Shortlist announced for $50,000 Donner Prize

The constitution, immigration, museums, and obesity are in the spotlight

TORONTO, April 3, 2012 /CNW/ - Does the prime minister wield too much power?  Is our skilled immigration policy in need of major reform? What role do museums play in Canadian society?  Could Healthy Living Vouchers help in the battle against obesity?

These are the questions posed by the four finalists competing for the 2011/2012 Donner Prize, the award for best public policy book by a Canadian. The shortlist was announced today by Allan Gotlieb, Chairman of the Donner Canadian Foundation.

The prestigious Donner Prize annually rewards excellence and innovation in public policy writing by Canadians. In bestowing this award, the Donner Canadian Foundation seeks to broaden policy debates, increase general awareness of the importance of policy decision making, and make an original and meaningful contribution to policy discourse.

"This year our finalists tackle four very different, and very timely, policy issues, and deliver fresh new insights and bold policy recommendations. We hope the unique recommendations presented by our finalists will lead to an ongoing exchange of ideas," said Mr. Gotlieb.

The Donner Prize was established in 1998 to recognize and reward the best public policy thinking, writing and research in Canada. The 2011/2012 shortlisted titles were chosen from a field of 58 submissions. The winner will receive $50,000, with $7,500 awarded to the other nominated titles.

The winner of this year's Donner Prize will be announced at an awards ceremony in Toronto on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. The ceremony will be hosted by Don Newman, Chairman, Canada 2020.

The 2011/2012 Donner Prize Finalists are:

• Democratizing the Constitution: Reforming Responsible Government by Peter Aucoin, Mark D. Jarvis and Lori Turnbull (Emond Montgomery Publications)
• Toward Improving Canada's Skilled Immigration Policy: An Evaluation Approach by Charles M. Beach, Alan G. Green and Christopher Worswick (C.D. Howe Institute)
• Museum Pieces: Toward the Indigenization of Canadian Museums by Ruth B. Phillips (McGill-Queen's University Press)
• XXL: Obesity and the Limits of Shame by Neil Seeman and Patrick Luciani (University of Toronto Centre for Public Management)

Shortlisted authors are available for comment and interview

Sherry Naylor, Prize Manager 
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected] 
www.donnerbookprize.com