Not since the end of the Cold War has democracy in Europe been so imperilled by authoritarians. Following its corrupt and fraud-mired 2020 election, Belarus has slid further into repression. A mass protest movement of Belarusians sought to challenge the illegitimate election results, but the regime brought its brutality to bear to quash all democratic […]

 The development of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) underscores for the first time some of the organization’s shared values and norms in the context of the Indo-Pacific. AOIP is the way in which ASEAN envisions the Indo-Pacific and the guiding principles for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. This is not an insignificant […]

Canada released its long-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy in late November attempting to craft out a long term vision for the region. The document referred to China as a "disruptive" actor in the region and internationally. It also indicated a need for Canada to work more closely with like-minded partners in the region. While recognition of the […]

In December, Canada recently released its long-awaited critical minerals strategy. How will this new approach affect Canada’s ability to leverage these important natural resources – and how interested are our allies in working with Canada for our mutual benefit and security? Will it be enough to spark new investment and confidence in operating in Canada? […]

Canada has begun placing greater emphasis on security in the Indo-Pacific, including greater recognition of the threat posed by China. Chinese influence operations and possible disinformation campaigns are increasingly viewed with concern. Although perhaps a less serious problem than faced by countries like the US or Taiwan, Canada remains vulnerable to such foreign disinformation efforts. […]

On January 19th, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of creating an international tribunal to hold the Russian government to account for its invasion of Ukraine and the government of Belarus for supporting Russia’s aggression. Canada and its Baltic allies are among the leading global supporters of Ukraine’s freedom and sovereignty. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute, […]

In recent years, novel reactor technologies, commonly referred to as small modular reactors (SMRs), have emerged that can supply power to electrical grids or to remote, off-grid areas. Although they vary in size, SMRs are typically smaller than conventional nuclear reactors and are designed to be manufactured at a plant and then transported to a […]

As the opioid crisis continues to ravage much of North America, policy-makers continue to debate the best way not just to save lives, but to get lives back on track. Join us for a conversation with Stanford University's Professor Keith Humphreys, former White House Drug Policy Advisor in the Bush and Obama administrations, and Blair […]

 Where did COVID-19 come from? For a long time after the outbreak of the global pandemic, even posing this question was considered controversial. But several voices have long challenged the assertion that the virus has a zoonotic (animal) origin from a natural setting – and instead argue there are strong arguments in support of […]

Carbon emissions are causing climate changes. Figuring out ways to produce oil, gas, hydrogen, steel, petrochemicals, fertilizer and other products without releasing CO2 into the atmosphere is one of the biggest challenges of our times. A suite of technologies known as carbon capture, utilisation and sequestration, (CCUS) can contribute both to reducing emissions in hard-to-abate […]

For generations, Indigenous Peoples have rejected the Doctrine of Discovery, the statement by the Roman Catholic Church that was used widely to justify the European occupation of Indigenous lands. In 2023, the Vatican announced the Catholic Church was renouncing the Doctrine. This webinar addresses three questions: why are Indigenous Peoples so opposed to this Catholic […]