The Centre for Civic Engagement
View papersOur purpose
The Centre for Civic Engagement conducts research on topics of public interest
Including those relating to governance, law, global affairs, economics, trade, technology, the environment, and culture, and publicly disseminate its research findings through seminars, workshops, courses, and conferences.
What we do
CCE seeks to inform and engage Canadians
Through its work the CCE seeks to inform and engage Canadians from all walks of life in a conversation about the country’s public policy priorities and opportunities all focused on creating the pre-conditions for economic growth, international relevance and individual human flourishing. The CCE is explicitly non-partisan and does not accept funding proposals. For more information on the CCE’s work visit the research page on this website.
Munk Debates
Because great minds don’t always think alike.
Munk Debates is a flagship public program of the Centre for Civic Engagement (CCE), bringing world-leading thinkers together to debate the defining issues of our time. Staged before live audiences and broadcast globally, the debates champion rigorous argument and civil disagreement at the highest level.
Our research
Research papers
Why B.C. Is Mired in First Nations Land Disputes—and Where to Go From Here
This study traces British Columbia’s land disputes to historical denial of Aboriginal title and successive governments’ fragmented, opaque responses. It proposes an independent land title tribunal to assess claims transparently, involve affected parties, and clarify jurisdiction, balancing Indigenous rights, private property, and public interests while improving legal and investment certainty.
The False Promise of Sovereignty Economics
This study argues that prioritizing Canadian ownership of technology through subsidies and protectionism would weaken prosperity. It argues in favour of attracting foreign investment and spreading AI adoption across businesses, proposing reforms that emphasize competition, fewer trade barriers, predictable regulation, and targeted security safeguards for critical government and defence functions.
Assessing the Ideological Direction of CBC Corrections
Analyzing 209 CBC correction and clarification notices published from January 2021 to July 2026, the study finds rising correction volumes, sparse explanations, and errors the author argues disproportionately reflected progressive assumptions. Patterns involved Conservatives, Indigenous issues, COVID-19, and Israel-Gaza coverage. It recommends periodic independent reviews of CBC journalism for fairness.
What Canada Can Learn From the World’s Leading Nations on Business Formation
Canada’s business formation has stagnated, placing it 17th among 22 advanced economies. Comparing Estonia, Singapore, Ireland, Israel and France, the study concludes that competitive taxes, simpler regulation and stronger product-market competition matter more than fragmented subsidies. It calls for coordinated federal-provincial reforms to boost entrepreneurship, investment and firm growth nationwide.
How to Make Canada More Investable Again Through Competitive Taxes
This study argues that a decade of higher, more complex and less predictable Canadian taxes has weakened investment, productivity and talent retention. It recommends comprehensive, revenue-conscious reform: lower personal and corporate rates, higher top-bracket thresholds, immediate capital expensing, capital-gains rollover relief, fewer subsidies and credits, and broader, efficient consumption taxation.
The Hunter Prize
Last Year's Winner
The 2025 Hunter Prize was awarded to Matthew Chiasson for his proposal to revive Canada’s growth through a bold national competition agenda. By tackling regulatory barriers and strengthening business dynamism, his winning paper set out a clear, practical path to restoring long-term prosperity.