoë St. Aubin
Abstract
The cost of living, health care, and the environment are connected by a system overlooked in Canada’s 2021 Throne Speech, Canada’s food system. Food is essential to our health, and its production has impacts on the environment. The recent food affordability crises and its effects on Canadians’ access to healthy foods highlights the dysfunctional state of Canada’s food system. This paper proposes next steps for government collaboration to advert future food crises by
aligning Canada’s Food Policy and Canada’s Competition Bureau (2023) recommendations and using Holt-Gimenez and Shattuck’s (2011) comparative analytical framework to complement this process.
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Mirusha Ramaj & Kurt Strachan
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine the downturn in public perception about Canada’s immigration policy and highlight policy adjustments to maintain economic growth while emphasizing the importance of integrating manageable levels of non-permanent residents (NPRs) into the socio economic landscape. The current immigration policy is compromised by comprehensive population growth and the impact of significant numbers of NRPs, which have overextended segments of the economy and decreased GDP per capita. By addressing these issues, public reticence can be shifted, through forward-thinking policy designed to reduce numbers and sustain necessary immigration, to maintain a GDP growth of 1.5 – 1.7%.
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Aman Bhullar & Patrick McMillan
Abstract
There is considerable debate about the extent to which climate change may impact crop yields in Canada. Projecting future land suitability under climate change is crucial for assessing future food security. We predict that by the year 2050 the expected net losses in canola and spring wheat production will far outweigh the gains from barley and oats. We propose mitigating these losses through pre-emptive breeding of climate change resilient cultivars. These findings support the development of sustainable agricultural management practices to maintain future food security and economic stability both within Canada and across the globe.
Minimizing Climate Change-Induced Food Insecurity by Aman Bhullar and Patrick McMillan
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Adley Ho & Emily Krispis
Abstract
The overconsumption of sugar by Canadians, often linked to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), heightens the risk of obesity and chronic diseases, which costs Canada’s healthcare system significantly. The World Health Organization calls for taxing SSBs to create a monetary disincentive to consumption. Drawing from successful domestic and international
examples, and the federalism context of Canada, this recommendation proposes a 20% SSB tax by Ottawa, unless provinces and territories have implemented a tax of their own, as the simplest and most effective means to discourage the consumption of SSBs and reduce the impact of national sugar intake on public health.