The Bell

A newsletter about the complexity of making good public policy produced by members of the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University.

By Madina Shahab

· Over 1,000 subscribers

Deciding Whose Lives Count: Canadian Policy on the Cost of Living Crisis

A personal reflection on what the intersection between income inequality and life expectancy looks like to those who live it, and to those who legislate…

Jun 18

An Invisible United Nations is a Vulnerable United Nations

In an era of declining trust and rising skepticism in global institutions, the next Secretary-General must become a publicly visible advocate and…

Jun 11

Un « Non » qui lui appartient : la génération privée du débat national

A "No" of Their Own: Quebec's Untested Generation and the National Question

Jun 5

Understanding Major Projects in Canada and Indigenous Consultation with Jesse McCormick

In the latest episode of The Bellwether, host Hermon Afowork is joined by Jesse McCormick.

May 28

Canada's Trade Diversification Is Incomplete Without Africa

Canada’s trade priorities of diversification, critical minerals, infrastructure, and clean energy strongly align with opportunities in African markets…

May 21

Short On Cash and Care: How Strong Can Canada Be?

As federal mental health funding is set to expire and with no replacement in sight, Canada risks weakening both its care systems and its economy.

May 7

Sick Justice: The Mental Health Epidemic Inside Canada’s Justice System

The workers we trust to deliver justice are in the grip of a mental health epidemic, and the consequences reach beyond the courthouse.

Apr 23

Day 1,670 and Counting: Women’s Rights under De Facto Rule in Afghanistan

With over 70 decrees and a penal code that legalizes domestic violence, the Taliban have built a governance system that demands legal accountability.

Apr 9

Normalizing the Override (Part 2): Alberta and the Use of Section 33

We’re back with another episode of The Bellwether! This is Part 2 of our series taking a closer look at Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and…

Mar 13

The Nile Begins in Ethiopia and So Does Its Independence

Trump’s false claim of U.S. financing exposes Western discomfort with African-led, self-funded development and Ethiopia's assertion of sovereignty over…

Feb 5

The Islamic Republic of Iran Is Testing the Responsibility to Protect

With national connectivity flatlining and detainee deaths rising, the world must look beyond regime change rhetoric to address the situation.