News and Blogs

Find the latest news from the Institute, and policy ideas from the Broadbent Blog, Canada's hub for Canada's leading progressive voices.
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Institute.


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Rethinking the role of faith in Canada's progressive movement

The recent death of Fred Phelps, the infamous anti-gay activist and leader for many years of the independent Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, is perhaps an appropriate occasion to reflect on...

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Falling participation rate a sign of a soft job market

A close look at today's labour force numbers indicates that fewer Canadians in all age groups are either working or are unemployed and actively seeking work. While it is influenced...

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The power of social media in the gay rights movement

The importance of the recent sea change in American public opinion on marriage equality is likely lost on many Canadians. Canada has been on the cutting edge of marriage equality...

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Executive Director Rick Smith's closing comments at the Progress Summit

Bon matin tout le monde. What a fantastic energizing weekend it has been. Many important conversations. New friends. Lots of great ideas to act on. Let me thank our speakers,...

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Full speech: Julia Gillard addresses the Progress Summit

Check against delivery.Julia GillardOttawa; Saturday, March 29, 2014 Thank you Ed for that kind introduction and thanks to you, Rick, the Board and staff of the Broadbent Institute for the...

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Jim Flaherty’s Keynesian moment, and its mixed results

Former Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will be rightly remembered for the 2009 federal Budget which provided much-needed fiscal stimulus to boost a crisis-ridden Canadian economy and helped set the stage...

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Introducing the Leadership Fellows

The Broadbent Institute champions progressive change. Whether it’s our eagle-eyed (and sharp-tongued) colleagues at PressProgress publishing hard-hitting news and analysis, or our Policy Fellows producing creative and practical policy ideas,...

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Canada falling behind on innovation

While we tend to celebrate private entrepreneurship, the state is crucially important in driving and shaping innovation. The question of which economies will thrive and which will lag behind on...

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Echoes of Walkerton in Environment Canada cuts

Albert Einstein’s well-known definition of insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” is unsettlingly relevant to a new round of federal government cuts....

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How the (Un)Fair Elections Act would play out on the ground

The perception that a Conservative party agenda is written into the so-called ‘Fair Elections Act’ has the national media and pundits talking. And for good reason. In light of recent...