CSPC2016

Organized by, Canadian Research Data Centre Network, Martin Taylor

Wise public policy is informed by strong evidence derived from advanced research supported by insightful analysis of relevant data. Created in 2000, as a partnership between Statistics Canada and a pan-Canadian consortium of universities, the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN; www.rdc-cdr.ca) is uniquely placed to advance social, economic and health research and to inform public policy in Canada. The Network provides the research community special access to Statistics Canada micro-data to enable major advances in quantitative research in the social sciences and health on such timely and policy-relevant topics as: income inequality, immigrant settlement, child well-being, mental health, and population aging. With renewed five year funding from CIHR and SSHRC, the Network is actively engaging with several federal departments and provincial ministries to accelerate the development of its collaborative programs of policy-related research. This ‘At Issue’ panel of senior academic and government leaders will address how the Network's research strengths can further enable evidence-based policy at all levels of government. The panel will also consider how initiatives, such as the CRDCN, can position Canada as a global leader in policy-relevant research.