The Policy Brief is a digital publication, written by JSGS scholars and leading policy experts, to provide context and perspective on important public issues and to further discussion and debate within the public sector. It provides policy makers and those interested in policy formation with timely and expert analysis, observations and potential policy approaches to relevant issues concerning the public.
If you have a subject idea that is current, topical and relevant to the public policy debate, and are interested in authoring a brief, contact the Policy Brief editor, Dale Eisler.
Nursing shortages in Canada are widely recognized, but current policy responses still focus primarily on recruiting new staff rather than addressing why nurses are leaving the profession at alarming rates. As a result, retention challenges are intensifying and pushing the system toward a breaking point.
In response to what is considered severe substance use disorder, legislation has been passed in Saskatchewan that provides for involuntary, compulsory care for individuals deemed to be high-risk cases. Opinion is divided on whether the approach will lead to successful treatment outcomes.
Quebec’s Bill 21 prohibits provincial government employees from visibly wearing religious symbols when exercising authority in a public institution. The law brings into focus the clash of individual versus collective rights as set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Bell Canada’s project to build an AI data centre campus south of Regina promises Saskatchewan jobs, research partnerships, and a contribution to Canada’s nation-building objectives. But the project’s demands on the province’s electricity system deserve far more scrutiny than the project has received to date.
In 2027, global mining giant BHP will begin production in Saskatchewan at one of the world’s largest potash mines. The Jansen mine will have a dramatic impact on the potash market and adds to the issue of whether the Saskatchewan government gets a fair return in royalties from potash development for the people of the province.
Small towns and rural municipalities in Saskatchewan face significant fiscal sustainability challenges. A co-operative approach, where towns and surrounding RMs work together to share resources and infrastructure, can be a model for success.
