Dan Breznitz
Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World
Published by Oxford University Press
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“A gnawing worry of Canadian public policy pundits, practitioners, and scholars can be summarized in one word: ‘innovation.’ How can we innovate more? Faster? Do we innovate enough?
In his insightful book Innovation in Real Places, Dan Breznitz deftly argues that Canadians often confuse ‘innovation’ with ‘invention.’ His research demonstrates that by focusing on the invention side — creating the next new thing — Canadian policy and industry largely miss the major benefits of the innovation train. Breznitz offers advice for leaders at all levels: you don’t have to invent it; you do, however, have to bring it to market in a better way.”
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Gregor Craigie
On Borrowed Time: North America’s Next Big Quake
Published by Goose Lane Editions
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“Nearly two years into this century’s first major pandemic, no one needs a reminder that even predictable events can have devastating and lasting consequences. On Borrowed Time sheds insight on a different kind of disaster that is both foreseeable and inevitable: the silent earthquake risk gripping many regions in North America.
Gregor Craigie walks us through Canada’s seismic hotspots, observing that the solutions — from general upgrades to more proactive regulatory measures — are known and proven to save lives. The challenge is in how to overcome persistent apathy to marshal the necessary will and leadership to prepare. On Borrowed Time is a compelling call to action for politicians, policymakers, and Canadians to not wait until it's too late.”
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André Picard
Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada’s Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic
Published by Random House Canada
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“Veteran journalist and health columnist André Picard’s powerful and thorough exposé of the crisis in Canada’s eldercare is a must-read for families, politicians, policymakers, and health providers. Evocative storytelling is suffused with a detailed analysis of the fragmented, disjointed, and badly neglected system that routinely fails those in greatest need of protection.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately killed thousands in Canada’s seniors’ homes, laid bare the shameful cost of political inaction. Picard’s book is more than a wake-up call — it is an urgent, powerful appeal to the nation and a blueprint for treating all seniors with the dignity, respect, and compassion they deserve.”
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Jody Wilson-Raybould
“Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power
Published by HarperCollins
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“A thoughtful and respectful memoir, “Indian” in the Cabinet provides an overview of Jody Wilson-Raybould’s time as a member of parliament and a senior federal cabinet minister. Wilson-Raybould describes how public policy plays out within an established institutional context, and shares her own powerful personal encounters with three long-standing features of the policy landscape in Canada: executive power, party discipline, and cabinet solidarity.
This book is Wilson-Raybould’s plea that Canadians not take our institutions for granted, nor allow complacency to lead us into a collective malaise as we face the challenges of the future. It is our job to do the hard work and due diligence required to maintain good governance.”
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The shortlisted titles will be available in accessible formats for different types of print disability through the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) at celalibrary.ca/awards.
About the Prize
Launched in 2021, the Balsillie Prize for Public Policy is intended to celebrate excellence in quality of thought and style and underline the important role books play in advancing public discourse and bringing new ideas to Canadian policymakers. The prize especially values books that are bold in intent and can engage with both policymakers and the general public. The prize is funded by businessman and philanthropist Jim Balsillie and is the largest of its kind for public policy titles in Canada. It’s part of Balsillie’s $3 million commitment to supporting Canadian literature through the Writers’ Trust.
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“These books provide new and thoughtful ideas for a better future for all Canadians.” said prize sponsor Jim Balsillie.
“My hope is the shortlist will inspire discussions and debate at home and in policy communities that ultimately contribute to the development of smart public policy for our country.”
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About Writers’ Trust
The Writers’ Trust of Canada is a charitable organization that seeks to advance, nurture, and celebrate Canadian writers and writing through a portfolio of programs including eleven national literary awards, financial grants, and career development initiatives for emerging writers. Writers’ Trust programming is designed to champion excellence in Canadian writing, to improve the status of writers, and to create connections between writers and readers. Canada’s writers receive more financial support from the Writers’ Trust than from any other non-governmental organization or foundation in the country. To learn more visit writerstrust.com and follow @writerstrust on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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