Jörg Broschek 🇨🇦

Hello! My research compares how governments address major policy challenges that cut across jurisdictions - from the local to the supranational level. I currently work on • trade + industrial policy • transportation infrastructure policy • local democratic governance Recent op-ed contributions ⬇️

Tariffs between Canada and the US have now been normalized. It’s just a matter of their levels. No one is talking about the USMCA and its renewal anymore. If Canada ends up making a deal that includes tariffs, then Trump’s coercive approach will have won the day.

A definite win, but also: 2022: 80% 2026: 55%

The PM notes during the press conference that success is not measured by "how often we meet but what we accomplish together." Yes, but: Meetings contribute to forge relationships, norms and - ideally - shared understandings. Insofar one important condition for accomplishing things together.

Federalism scholars, take note: Finally, someone trying to define Team Canada: An “evolving, transitory really superlative phenomenon that exits through time and space ...[that] is always updating”. Well then....

The first First Nations-First Ministers’ Meeting since 2005 says a lot about the state of Canadian federalism. www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

Carney’s lack of an industrial strategy beyond build infrastructure, cut regulation & let the market figure it out, is a problem because we’re in truly transformative times. Bailouts like this show the government is reacting, not planning. It’ll end up costing in the long run, with little in return.

It took several years being a hockey parent that I learned to appreciate a medium double-double. Now, whenever we return from a trip to Germany and we smell Tim's at Pearson, my wife and I look at each other and say: Finally, home again.

Ottawa continues to initiate all kinds of industrial policies without having a coherent long-term industrial strategy - which was promised in the Throne Speech in May 2025. www.thestar.com/business/opi...

More information on the discussions regarding the EU-Canada summit. Besides the practical cooperation, note the offer of institutional participation: "Canada a more regular place at the EU's table, with participation in summits, ministerial meetings and technical discussions."

If the PM is serious about cooperative federalism: 1) Propose institutional reform beneath the level of constitutional change. 2) Refocus discourse from policies to governance deficits, esp. lack of institutionalized coordination among orders of government. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

New from me: I analyze the leaked "deal book" and its 167 projects from last month's Canada Investment Summit, and what it tells us about government priorities www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

Over the last year, I've had a lot to say about the Alberta Referendums. When it comes to defending the principles of liberal democracy, I found it difficult to stay silent. Here's what I've tried to add to our conversation. jaredwesley.ca/referendum

The book had me thinking in new ways, every chapter! You should pick up a copy today! www.ubcpress.ca/the-new-poli...

While seemingly just symbolic politics, it also is an attempt by the BSW leadership to justify a future (formal or informal) coalition with the AfD.

Today I was on a selection committee for next year’s Fed-Prov – a First Ministers' Meeting simulation for high school students in the WRDSB (since 1967). Fed-Prov is a fantastic exercise for building civic literacy that should be part of any high school curriculum. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...

It's municipal election season and Kitchener has an incumbent running in every ward except one. Some of those councillors are seeking a fourth or fifth term. Should we consider term limits? buff.ly/2RDgQI9

It's municipal election season with Advance Voting starting soon locally. Have you figured out who to vote for in #WatReg yet? This week's Citified is here to help! buff.ly/evC2JJx

3 Despite his frenetic activity, Carney doesn’t actually have a comprehensive, whole-of-economy industrial policy. Such a policy would make the hard calls on steel, autos, etc. 3a What he has are old, FDI, low taxes, no regulation, private-sector-driven 90s-era policies. But it’s the 2020s.

tl;dr: Carney’s 90s-era economic strategy is designed to spur private sector investment. But Canada‘s problem is that the US is attacking the foundations of the economy. What’s needed is actual industrial policy outlining what the economy should look like in 30 years with a state-led plan to match.

At a systemic level also a good illustration of Alasdair Roberts' (2024) argument that Canada may be performing well in crisis management and maintaining resilience (restoration of status quo in light of crisis), but less so when it comes to its ability to adapt.

It remains amazing to me that nationalization -- which would've been mocked mercilessly when I started my professional career in 1999 -- is now treated as a legitimate policy option in Ottawa. It might not happen, but that it's even being taken seriously shows how much things have changed.

Meanwhile, perceptions in Germany: Gregor Gysi - the icon of the Left Party (Die Linke) - praises "the Canadian prime minister" as "the only one who gets it right." While the conservative history professor objects "but makes them more dependent on China...." Fun times. tinyurl.com/3mrzancx

Japan has just made 30km/h (I.e. 20mph) the default in most residential roads due to the evidence-base from EU cities. etsc.eu/japan-makes-...

What is the PM's understanding of federalism to begin with?

One of the important parts of @justinling.ca's recent piece that set off alarm bells for me personally was the bit about Carney trying to govern around the bureaucracy with new agencies instead of doing civil service reform. www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

NB: the #AfD state party in Saxony-Anhalt is not just #farright: it has been classified as a right-wing extremist organisation since 2023. What could possibly go wrong?

Carney likely has even less knowledge of Quebec than Harper had. He’s popular now in the province. Will be interesting to see if that holds with a PQ government constantly criticizing him.

The secret isn’t just high-speed rail or massive infrastructure projects, it’s making public transportation so affordable the alternative seems ridiculous. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...

It's possible to compare apples and oranges, which is why I am planning to connect - despite all differences - some dots between the Sachsen-Anhalt election in Germany and the Alberta referendum in a panel discussion next week.

More confirmation and details of the deep ties between Alberta separatists and Trump Republicans. They are part of the same far-right populist movement. And the Americans are deeply involved in promoting disunity in Canada. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Cooperative federalism?

Holy cow "government’s huge subsidization of this project – up to 90 per cent of a $40-billion pipeline with ownership split evenly between Ottawa and Edmonton – ....." What kind of a deal is that? esp cuz we're subsidizing the past world of energy markets www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...

Great work by the Star. Leaving aside that it showcases the widespread culture of secrecy across the board, the piece also confirms that the lack of coordination among orders of government is a very substantial problem of Canadian federalism. www.thestar.com/news/gta/cit...

My colleagues and I proposed a Royal Commission in part to avoid just this situation. We need many voices, discussing and debating the best way forward, precisely because of the changes we’re facing, not just one voice. Depending on the wisdom of one (fallible) person is bad policy.

“There’s a fundamental contradiction between the tone Carney has struck at the summit and while globe-trotting, and the anger he showed this week after the Stelco news.” This is exactly correct. Another way of putting this is that Carney has been trying to run the old FDI playbook in a new world.…

I really love this show, and the second season has been excellent so far. Strongly reccomend checking it out if you haven't already.