CIGI asks, “Can Think Tanks Make a Difference?”

The Centre for International Governance Innovation held a conference today asking the question: Can Think Tanks Make a Difference?

It featuring many high-powered political players, including former Prime Minister Kim Campbell, as the lead speaker for the second session.

The matter at hand for this session is: Do Governments Care More About Politics Than Policy?  

Campbell cuts right to the chase, “the obvious answer, to begin with is, they better care about both because politicians who don’t care about politics are ex-politicians,” Campbell explains. She adds, “or somebody might argue, the current President of the United States, who is a wonderful guy, but some people are saying ‘you’re missing the boat on the politician side of things.'”

Taking a page from her own political history, Campbell says sometimes it’s difficult for politicians to do what they think is right in making policy that is wise for the long term. “Canada-US Free Trade Agreement, GST Tax Reform, these were things that our government went for, we knew they were controversial, we had no allies for the GST, guess what’s still there? The GST. Why? It was good financial policy,” she said, adding that a good test for policy is to ask yourself if you’re willing to “go to the mat for them.”

The conference began with opening remarks from CIGI board member and RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie. There was also a roundtable discussion moderated by CBC’s Peter Mansbridge.

The conference marks the 10th anniversary of CIGI.

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