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Balsillie Prize for Public Policy

Highlights

GuidelinesPrize History

Prize

Winner $70,000
Finalists $7,500

Winner Announcement

November 25, 2025

Questions? Please contact:

Devon Jackson, Associate Program Director
djackson@writerstrust.com

About the Prize

The Balsillie Prize for Public Policy is awarded annually for a book of nonfiction that advances and influences policy debates on a wide range of social, political, economic, or cultural topics relevant to Canadians. The prize celebrates excellence in quality of thought and style and underlines the important role books play in advancing public discourse and bringing new ideas to Canadian policymakers.

The selected books will combine new insights with impressive research, offering thought-provoking contributions to debates on issues that impact both public consciousness and Canadian policymakers. The Balsillie Prize especially values bold works that bring public policy issues to the general reading public.

 This year marks the 5th anniversary of the award, which is funded by the Balsillie Family Foundation as part of a $3 million commitment to supporting Canadian literature through Writers’ Trust. In recognition of the anniversary, the prize purse has been increased from $60,000 to $70,000 to the winner, and $5,000 to $7,500 to each finalist (co-authors to evenly divide prize monies), for a total of $92,500 awarded annually.

2025 Winner

Vince Beiser

Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future

Riverhead Books

Jury Citation

“Power Metal deftly illustrates that the road to net zero is going to be both messy and metallic, with the underbelly of the global green transition being the huge volumes of critical minerals that are required. While the metals vary in their use-case, scarcity, and fungibility, each has unique properties that render them invaluable. Vince Beiser’s book rests on an inescapable paradox: that the most viable path to combating and solving climate change depends on extracting critical minerals from the warming planet itself. As Canada looks to maximize its geological endowment amidst an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape, this book raises essential considerations and uncomfortable questions for policymakers and citizens alike. It invites them to walk a tightrope — balancing the need to minimize our dependencies and reduce our environmental footprint, while still achieving our green goals.”—2025 Balsillie Prize jury (Samantha Nutt, Taki Sarantakis, and Scott Young)

2025 Finalists

Jury

A jury composed of author and physician Samantha Nutt, policy expert Taki Sarantakis, and digital strategist Scott Young selected this year’s finalists from 58 titles representing 35 Canadian publishing imprints. The winner will be revealed on November 25 at a live event in Toronto. 

“For Canadians, By Canadians” — The Balsillie Prize for Public Policy

These books provide new and thoughtful ideas for a better future for all Canadians. My hope is the shortlist will inspire discussions and debate at home and in policy communities that ultimately contribute to the development of smart public policy for our country.

Jim Balsillie, Prize Sponsor

Jim Balsillie’s investment in Canadian writers and his commitment to the power and influence of books is extraordinary. The Balsillie Prize is a tremendous opportunity to bring greater attention to the important conversations Canadians — and Canadian writers — are having about creating a stronger and more inclusive country.

Catherine Clark, Past Writers’ Trust Chair

Sponsor

The Balsillie Prize for Public Policy is funded by the Balsillie Family Foundation as part of a $3 million commitment to supporting Canadian literature through Writers’ Trust. 

Prize Guidelines