Transform your ideas into action.
Students enrolled in the MPS program will have the opportunity to collaborate on a significant project proposal. This project will focus on a public service issue, allowing students to choose from subjects related to their coursework, co-op experiences, or contemporary Canadian governmental challenges. While the choice of topic is flexible to allow for creativity, the project must be designed to mimic an authentic public service task, highlighting the competencies developed through the MPS program.
Topics that teams may investigate include:
- Engaging citizens in social policy development
- Managing public expectations in a period of fiscal constraint
- Use of new technological innovations in government service provision
- Effective partnerships between governments and community agencies
You will be grouped into a team under the guidance of the Program Director and the PS 622 Course Instructor. Together, the teams will create an intricate proposal that outlines the scope of work and individual responsibilities. This proposal must be approved by the Project Advisor.
The Program Director will organize the teams, and the PS 622 Course Instructor will oversee the general direction during the project term. Each team will also work closely with a faculty member or external consultant as their Project Advisor. Your team will be responsible for coordinating tasks, tracking individual contributions, and crafting a comprehensive and professional analysis that reflects the knowledge and abilities you've gained in the MPS program. Upon project completion, the Project Advisor will evaluate the work and decide on a final grade, in collaboration with the Course Instructor and/or Program Director.
Past Major Team Projects
Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Electronic Health Records in Ontario
The transition from paper health records to electronic health records (EHRs) effectively utilizes the advancements of digital technology in providing better overall patient care and services. This research paper assesses the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) in Ontario. More specifically, it investigates potential barriers to effective implementation of EHRs in Ontario and offers recommendations where applicable.
Cost Reduction Strategies for Municipal Police Services in Ontario
This report is motivated by the following public policy question: How can Ontario’s municipalities such as the City of Toronto reduce policing costs while maintaining adequate service levels? The paper will include an analysis of the available research associated with increased policy costs in Ontario’s municipalities, a comparison of the City of Toronto’s practices in contrast with similar municipalities, and recommended policy options.
Fostering Neighbourhood Associations to Support Community Development
The City of Waterloo has a current interest in understanding how they can best support neighbourhood associations to enable them to be more effective in delivering programs and service to their local areas. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of best practices from other municipalities with active neighbourhood associations, to help guide the City of Waterloo in its investment in, and engagement with neighbourhood development.
Mitigating Climate Change in Canada
Global climate change and its damaging effects are viewed as the predominant environmental issue facing the world today. In an effort to mitigate climate change, nations around the world have taken measures to combat its effects and future damage. This report recommends that the federal government design and implement an efficient and comprehensive market-based policy to adequately reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Inter-Ministerial Coalition to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a complex problem with many interrelated causes. This review will focus on three major environmental influences that repeatedly emerge throughout literature. These factors include: changes in the food market; sedentary behaviours and inactivity, and lastly, socioeconomic status.
Task Force Review of the Greenbelt Plan
The Greenbelt has expanded since its inception in its efforts to continuously support and protect farmland, green space, and clean water. It plays a fundamental role in protecting the most threatened environmentally sensitive and agricultural lands from major urban development while continuing to meet the needs of growing communities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH). This report provides pertinent information on the current state of the Greenbelt and recommendations for the upcoming 10-year review.
The changing landscape of retirement
As Canadians are living longer with better health, the concept of retirement is evolving with a significant proportion of Canadians returning to work after having previously retired. Based on an analysis and observed trends of Canadians retirement planning and expectations, this study recommends two policy options to improve and facilitate adequate retirement planning for Canadians.
Reforming Ontario’s Automobile Insurance System
While possessing automobile insurance is a universal requirement across all Canadian jurisdictions, what is not universal is the price that motorists pay and the type of coverage motorists receive. This report seeks to determine why Ontario has the highest automobile insurance premiums in the country. Furthermore, the team will also examine what changes could be introduced or whether a complete reform of the current system is required to lower auto insurance premiums.
Proposed Policy Solutions to the Canada – U.S. Price Gap
This report examines relevant research to date that has looked at the Canada-U.S. price gap issue within the small scale retail goods and grocery goods sectors. It will also review a number of major contributions to the discussion of the Canada-U.S. price gap, summarizing the findings, and providing insight into the relevance of those studies to the issue as whole.