5 books shortlisted for 2021 Donner Prize for best Canadian public policy book
The $50,000 award, founded in 1998, recognizes the best public policy book by a Canadian
Five books covering a range of topics, from the crisis in eldercare to international security, have been shortlisted for the 2021 Donner Prize.
The $50,000 award, founded in 1998, recognizes the best public policy book by a Canadian. The other shortlisted titles also receive $7,500 each.
The 2021 Donner Prize finalists were chosen from books published during the calendar year.
"After yet another pandemic year, and in the midst of geopolitical crises, the Donner Prize jury has selected a shortlist of books that spotlight critical issues for Canada and, indeed, the world," said chair of the Donner Canadian Foundation, Gregory Belton, of this year's selected titles.
"Innovation, societal values, Indigenous economics, eldercare, national and international security – this year's shortlisted books will be certain to spark the vigorous and productive debate essential for the development of better public policy."
Values by Mark Carney is among the contenders. The book by the economist, banker and the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England explores the "fault lines" that divide contemporary society — racial, geographical, cultural and economic — and argues that they all stem from the same thing: a crisis of values. Carney offers a vision of a better world and a map toward getting there.
LISTEN | Mark Carney on IDEAS:
André Picard's Neglected No More, which examines how the crisis in eldercare has been percolating long before COVID, is nominated. In Neglected No More, the author and health reporter and columnist for the Globe and Mail demonstrates why these retirement homes got to this place, how we are failing our country's seniors because of it and what we can do to fix it.
LISTEN | André Picard on The Current:
Also up for consideration is Indigenomics by business leader and CEO and founder of The Indigenomics Institute, Carol Anne Hilton. The book explores how to view economic and social values through an Indigenous lens.
Stephanie Carvin, an author and associate professor of international relations at Carleton University, is shortlisted for Stand On Guard. The book sets out to explain the range of activities considered national security threats by Canadian security services today.
Completing the list of finalists is Innovation in Real Places by Toronto scholar Dan Breznitz. The book explores how many cities have gambled — and lost — pursuing Silicon Valley's economic model. It also looks at how other places have flourished without relying on the high-tech sector.
Innovation in Real Places won the inaugural Balsillie Prize for Public Policy in 2021.
The 2021 Donner Prize finalists are:
- Innovation in Real Places by Dan Breznitz
- Value(s) by Mark Carney
- Stand On Guard by Stephanie Carvin
- Indigenomics by Carol Anne Hilton
- Neglected No More by André Picard
This year's winner will be announced on May 31 in Toronto.
