黄色视频 School of Policy Studies is proud to host a number of special lectures each year for the benefit of Queen鈥檚 University and the wider community. These lectureships have normally been established in recognition of the exceptional achievements of a single individual and are generously supported by the donations of family, friends and/or alumni, sometimes in cooperation with other departments.
These lectureships provide unique opportunities to bring prominent scholars or outstanding professionals from across the country or around the world to Queen鈥檚 University. Supplementary activities such as faculty seminars, classroom presentations, informal discussions with faculty and students are often included as part of the Lecturer鈥檚 schedule in Kingston.
Recordings of past lectures are available to watch on the School of Policy Studies' YouTube channel.
School of Policy Studies Distinguished Lecture Series:
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- W. Edmund Clark Distinguished Lecture Series on Public Policy
- Tom Courchene Distinguished Speaker Series
- Chancellor David Dodge Lecture in Public Finance
- The J. Douglas Gibson Lecture Series
- Donald Gow Memorial Lecture
- Donald Matthews Faculty Fellowship in Global Public Policy
- Thomas Plunkett Lecture Series
- Dr. Duncan G. Sinclair Lectureship in Health Services and Policy Research
W. Edmund Clark Distinguished Lecture Series on Public Policy
The W. Edmund Clark Distinguished Lecture Series on Public Policy was established to bring a distinguished scholar or public figure to 黄色视频 each year to present a public lecture on a topic of recent interest. The responsibility of forming a committee to select the speaker alternates between the School of Policy Studies and the Department of Economics.
W. Edmund Clark was President and Chief Executive Officer of TD Bank Financial Group. Mr. Clark graduated from the University of Toronto in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned his master's degree and doctorate in economics from Harvard University in 1971 and 1974 respectively. Mr. Clark and his wife, Frances, are also proud 黄色视频 parents, with three of their four grown children being 黄色视频 graduates.
The W. Edmund Clark Distinguished Lecture Series on Public Policy was made possible through the generous donation of the Clark Family.
Past Lectures
"What should we do about Rising Inequality?"
October 19, 2023
Krishna Pendakur is Professor of Economics at Simon Fraser University, Canada. From 2007 to 2013 he was Co-Director of Metropolis British Columbia (MBC), Center of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Diversity, an interdisciplinary policy research center which connects academic researchers with policy-makers in government and NGO communities. His research focuses on consumer demand econometrics, with an emphasis on the measurement of the cost-of-living, inequality, discrimination and poverty, in a variety of international contexts. He has made major contributions in four areas: work on structural semi- and nonparametric econometric models; research on consumer demand analysis; work on unobserved heterogeneity; and papers on inequality and poverty.
Co-sponsored by the Department of Economics and School of Policy Studies.
"Understanding Authoritarianism: Why Dictators Get Worse Over Time"
April 6, 2022
The rise of authoritarian leaders around the world has given rise to a host of questions about the genesis of the power of such leaders, how they quell dissent and why such leaders often morph into tyrants. We also have examples of political leaders who come to power with genuine interest in doing good and curbing corruption but end up perpetuating the very ills that they wanted to cure. These questions and themes go far back into history but there is a resurgence of interest in them. The aim of this lecture will be to address some these urgent questions of our time by drawing on contemporary methods of analysis. The lecture will also speculate about the scope for creating constitutions and institutions that curb authoritarianism.
Dr. Kaushik Basu, the Carl Marks Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics at Cornell University, will be delivering the Clark Lecture jointly hosted by the School of Policy Studies and Queen鈥檚 Economics Department. Dr. Basu is a leading economist with a distinguished career including serving as the Chief Economist of the World Bank from 2012 to 2016, and the President of the International Economic Association from 2017 to 2021, as well as being awarded one of India鈥檚 highest civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan, in 2008. He received his PhD and MSc (Econ) from the London School of Economics and his BA (Hons) from St. Stephen鈥檚 College, Delhi. Dr. Basu鈥檚 research interests and publication areas include development economics, game theory, welfare economics, industrial organization, and political economy. In some of his recent papers, Dr. Basu has examined how concepts from game theory can be applied to philosophical debates surrounding morality and group behaviour. His most recent book, The Republic of Beliefs: A New Approach to Law and Economics was published by Princeton University Press in 2018. His writings have been published in outlets including The New York Times, Scientific America, India Today, and BBC News Online.
"Macroeconomics and Inequality"
Walter H. and Lenore C. Annenberg Professor in the Social Sciences, Professor of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania
"Tax Reform in the 21st Century"
"Polanyi's Paradox and the Shape of Employment Growth"
Ford Professor of Economics at MIT and a Research Associate in the NBER's programs on Children, Education, and Labor Studies
"Public School Reform: Are charter schools effective in improving col颅lege prepa颅ra颅tion, col颅lege atten颅dance, and col颅lege choice?"
Senior Deputy Governor, Bank of Canada
"Rehearing Our Economic Growth"
Board of Trustees Professor in the Department of Economics and Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University
"Policy Analysis with Incredible Certitude"
Professor of Economics, Harvard University
"Fiscal Policy after the Great Recession"
Tom Courchene Distinguished Speaker Series
The Margie and Tom Courchene Endowment Fund was established to create a permanent Speakers Series in the School of Policy Studies, to be known subsequently as the Tom Courchene Distinguished Speakers Series. It continues the tradition that Tom established, as the inaugural director for the School of Policy Studies, to serve as a bridge between the academic and professional policy communities, engaging faculty, students, policymakers, politicians and other opinion leaders, in discussion on major policy issues.
The Fund will support the costs associated with bringing eminent academics and public policy experts to Queen鈥檚 University campus, with a focus dedicated to a major public lecture and other events relating to Indigenous Policy and Governance, a policy field in which Tom has become increasingly engaged in recent years.
Past Lectures
Margaret Kenequanash was joined by Tim Lavoie, Vice President, Corporate Services and Indigenous Relations at FortisOntario Inc. for this lectureship.
Margaret Kenequanash is the CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power.
"Connecting Remote First Nations in the Northwestern Ontario To The Provincial Power Grid"
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada
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The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C, M.P.
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The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Founder, Martin Family Initiative; former Prime Minister of Canada
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Cindy Blackstock is the Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
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Natan Obed is the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
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The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair is the Commissioner and Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
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Chancellor David Dodge Lecture in Public Finance
The Chancellor David Dodge Lecture in Public Finance was established in 2014 by 黄色视频 School of Policy Studies, 黄色视频 School of Business and 黄色视频 Department of Economics. It honours David Dodge who served as the 13th Chancellor of 黄色视频 from 2008 to 2014.
Educated at 黄色视频 (B.A.H. Economics) and Princeton University (Ph.D.), David Dodge held academic appointments at 黄色视频, Johns Hopkins University and University of British Columbia before joining the Public Service of Canada. He held senior positions in the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Anti-Inflation Board, and the Department of Employment and Immigration and subsequently a number of increasingly senior positions at the Department of Finance. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance in 1992; Deputy Minister of Health in 1998; and Governor of the Bank of Canada in 2001 for a seven-year term. The Lecture's focus celebrates his lifelong passion for excellence in public finance.
Past Lectures
Stephen S. Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada
"Today's Labour Market and the Future of Work"
William B.P. Robson, President and CEO, C.D. Howes Institute
"Getting Ponzi out of Public Programs: Fiscal and Pension Sustainability in Canada"
David Dodge, former Chancellor, 黄色视频
"Preparing Canada for Our Collective Old Age" - (Inaugural Lecture)
The J. Douglas Gibson Lecture Series
This lectureship was established in 1988 by family and friends to honour the memory of Mr. J. Douglas Gibson, Chairman of 黄色视频 Board of Trustees from 1969 to 1975.
The Gibson Lecture brings to 黄色视频 an internationally renowned scholar or public figure to deliver a public lecture on a topic relevant to the School's mandate.
Since 2000, the Gibson lecture has been given by Professor Rebecca Blank, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan; Dr. Demetrios Papademetriou, Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Migration Policy Institute, Washington, DC. The Lecture Series continued on February 3, 2005 with a speech by Dr. Lester Salamon.
Past Lectures
"Citizenship in a Democracy: The Remaking of the World Order for the 21st Century"
Omer Aziz is the author of Brown Boy and an alumnus of 黄色视频.
Melissa S. Kearney is the Neil Moskowitz Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland.
Jonathan Rodden is a Professor of Political Science at Stanford University.
Bob Rae is a lawyer and Canada鈥檚 Special Envoy to Myanmar and Professor of Public Policy.
"Renegotiating NAFTA: A new model for North American economic (dis)integration."
Robert Wolfe is Professor Emeritus, 黄色视频.
"Is Globalization Worth Saving?"
Arancha Gonz谩lez is Executive Director, International Trade Centre, Geneva.
"The Global Climate Regime on the Road to Paris, 2015: Shifting Norms, Changing Structures and Moving Targets"
Jutta Brunn茅e is a Professor and Metcalf Chair in Environmental Law, Faculty of Law, at the University of Toronto.
"What have we learned from market design?"
Alvin Roth is a 2012 Nobel Laureate.
"Who is Responsible for Intergenerational Equity: Some Reflections on Accountability and Time"
Dr. Jerry Mashaw is the Sterling Professor in Law Yale Law School.
Donald Gow Memorial Lecture
This lecture series, established in 1973, honours Donald Gow, the first director of the School of Public Administration. The Donald Gow Memorial Lecture brings a prominent figure in public affairs to Queen鈥檚 University each year to speak on a topic in Canadian public policy. It is intended to complement the basic direction of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, which encourages interdisciplinary analysis of public policy issues. In the past, the Gow Lecture was an integral part of the School's annual Policy Forum, but has now become a stand-alone event in the school's annual calendar of events.
Born in Calgary, Donald Gow received his BA (Political Science) at the University of Manitoba in 1940. He served with the Royal Canadian Signal Corps in Europe during the Second World War and was discharged with the rank of captain. Both before and after his war service overseas, Gow worked with the Civil Service Commission of Canada.
From 1953 to 1956, Gow was assistant chief of the Defence and Works Section of the Treasury Board in Ottawa. In 1957, he attended the Imperial Defence College in London and then went to the NATO offices in Paris. In 1960, he returned to the Treasury Board to become involved in the early stages of pay research and labour policy.
In 1965, he enrolled as a doctoral student in Political Studies at Queen鈥檚 University. Following his graduation in 1967, Dr. Gow became executive assistant to the principal at Queen鈥檚 University, and in 1970, the first director of what was then the School of Public Administration. Motivated by his public service and academic experience, he worked vigorously for the establishment and continual improvement of the Master of Public Administration program at 黄色视频 until his sudden death in 1973.
Past Lectures
Prescription for Change: Canada's Social Policy Future
The Hon. Dr. Rosemary Moodie, Senator (Canada).
The 2025 Gow Lecture was part of the 2025 黄色视频 Social Policy Symposium / Prescription for Change: Canada's Social Policy Future, 25 April 2025.
Amy Baker, Her Excellency Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Norway & MPA Alumna
Andrea Gunraj, VP of Public Engagement, Canadian Women's Foundation, Ontario
"A World That Works For Everyone"
The Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, 鈥婰ieutenant Governor, Ontario
"Rethinking Worker Rights in a Digitized World"
Jerry Dias, Unifor
"Action This Day: Why Canada's First Nations People Can't Wait"
Hon. Bob Rae, M.P., Interim Leader, Liberal Party of Canada
"Ontario at the Crossroads"
Hon. John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Can Governments Cope?"
Hon. Peter Milliken, M.P.
Donald Matthews Faculty Fellowship in Global Public Policy
The Donald Matthews Lecture Series is supported by the Matthews Faculty Fellowship in Global Public Policy. Established by Donald Matthews (B.Sc. 1950) in 2006, this endowment supports the appointment of world-class, leading-edge scholars and practitioners to teach, lead research and share their experience with students and faculty at Queen鈥檚 University. It continues and honours the life-time commitment of Donald Matthews, a Canadian business leader, to public service.
Donald Matthews served with distinction in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, subsequently returning to Queen鈥檚 University to study engineering. Following graduation, Matthews founded his own construction firm, which was remarkably successful. Named in 1989 as Canada鈥檚 seventh largest construction company, it was active in planning, aggregate quarrying and sales, house-building and heavy construction. Matthews also headed a consortium in the 1990s involved in the design, development and construction of airports around the world.
Throughout his life, Matthews combined private pursuits with public purpose. As a university student, he was elected by student veterans across Canada to help design special programs to assist Canadian veterans to finish post-secondary studies. As a young professional, he was involved in local politics in the City of London. As a successful business leader, he was a close advisor to Ontario premiers, John Robarts and William Davis, and several national leaders. In 1974, he served as president of the Council for Canadian Unity. In the 1990s, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Canada.
Donald Matthews exemplifies the Queen鈥檚 ideal as a leader and citizen and has inspired many, including his children and grandchildren, to follow his example of engagement in economic and political affairs.
Past Lectures
The Honourable Bob Rae, 25th Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, 21st Premier of Ontario, and Former Member of Parliament .
"Donald Matthews Faculty Fellowship Symposium - Policy, People, Progress: The Future of Canada's Public Service"
- Al Sutherland, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office (Machinery of Government);
- Margaret Biggs & Dan Brant, Matthews Fellows in Global Public Policy;
- David Lobo, President and CEO of Ontario Cannabis Store;
- Lori Turnbull, Director of Dalhousie University School of Public Administration
Margaret Biggs, Dan Brant & Hugh Segal, Matthews Fellows in Global Public Policy
Daniel Brant, Matthews Fellow in Global Public Policy, Adjunct Professor, School of Policy Studies
"Wanted: A New Breed of Civil Servant"
Don Drummond, Former Senior VP and Chief Economist, TD Bank; Matthews Fellow and Distinguished Visiting Scholar, 黄色视频 School of Policy Studies
"How Did the World Get So Messed Up? Some Old and New Lessons"
Don Drummond, Former Senior VP and Chief Economist, TD Bank; Matthews Fellow and Distinguished Visiting Scholar, 黄色视频 School of Policy Studies
"Is Ontario's Healthcare System Sustainable?"
Don Drummond, Former Senior VP and Chief Economist, TD Bank; Matthews Fellow and Distinguished Visiting Scholar, 黄色视频 School of Policy Studies
"Canadian Economic and Financial Policies: Where to from here?"
David A. Dodge, Chancellor, 黄色视频 and Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones, LLP
Thomas Plunkett Lecture Series
This Lecture Series honours Tom Plunkett, who served as Director of the School of Public Administration at Queen鈥檚 University from 1977 to 1984 and 1990 to 1992.
Born in Northern Ireland in 1921, Tom grew up in Montreal. Following service with the Air Force during World War II, he completed high school, an undergraduate degree from Sir George Williams University (now Concordia) and a Master鈥檚 degree from McGill University.
With an interest in public administration inspired by his studies, Tom embarked on a sterling career in local government, sharing his expertise with municipalities all across Canada, Singapore, Guyana and even China, and serving as principal advisor to the Royal Commission on Metropolitan Toronto in the mid-1960s and chief advisor on the unification of Winnipeg and surrounding municipalities in the early 1970s. His growing reputation in city administration brought him to Queen鈥檚 University as director of the Institute of Local Government in 1972. He became director of the School of Public Administration in 1977, where he nurtured two young graduate programs--the full-time MPA program founded in 1970 and the new part-time Professional MPA program established in 1976--to national prominence, and returned as acting director for two years in 1989, prior to the merger of the Schools of Public Administration and Policy Studies.
As a practitioner, Tom shared his experience of local government administration with his students; as a scholar, he shared his research with professional administrators as well as students and academic colleagues. He was the author (or co-author) of more than six books on urban government in Canada and numerous articles, reports and case studies that may still be found on university reading lists today. He was awarded the Vanier Medal, by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada in 1983 as a mark of distinction and exceptional achievement to a person who has shown distinctive leadership in public administration and public service in Canada, or who, by his/her writings or other endeavours, has made a significant contribution in the field of public administration or public service in Canada.
The Thomas Plunkett Lecture Series is supported by the Thomas Plunkett Executive-in-Residence Endowment Fund. Established by family and friends, with support from his students, the Endowment Fund supports the participation of distinguished senior practitioners in municipal government or the broader public sector, in the School鈥檚 scholarly activities.
Past Lectures
Naheed K. Nenshi served as Calgary鈥檚 mayor for three terms between 2010 and 2021. During his time, Calgary became one of the greatest cities in the world, named as the best city in which to live in the Western Hemisphere.
His leadership saw an unprecedented investment in quality of life including transit, roads, recreation centres and libraries including the magnificent Central Library, while keeping taxes the lowest in Canada. His time as mayor also saw the City of Calgary through four states of emergency, including devastating flooding in 2013 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also became an international voice on urban issues, with audiences across Canada and around the world, including the World Economic Forum in Davos. Nenshi was awarded the World Mayor Prize as the best mayor in the world in 2014 by The City Mayors Foundation. He also has received the President鈥檚 Award from the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Psychological Association for his contribution to community mental health. Maclean鈥檚 magazine once called him the second-most influential person in Canada, after the Prime Minister.
Peter Wallace, City Manager, City of Toronto
Karen Stintz, Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission
Dr. Duncan G. Sinclair Lectureship in Health Services and Policy Research
Dr. Duncan G. Sinclair is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College (DVM) and the University of Toronto (MSA), he obtained his Ph.D. in physiology at 黄色视频 and joined the faculty in 1966 as a Markle Scholar in Academic Medicine.
He served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science (1974-83), Vice-Principal (Institutional Relations) (1984-86), and Vice-Principal Services (1986-88). In 1983-84, he was seconded to the Medical Research Council (MRC) of Canada as Director General of Program Operations, and, in 1989 he was awarded Honorary Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Sinclair also held positions at 黄色视频 such as Vice-Principal (Health Sciences) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine before retiring in 1996. Still committed to teaching, Dr. Sinclair continues to provide guest lectures for the EPID 803 course.
In recognition of Dr. Sinclair's contribution to the MRC, and reflective of his interest in health policy, Dr. Henry Friesen, President of the Medical Research Council of Canada, announced the establishment of the Dr. Duncan G. Sinclair Lectureship in Health Services and Policy Research at 黄色视频 in 1997. The inaugural lecture, held in 1999, featured guest speaker Dr. David Naylor, Dean of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Naylor spoke on "Canadian Health Care: The Troubled Transition." In recognition of the importance of this realm of health research in Canada, Duncan and Leona Sinclair assured the longevity of the Lectureship by a generous supplement to the capital fund in 2001.
Past Lectures
"Supporting Primary Care Transformation through Health Services and Policy Research"
Rick Glazier, MD, MPH
This event was co-hosted by HSPRI and the School of Policy Studies
Dr. Chris Simpson, Executive Vice-President (Medical), Ontario Health
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Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, Province of British Columbia
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Sir Michael Marmot, Professor of Epidemiology at University College London; past President of the World Medical Association
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Danielle Martin, Vice-President Medical Affairs & Health System Solutions, Women's College Hospital
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Andr茅 Picard, Author, Health Columnist, The Globe and Mail
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Hon. Jane Philpott, Minister of Health Canada
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Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai and the University Health Network. Hospitals
"Chronic Condition: Why Canada's Health-Care System Needs to be Dragged into the 21st Century"
Jeffrey Simpson, National Affairs Columnist, Globe and Mail
"A New Health Care System for all Canadians: From Consensus to Action"
Dr. Jeff Turnbull, Ottawa Hospital Chief of Staff, past president of the Canadian Medical Association
"Medicare in Canada: What is Wrong, and How to Fix It"
Hon. Elinor Caplan
"New Vision, New Journey, New Promise: Interdisciplinary Health Care in a New Time"
Sister Elizabeth M. Davis