Kevin Lynch, Jim Mitchell, and Paul Deegan

Kevin Lynch was Clerk of the Privy Council and vice chair of BMO Financial Group. Jim Mitchell is an adjunct professor at Carleton University and a former assistant secretary to the cabinet, machinery of government. Paul Deegan was a public affairs executive at BMO and CN and served in the Clinton White House.

Policy-making in a crisis: preparing for the unexpected

Governments need to invest more in foresight capacity, scenario planning, advanced analytics and in early warning systems rather than relying on static forecasts. Consider black-swan events and how they might present, no matter how unlikely. Hope is not a plan, but preparedness can beget one.

opinion | BY KEVIN LYNCH, JIM MITCHELL, AND PAUL DEEGAN | February 22, 2023