General Information
Promotional Video
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Instructor Bios
The Honorable Bill Morneau served as Canada’s 39th Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2020 and is now an executive-in-residence at Rotman. He also served as Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Internal Trade from 2019 to 2020, and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre from 2015 to 2020. He was also Governor at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Between 1990 and 2015, Morneau led the multinational human resources firm Morneau Shepell (now TELUS Health), building it to be Canada’s largest human resources firm. In January 2023, he released his book Where to From Here, outlining his views on how Canadian economic policy can increase prosperity. He also co-authored The Real Retirement, a Canadian finance and retirement book. In 2012, as pension advisor to the Ontario government, he wrote the Morneau Report: Facilitating Pooled Asset Management for Ontario’s Public Sector Institutions, leading to the creation of the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario. In 2014, Mr. Morneau founded a school for Somali and Sudanese girls in a UN Refugee camp in northern Kenya and is currently sponsoring a scholarship program for young women refugees at the University of Toronto. He is past Chair of St. Michael’s Hospital, Covenant House and the C.D. Howe Institute. Morneau currently serves as a Distinguished Fellow at UofT’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, Chairman of NovaSource Power Services, Director at CIBC and at Clairvest, Chair of the Advisory Board of Magnet at Toronto Metropolitan University, Member of The Wilson Center’s Canada Institute Advisory Board, and with his wife Nancy McCain, is Co-Chair of the National Arts Centre’s The Next Act campaign. He holds an M.Sc. (Econ.) from the London School of Economics, an M.B.A. from INSEAD, and a B.A. from Western University.
Target Audience
An important gap has been identified in the ability of Canadian businesses to interact with government – that is, there is a lack of fluency between business and government. To that end, this course targets students that seek to deepen their understanding of the importance of developing such fluency and developing the skills which would lead to more successful interactions. All Rotman students would benefit from this course as all companies and all sectors interact with governments in one way or another. The course has also been added as a supplemental course in the Global Management Emphasis and hence has additional relevance for those seeking roles with companies doing business internationally.
Format
The class will be offered in intensive format, in person at Rotman, on the following dates: May 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 from 9:00am -12:30pm.
Prerequisite
The course assumes students have an unnderstanding of the key areas in the first year curriculum, including Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Strategy, Marketing, and Data. The curriculum in the course will build on these foundational courses.
Course Mission
This course explores the dynamic relationship between business and government in Canada, examining the mutual dependencies that shape policy development. Through analysis of political, economic, and social issues, students will gain the knowledge and skills to navigate and critically assess business-government interactions, focusing on communication, negotiation, and collaboration.
Course Scope
This course explores the complex and evolving relationship between business and government in Canada and underscores the importance of business to work with government in the development of government policy. Through a critical analysis of key political, economic, and social issues, students examine the mutual dependencies that define business-government dynamics. The course covers the political roles of government, the economic functions it performs, and the extent of corporate power within Canada’s political system. Topics such as the impact of federalism and regional diversity, the effects of globalization and trade, and the role of interest groups and lobbying in policymaking will be explored. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of how business-government relations shape Canada’s political economy and influence domestic and international policy decisions. By providing students with the knowledge and tools to understand, navigate, and critically assess the complex interactions between the two sectors, the course allows students to develop a fluency between business and government. The course also emphasizes the importance of communication, negotiation, and collaboration between business and government stakeholders, key components of fluency in this context. Several case studies will be used to reinforce these key themes.
Evaluation and Grade Breakdown
| Component | Due Date/Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Case Solution | Due Thursday, May 7 by midnight on Quercus | 10% |
| Group Case Solution | Due Sunday, May 11 by midnight on Quercus | 10% |
| Final Group Project: Paper Submission, PPT, and Final Presentation | Due Wednesday, May 14 by midnight on Quercus. | 30% |
| Final Exam | Thursday, May 15, 2025 – In person | 50% |
Required Resources
The textbook (tentative) is Uneasy Partnership: The Politics of Business and Government in Canada, by Geoffrey Hale University of Toronto Press, 2018. There will be many additional resources including government and think tank reports, academic articles and case studies.