Canadian Leadership Research Articles

Canada and the United Nations at a political turning point

In response to Kerry Buck and Michael W. Manulak's recommendations for the future of the UN, this essay highlights two problems that Canada faces in its current UN engagement. First, diplomacy and Global Affairs Canada are underfunded. Second, Canadian leadership has failed to adequately meet the political challenges of twenty-first century multilateralism. Focusing on the second, I argue that Canada must address key political difficulties to make a meaningful difference in the future of the UN. Without a politically sound vision and policy, increased Canadian investment in the UN is insufficient. I propose three areas where Canada can shift its engagement and recommend further actions. These include: (1) Canada-US relations; (2) the UN Charter and international law; and (3) Canada's relationship with the Global South.

Ceftolozane/Tazobactam treatment for patients with hospital-acquired and ventilatory-associated bacterial pneumonia in Canada in 2022–2024: results from the CLEAR registry

ABSTRACT Background We report results from the national CLEAR (Canadian Leadership on Antimicrobial Real-Life Usage) registry on the usage of ceftolozane/tazobactam in Canada from 2022 to 2024. Research design and methods The authors reviewed the final data using the national ethics approved CLEAR study. Thereafter, the literature is surveyed regarding the usage of ceftolozane/tazobactam to treat patients with HABP and VABP via PubMed (up to May 2024). Results Ceftolozane/tazobactam was primarily used as directed therapy to treat HABP and VABP caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was primarily used alone, or in combination with another agent, to treat resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa infections. Despite primarily being used to treat severely ill patients in intensive care units, its use was associated with relatively high microbiological/clinical cure rates, along with an excellent safety profile. Several reports attest to the microbiological/clinical efficacy and safety of using ceftolozane/tazobactam to treat HABP and VABP. Conclusions In Canada, ceftolozane/tazobactam is primarily used as directed therapy alone, or in combination, to treat MDR P. aeruginosa infections. Though mostly used to treat severely ill patients in the ICU, ceftolozane/tazobactam use in HABP and VABP is associated with relatively high microbiological/clinical cure rates and an excellent safety profile.

How is ceftobiprole used in Canada: the CLEAR study final results

ABSTRACT Background We report the final results of the clinical usage of ceftobiprole in patients in Canada from data in the national CLEAR (Canadian Le adership on Antimicrobial Real-Life Usage) registry. Research design and methods The authors review the final data using the national ethics approved CLEAR study. Thereafter, the literature is surveyed regarding the usage of ceftobiprole to treat patients with infectious diseases via PubMed (up to March 2024). Results In Canada, ceftobiprole is primarily used as directed therapy to treat a variety of severe infections caused by MRSA. It is primarily used in patients failing previous antimicrobials, is frequently added to daptomycin and/or vancomycin with high microbiological and clinical cure rates, along with an excellent safety profile. Several reports attest to the microbiological/clinical efficacy and safety of ceftobiprole. Ceftobiprole is also reported to be used empirically in select patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), as well as hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP). Conclusions In Canada, ceftobiprole is used mostly as directed therapy to treat a variety of severe infections caused by MRSA, in patients failing previous antimicrobials. It is frequently added to, and thus used in combination with daptomycin and/or vancomycin with high microbiological/clinical cure rates, and an excellent safety profile.

Social Identity Leadership in Canada: The Impact of Group Identity and Individual Prototypicality on Leadership Attainment

Leaders are an important part of Canadian political life. However, research has focused on the structures that shape how leaders act, not yet developing generalizable understandings of the way leadership itself is formed, exercised, and impacts outcomes. This article contributes to the closing of this knowledge gap by focusing on how scholars can understand why certain individuals, rather than others, are successfully elected leaders. It examines the usefulness of identity leadership theory (ILT) in explaining Canadian leadership outcomes by performing a comparative study of the initial electoral appeals of two successful premiers of Alberta, William Aberhart and Peter Lougheed. The approach should find that both leaders appealed to Alberta’s social identity by conveying themselves as “prototypical group members” and by incorporating their agenda into the pre-existing collective understandings. As an initial investigation, it explores the extent to which these conditions may constitute a decisive condition for successful leadership attainment. Through an analysis of discursive material, however, the results do not support the processes theorized, casting doubt on ILT’s explanatory capacity. Still, variations in Aberhart’s and Lougheed’s identitarian appeals suggest that aspiring leaders may be incentivized to pursue ILT-related strategies in favourable contexts. Future research needs to investigate the impact that individual prototypicality may have when considered alongside other leaders, appeals, and contextual factors.

Real-life experience with IV dalbavancin in Canada; results from the CLEAR (Canadian LEadership on Antimicrobial Real-life usage) registry

We report the use of IV dalbavancin in Canadian patients using data captured by the national CLEAR registry. The CLEAR registry uses the web-based data management program, REDCap™ (online survey https://rcsurvey.radyfhs.umanitoba.ca/surveys/?s=TPMWJX98HL) to facilitate clinicians entering details associated with their clinical experiences using IV dalbavancin. Data were available for 40 patients. The most common infections treated were acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) (62.5% of patients), bone/joint infection (22.5%), bloodstream/vascular infection (7.5%) and endocarditis (5.0%). Dalbavancin was used as directed (75.0%) and empiric therapy (25.0%). MRSA was the most common identified pathogen (70.0%). Dalbavancin was used both in outpatient (e.g., emergency department) (65.0%), and inpatient treatment settings (e.g., hospital ward) (35.0%). Dalbavancin was used due to the convenience of a single dose treatment (77.5%) as well as to facilitate hospital discharge (7.5%). Dalbavancin was primarily used alone (90.0%), and most commonly using a single 1500 mg dose (77.5%). Microbiological success (pathogen eradicated or presumed eradicated) occurred in 88.2% of known cases, while clinical success (cure and/or improvement) occurred in 93.3% of known cases. No adverse events were reported. In Canada, IV dalbavancin is used as both directed and empiric therapy to treat ABSSSI as well as off-label (bone/joint, bacteremia/vascular, endocarditis, device-related) infections. It is used in both outpatient and inpatient settings due primarily to its convenience as a single-dose treatment regimen and to facilitate early hospital discharge. Dalbavancin use is associated with high microbiological and clinical cure rates along with an excellent safety profile.

Seeking a “Supportive” Leader: Gendered language in leadership job postings and women’s leadership identification

Evidence suggests that women are underrepresented in leadership positions in Canada (MacDougall et al., 2021). While past research has shown that masculine wording reduces job attractiveness for women, few scholars have examined the effect of gendered language in a leadership context. First, we conducted a directed content analysis to assess the prevalence of gendered language in existing Canadian leadership job postings. This revealed that gendered language exists in job postings at expected levels, with masculine language occurring more frequently, especially in male-dominated industries. Second, we explored how gendered language impacts women’s intentions to apply for leadership positions and the potential roles of stereotype threat and perceived self-efficacy. Results indicated that, for women with lower self-efficacy, feminine language in job advertisements leads to greater application intentions through its effect on leadership identification. These findings suggest that more inclusive, feminine language in leadership job advertisements may encourage more women to apply

Canadian Geoscience Diplomacy in Collaboration with IUGS, UNESCO IGCP Geoparks, and World Heritage Geosites: Past, Present, and Future

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of IUGS and the 50th anniversary of IGCP, the 2022 symposium entitled “IUGS, Geoparks, and IGCP – Retrospection, today and the future” was coordinated at the GAC-MAC-IAH-CNC-CSPG 2022 Conference in Halifax (16–18 May) with the companion Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Geopark field trip (19–21 May). Canadian leadership within IUGS and IGCP includes J.M. Harrison as the first president of IUGS in 1961, Antony Berger’s work publishing “Episodes”, which is the IUGS’ quarterly international scientific journal, and Canadian leadership on multiple IGCP projects summarized here. Two panel discussions examined the future of geosciences, UNESCO Geoparks and World Geoheritage Sites in Canada. The need for improved communications with politicians, policymakers, and the general public through education and outreach was emphasized in these panel discussions. UNESCO Geoparks (such as the Cliffs of Fundy), UNESCO World Heritage Geosites and significant museum displays represent vehicles for improving communications with the general public about geosciences and potentially inspiring future geoscientists. This report provides a summary of the symposium and explores some of the many themes that it addressed.

A state-of-the-art review of Canadian literature on teacher professional learning and leadership (2010-2020)

ABSTRACT This article presents a state-of-the-art review of the last decade (2010–2020) of research on Teacher Professional Learning and Leadership produced by researchers in Canadian universities and published by peer-reviewed journals indexed in Web of Science or Scopus database. The review aims to succinctly summarize key ideas, themes, and findings during the decade from 2010 to 2020 from Canadian research and to assist in identifying the major trends, strengths, and gray areas in the Canadian research. Thirty-one articles were selected for their specific focus on teacher professional learning and leadership. We present our findings using three broad thematic headings. First, evidence from examples of approaches to teachers’ professional learning and leadership in Canada, includes sub-sections on: teachers’ professional learning and leadership development programs; and teachers’ organizations and professional learning. Second, processes for developing professional learning and leadership and intended outcomes, includes sub-sections on: professional capital; social capital, collaborative learning, and professional learning communities; mentoring; teacher voice and agency; de-privatizing teaching practice; building relational trust; distributed leadership; and ethical leadership and decision-making. Third, professional learning informing educational change, policies, and practices, includes sub-sections on: educational change; technology; teacher evaluation and accountability; assessment practices; and diversity, inclusion and multi-culturalism.

Conflict of Cross-Country Ethical Values: President of China and Prime Minister of Canada at G20 Indonesia

The ethical conflict between the President of China and the Prime Minister of Canada at the G20 Summit in Indonesia deserves to be studied as to the causes of ethical differences between leaders. Ethical leadership, appropriate prescriptive behaviour, and promotion among staff through personal behaviour and interpersonal relationships. The focus of ethical leadership is obedience, and the content material of norms and ethical requirements varies in line with the cultural context of each country. Community members develop cognitive templates of behaviours that leaders prefer. This indicates that leaders tend to act in a manner that corresponds to their respective societal expectations of being more effective. This study uses a systematic literature review method. Ethical leadership in China is rooted in Confucian philosophy, whereas ethical leadership in Canada emphasizes performance, future orientation, and individualism. Lawrence Kohlberg on moral reasoning said that most people go through what is called the conventional cognitive level of moral development. This study provides reference material in the study of culture and cognition in ethical leadership that has not been extensively studied by researchers. This research helps people see the cultural differences that affect ethical leadership among state leaders, particularly in China and Canada. Communities can understand this difference and thus prevent conflicts in the future.

Sour Grapes? Party Donors and Canadian Leadership Primaries

AbstractPolitical parties around the world are adopting primaries to select leaders and legislative candidates. While a large, though inconclusive, literature has emerged in the American context to explore the consequences of primaries, little attention has been devoted to other national contexts. Exploring patterns of financial donation, this study examines whether individuals who supported a losing leadership candidate are less likely to exhibit subsequent financial commitment to the party compared to those donors whose preferred candidate won the internal election. Drawing upon a novel dataset that includes tens of thousands of donors to recent leadership elections in Canada, we demonstrate that intra-party winners (i.e. those who supported the winning leadership candidate) are more likely to be financially committed to the party in the year after the election than those who supported losers. Results suggest that open and inclusive elections, while participatory in nature, may come at a cost for political parties as losers withdraw from the party in the wake of their loss.

Real-life experience with IV fosfomycin in Canada: Results from the Canadian LEadership on Antimicrobial Real-life usage (CLEAR) registry

Data on the use of IV fosfomycin in Canada are limited. We report the use of IV fosfomycin in Canadian patients using data captured by the CLEAR registry. The CLEAR registry uses the web-based data management program, REDCapTM (online survey https://rcsurvey.radyfhs.umanitoba.ca/surveys/?s=F7JXNDFXEF) to facilitate clinicians entering details associated with their clinical experiences using IV fosfomycin. Data were available for 59 patients treated with IV fosfomycin. The most common infections treated were: bacteremia or sepsis (25.4% of patients), complicated UTI (20.3%), ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (18.6%), and hospital-acquired pneumonia (13.6%). IV fosfomycin was used to treat Gram-negative (88.1%) or Gram-positive (10.2%) infections. The most common pathogens treated were carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) (44.1%), MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.6%), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) (5.1%), and MRSA (3.4%). IV fosfomycin was primarily used due to resistance to initially prescribed therapies (69.5%) and frequently in combination with other agents (86.4%). Microbiological success (eradication/presumed eradication) occurred in 77.4% and clinical success (clinical cure/improvement) occurred in 62.5% of patients; overall, 15.3% of patients died due to their infection. Adverse effects were not documented in 73.1% of patients and no patient discontinued therapy due to an adverse effect. In Canada, IV fosfomycin is used primarily as directed therapy to treat a variety of severe infections caused by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. It is primarily used in patients infected with bacteria resistant to other agents and as part of combination therapy. Its use is associated with relatively high microbiological and clinical cure rates, and an excellent safety profile.

Municipal climate leadership in Canada: the role of leadership in the expansion of municipal climate action

PurposeThe purpose of this empirical case study is to study and explain the role of public leadership in the expansion of municipal climate action in Canada.Design/methodology/approachIn 2017 and 2018, the authors conducted13 semi-directed interviews with municipal staff and elected officials from three municipalities, a documentary analysis of primary and secondary sources. Interviews and documentation collected were also coded using the software NVIVO 12. The authors compared three municipal case studies: the City of Toronto (Ontario), the City of Guelph (Ontario), and the Town of Bridgewater (Nova Scotia).FindingsThe authors found that leadership is a prominent factor explaining the expansion of municipal climate action in Canada. Municipal climate action is initiated and championed by an individual, elected officials or municipal staff, who lead and engage in the development of policy instruments to mitigate and/or adapt to climate change. These leaders facilitate the formulation and implementation of instruments, encourage a paradigm shift within the municipality, overcome structural and behavioural barriers, and foster collaboration around a common vision. Optimal municipal climate leadership occurs when the leadership of elected officials and municipal is congruent, though networks play a significant role by amplifying municipal sustainability leadership. They support staff and elected officials leadership within municipalities, provide more information and funding to grow the capacity of municipalities to develop instruments, to the point that conditions under which municipalities are driving climate action are changing.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper hopes to contribute to better understand under what conditions municipalities drive change.Originality/valueThere is an international scholarly recognition that municipalities should be further explored and considered important actors in the Canadian and international climate change governance. Gore (2010) and Robinson and Gore (2015) highlighted that we are yet to understand the extent to which municipalities are involved in climate governance in Canada. This article directly addresses this gap in the current scholarly literature and explores the expansion of climate municipal leadership with the aspects of interviews.

Looking beyond parity: Gender wage gaps and the leadership labyrinth in the Canadian healthcare management workforce.

It is important for health organizations to monitor progress toward gender equity and inclusion goals among health human resources. Within the Canadian healthcare management workforce, however, recent investigations are lacking. This study examines gender differences in composition and compensation among health leadership in Canada using national census data. Findings show that although women represent over half (57%) of senior managers in health and social services, the pipeline from middle management (72%) suggests persistent career barriers disproportionately affect women. Women health and social care managers' earnings averaged $0.83-.89 for every dollar that a man earned. The gender wage gap remained statistically significant, with women health managers earning 12-20% less than men, after adjusting for age, education and other characteristics. Dynamic decomposition analyses highlighted that most of the gender wage gap could not be explained within the available data-a finding attributable, at least in part, to (unmeasured and unmeasurable) gender discrimination.

Creating space for leadership education in undergraduate medical education in Canada.

The need for effective leadership by physicians is clear, yet the design/delivery of curricula, and assessment of leadership competencies, in Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) continues to need work. In reappraising their UGME assessment strategies, the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) invited position papers across diverse lenses, including the CanMEDS Intrinsic Roles. This article is foundational work derived from the report on leadership assessment to the MCC. Using Kern’s Model of Curriculum development as a guide, we reviewed the landscape of Canadian UGME leadership education through an environmental scan of the published and grey literature, Canadian leadership frameworks and resources, and consultation with learner and faculty leadership. Leadership education across programs was highly variable and learners were often unaware of available opportunities. In response, we have suggested processes for curricular development, including strategies for key content, teaching and assessment, and program evaluation considerations. Leadership education cannot remain another checkbox on a list of UGME experiences. Such training necessitates focused attention and investment to foster ongoing identity formation toward becoming a good doctor.

Afghan Agenda in Current Canadian Politics

Canada’s operation in Afghanistan has been unfolding during a critically important domestic political event, i.e., the federal elections of 2021. The election campaign had pooled the main attention and resources of the Canadian leadership, limiting its ability to act in Afghanistan. Despite the difficulties, the Liberal Government of Justin Trudeau has achieved a lot. Firstly, they have organized the evacuation of Canadians and of Afghans who worked with the Canadian Armed Forces during the US and NATO military mission. Secondly, Ottawa has defined its attitude towards the Taliban regime by refusing diplomatic recognition. Thirdly, the admission of Afghan refugees to Canada has begun. In each of these areas, the Liberal Government has successes and failures, which have caused acute controversy in the country.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in Canada: a context-specific position paper from the Canadian Collaborative for Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS).

Summary Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a well-described intervention for noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Several Canadian centres have included REBOA in their hemorrhagic shock protocols. However, REBOA has known complications and equipoise regarding its use persists. The Canadian Collaborative on Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS) comprises surgeons who provide acute trauma care and leadership in Canada, with experience in REBOA implementation, use, education and research. Our goal is to provide evidence- and experience-based recommendations regarding institutional implementation of a REBOA program, including multidisciplinary educational programs, attention to device and care pathway logistics, and a robust quality assurance program. This will allow Canadian trauma centres to maximize patient benefits and minimize risks of this potentially life-saving technology.

Identity and Industry: Making Media Multicultural in Canada by Mark Hayward, and: African Canadian Leadership: Continuity, Transition, and Transformation ed. by Tamari Kitossa, Erica S. Lawson and Philip S.S. Howard

Identity and Industry: Making Media Multicultural in Canada by Mark Hayward, and: African Canadian Leadership: Continuity, Transition, and Transformation ed. by Tamari Kitossa, Erica S. Lawson and Philip S.S. Howard

Resetting the Future of Healthcare Leadership.

There is no doubt that the events of the past two years will leave an indelible mark on human history. The tragic loss of so many lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term health and psychological impacts for many more and the economic and societal changes will reverberate for years to come. While the pandemic is not yet over, we are starting to appreciate how different our new future looks and feels. It is within this context that Longwoods Publishing and the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) have collaborated, for the first time, in a shared reflection on the future of leadership in Canada's healthcare system.

How full is the glass? A perspective on women in medical leadership in Canada

What do we really know about the representation of female physicians in medical leadership in Canada? Female representation on the current boards of the Canadian Medical Association and provincial/territorial medical associations is 23% and 40%, respectively. Identified barriers to female medical leadership include gendered organizational and workplace culture, gender bias, inflexible work practices, unequal childcare and domestic responsibilities, and biased performance assessment criteria and recruitment practices. Identified enablers include flexible tenure policies, systematic parental leave policies, greater inclusivity in the workplace, and formal mentorship structures. More has been written about the costs of leadership for female physicians rather than the benefits.

The Canadian Academy of Nursing: Why It Matters.

The Canadian Academy of Nursing (the Academy) was established in 2019 to provide a focal point for nursing leadership in Canada that had been missing among the 40+ specialty practice and interest groups affiliated with the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). More than 41,000 regulated nurses work in formal administration or management leadership roles, and many of them have shared a worrying array of self-identified gaps in leadership skills and development. This article presents an overview of programs being launched within the Academy to help address these gaps and describes other public policy priorities being addressed by the CNA.