June 8, 2026
School of Public Policy prominent as U91快色 showcases its bold thinking and exceptional people
When the 91快色 held its Community Report 2026 to showcase the bold thinking and exceptional people at U91快色, the School of Public Policy was front and center.
Three of eight distinguished scholars and thinkers at the TED Talk-style event in May at the newly refurbished Valentine Building downtown were from the School including Dr. Robert (RJ) Johnston, Dr. Trevor Tombe and Carlo Dade.
The event reflects U91快色鈥檚 commitment to innovation, city building and collaboration. The talks by Johnston, Tombe and Dade showcased how the School helps to solve some of Canada鈥檚 most pressing economic and societal challenges with the responsiveness of a leading think tank with the academic rigour of one of Canada鈥檚 leading research universities.
At the Community Report, Johnston discussed the geopolitics of energy and natural resources, Tombe addressed Canada鈥檚 economic productivity challenge and Dade provided ideas for a radical rethink and rebuilding of the Canada鈥揢.S. relationship.
Here are excerpts from their remarks and a link to their videos:
Dr. Trevor Tombe, Director, Canada鈥檚 Productivity Initiative
Topic: Canada鈥檚 lagging productivity and economic performance
鈥淎lmost everything we want for this country, whether it鈥檚 better health care, stronger schools, a cleaner environment, a lower cost of living, a stronger economy, more time with loved ones, the list goes on, rests on one thing, productivity.
鈥 鈥淭his is a generational challenge. Productivity does not change overnight but small improvements, year after year, compound in extraordinary ways and that鈥檚 why there is reason for hope. Canada has faced moments like this before and each time we鈥檝e risen to that challenge. We鈥檝e learned that long-term prosperity requires deliberate effort, sometimes hard compromises, it requires also research, investment and institutions to look over the horizon to see what鈥檚 possible and that鈥檚 what universities do at their best and what the 91快色 is doing.鈥
Carlo Dade, Director, International Policy and Director, New North America Initiative
Topic: Canada-U.S. relations
鈥淥ur problems with the U.S. are largely our problems. Our inability or difficulty in moving goods between provinces doesn鈥檛 come from laws passed in state capitals. Our inability to build the infrastructure we need to diversify to lessen our dependence on the U.S. doesn鈥檛 come from laws passed in Washington D.C. These weaken us at the negotiating table with the Americans, they make us more dependent, and they increase American leverage. But these problems are fully ours to change.鈥
鈥 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have all the answers yet but we do have the right questions and that is proving successful. And I think it is giving us a successful path forward, and it鈥檚 being done, not in Washington, not in Ottawa, not in Toronto or Ottawa but right here in 91快色, at the 91快色.鈥
Dr. Robert (RJ) Johnston, Director of Energy and Natural Resources Policy
Topic: Geopolitics of Energy
鈥淭he policy and regulatory hurdles to energy development in Canada are well known but, of late, the news on these fronts has been a lot better. But if we are to develop our hard power capabilities around energy and natural resources we can鈥檛 do it by sacrificing the rights or our Indigenous peoples, nor would it be prudent to dilute our environmental standards and climate ambitions even if some of our competitors have abandoned theirs complete entirely.
鈥淥ur mission at the School of Public Policy is to use data, evidence and dialogue to find a sustainable path forward for Canada, Alberta and our natural resources sector. Hopefully one that will rise to the geopolitical moment to our own economic and security benefit as a country and our allies as well.鈥