Author: Stuart Himmel

Public policy has always relied on information, but governments can now collect, connect, and analyze data at unprecedented speed. Across Canada, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are helping public institutions forecast demand, identify patterns, evaluate programs, and allocate resources. Decisions can become faster, more targeted, and more responsive. Yet an essential question remains: does better prediction automatically produce better policy? Moving Beyond Political Instinct Governments frequently make choices under pressure, with limited time and competing demands. Analytics can reveal where needs are greatest and which interventions are working. Health agencies can study service usage, transportation planners can examine travel patterns,…