Mowat Centre
A Canadian public-policy think tank associated with the University of Toronto that operated from 2009 until 2019.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Mowat Centre was an independent Canadian public-policy think tank associated with the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Established in 2009 with support from the Government of Ontario, it positioned itself as a non-partisan, evidence-based organization focused on practical policy research and public dialogue. It was named after Sir Oliver Mowat, Ontario's longest-serving premier. The centre published its first report in February 2010 and concentrated on issues affecting Ontario, Canada, and the relationship between governments. Its main research portfolio covered intergovernmental economic and social policy, including fiscal federalism, equalization, transfer payments, poverty reduction, social programs, employment insurance, immigration, the economic contribution of immigrants, electoral representation, and Canadian federalism. A second major area, government transformation, examined how public institutions could improve services and policy delivery under fiscal and operational constraints. Topics included health-care reform, human-services integration, outcomes-based funding, behavioural science, procurement, regulation of disruptive technologies, and community-benefits agreements. The centre also operated or hosted specialized research hubs. Mowat Energy examined energy security, energy research and development, public engagement, social licence, carbon pricing, and the potential effects of major energy projects. The education and skills hub addressed workforce and learning issues. Mowat NFP focused on Ontario's and Canada's not-for-profit sector, publishing work on organizational capacity, human capital, social enterprises, social-impact bonds, data needs, and compensation. The centre's research was intended not only for academics but also for governments, civil-society organizations, businesses, and the wider public. Mowat supplemented research publication with knowledge-transfer and convening activities. In 2010 it co-organized the State of the Federation conference with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations. In 2011 it co-organized the Windsor-Detroit summit with the Brookings Institution. The summit helped lead to the creation of the Council of the Great Lakes Region, launched in 2013, with which the centre subsequently collaborated on research projects. One of its most prominent initiatives was the Mowat Centre Employment Insurance Task Force, co-chaired by Ratna Omidvar and Roy Romanow. The task force consulted the public, commissioned academic research, and developed recommendations concerning the relevance and design of Canada's Employment Insurance system in changing economic and social conditions. The centre also reported policy influence in areas including the Fair Representation Act, the Canada Job Grant, and proposals concerning income splitting. Its 2015 impact report stated that the organization had produced 101 reports between 2010 and 2014, received more than 1,300 media mentions, and was cited in policy and academic research. Matthew Mendelsohn served as the founding director. He left in January 2016 to take a senior position in the federal public service. The centre's core Ontario government grant represented less than 40 percent of its reported annual funding in fiscal year 2014-2015; its published figures identified a $900,000 core grant within a total budget of $2,289,410, with the balance raised independently. The Government of Ontario later cancelled the funding agreement. The Mowat Centre closed in June 2019, although the organization noted that some affiliated research activity, including work associated with Mowat NFP, continued beyond the closure of the main centre.
History
The Mowat Centre was created in 2009 as an independent public-policy research organization connected to the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Its establishment was supported by the Government of Ontario, and its name honored Sir Oliver Mowat, the province's longest-serving premier. Matthew Mendelsohn became its founding director. The centre's institutional model combined university-based expertise with applied research intended to inform governments, civic organizations, journalists, and the public. The centre released its first report in February 2010. From the outset, it presented itself as a non-partisan and evidence-based voice on public policy, with an emphasis on collaborative research, practical recommendations, and public engagement. Its work was organized around two broad themes. The first was intergovernmental economic and social policy, including Canadian federalism, transfer and equalization payments, fiscal relations, poverty reduction, social programs, employment insurance, immigration, electoral representation, and the economies of Ontario and Canada. The second was government transformation: the study of how public institutions could improve policy design and service delivery while facing financial, administrative, and demographic pressures. A significant initiative was the Mowat Centre Employment Insurance Task Force. Co-chaired by Ratna Omidvar and Roy Romanow, the task force reviewed Canada's Employment Insurance system through expert research and public consultations. It examined whether the program remained suited to contemporary labour-market and social conditions and developed recommendations for reform. The centre's policy portfolio also addressed health-care improvement, integrated human services, outcomes-based funding, behavioural insights, disruptive-technology regulation, government procurement, and community-benefits agreements. The organization expanded its work through research hubs. Mowat Energy studied energy security, energy research and development, public participation and social licence, carbon pricing, and the possible economic consequences of major energy proposals. An education and skills hub examined learning and workforce questions. Mowat NFP focused on the not-for-profit sector, including organizational capacity, human capital, social enterprises, social-impact bonds, data priorities, and wages. These hubs allowed the centre to combine broad policy analysis with more specialized sectoral research. Mowat also acted as a convener. In 2010 it co-organized the State of the Federation conference with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations. In 2011 it partnered with the Brookings Institution on the Windsor-Detroit summit. The summit helped generate the Council of the Great Lakes Region, launched in 2013, and the Mowat Centre later worked with that council on several research projects. The centre's 2015 impact reporting described a substantial public footprint. It reported that 101 reports had been produced between 2010 and 2014, that its work had appeared in 1,317 media reports, and that it had been referenced 59 times in policy reports and 87 times in academic research. The same assessment attributed a role to the centre in the passage of the Fair Representation Act 2011 and in changes to proposals associated with the Canada Job Grant and income splitting. These claims describe reported policy influence rather than exclusive authorship of those government measures. Mendelsohn left the centre in January 2016 for a senior federal public-service role. The organization continued operating with a mixed funding model. Its public reporting indicated that the Ontario government's core grant accounted for less than 40 percent of annual funding in fiscal year 2014-2015, identifying $900,000 in core government support within total reported funding of $2,289,410. The centre stated that the remaining funds were raised independently. The Government of Ontario subsequently cancelled the funding agreement. Following that cancellation, the Mowat Centre closed in June 2019. Some affiliated research activity, including the Mowat NFP hub, was described as continuing after the main centre's closure.
- 2019
Centre closes
[1]The Mowat Centre closed in June after the Government of Ontario cancelled its funding agreement.
- 2016
Founding director departs
[1]Matthew Mendelsohn left the organization in January for a senior role in the Public Service of Canada.
- 2015
Impact report reviews policy footprint
[1]The centre published an assessment covering its 2010-2014 output, media reach, and reported references in policy and academic research.
- 2013
Council of the Great Lakes Region launched
[1]The regional council was launched following work connected to the Windsor-Detroit summit, with Mowat later participating in research.
- 2011
Windsor-Detroit summit co-organized
[1]The centre partnered with the Brookings Institution on a summit that contributed to subsequent Great Lakes regional collaboration.
- 2010
First report released
[1]The centre published its first report in February and began its public research and policy-engagement program.
- 2010
State of the Federation conference co-organized
[1]Mowat collaborated with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations on a conference examining Canadian federalism and intergovernmental affairs.
- 2009
Mowat Centre established
[1]The independent public-policy think tank was established with support from the Government of Ontario and associated with the University of Toronto's Munk School.
Products and positioning
An applied, non-partisan Canadian think tank focused on evidence-based recommendations, intergovernmental policy, public-service transformation, and public dialogue.
Public-policy research · 2010
Mowat Centre policy reports
The centre's principal output was a body of applied research reports and policy briefs on Canadian federalism, transfer payments, equalization, poverty, employment insurance, immigration, electoral representation, public services, and economic policy. Reports were designed to translate academic and stakeholder research into recommendations for policymakers and public discussion.
Task force and policy review
Mowat Centre Employment Insurance Task Force
A task force co-chaired by Ratna Omidvar and Roy Romanow that assessed Canada's Employment Insurance system. It combined commissioned academic research, expert deliberation, and public consultations to consider how income support for unemployed people could better reflect contemporary labour-market conditions.
Energy policy research hub
Mowat Energy
Mowat Energy studied Canadian and Ontario energy policy, including energy security, research and development funding, public engagement and social licence, carbon pricing, and the economic effects of proposed infrastructure and energy projects.
Not-for-profit sector research hub
Mowat NFP
Mowat NFP researched the operating environment of nonprofit organizations and social enterprises. Its subjects included human capital, organizational capacity, social-impact bonds, sector data, and wages. Reference material describes this hub as remaining active after the main Mowat Centre closed.
Education and workforce policy research
Education and skills research hub
This research hub examined education, skills, and workforce issues within the centre's wider applied-policy program. Specific individual publications and operating dates are not identified in the supplied material.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Windsor-Detroit summit
Canada · United States
Mowat partnered with the Brookings Institution to convene a summit focused on the Windsor-Detroit cross-border region and Great Lakes cooperation.
Outcome. The summit helped lead to the creation of the Council of the Great Lakes Region, launched in 2013.
- 2010State of the Federation conference
Canada
Mowat co-organized this conference with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations as part of its public dialogue and knowledge-transfer activities.
Outcome. The event contributed to the centre's profile as a convener on federalism and intergovernmental policy.
Brand decisions
2019
Main centre closes after funding agreement cancellationOtherBackground
The organization's operating relationship with the Government of Ontario ended when the province cancelled its funding agreement.
Action taken
The Mowat Centre ceased operations in June 2019.
Aftermath
The principal think tank closed, while reference material indicates that the Mowat NFP research hub continued as an active affiliated initiative.
2010
Launches Employment Insurance Task ForceOtherBackground
The centre identified Canada's Employment Insurance system as an area requiring review against changing economic and social conditions.
Action taken
It convened a task force co-chaired by Ratna Omidvar and Roy Romanow, commissioned research, and conducted public consultations.
Aftermath
The task force produced recommendations and contributed to public policy discussion about reforming Employment Insurance.
2009
Adopts applied, non-partisan policy-research modelStrategyBackground
The centre was established to connect university expertise with practical policy analysis and public engagement.
Action taken
It organized its work around intergovernmental economic and social policy, government transformation, and specialized research hubs.
Aftermath
The model produced research, task forces, convening programs, and collaborations with academic, nonprofit, governmental, and private-sector organizations.
Recent events
- 2019
Ontario funding agreement cancelled and Mowat Centre closes[1]
Other
The Government of Ontario cancelled the centre's funding agreement, and the Mowat Centre closed in June 2019.
- 2016
Matthew Mendelsohn leaves Mowat Centre for federal public service[1]
Leadership change
Founding director Matthew Mendelsohn departed the centre in January 2016 to accept a senior position with the Public Service of Canada.
- 2013
Council of the Great Lakes Region launches[1]
Other
The Council of the Great Lakes Region was launched following work associated with the Windsor-Detroit summit, with the Mowat Centre subsequently collaborating on research.
- 2011
Windsor-Detroit summit helps establish Great Lakes policy organization[1]
Campaign
In partnership with the Brookings Institution, the centre co-organized the Windsor-Detroit summit, an initiative that contributed to the later creation of the Council of the Great Lakes Region.
- 2010
Mowat Centre publishes its first report[1]
Other
The centre began its public research program with the release of its first report in February 2010.
- 2010
Mowat Centre co-organizes State of the Federation conference[1]
Campaign
The centre worked with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations to convene a conference on the state of Canadian federalism and intergovernmental relations.
Sources2 sources
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