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“The excellence of this year’s Balsillie Prize shortlist is breathtaking; as a jury, we believe that public policy writing in Canada has never been better or more exciting. This is our fourth and penultimate year as the inaugural jury of the Balsillie Prize for Public Policy; our job as jurors has gotten harder each year and we would have it no other way. Since 2021, we have read hundreds of books representing the breadth and imagination of Canadian public policy writing and have come across new authors and books that yield fascinating and unanticipated gems. While we’re bullish about the future, we remain steadfast in our hope that Canada’s publishers will continue producing high-quality writing on the most urgent policy issues of our time — and that they take seriously the power and responsibility to seek out and surface new voices and diverse perspectives. 

The 2024 shortlist represents the pinnacle of Canadian public policy writing, deftly encapsulating some of the most intractable and difficult policy challenges facing governments and citizens alike. The finalists all pose thought-provoking questions and provide deeply reflective ideas and insights, all of which compel readers to consider the future of this country. As a jury, we view this shortlist as a collective. Each of these books — and the authors that stand behind them — have strengths that deserve celebration. We believe that all four books together represent something greater than the sum of their constituent parts. It is our privilege as jurors to recognize their passion and dedication.”