As the 2026 Policy Lab enters its final stretch, our Master of Public Policy candidates are working through eight real-world assignments handed to them by the Max Bell School's partner organizations in Canada and abroad. Guided by faculty coaches and outside practitioners, the teams are digging into questions ranging from AI governance in South Asia to Canada-U.S. cooperation on critical minerals, with human rights, financial regulation, environmental resilience, and global health in between.
Governing AI and digital public infrastructure in South Asia | BacharLorai Global
From left to right: Andre Policzer, Kimberley Moriarity, and Jehan Mohamed
With the coaching and mentorship of Sonja Solomun, MPP candidates Jehan Mohamed, Kimberley Moriarity and Andre Policzer were tasked by BacharLorai Global to answer how South Asian nations can govern the rise of AI and digital public infrastructure in ways that protect rights, strengthen democratic institutions, and accelerate inclusive economic growth.
“Through a case study on Bangladesh, we’ve been able to engage with subject-matter experts, many of whom have completely opposite perspectives. Getting to learn from South Asian academics, governments and civil society leaders has been enlightening, and it challenged our own preconceptions of Western-based, top-down approaches. Our results highlight the critical importance of informal networks, locally grounded initiatives, and adaptable conceptions of digital sovereignty and control. This policy lab has been an incredible experience in translating idealistic conceptions of digital governance into concrete, applicable policy solutions, while also highlighting the global majority’s role in spearheading innovative and inclusive solutions to emerging technologies, social issues, and governance challenges.”
Wildfire preparedness for Indigenous communities | Canadian Red Cross
From left to right: Aaliyah Lahai, Marc Fortin, Anna Cipolla, and Darlie Jean
MPPs Aaliyah Lahai, Anna Cipolla and Manuelitha Darlie Jean, coached by Dr. Marc Fortin, were tasked by the Canadian Red Cross to assess how effective Canada’s wildfire management policies are in equitably supporting readiness and resilience for Indigenous communities, in remote regions of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, and how fragmented governance structures and evaluation frameworks shape these outcomes and opportunities for meaningful policy learning.
“For the past few months, we have dedicated ourselves to applying the tools collected in our policy tool kits through coursework to assess Canada’s current wildfire management responses in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Over the past decade, wildfire-related costs in Canada have exceeded $1 billion annually, while the impacts extend far beyond economic costs, affecting forest ecosystems, housing stability, mental health, respiratory health, and community resilience. Through an equity and intersectional lens, our team has explored how current policies shape these realities and where critical gaps remain. Working closely with Indigenous leaders, government officials, emergency management practitioners, and climate policy experts has given us valuable insight into the complexities of governance, legislation, and wildfire response across sectors and jurisdictions.”
Creating a Canadian Water Security Fund | Metcalf Foundation
From left to right: Ayeyi Ohene-Adu, Gisèle Yasmeen, Umme Salma, Elena Anceva, and Rebecca Duncan
In collaboration with the Metcalf Foundation and the coaching of Dr. Gisele Yasmeen, MPPs Elena Anceva, Umme Salma, Ayeyi Ohene-Adu and Rebecca Duncan are exploring how the public and private sectors might collaborate in creating a Canadian Water Security Fund that mobilizes philanthropic and public capital to address urgent water security challenges across the country.
“As a group where we all bring global experiences from diverse backgrounds, unpacking Canada's water security challenges gave us a deeper understanding of the complex federal, provincial, and municipal mechanisms at play. Through this Policy Lab, we developed valuable sectoral expertise while learning how policy, governance, infrastructure, geopolitics, and environmental stewardship intersect to shape water security outcomes across Canada. The experience challenged us to think across disciplines, navigate competing priorities, and develop practical solutions to an urgent and complex public policy issue."
Stablecoins and competition in financial markets | Competition Bureau
From left to right: Alex Lavigne, Betselot L. Bekele, and Théo Sainte-Marie
With stablecoins gaining ground as a medium of exchange, MPPs Betselot Bekele, Théo Sainte-Marie and Alex Lavigne, with the support of coach Neil Bouwer, are working with the Competition Bureau to examine how their rise might reshape competition in financial markets and what regulatory frameworks are needed to protect consumers without stifling innovation.
“Throughout this Policy Lab, we’ve come to appreciate how our different areas of expertise have come together to elevate our work. We’ve all approached the problem from unique perspectives, and learning to integrate them has shown us that strong collaboration isn’t just helpful but essential to producing thoughtful and well-rounded policy solutions. Looking ahead, our goal is to develop recommendations that extend beyond Max Bell and contribute to the broader discourse on financial decision-making frameworks. What has made this experience especially rewarding for us is the departure from traditional academic work toward a more professional, hands-on project. Throughout this process, we have also had the opportunity to connect with insightful and engaging stakeholders involved in the rapidly evolving stablecoin landscape. We are incredibly grateful for their expertise and the time that they have generously shared with us. Their support, along with that of our sponsor, our coach, and the contributions of our team’s individual strengths, has made this a uniquely enriching experience.”
Antimicrobial resistance in the global south | International Development Research Centre
From left to right: Charlie Clark, Courtney White, Julian Tayarah, and Mahnoor Zaman
What would it take to slow the growing pace of antimicrobial resistance in low-resource settings across the global south? The International Development Research Centre asked MPPs Julian Tayarah, Mahnoor Zaman, Charlie Clark and Courtney White, mentored by Dr. Leslie Fierro, to find out through a OneHealth approach.
“The Policy Lab has given us an incredible opportunity to develop in-depth expertise on a unique policy issue while working in a professional, yet deeply collaborative environment. It has provided us with the chance to connect with academics and practitioners from around the world, making it a fantastic learning experience both academically and professionally.”
Strengthening human rights institutions in crisis settings | United Nations Development Programme
From left to right: Ariane Lamoureux, Calvin Campbell, Pearl Eliadis, Megan Wood, and Victoria Gibbs
To strengthen national human rights institutions when they are tested most, the United Nations Development Programme turned to MPPs Victoria Gibbs, Calvin Campbell, Megan Wood and Ariane Lamoureux, working alongside Pearl Eliadis, to identify the policy interventions that can keep those institutions resilient in crisis settings.
“Through extensive global stakeholder engagement, our team explored the trends and events shaping the policy landscapes of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in crisis settings. To strengthen support for these institutions, we identified technical pathways for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to enhance NHRI resilience, impact, and efficacy during periods of instability. Achieving this required balancing institutional policymaking with local realities to improve human rights access and protections. From this approach, three priorities emerged: advancing NHRI leadership capacity, promoting secure digital transformation, and coordinating human rights actors at all levels. This immersive project granted us invaluable opportunities to engage with a wide range of human rights voices, translating global insights into pragmatic recommendations that honour both international mandates and lived experiences."
Compliance guidelines for commercial drone manufacturers | Human Rights Watch
From left to right: Mohamed Alioune Diop, Kyle Matthews, Hermon Afowork, Timothée de Lestrange, and Shane Joy
Human Rights Watch tasked MPPs Hermon Afowork, Shane Joy, Timothée de Lestrange and Mohamed Diop, under Kyle Matthews’ guidance, with developing compliance guidelines for commercial drone manufacturers that prevent the unlawful use of their products in armed conflict and law enforcement, and ensure accountability when violations occur.
“Our Policy Lab project has been an opportunity for us to contribute to a timely and practical conversation about how commercial drone manufacturers can better prevent the misuse of dual-use technologies in armed conflict. Working with our sponsor, Human Rights Watch and engaging with stakeholders has pushed us to look beyond traditional regulatory approaches and consider what meaningful accountability, human rights due diligence, and responsible industry practice could look like in this rapidly evolving space. We hope that our work helps shape practical guidance that supports responsible innovation while strengthening protections for civilians in armed conflict.”
Canada-U.S. critical minerals supply chains | Johns Hopkins Center for Canadian Studies
From left to right: Maheep Sandhu, Adam MacKay, Madina Shahab, and Carter Wynne
For the Johns Hopkins Center for Canadian Studies, MPPs Madina Shahab, Carter Wynne, Adam MacKay and Maheep Sandhu, with guidance from Vincent Rigby, are exploring how Canada and the United States can strengthen their critical minerals supply chains through bilateral collaboration, with both the energy transition and national security at stake.
"Around the world, countries are racing to establish control over the supply chain of critical minerals: the building blocks of technologies used in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and defence systems; from copper wires to lithium batteries. The midstream processing of these minerals constitutes a global bottleneck, raising major concerns around long term supply resiliency, and trade dependence. Our policy team was tasked with exploring actions that policymakers could take to advance the security of these supply chains in Canada, the United States, and abroad. Following a review of established literature and a series of expert interviews with industry, government, civil society, and rights-holders, we have identified key actions that Canada can take to work collaboratively to further secure critical minerals supply domestically and abroad. These actions seek to advance Canadian trade, investment, national security, and industrial policy in service of establishing secure, reliable, and sustainable supply chains."
The teams present their final findings this July, with each report published on our website shortly after.
