The 2025-2026 Policy Matters: Beyond the Brief speaker series brought leading policymakers, scholars, and practitioners to the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University to explore the most pressing public policy challenges facing Canada and the world.
Featured speakers included former cabinet ministers and Premiers, senior public servants, municipal leaders, health policy experts, legal scholars, and internationally recognized academics who draw on real‑world experience to bridge theory and practice.
Together, these speakers offer timely, evidence-based perspectives that deepen public understanding of complex policy issues and encourage informed debate beyond the headlines.
Kathleen Wynne, former Premier of Ontario, delivered the keynote Doing Big Things in Government, reflecting on the leadership, courage, and institutional conditions required to drive meaningful and lasting public policy change.
Catherine Donnelly examined how team‑based primary care has been implemented across Canada, highlighting what policy design meant for health‑care delivery on the ground.
Kim Richard Nossal analyzed Canada–U.S. relations in a post‑American world, exploring the policy implications of shifting global power dynamics for Canadians.
Lori Turnbull assessed the challenges and opportunities of the Carney agenda, offering insights into leadership, governance, and economic policy in Canada.
Stéphanie von Hlatky reflected on 25 years of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, examining how Canada and NATO have integrated gender into security and defence policy.
Robert Wolfe evaluated whether the global trading system has been broken, focusing on the implications of the WTO and CUSMA for Canada’s economic future.
Keith Banting explored cycles of change in social policy, considering whether past reforms offer lessons for today’s policy challenges.
Karen Hogan, Auditor General of Canada, reinforced the importance of accountability and oversight, underscoring their role in strengthening public confidence in government institutions.
Kevin Lynch and James Mitchell provided a bold and engaging vision for renewing Canada’s machinery of government, from the Prime Minister’s Office to the public service.
Gregory Ridge drew on his municipal leadership experience to vividly demonstrate how local politics directly shape the policies that impact communities every day.
Mireille Paquet challenged prevailing narratives on Canadian immigration, revealing the structural forces transforming migration policy and governance.
Debra Thompson delivered a powerful examination of the rise and decline of the term “visible minority,” prompting critical reflection on race, representation, and public policy in Canada.
Jonathan Kalles provided reflections from inside the Prime Minister’s Office, shedding light on the inner workings of power, policy, and political decision‑making in Ottawa.
David Walker presented a frank and incisive analysis of the systemic pressures confronting Canada’s health‑care system and the realistic pathways for meaningful reform.
Jack Cunningham and John Meehan launched their book, Chrétien and the World, offering new insights into Canadian foreign policy between 1993 and 2003 and challenging assumptions about Jean Chrétien’s international legacy.
Lindsay Borrows provided a forward‑looking exploration of Indigenous law and environmental governance, illustrating how Indigenous legal traditions are actively reshaping policy in Canada.
Colleen Flood offered a timely and thought‑provoking examination of how governments approached the regulation of health‑related artificial intelligence, emphasizing the balance between innovation, equity, and public trust.
Deborah Matthews delivered a compelling reflection on her time as Ontario’s Minister of Health, offering behind‑the‑scenes insights into how political choices shape real‑world health‑care outcomes.
Lisa Tannock examined the evolving role of physicians in Canada’s health‑care system, exploring how workforce structure, compensation, and practice models shape system performance and patient care.
John Hannaford reflected on leadership and governance in Stability in an Uncertain World, drawing on his experience at the highest levels of Canada’s public service to examine how institutions navigate geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
The School of Policy Studies extends its sincere thanks to all our speakers for sharing their expertise and insight, and to our students, faculty, and community for their enthusiastic engagement and interest in the 2025-2026 Policy Matters series.
The School of Policy Studies also thanks the members of the Visitors Committee for their efforts in organizing the 2025-2026 Policy Matters series. Their leadership and dedication were instrumental to the series' success.
