McGill roundtable on Arctic sovereignty and security focuses on co-operation, Indigenous partnerships | McGill Reporter
October 16, 2025 | Vincent Rigby spoke at a McGill roundtable on Arctic sovereignty and security that examined Canada’s northern strategy amid rising geopolitical tensions. He emphasized that national defence cannot be addressed through military means alone, calling for a broader approach grounded in partnership and community well-being. “You can’t have national security without human security,” he said, pointing to the need for sustainable development and trust with Indigenous communities.
The roots of Quebec's secularism debate, why it isn't going away — and who it benefits | CBC
October 19, 2025 | In a CBC News story examining Quebec’s debate over secularism, new proposals to ban public prayer have reignited long-standing divisions over the role of religion in public life. Pearl Eliadis explains that what is often called secularism in Quebec reflects laïcité, a stricter model that seeks to exclude religion from the public sphere. She warns that pushing this approach too far risks creating a new form of isolationism rooted in the province’s past.
Vincent Rigby on Canada’s Shift Toward U.S. Missile Defence | The Globe and Mail
October 10, 2025 | Professor Vincent Rigby was featured in The Globe and Mail on Canada’s decision to collaborate with the United States on the Golden Dome missile defence initiative.
Pearl Eliadis Elected Chair of the Court Challenges Program Official Language Rights Expert Panel
Pearl Eliadis has been elected as Chair of the Court Challenges Program (CCP) Official Languages Rights Expert Panel. In this capacity, she will lead the work of the Panel, which is responsible for deciding on funding requests from individuals and not-for-profit organizations engaged in test cases of national importance that have the potential to clarify and advance constitutional and quasi-constitutional official language rights.
Taylor Owen Appointed to Government of Canada AI Strategy Task Force
September 26, 2025 | Taylor Owen, Max Bell Professor at McGill University and Founding Director of the Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy, has been appointed to the Government of Canada’s AI Strategy Task Force. The Task Force, composed of experts from industry, academia, and civil society, will provide advice to the Government of Canada on its renewed AI strategy.
Anil Wasif on Canada’s foreign policy reset at UNGA 80 | Policy Magazine
September 21, 2025 | In Policy Magazine, MPP '21 Anil Wasif reflects on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the turbulent backdrop for this year's general assembly. While commemorations recalled the UN’s history, this year’s high-level week exposes global fractures, from rising authoritarianism to stalled progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Pearl Eliadis on why courts must clarify Quebec’s language legislation | CJAD 800
September 18, 2025 | Pearl Eliadis alongside Andrew Caddell, president of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, discussed the federal government’s stance on Quebec’s language law on CJAD 800 radio. Eliadis noted that Ottawa has not taken a position on the bill, citing political reasons linked to Canada’s minority government. She explained that clarification is needed, which is why the issue is being brought before the courts.
Jennifer Welsh on what’s at stake as the UN General Assembly convenes | The Sunday Magazine
September 21, 2025 | On The Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay, Jennifer Welsh joined to talk about the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level meeting, which begins Monday. With Israel’s bombardment of Gaza expected to dominate members’ concerns, she outlined the mechanics of the gathering, the UN’s role in the current political climate, and Canada’s place on the international stage.
Kyle Matthews on the US Administration’s Withdrawal of UN Funding | Policy Magazine
September 18, 2025 | In a piece for Policy Magazine, Kyle Matthews, McConnell Visiting Professors of Practice for the 2025–26 academic year, reflects on the repercussions of the US administration’s withdrawal of funding to the United Nations.
Pearl Eliadis on the Controversial Legal rule of Notwithstanding Clause | Global News
September 19, 2025 | In a news segment on the Global News with Touria Izri, Flora Pearl Eliadis spoke about the urgency Ottawa posit on the notwithstanding clause, stating: "There was this tradition of legislative restraint, this was something you were not really supposed to use." However in reality, legal experts warn right-leaning premiers are using it more often to ram through legislation. Now, the federal government wants the Supreme Court to step in and set limits.
Jennifer Welsh on Building a Canada–Mexico Alliance in the Trump Era | The Globe and Mail
September 18, 2025 | In an article for The Globe and Mail, authors Jennifer Welsh and Denise Dresser argue that Canada and Mexico must deepen their partnership to tackle the challenges posed by Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies and security agenda. After decades of neglect, both countries are realizing that their economic and diplomatic futures are tied together, especially as the United States reopens talks on the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Chris Ragan on Canada’s Economy and the Next Generation of Policymakers | Discussions with Dr. D
September 6, 2025 | Christopher Ragan joins Dr. David Detomasi for a wide-ranging conversation on Canada’s pressing economic challenges. Together they explore issues such as falling productivity, the affordability crisis in housing, the complexities of climate policy, and the growing concerns around fiscal debt. The discussion also turns to broader themes of leadership, where Dr.
Vass Bednar, Denise Hearn, and MPP Shane Joy Named Hunter Prize Finalists | The Hub
September 6, 2025 | The Hub has announced the 10 finalists for the third annual Hunter Prize for Public Policy, which awards $50,000 in cash prizes for bold ideas to address Canada’s stalled GDP per capita growth and improve living standards.
Pearl Eliadis on the Advisory Committee’s Controversial Secularism Proposals | Daybreak Montreal
August 27, 2025 | On Daybreak Montreal with Sean Henry, Pearl Eliadis said Quebec’s new secularism proposals mark a fundamental shift in the province’s legal and constitutional framework. The proposals come from a government advisory committee tasked with reviewing how the province’s secularism law is applied and how it could be expanded.
Anil Wasif on Flight Attendants’ Strike and the Fight for Collective Bargaining | Policy Magazine
September 1, 2025 | In a piece for Policy Magazine, Anil Wasif, MPP ’21, reflects on last month’s Air Canada strike, where 10,500 flight attendants defied a government back-to-work order in what he calls a defining moment for Canadian labour rights. Public sentiment was firmly behind the workers, with polls showing strong support for their demand to be paid for all hours worked, not just time in the air.
