The McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy (IHSP) held its 2021 annual conference “Policies for Better Lives: Strategies for life satisfaction and human wellbeing”. This on-line conference took place in May 2021 and featured national and international expert panels, discussion and workshops in four weekly on-line sessions. Panelists and participants were invited from research, policy and practitioner communities to share and discuss potential and current best practice in bringing evidence on life satisfaction to policy. Together we evaluated bold candidate policy recommendations, assessed their current feasibility, and identified key strategies for working across disciplines, jurisdictions and sectors to improve the experienced quality of life in Canada.
Context: The current global disruption presents an important moment to assess our collective understanding of what contributes to human wellbeing, and to develop policies that contribute to its achievement. Decades of life satisfaction research and evidence can play a key role in helping governments worldwide assess the costs and benefits of prospective policies for wellbeing – and many, including the Canadian federal government and several provinces and municipalities, have started to take this evidence as an actionable guide for developing new policy and budgeting processes and priorities. This conference was intended as an opportunity for Canadians across sectors to learn about the latest evidence and its potential for shifting policy and programs, and to strategize together on key policies for better lives.
For more context, explanations, and data, see Chris Barrington-Leigh's life satisfaction in Canada resource pages.
You can watch all the policy video submissions. You can also can still submit your own idea.
Time |
Description |
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May 710:00-12:00EDT |
Setting the Stage: Live Plenary PanelModerated plenary session with live panel presentation and discussion. Moderator: Danny Graham, Chief Engagement Officer, Engage Nova Scotia
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May 1410:00 - 14:00EDT |
Evaluating Bold Policy ProposalsPanel presentations and live discussion with wellbeing research, policy and practice leaders to propose and assess the feasibility of specific bold, cost-effective, evidence-based and impactful policies for wellbeing. Within this 4-hr session, participants will have the opportunity to join two 2-hr panel discussions in the following four domains:
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10:00 - 11:50 CHILDREN AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SKILLS Moderator: Mary Bartram, Policy Director, Mental Health Commission of Canada & Adjunct Professor, Carleton University Researchers:
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10:00 - 11:50 LABOUR MARKET AND WORKPLACES Moderator: Siobhan Harty, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Priorities and Planning, Privy Council Office Researchers:
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12:00 - 14:00 URBAN LIFE AND COMMUNITY Moderator: Val Morrison , Scientific Advisor, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy, INSPQ Researchers:
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12:00 - 14:00 INCOME AND CONSUMPTION Moderator: James Hughes, President and CEO, Old Brewery Mission Researchers:
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May 2110:00 - 12:00EDT |
Invitational Cross-sectoral Working MeetingAn invitation-only working meeting for researchers, policymakers and community leaders actively working on wellbeing policy at local, provincial and national levels. Participants will consider “how does adopting a wellbeing lens change how to organize and implement new policy?”. Taking a set of promising policies arising out of the May 14th panels, and making use of examples of successful wellbeing-oriented policy implementation elsewhere, we will address key issues in the prospective policy implementation. These may include the roles of different sectors; challenges and opportunities in shifting perspectives in organizations, public, and government; and any new institutions or innovations needed. Registration is limited but applications to participate are welcome. |
Summary report of the four, two-hour invitational sessions on May 21 (PDF) |
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May 2810:00 - 12:00EDT |
Strategy and Vision for Better LivesLive moderated panel discussion on Strategyy and Vision for Better Lives: Where next for wellbeing budgeting and policy-making in Canada? Moderator: Nancy Hey, Executive Director, What Works Centre for Well-Being, UK
Closing Keynote: Lord Gus O’Donnell, Member of the House of Lords, Former Cabinet Secretary, Head of Civil Service, Permanent Secretary of the UK Treasury and Press Secretary, UK Government Closing Keynote: The Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance Discussion moderated by Chris Barrington-Leigh, Associate Professor, McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy and the Bieler School of Environment |