TORONTO, March 19, 2002 --York University scholars are available to provide context and informed analysis of the Canadian Alliance and Ontario Progressive Conservative Party’s leadership votes taking place this Wednesday and Saturday respectively. In particular, they can address the race to succeed Ontario Premier Mike Harris and the indelible mark left by the Common Sense Revolution on Ontario’s political landscape.

Politics

• Robert MacDermid, a political science professor, is a leading expert on election and party financing, membership, voting behaviour, polling, and campaign strategies. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 77298, e-mail: rmacd@yorku.ca.

• Robert Drummond, dean of York’s Faculty of Arts, is a political science professor with extensive knowledge of Ontario politics and provincial public policy, including provincial labour policy. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 22205, e-mail: robertd@yorku.ca.

• David Shugarman, a political science professor and director of York University's Centre for Practical Ethics, has researched and written about political ethics, protest parties, movements and Western alienation. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 77083, e-mail: dshugar@yorku.ca.

• Fred Fletcher, a political science professor and director of York's joint graduate program in communication and culture, can comment on campaign media coverage and campaign strategies. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 88819, e-mail: ffletch@yorku.ca.

• Ian Greene, a political science professor with extensive knowledge of ethics legislation across Canada regarding conflicts of interest, undue influence, lobbying, party financing, and the attitudes of Canadians towards ethical issues in politics. E-mail: igreene@yorku.ca.

Education in Ontario

• Paul Axelrod, dean of York’s Faculty of Education, can comment on province-wide student and teacher testing and accountability issues, education reforms. Phone: 416-736-5667, e-mail: paxelrod@edu.yorku.ca.

Ontario Municipalities

• Edmund (Terry) Fowler, a political science professor at York University's Glendon College and an expert on municipal affairs, can discuss the continued effect of provincial-wide amalgamation and downloading of services. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 88323.

• Peter Homenuck, retired environmental studies professor and a former coordinator of York's urban studies program, can discuss affordable housing, waste management issues, preservation of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Phone: 905-660-1060, ext. 223.

Transit in the GTA

• Ted Spence, a professor in York's Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) and the senior policy advisor in the Office of the President, can comment on York University's subway extension initiative and GTA transit issues. Phone: 416-736-5200, e-mail: esspence@yorku.ca.

The Environment

• Stepan Wood, a law professor at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School, specializing in environmental law, can discuss Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights in light of recent government legislation. Phone: 416-736-5036, e-mail: swood@yorku.ca.

• David Bell, environmental studies professor and director of York University's Centre for Applied Sustainability, is an expert on environmental politics and sustainable development practices. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext.77095, e-mail: dvjbell@yorku.ca.

The Politics of Protest

• Sam Gindin, Packer Visiting Professor in Social Justice in York’s Department of Political Science, has initiated an innovative seminar series at York on social justice and political activism. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 33675, e-mail: gindins@caw.ca.

Labour Relations

• Greg Albo, professor of political science, can offer his analysis on jobs, labour relations, public policy and the Ontario economy under the Harris government, the role of the Left in Ontario politics. Phone: 416-736-5265 ext. 88833, e-mail: albo@yorku.ca.

• James Laxer, a political science professor at York University's Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies who has written extensively about the political left in Canada, global economics and political power. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 66462, e-mail: jlaxer@yorku.ca.

Health Care

• Ron Burke, an organizational behaviour and industry relations professor at York University's Schulich School of Business, has conducted studies on the effects of hospital restructuring and nursing shortages. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 77921, e-mail: rburke@schulich.yorku.ca.

• Georgina Feldberg, a health studies professor (on research leave), can discuss health policy, women’s health, health reform and restructuring. Phone: 416-736-5941, e-mail: ginaf@yorku.ca.
• Joan Gilmour, a professor of law at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School, can discuss health reform and the growing trend towards a two-tier health care system. Phone: 416-736-5561, e-mail: jgilmour@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Taxes, Economy

• Daniel Drache, a political scientist and the director of York University's Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, can comment on Ontario’s economic growth and global competitiveness and the rise and decline of neo-liberal government strategies. He co-edited "Health Reform: Public Success, Private Failure" (1999). His latest volume "The Market or the Public Domain: Global Governance and the Asymmetry of Power" (2001), addresses governance issues more generally. Phone: 416-736-5415, e-mail: drache@yorku.ca.

• Bernie Wolf, an economics professor at York's Schulich School of Business, can discuss employment, Ontario’s trade relations, and taxes. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 77933, e-mail: bwolf@schulich.yorku.ca.

• Neil Brooks, a law professor at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School, can comment on taxation and fiscal policy. Brooks was the co-chair of the Ontario Fair Tax Commission established by the Ontario NDP government in 1991. Phone: 416-736-5047, e-mail: nbrooks@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Arts and Culture Funding in Ontario

• Seth Feldman, former dean of York University's Faculty of Fine Arts, film historian, media critic and broadcaster, can comment on the Harris government's arts and cultural policies, and provincial arts funding cuts. Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 33485, e-mail: sfeldman@yorku.ca.

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For further information or additional experts, please contact:

Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
416-736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/032/02