The Politics of Policy: An Insider Perspective on the Realities of Governing

Date

Friday January 31, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Location

Room 448, Robert Sutherland Hall, 138 Union Street

Friday Jan 31, 2025
Time: Noon to 1:30pm
Robert Sutherland Hall Room 448

Sam Duncan, Vice President at Wellington Advocacy
Nicko Vavassis, Director, Ontario Government Relations at Wellington Advocacy

The true dynamics of government decision-making lies somewhere between the drama of Veep and the idealism of the West Wing.  Real-world policymaking is shaped by the agency of individuals in political offices and public service, and their varying ability to navigate and created change within the rigid framework of governance.

With examples from their own profession experience, Sam Duncan, former Executive Director of Policy to the Premier of Ontario and Senior Advisor to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Nicko Vavassis, former Director to the Attorney General of Ontario will share their perspectives on the interactions between elected officials, their partisan staff and the public service and the media cycle of the day.

Electoral Interference, Dark Money and the Canadian Polity

Date

Monday January 20, 2025
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Location

Room 448, Robert Sutherland Hall, 138 Union Street

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary

Event Poster for Sanaa Ahmed event

Canada lacks the political will to fight financial crime because the economy is hooked on dirty money

Dr. Ahmed, who wrote an eye-opening chapter for a book entitled rejects the notion that illicit proceeds wash up on Canadian shores by accident. Indeed, she questions whether it is even reasonable to presume that Canada wants to combat money laundering given its chronic failure to keep its promises over the past 35 years.

Article Category