Walter Gordon Symposium — Rethinking Canada's Affordability Crisis: Cross-Sectoral Perspectives Challenges, and Solutions March

Addressing the rising cost of living and advancing efforts to secure adequate access to housing, food security, and healthcare have dominated the public policy agenda for virtually all levels of government, both at home and across the globe. In Canada alone, a growing number of households report difficulty meeting basic needs, deepening well-documented socio-economic disparities experienced by traditionally underrepresented and historically neglected communities. Even as governments offer domestic-level interventions, these efforts are largely shaped by broader global forces such as the supply-chain management crisis, geopolitical conflicts, and the climate crisis.

The Walter Gordon Symposium is named after the Honourable Walter Gordon, who was Minister of Finance and President of the Privy Council under the government of Lester B. Pearson. The annual series, which began in 1990 under the leadership of then head of the College, Ann Saddlemeyer, was designed to present a topic of immediate Canadian significance to an interested audience drawn from academic, corporate and government worlds. 

Hosted by the Public Policy Program at Massey College and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, this year’s Walter Gordon Symposium will bring together decision-makers, community leaders, academics, and individuals with lived and living experience to not only discuss the current state of the affordability crisis but also co-develop evidence-based solutions in addressing this rapidly evolving challenge.

Agenda

8:30 AM to 9:00 AM - Registration and Breakfast

• Registration table in foyer – Junior Fellows

9:00 AM to 9:30 AM - Welcome and Opening

• Recording and Livestream Begin
• Welcome and Opening Remarks:
  1. Arvind Krishendeholl, Massey College Junior Fellow and Vanier Scholar
  2. Dr. Tom Axworthy, Massey College Senior Fellow and Public Policy Program Chair
  3. Dr. Carolyn Tuohy, Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

9:30 AM to 10:50 AM - Panel One: Housing

• Introductions by Asha Mudie, Junior Fellow
• Panel Moderation by James Lautens, Massey College Junior Fellow, and Master of Public Policy candidate, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
• Panellists:
  1. Christy Upshall, CEO, Our Place Peel
  2. Dr. Carolyn Whitzman, Senior Housing Researcher
  3. Dr. Dylan Marando, Former Executive Director, National Housing Strategy

11:00 AM to 12:20 PM - Panel Two: Food Security 

• Introduction of Speakers by Rodginie Dorcent, Massey College Junior Fellow
• Panel Moderation by Benjamin Rabishaw, Massey College Junior Fellow
  1. Carolyn Stewart, CEO, Feed Ontario
  2. Dr. Jo Sharma, Associate Professor
  3. Dan McTeague, Former Member of Parliament

12:30 PM to 1 :30 PM - Lunch

• Recording and Livestream Pauses

1:35 PM to 2:55 PM - Panel Three: Healthcare

• Recording and Livestreams Continues
• Introductions by Arvind Krishendeholl, Massey College Junior Fellow and Vanier Scholar
• Panel Moderation by Renee Sirbu, Massey College Junior Fellow
  1. Dr. Arjumand Siddiqi, CRC in Population Health Equity
  2. Myrna Adams, Community Leader
  3. Dr. Chris Simpson, Chief Medical Executive, Ontario Health

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Breakout Session: Policy Co-Design Session 

• Recording and Livestream Pauses
• Healthcare breakout session in the JCR
• Food Security breakout session in the PDR
• Housing breakout session in the Round Room

4:10 PM to 4:45 PM - Closing Remarks

• Recording and Livestream Continues
• Closing Remarks by Rayan Awad Alim, Massey College Junior Fellow

Registration

Register here

Video Feed

Watch the video stream here