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Publications

The Public Policy Forum has produced hundreds of reports since our inception in 1987. This site features reports from 2012 and after, as well as our most popular and referenced publications from earlier years. If there is a specific report you cannot find, please contact us.
Publication

Managing Precarious Work: Three Canadian Models for Rebalancing Bargaining Power in the Future of Work

Brave New Work: Key Issues Series

Released: Monday December 2, 2019

Hear the expression “precarious employment” or the “gig economy” and you’ll almost certainly think of the Uber driver who took you to the airport last week. However, precarious employment dates back much further. This report examines three more entrenched models—construction workers, those in film and theatre, and those in academia—for recommendations governments can use to address the growing challenge of gig work.
Learn three Canadian models for rebalancing bargaining power in the future of work
Publication

A New North Star

Canadian Competitiveness in an Intangibles Economy

Released: Thursday April 4, 2019

Rapid and far-reaching changes to the global economy, driven by technology, demographics and geopolitics, are forcing us to rethink some of the core assumptions of what makes a nation competitive or not. Robert Asselin and Sean Speer offer a bi-partisan strategy for what Canada can do in a data-driven 'intangibles' economy.
Read 'A New North Star' now
Publication

People-Centric Economic Development: Lessons on International Student Retention from Atlantic Canada

Attracting talented people for the long-term prosperity of Atlantic Canada

Released: Wednesday November 13, 2019

The economic fortunes of rural Canada depend on attracting human capital and while international students are highly skilled & qualified candidates for settlement, they don't often stick around. PPF Fellow Sean Speer identifies lessons from two promising programs in Atlantic Canada which seem to be convincing students to settle, against the odds.
Read about this fundamental shift in how we do economic development
Publication
ppf-june14-the-risk-of-the-status-quo

The Risk of the Digital Status Quo

How Governments Can Enable Digital Transformation

Released: Thursday October 17, 2019

Digital transformation can be risky — but the status quo is riskier.  Drawing on insights of CIOs and senior public servants, this report identifies strategies for dealing with the risks of not embracing digital technology for public services, including: legacy systems costs, cyber security, culture and people, and service failure.
Read about the risk of the digital status quo
Publication

Hiring and Retaining Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador

For the long-term prosperity of Atlantic Canada

Released: Monday October 7, 2019

Newfoundland and Labrador's labour force is shrinking — not to mention population — and once again more people are leaving the province than arriving. PPF developed recommendations to upskill existing workers and bring in new workers at a St. John’s consultation with leaders in government, civil society, immigration, education institutions and business as part of our Atlantic Revitalization project.
Read about how Atlantic communities across Canada are attracting and retaining newcomers
Publication
Food delivery on bicycle

Old Gigs, New Gigs: Are Courts and Legislators Reinterpreting an Age-Old Debate for the New World of Work?

Brave New Work: Key Issues Series

Released: Monday September 30, 2019

Courts and legislatures are deciding whether your Lyft driver is an independent contractor or an employee. The classification is a big deal, affecting workers' protections through to retirement. This paper surveys the current state of the gig economy and how courts, tribunals and legislatures in North America and the UK are tackling the issue of employment classification.
Read how courts are defining gig work and what it means for workers
Publication

Online Culture Shift

Safer Platforms for Women in Politics

Released: Thursday August 29, 2019

Women engaged in political life benefit from using social media. But characteristics of these platforms—specifically ease of communication, high volume of interactions, and anonymity—can lead to negative outcomes including cyber-harassment and the spread of misinformation, disinformation and harmful gender tropes.
Read how we can tackle cyber-harassment of women in politics
Publication

Beyond the Big City

How Small Communities Across Canada Can Attract and Retain Newcomers

Released: Tuesday August 6, 2019

How can small communities and rural areas in Canada attract and retain newcomers, most of whom prefer to settle in a few large metropolitan areas? This report examines the experiences of five communities that have looked to immigration to help reverse declining populations and boost economic prospects, and proposes short and long-term solutions.
Read how small communities across Canada can attract and retain newcomers
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