Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Canadian Think Tanks in Decline; North-South Institute to Close


It was announced today that the Ottawa-based think tank The North-South Institute (NSI) is closing its doors after nearly 40 years in operation.  Here is more from the Ottawa Citizen:

The think tank’s board of directors announced the closing on Wednesday, acknowledging that the institute “has not been successful in diversifying and growing its funding sources to the extent required to ensure financially sustainable operations.”
Operating from a headquarters on Argyle Avenue, the institute billed itself as “Canada’s only independent policy research institution dedicated to foreign policy and international development.” It was established in 1976.
The institute is known for its annual Canadian International Development Report, which contains policy briefs on issues such as fair trade, resource development and the impact of conflict on economic and social structures in the developing world.
In its 2012 annual report, the institute listed a deficit of $61,000 on revenue of $2.4 million.

Here is NSI's statement about is closure.  Interestingly, if you go to the think tank's webpage, it still has a link at the bottom of the page asking for donations.

According to the latest University of Pennsylvania think tank rankings, NSI is the third best think tank in Canada and Mexico.

Here is a Think Tank Watch piece from last year titled "Canada's Think Tank in Decline?"