OTTAWA, October 10, 2013 – The latest edition of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s flagship publication Inside Policy is now available. Every issue of Inside Policy brings readers the in-depth analysis, cutting edge commentary and sound public policy options that have made MLI one of the top young think-tanks in the world.
In the cover story of this issue of Inside Policy, international risk management consultant Roger W. Robinson sounds the alarm over the complacency of Arctic Council members as China steps up its efforts to assert control over strategic areas in the north. Calling it a “long con,” Robinson suggests Beijing’s Arctic strategy is underpinned by the initial use of soft power to attain its regional objectives.
Stanley Hartt has some advice for the prime minister on how to improve the public service. He recommends that Stephen Harper take a page from Brian Mulroney’s playbook and recruit from the worlds of business, law and academia in order to enhance and complement the senior ranks of the public service. Hartt was enjoying a successful career at Stikeman Elliott in the 1980s when he and several others were persuaded by Brian Mulroney to bring their wisdom, skills and experience to the public service.
In “Medicare’s Midlife Crisis,” the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s ambitious series of commentaries and research papers, the Institute is examining the challenges facing Canada’s health care system — including the enormous and ever-growing financial strain on provincial treasuries — and asking Canadians to open their minds to considering major reforms to how the system works. Prominent health sector lawyer Michael Watts, author of the MLI report “Debunking the Myths: A Broader Perspective of the Canada Health Act,” explores the limits of the CHA in this issue of IP. Watts finds that the Act does not pose the barrier to reform that we have been led to believe it does and issues a call to politicians and vested interests to engage in an honest and responsible debate rather than hiding behind the CHA when faced with calls for change.
The September IP also features an insightful piece by medical research experts David Hill, Vassilios Papadopoulos and Tina Saryeddine who outline a plan to bring more clinical trials to Canada. The authors note that while Canada has great science, other countries have been more nimble at initiating trials and reaping benefits which include patient access to leading-edge drugs and devices, economic benefits and keeping researchers at the forefront of clinical innovation.
Inside Policy publishes six times annually. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is the only non-partisan, independent national public policy think tank in Ottawa focusing on the full range of issues that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
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For more information, please contact David Watson, managing editor and communications director, at 613-482-8327 x. 103 or email at david.watson@macdonaldlaurier.ca. On Twitter @MLInstitute
