- Consultations with CMHC Housing Partners.
From December 2018 to January 2019, a series of in-depth consultations
were conducted with provinces,
territories and NGOs to identify ways of streamlining Canada's new $13.2 billion Housing
Co-Investment Fund. The consultations focused on the program's eligibility criteria and administration, aiming to
increase the flow of funding for affordable housing in Canada (for CMHC, 2019);
- Study of Truck Parking, Public Safety and OHS Impacts.
This project examined the need for long-haul
truck parking and rest areas along Provincial highways in Southern Ontario. The project included an on-line survey of 2,300+ truck
drivers using Southern Ontario highways, consultations with trucking companies and industry associations, and engineering studies. The
research addressed the need for additional parking, and examined issues such as driver fatigue and collisions (for Canadian
Trucking Associations and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 2018-2019);
-
Assessment of Financing Models for Shared Equity Housing in Canada.
The goal of this project was to provide a balanced
assessment of the success, benefits and risks of shared equity housing financing models. The research focused on shared equity
programs in BC, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario and included an on-line survey of those involved in shared equity housing (planning/
housing officials; developers; non-profit sponsors/partners; and financial organizations). Telephone interviews were
conducted with key informants such as: housing developers/sponsor organizations; housing agencies; planners; financial
institutions and mortgage brokers (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2017);
- Approaches to Applying a Gender-Based Lens to Affordable Housing.
The results from this project aimed to help CMHC to
better understand various
initiatives under the National Housing Strategy (NHS). An environmental scan was conducted to identify
the housing needs of women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The results will
enable CMHC ensure that NHS-funded initiatives are developed through a gender lens and address the housing needs of women and
the LGBTQ+ community (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2017);
- Evaluation of the Survivors of Domestic Violence Portable Housing Benefit Pilot Program.
The goal of this
project was to
design and complete an evaluation of the Survivors of Domestic Violence Portable Housing Benefit (SDV-PHB) Pilot Program that
provides funding from the Ministry of Housing to Service Managers in select regions of Ontario. The pilot program was
delivered by four Service Managers in selected areas of Ontario where there are eligible SDV households on social housing waiting
lists. The SDV-PHB provides an alternate means of providing housing assistance as a monthly subsidy so households can find
their own non-rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing in their communities rather than waiting for an available RGI unit. Since the
evaluation, the PHB has been implemented in all Ontario municipalities (for the Ontario Ministry of Housing, 2016-2017);
- Understanding How the Canadian Housing System Facilitates Rental and Owner-Occupied Housing.
This study on Canada's
housing system assessed how government policies influence both rental and ownership housing, in particular, factors affecting
the supply and demand for these types of housing. The study examined the policies of all levels of government and all housing
sub-sectors. Key steps included: development of a profile of the policies and impacts by tenure, based on existing information
from CMHC and on-line website searches (including a scan of relevant literature); telephone interviews with key policy officials
and other experts to clarify sources of information on policy impacts; development of an on-line survey of key representatives
from public, non-profit and private sector housing organizations, and other experts, to obtain insights on supply and demand
impacts of policies; and selection of specific policy impact areas for case studies (for CMHC, 2016-2017);
- An Examination of International Housing Policies and Initiatives for Home Ownership, and Policies to Encourage Movement
Within the Housing Continuum.
This project reviewed and assessed international housing policies and initiatives in the
US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Through a robust literature review, approaches and funding models were identified that are
relevant to the Canadian context. A review of affordable homeownership included downpayment assistance or rent-to-own programs.
Policies and approaches examined those that increase self-reliance such as asset building programs, escrow accounts or trust funds,
grant or loan programs, intervention subsidies and other programs that help to increase self-sufficiency and encourage movement
along the housing continuum (for CMHC, 2015-2016);
- Assessment of Income-Mix Models for Affordable Housing.
This study involved an on-line scan of literature in Canada, US,
UK and Australia, and other jurisdictions; the completion of program summaries, case studies; and project profiles to address
issues such as the financial viability and other impacts of income mixed housing. Unique research approaches included an
international survey of experts regarding assessments of mixed income housing models and a multi-country survey to identify
specific projects for case studies (for CMHC, 2015);
- Renewing Ontario's Recreation-Nature Trails Strategy.
This study
provided evidence of the major health and economic benefits of hiking and other trail-related activities. Types of trails examined
included: footpaths with natural surfaces, bicycle routes, utility corridors or former rail lines, forestry and mining access roads
designated as trails, waterways and portage routes, and seasonal trails used for snowmobiling or cross-country skiing. The main data
source relied on the results from an on-line survey of over 5,000 Ontario trail users. SPR's final report
was complemented by the introduction of Bill 100 - the Supporting Ontario's Trails Act, 2015 in the Ontario Legislature on
May 12, 2015 (for the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, 2014-2015);
- Assessing the Capacity of Sport and Recreation in the Not-for-Profit Sector in Ontario.
This project assessed the capacity of small and rural non-profit community sport organizations -- mainly serving youth -- to
meet Ontario's upcoming Not-for-Profit
Corporations Act. The project also identified the service delivery capacity of not-for-profits to meet sport and recreation service standards in
Ontario; explored related challenges that sport & recreation not-for-profits experience as regards standards; and identified measures to address
the capacity gaps and the challenges encountered by sport and recreation not-for-profit organizations in Ontario. Key methodologies included a
partially-annotated inventory of literature and a major on-line survey of community sports and recreation organizations (for the Ontario
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, 2014-2015);
- Study of Worker Safety in Ontario Children's Aid Societies.
This project, for the Ontario Association
of Children's Aid Societies, was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services. The goal was to assess the incidence
of client violence experienced by CAS workers and identify ways of developing programs to reduce this type violence against workers in the future.
On-line surveys of 5,800+ CAS workers (from support staff to management) and 35 Ontario CASs were conducted and a number of high-level performance
indicators were developed. The final report included recommendations for shared services (for the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, 2013-2014);
-
Review of Ontario Bridge Training Programs for New Canadian Professionals.
This program development project mainly relied on web surveys
to obtain data, followed by large-scale Learning Exchange Workshops to assess the results. The project assessed 'lessons learned' from programs
providing training to new Canadians in over 100 professions, to aid labour markets and Ontario skills strategies. Bilingual web surveys reached thousands
of stakeholders (colleges, universities, NGOs, employers, and
internationally-trained individuals) involved in bridge training programs. The web surveys were highly successful -- the response from 1,770
trainees being the largest ever obtained for such a survey with many lessons learned regarding language and factors in labour market integration
(for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, with collaboration from over 100 training agencies, 2011-2012);
- Evaluation of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program (V/WAP). This evaluation assessed this program in terms of
efficiency and lessons learned, applying a Balanced Scorecard approach. Methodologies included site visits across Ontario and an
on-line survey of over 700 stakeholders to identify approaches for improving the program. A priority was placed on assessing worker
burnout (for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, 2010-2011);
- Research on the Redevelopment-Regeneration of Social & Affordable Housing in Canada. This project examined the renewal and
revitalization of social and affordable housing in eight communities across Canada, to assess best practices. Projects varied from small,
rural projects to larger urban projects in Toronto and Montreal (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2010-2011);
- Evaluation of the Shelter Enhancement Program. This $300,000 evaluation had two points of focus:
(1) understanding the physical condition of family violence shelters in relation to the needs of women and children using these shelters in areas such as safety and security,
children's play areas, and access for persons with disabilities; and (2) assessing the overall impact on the infrastructure of Canada's
family violence shelter system which encompasses over 500 shelters (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2007-2009);
- Evaluation of the Program for Strategic Industrial Projects. This evaluation examined the implementation of Canada's
contribution of $350 million to the development of a $5 billion investment in new automobile assembly facilities in Ontario in the
period 2004-2009. Value-for-money and impacts on sustainability were key issues. The evaluation involved studies of auto plants in
Oshawa-Durham, Woodstock and Oakville, Ontario, and key informant and community interviews (municipalities, business organizations,
and union representatives) (for Industry Canada, 2008-2009);
- Evaluation of the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). This project evaluated the $500 million New Opportunities Fund
which provides research grants to Canadian universities. Over 3,000 university researchers and
administrators (including Vice-Presidents - Research, Deans and Department Heads) were surveyed as part of the evaluation.
An international comparison of similar programs in five countries (US, UK, Australia, Germany and Japan)
and the European Union was also conducted (for the Canada Foundation for Innovation, 2006-2007);
- Delphi Study of Emerging Technology Sectors to 2015. This Delphi study included three rounds of surveys with over 300
technology experts in business, government and academia, to assess the economic potential and feasibility potential for the development of
20 specific technology sectors in Canada (for the National Research Council, 2006-2007);
- Evaluation of the Community Inclusion Initiative (CII). This evaluation assessed
the impacts of this initiative in increasing the full participation in all areas of life for Canadians with
intellectual disabilities. The evaluation also examined social development and other programs of People First
of Canada and the Canadian Association for Community Living (for Social Development Canada, 2005-2006);
- Environment Canada Client Segmentation Study. This project required
the design and implementation of a web-based survey of Environment Canada (EC) staff in both science
and service areas, in order to provide a picture of the major clients
for Environment Canada services and their characteristics and expectations for service.
A literature and document review, in-depth telephone interviews and collection of client
profiles from senior staff of EC branches/units were also conducted as part of the research
(for Environment Canada, 2004);
- Evaluation of the Homeownership Education Training Program (HETP) Pilot.
This evaluation focused on assessing the value-for-money of HETP, in the Auditor General Framework.
Assessments involved utilization of CMHC databases on publications users and users of other programs.
Web and related surveys assessed impacts of two main information products (HETP seminars and CMHC publications)
on the understanding of homebuying. These impacts were assessed in a quasi-experimental design which applied
a variety of regression models (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2004);
- Review of Environment Canada Grants and Contributions Programs. This
review examined several of Environment Canada’s funding programs for the
Ontario Region: EcoAction, the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF), the
Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP), and the Community Animation Program (CAP).
These programs have a total transfer value of almost $9.5 million per annum.
The review involved interviews with program staff, a document review and
interviews with selected grants recipients (for Environment Canada, 2002);
- Evaluation of the Shelter Enhancement Program.
This evaluation
included surveys of shelters, clients of shelters, regional contacts and
physical inspections of shelters to assess the impact of this renovation
program in such areas as physical building condition, play areas for children,
and security systems (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2001-2002);
- Evaluation of Human Resources Development Canada Information Products.
This $250,000 project examined the use of web and print media for the
distribution of information on labour standards, careers, jobs,
Employment Insurance, pensions, and children’s issues. A survey of information intermediaries (persons
who refer others to information, such as employment counsellors, income
security outreach staff, and school guidance counsellors) was conducted, to audit the quality
of over 300 key HRDC print products and websites, and to examine issues of
duplication and coordination in the delivery of print and web products (for
Human Resources Development Canada, 1999-2002);
- Evaluation of the Ontario Base Closure Adjustment Program.
This study assessed
program logic, indicators and evaluation options for assessment of this
program to offset economic impacts of military base closures in 6 Ontario
communities (for Industry Canada, 1998-2000);
- Strategic Review of Exchange Programs.
This $200,000 review examined the
delivery of Canadian Heritage exchange programs, with a focus on developing a
future strategy in response to a Speech from the Throne Commitment. The review
involved key informant interviews across the federal government, as well as focus
groups and surveys with exchange providers and participants (particularly
youth) in every Province and Territory (for Canadian Heritage, 1997-2000);
- Study of Federal Labour Standards.
This 440,000 project included
surveys in telecommunications, interprovincial trucking, water transportation
and related areas under federal jurisdiction. Topics examined the
regulatory program, employment standards, and costs of compliance (for Human
Resources Development Canada, 1996-1997);
- Evaluation of Occupational Health and Occupational Safety.
This $1.1
million study included consultations and surveys in mining, pulp and paper,
manufacturing, transportation, health and other sectors (for the Ontario
Workplace Health and Safety Agency, 1993-1996).
Dr. Harvey has applied social science research
techniques to the study of public policy and societal concerns in many settings.
Since 1968, he has worked in a variety of academic and policy research settings.