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The countdown to Ontario's municipal elections continues as we discuss the third topic in our Municipal Ballot Box Basics series: community safety. No matter where they live, people want to feel safe in their communities and know that they can access emergency services when needed. Our guest Charles Bordeleau, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp, discusses why community safety is an important issue for communities across Ontario. He notes that municipalities have direct jurisdiction over core safety services. He highlights how these services can work together in a holistic and preventative approach to community safety that goes beyond just traditional law enforcement. Our guest also explains why community safety directly relates to economic vitality and neighbourhood livability.

Les élections municipales en Ontario battent leur plein et le jour du vote approche à grands pas. Plusieurs thèmes tels que les infrastructures, le logement et le développement économique ont été abordés par les candidats municipaux à travers la province. La sécurité communautaire est un autre sujet de grande importance au niveau municipal en raison des répercussions directes sur l'ensemble de la population. Peu importe où ils vivent, les gens veulent se sentir en sécurité et avoir accès aux services d'urgence dont ils ont besoin. Notre invité Charles Bordeleau, conseiller principal à StrategyCorp, nous explique pourquoi la sécurité communauté est un thème important des élections municipales ontariennes.

In the second episode of our podcast series on the Ontario municipal elections, we explore why housing is a major theme for candidates and voters. Our guest Michelle German, Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp, argues that housing might be the most important issue in this year's municipal elections as individuals have never been more challenged to find the right kind of housing. She highlights how specific local realities are shaping what voters are looking for and, ultimately, the housing promises of municipal candidates across the province.

The Ontario municipal elections are in full swing. In this new podcast series, StrategyCorp's Institute explores the themes that are shaping the elections across the province. Ed Archer, Vice President at StrategyCorp, joins the podcast to talk about why infrastructure is a crucial topic in this year's municipal elections. He explains how local realities and other municipal priorities shape discussions on infrastructure.

After a summer marked by geopolitical developments, byelections, and the threat of separatism in Alberta and Quebec, Parliament returns for what promises to be an eventful fall in Canadian politics. StrategyCorp's Rebecca Caldwell, Garry Keller, and Nathan Cullen join the podcast to discuss current dynamics and priorities in government. They highlight what may be next for the Conservatives and the NDP as both parties look to cautiously navigate the "Team Canada" moment we are in amid the tension with the United States and Donald Trump. Our panelists also explain how federal politics will be shaped by provincial dynamics this fall.

Canadian high-performance athletes train hard every day to compete at the highest levels and proudly represent Canada on the world stage. Countries and sport federations are constantly thinking about how to enable athletes and national teams to perform at their best. Government funding and a strong sport ecosystem are critical enablers of high performance. The Government of Canada announced $755 million in the latest Spring Economic Update to support Canadian athletes and National Sport Organisations. The funding will also help host large sporting events and get more people involved in sport. Susanne Wereley, President of AthletesCAN, joins the podcast to discuss the state of high-performance sport in Canada. A two-time Olympian in rowing and an Olympic gold medalist, Susanne discusses how Canada attracts, retains, and supports high-performance athletes. She provides insight into the state of sport infrastructure and how adequate funding underpins the playground-to-podium continuum.

Between the Milano Cortina Olympics, the Paralympics, and the FIFA World Cup, 2026 is a dream year for sports fans. But these mega-events go beyond sports and medals; they are highly political and extensively covered by the media. Large international competitions are opportunities for host countries to achieve diplomatic, political, and economic objectives through sports. How these events are conveyed to fans locally and globally also matters, as sports and media constantly influence one another. To unpack these topics, Intended Consequences welcomes Cecilia Arregui Olivera and Vitaly Kazakov, Postdoctoral Fellows at the Media and Journalism Studies Department at Aarhus University.

With the Government of Canada increasing its defence spending, CANSEC was a must-attend event for ecosystem players. Highlighting the unique moment Canada finds itself in amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, Mark Carney became the first sitting Canadian Prime Minister to speak at CANSEC. StrategyCorp's Garry Keller, Frédérik Larouche, and Terry Nemeth share their key takeaways from the event and the Prime Minister's announcements. They highlight what the government ought to consider as it attempts to move forward at a rapid pace on defence.

L'aluminium fait l'objet de tarifs douaniers élevés depuis le retour de Donald Trump à la Maison Blanche. Les impacts de ces tarifs sur le secteur et les prix mondiaux sont importants. Ceux-ci sont exacerbés par l'instabilité dans le golfe Persique, une région productrice d'aluminium. Afin de dresser un portrait des défis et des opportunités auxquels fait face l'industrie canadienne de l'aluminium, l'Institut de StrategyCorp a eu le plaisir d'accueillir Jean Simard, Président et chef de la direction de l'Association de l'aluminium du Canada, et Philippe Couillard, conseiller principal à StrategyCorp.

Entrepreneurship is the foundation of economic development. But what happens when entrepreneurs want to retire? According to a report from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), nearly 61% of Canadian SMEs are led by owners who are 50+ and many plan to exit within the next five years. Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC, joins the podcast to discuss this dynamic and what might happen to these SMEs. He shares insight into whether entrepreneurs are prepared for their exits, who they might sell their companies to, and the benefits of business acquisitions for buyers and the Canadian economy.

Live music and film are major drivers of economic development in communities across Canada. Erin Benjamin, President & CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, and Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos, Film Commissioner and CEO of the Ottawa Film Office, join the podcast to discuss the positive economic and social impacts of their respective sectors. They highlight the importance of partnerships and people and explain how governments can help attract and support live music and movie productions.

Growing Canada's housing supply requires adequate underlying infrastructure. Water and wastewater capacity, waste management, and public transit and active transportation are top-of-mind housing-enabling infrastructure for communities across Canada. Ren Thomas is a member of the Canadian Infrastructure Council (CIC) and joins the podcast to discuss the CIC's first National Infrastructure Assessment. She provides key insights on the state of infrastructure in Canada, regional differences, the role of social infrastructure, and climate resilience.

AI is top of mind across all organizations. Julie Gonyou, Vice President at StrategyCorp, explains how AI is rapidly embedding itself in the public sector. As the pace of AI continues to accelerate in 2026, Julie explains how it will shape the next phase of public sector transformation, and why decision-makers must get it right.

StrategyCorp's year-in-review and 2026 look-ahead StrategyCorp's annual year-in-review & look-ahead episode is back to close out the 2025 season of Intended Consequences. Our expert guests discuss the most important developments of 2025 in politics, communication, real estate, education, technology, and geopolitics, and share what they will be keeping an eye on in 2026 to help us get ready for a new year.

Jayson Myers, CEO of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), joins the podcast to discuss tariffs and trade diversification. He also provides insight into the state of AI adoption in manufacturing, the value of intellectual property and the crucial role of postsecondary institutions in training the workforce the sector needs. Municipalities, economic developers and companies will want to listen to this episode as Jayson Myers explains how they can partner with NGen to showcase Canadian manufacturing capabilities at home and abroad.