NEWS: School launches New North America Initiative focused on Canada-U.S. relations

From left: Ed McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor University of Calgary; Martha Hall Findlay, Director School of Public Policy; Premier Danielle Smith; Minister Rajan Sawhney; and Carlo Dade Director of International Policy, School of Public Policy.

The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy is launching the New North America Initiative (NNAI) to bridge a significant gap in dedicated research activity specific to the study of Canada-U.S. relations and policy.

The announcement made May 16 comes thanks to $6.487 million in funding from the Government of Alberta. This is one of the only initiatives of its kind focused on fostering a better understanding of the Canada-U.S. relationship.

“With the crisis in Canada-U.S. relations it’s clear our traditional policies and the ways we engage the Americans, and their federal and state governments, have not been enough,” says Martha Hall Findlay, director of the School of Public Policy and James S. and Barbara A. Palmer Chair in Public Policy.

“We need new thinking and new ways of engaging, and we need the work behind this to come from new places and new voices on both sides of the border. That’s what the New North America Initiative will deliver.”

Universities unite to increase understanding and skills

This initiative will build upon the expertise at the University of Calgary, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge and Mount Royal University along with American colleagues with the University of Nebraska, University of Colorado, Arizona State University and Rice University.

It will connect thought leaders, government officials, the private sector and think tanks in Alberta and across the continent to increase understanding and share new ideas on relations within North America. In addition to coursework and hands-on involvement in research, the initiative will help train students in specific skills and knowledge to work for government, private sector and civil society.

“The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy is taking the lead at a critical moment in Canada-U.S. relations by gathering the expertise of our researchers and partners to provide evidence-based public policy guidance to government,” says Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor, UCalgary.

Premier Danielle Smith said the NNAI will provide an avenue for understanding and navigating the changing geopolitical landscape at a crucial time and help Alberta and Canada navigate the new reality.

“A strong and collaborative relationship with the United States is essential to Alberta’s long-term success. This initiative will deepen academic and policy partnerships, and expand Alberta’s research capacity, to support and develop effective responses to shifts in Canada-U.S. relations,” Smith says.

Initiative looks to educating the next generation

The initiative was developed by Carlo Dade, director of International policy at the School of Public Policy, who will lead the NNAI. He said this idea has been germinating for the past five years since he was the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation.

“The university’s strategic plan is titled Ahead of Tomorrow, and I cannot think of a better example of embracing that ambition than the New North America Initiative,” says Dade. “We will develop a long-term, built-from-the-ground-up response to the unprecedented challenges Alberta and Canada face while educating the new generation of North Americanists.”

As part of the launch of the initiative, a roundtable discussion was held with researchers from post-secondary institutions across Canada and the U.S. The discussion explored opportunities for Alberta-based researchers to serve as a ready resource of information, intelligence, and capacity to help inform policy. Its goal was to allow these researchers to hear diverse perspectives from experts across the United States and Alberta and help build collaborative relationships.

For more information about the New North America Initiative, please refer to our FAQ page.

This story was originally published on the UCalgary News page. To see the original article click here.