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When the University of Ģ����ý held its Community Report 2026 to showcase the bold thinking and exceptional people at UĢ����ý, the School of Public Policy was front and center. 

Three of eight distinguished scholars and thinkers at the TED Talk-style event in May at the newly refurbished Valentine Building downtown were from the School including Dr. Robert (RJ) Johnston, Dr. Trevor Tombe and Carlo Dade.  

The event reflects UĢ����ý’s commitment to innovation, city building and collaboration. The talks by Johnston, Tombe and Dade showcased how the School helps to solve some of Canada’s most pressing economic and societal challenges with the responsiveness of a leading think tank with the academic rigour of one of Canada’s leading research universities. 

At the Community Report, Johnston discussed the geopolitics of energy and natural resources, Tombe addressed Canada’s economic productivity challenge and Dade provided ideas for a radical rethink and rebuilding of the Canada–U.S. relationship. 

Here are excerpts from their remarks and a link to their videos:

 

 

Dr. Trevor Tombe, Director, Canada’s Productivity Initiative 

Topic: Canada’s lagging productivity and economic performance 
 

“Almost everything we want for this country, whether it’s better health care, stronger schools, a cleaner environment, a lower cost of living, a stronger economy, more time with loved ones, the list goes on, rests on one thing, productivity. 

… “This is a generational challenge. Productivity does not change overnight but small improvements, year after year, compound in extraordinary ways and that’s why there is reason for hope. Canada has faced moments like this before and each time we’ve risen to that challenge. We’ve learned that long-term prosperity requires deliberate effort, sometimes hard compromises, it requires  also research, investment and institutions to look over the horizon to see what’s possible and that’s what universities do at their best and what the University of Ģ����ý is doing.”

 

 

Carlo Dade, Director, International Policy and Director, New North America Initiative 

Topic: Canada-U.S. relations  

 

“Our problems with the U.S. are largely our problems. Our inability or difficulty in moving goods between provinces doesn’t come from laws passed in state capitals. Our inability to build the infrastructure we need to diversify to lessen our dependence on the U.S. doesn’t come from laws passed in Washington D.C.  These weaken us at the negotiating table with the Americans, they make us more dependent, and they increase American leverage. But these problems are fully ours to change.” 

… “We don’t have all the answers yet but we do have the right questions and that is proving successful. And I think it is giving us a successful path forward, and it’s being done, not in Washington, not in Ottawa, not in Toronto or Ottawa but right here in Ģ����ý, at the University of Ģ����ý.”  

 

 

Dr. Robert (RJ) Johnston, Director of Energy and Natural Resources Policy  

Topic: Geopolitics of Energy  

 

“The policy and regulatory hurdles to energy development in Canada are well known but, of late, the news on these fronts has been a lot better. But if we are to develop our hard power capabilities around energy and natural resources we can’t do it by sacrificing the rights or our Indigenous peoples, nor would it be prudent to dilute our environmental standards and climate ambitions even if some of our competitors have abandoned theirs complete entirely.  

“Our mission at the School of Public Policy is to use data, evidence and dialogue to find a sustainable path forward for Canada, Alberta and our natural resources sector. Hopefully one that will rise to the geopolitical moment to our own economic and security benefit as a country and our allies as well.”