School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation (SPPDI)

As part of our broader mandate to heighten democratic engagement and promote a truly inclusive democracy, we recognize that people need to have a fuller understanding of public policy and its relationship to democracy and governance. The School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation is true to the university’s identity as a metropolitan school with a commitment to practical and current experiential education, equity and social justice. The School brings academic rigour to the analysis of public policy with a focus on the impacts on racialized, low-income, sexual minority groups, Indigenous communities, women and other intersectional identities.

Our goal is to strengthen democratic processes, and engage different groups of people more fully and equitably.

Objectives:

• Critically assesses the relationship between power, politics and policy 
  
• Through open and rigorous data, evaluation metrics, co-create knowledge to shape evidence-based policy change that puts public good at the centre
• Bridges academic policy research with community-based work with a focus on building, nurturing and sustaining a robust democracy
• Enhances accountability and advocates for government attention to issues of social equity and inclusion in policy-making
• Fosters interdisciplinary research in areas, such as, health, food security, technology, the environment, cybersecurity, Indigenous governance, employment, immigration and more