The New North America Initiative

The New North America Initiative is a radical rethink and reenvisioning of what is possible for our shared continent.

Working with new and established researchers from post-secondary institutions, public policy think tanks, businesses and civic associations, public opinion researchers and students throughout the continent, the Initiative will use new approaches to move beyond traditional thinking and centres of influence to create a vision for our shared continent and the means to achieve it.

The New North America Initiative welcomes participation from those looking to forge the transition of the continent that we share.

Carlo Dade
Director, International Policy, School of Public Policy

Shannon Sampert, PhD
Editor, School of Public Policy

Sharon Zhengyang Sun
Economist, School of Public Policy

The New North America Initiative is:

New methodologies that will replace past, elite-led top-down processes, to undertake a radical, bottom-up, grassroots reconceptualization of the Canada-U.S. relationship through direct, structured outreach to formulate a new vision and agenda for advancing prosperity and cooperation within the continent that we share.
New voices that will have national impact. The Institute is a hemispheric initiative, but the focus and origin will be in the plains, prairies, Mountain and Southwest regions, areas of the continent usually on the receiving, instead of creative, end of national and hemispheric policy.
New understanding that will bring the ideas and thought leaders who will shape and are shaping the thinking behind the evolution of our shared continent. In this regard, the Initiative will be purely forward looking to complement history-focused work being done by others.
New solutions in solving today’s problems, the NNAI will develop solutions to also build resiliency, new institutions, new playbooks and new capacity for future problems.
New generations by involving students from universities in Alberta and the U.S. in all of its activities, the Initiative will provide practical, hands-on experience and teaching to create the next generation of North Americanists.