Municipal Ballot Box Basics: Community Safety
Intended Consequences
The countdown to Ontario’s municipal elections continues as we discuss the third topic in our Municipal Ballot Box Basics series: community safety. No matter where they live, people want to feel safe in their communities and know that they can access emergency services when needed. Our guest Charles Bordeleau, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp, discusses why community safety is an important issue for communities across Ontario. He notes that municipalities have direct jurisdiction over core safety services. He highlights how these services can work together in a holistic and preventative...
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Pourquoi la sécurité communautaire est un thème important des élections municipales ontariennes
Intended Consequences
Les élections municipales en Ontario battent leur plein et le jour du vote approche à grands pas. Plusieurs thèmes tels que les infrastructures, le logement et le développement économique ont été abordés par les candidats municipaux à travers la province. La sécurité communautaire est un autre sujet de grande importance au niveau municipal en raison des répercussions directes sur l’ensemble de la population. Peu importe où ils vivent, les gens veulent se sentir en sécurité et avoir accès aux services d’urgence dont ils ont besoin. Notre invité Charles Bordeleau, conseiller...
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Municipal Ballot Box Basics: Housing
Intended Consequences
In the second episode of our podcast series on the Ontario municipal elections, we explore why housing is a major theme for candidates and voters. Our guest Michelle German, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp, argues that housing might be the most important issue in this year’s municipal elections as individuals have never been more challenged to find the right kind of housing. She highlights how specific local realities are shaping what voters are looking for and, ultimately, the housing promises of municipal candidates across the province.
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Municipal Ballot Box Basics: Infrastructure
Intended Consequences
The Ontario municipal elections are in full swing. In this new podcast series, StrategyCorp's Institute explores the themes that are shaping the elections across the province. Ed Archer, Vice President at StrategyCorp, joins the podcast to talk about why infrastructure is a crucial topic in this year’s municipal elections. He explains how local realities and other municipal priorities shape discussions on infrastructure.
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Getting Ready for the Return of Parliament
Intended Consequences
After a summer marked by geopolitical developments, byelections, and the threat of separatism in Alberta and Quebec, Parliament returns for what promises to be an eventful fall in Canadian politics. StrategyCorp’s Rebecca Caldwell, Garry Keller, and Nathan Cullen join the podcast to discuss current dynamics and priorities in government. They highlight what may be next for the Conservatives and the NDP as both parties look to cautiously navigate the “Team Canada” moment we are in amid the tension with the United States and Donald Trump. Our panelists also explain how federal politics will...
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High-Performance Sport: How Canada Is Going for Gold
Intended Consequences
Canadian high-performance athletes train hard every day to compete at the highest levels and proudly represent Canada on the world stage. Countries and sport federations are constantly thinking about how to enable athletes and national teams to perform at their best. Government funding and a strong sport ecosystem are critical enablers of high performance. The Government of Canada announced $755 million in the latest Spring Economic Update to support Canadian athletes and National Sport Organisations. The funding will also help host large sporting events and get more people involved in sport....
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World Cups and Olympics: Why Diplomacy, Politics, and Media Matter as Much as the Winners
Intended Consequences
Between the Milano Cortina Olympics, the Paralympics, and the FIFA World Cup, 2026 is a dream year for sports fans. But these mega-events go beyond sports and medals; they are highly political and extensively covered by the media. Large international competitions are opportunities for host countries to achieve diplomatic, political, and economic objectives through sports. How these events are conveyed to fans locally and globally also matters, as sports and media constantly influence one another. To unpack these topics, Intended Consequences welcomes Cecilia Arregui Olivera and Vitaly Kazakov,...
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CANSEC 2026: Record Attendance, PM Carney’s Speech, and What Comes Next for Government
Intended Consequences
With the Government of Canada increasing its defence spending, CANSEC was a must-attend event for ecosystem players. Highlighting the unique moment Canada finds itself in amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, Mark Carney became the first sitting Canadian Prime Minister to speak at CANSEC. StrategyCorp’s Garry Keller, Frédérik Larouche, and Terry Nemeth share their key takeaways from the event and the Prime Minister’s announcements. They highlight what the government ought to consider as it attempts to move forward at a rapid pace on defence.
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Tarifs, guerre et compétition : comment l’industrie canadienne de l’aluminium s’adapte et innove
Intended Consequences
L’aluminium fait l’objet de tarifs douaniers élevés depuis le retour de Donald Trump à la Maison Blanche. Les impacts de ces tarifs sur le secteur et les prix mondiaux sont importants. Ceux-ci sont exacerbés par l’instabilité dans le golfe Persique, une région productrice d’aluminium. Afin de dresser un portrait des défis et des opportunités auxquels fait face l’industrie canadienne de l’aluminium, l’Institut de StrategyCorp a eu le plaisir d’accueillir Jean Simard, Président et chef de la direction de l’Association de l'aluminium du Canada, et Philippe Couillard,...
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A Wave of Retiring Entrepreneurs Is Coming
Intended Consequences
Entrepreneurship is the foundation of economic development. But what happens when entrepreneurs want to retire? According to a from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), nearly 61% of Canadian SMEs are led by owners who are 50+ and many plan to exit within the next five years. Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC, joins the podcast to discuss this dynamic and what might happen to these SMEs. He shares insight into whether entrepreneurs are prepared for their exits, who they might sell their companies to, and the benefits of business acquisitions for...
info_outlineThe StrategyCorp Municipal Chief Administrative Officer Survey 2024 highlighted that municipal finance is a top area of concern. The report noted that “many CAOs spoke of financial challenges not just in terms of the gaps and shortfalls they are trying to fill, notably with respect to infrastructure, but in the context of affordability for residents.”
Two StrategyCorp Senior Advisors, Michael Fenn and Tony Haddad, join the podcast to talk about the state of municipal financial sustainability in Ontario. They provide their insight on the financial challenges municipalities face and the importance of financial planning to navigate uncertain times. Tony and Michael also discuss ways senior levels of government can help alleviate some of the financial pressures municipalities are dealing with.