Five outstanding MPPAL students did York University proud, finishing tied-fourth at the 2020 CAPPA/IPAC National Public Administration Case Competition.  Laval University hosted the ninth annual competition in Québec City, 21-22 February.  It attracted a strong field of eleven teams from graduate programs across Canada.

The teams examined the intergovernmental challenges for the Government of Canada in tackling the widening housing affordability gap for young families.  The case was entitled Housing Affordability: A National Problem?  A blue-ribbon panel judged teams from Carleton, Toronto, and Simon Fraser to be the 2020 medalists.

Team York advised federal ministers on workable strategies for Ontario, where 385,000 households need affordable housing, most in the GTHA.  It recommended an innovative Nation Building Bylaw, which called for reallocating federal National Housing Strategy funding to leverage and expedite local access to affordable housing.

York framed a collaborative way forward for Canadian citizens, developers, and governments.  Beyond obvious policy complexities and regional disparities were a tight 12-to-15-month implementation timeline and a two-month announcement window.  And adherence to Canadian quality of life, economic prosperity, and good governance principles were imperative.

The Team added to York's reputation for fun, fair play, networking, and the learning journey. It was praised for its unique strategy, global awareness, and teamwork.  Our part-time MPPAL ambassadors dedicated themselves full-time to excellence in public administration.