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 David Jones (from the University of Toronto) and Lydia Laflamme (from the Université Laval) are the winners of the 10th National Student Paper Competition. Want to learn more about their ideas for improving Canada’s federal public service? Please click on the name below the summary to read their papers and those of the other finalists.
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Lydia Laflamme (Winner)
Abstract:
This paper discusses the problem of the climate emergency and highlights Canada’s responsibility in this fight, specifically in terms of the population’s dietary behaviour. The paper proposes using informational labels on the environmental impacts of foods to influence consumer choice. To ensure the effectiveness and acceptance of this solution, the paper encourages federal public servants to use an experimental method. Experimentation will allow them to learn and adapt policies based on the results obtained, while optimizing social acceptance and developing public servants’ competencies.
Lydia Laflamme – Translated Paper (EN)
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David Jones (Winner)
Abstract:
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos recently stated that “we have to change the way we deliver healthcare in Canada”. Health Canada needs a strategy to deliver change in the context of provincial jurisdiction for healthcare delivery and growing demands for federal funding. This paper recommends that Health Canada develop an ‘innovation cheerleader’ function to support provincial healthcare innovation, whilst enabling Health Canada to become a better-informed party for future funding negotiations. Ultimately, this will improve healthcare services, leading to enhanced health outcomes for Canadian citizens, whilst supporting the optimisation of future federal funding allocations.
David Jones – Original Paper (EN)
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Annie Montpetit (Finalist)
Abstract
The forest plays an important role in the lives of many Canadian communities. Sustainable forest management (SFM) criteria and indicators were first introduced in the 1990s in the wake of efforts to adopt sustainable forest management. Emphasized are two limitations to identifying forest communities using indicators that focus on the industrial forestry sector: relationships between communities and forests are multidimensional, and climate change affects all forest-related values. This paper recommends updating SFM criteria and indicators for communities.
Annie Montpetit – Translated Paper (EN)
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Mark Pompilii (Finalist)
Abstract:
This policy memo considers policy responses to the emergence of environmental refugees. This is an emerging policy decision in which the Canadian federal government must consider whether to extend refugee status/protections to climate-based migrants. This memo recommends the Canadian government develop a proactive response to include environmental refugees as a class eligible for refugee status/protections. The preferred policy option to do so sees environmental refugees being incorporated into Canada’s private sponsorship of refugee’s program. This option is beneficial as it (1) provides humanitarian assistance to environmental refugees, and (2) allows Canada to emerge as a leader on the international stage.
Mark Pompilii – Original Paper (EN)
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William Alexander (Finalist)
Abstract
In the midst of the government of Canada’s evolving digital environment, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool with applications in a variety of contexts. Despite increasing public sector interest in “high tech solutions,” however, the government’s current effort to manage AI-public sector integration is insufficient. The government of Canada needs a proactive strategy for AI implementation and, to that end, it needs to foster public servants who have expertise in both public policy and computer science.