City partners with universities, colleges on COVID-19 research

Thestar.com
Nov. 10, 2020
Francine Kopun

In a move expected to drive student employment, Toronto is partnering with its eight universities and colleges on research to support the city’s recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor John Tory announced Monday.

“The presence in our city of excellent, globally recognized academic institutions on every corner, almost, is a huge asset we had before the pandemic, we have today and we will have going forward,” said Tory, announcing the partnership at a press conference held with provincial and federal government representatives.

All three levels of government are funding the initiative, with Toronto contributing $100,000 for the first eight studies, which have already been selected.

The majority of the funding will go to hiring students to undertake the research.

The partnership allows the city to present research priorities to the city’s higher education institutions (HEI), through a working group formed to pilot and expedite the effort.

The working group is chaired by Robert Luke, CEO, eCampusOntario, a provincially funded non-profit organization focused on advancing digital learning. The working group also includes representatives from the city, the colleges and universities, and funding, student placement and research partners.

The first eight research projects include: The link between socio-demographics and the incidence and severity of COVID-19; supply chain risks related to personal protective equipment (PPE) and a project that will look at who in the city lacks digital connectivity and why, with an eye to recommending policy changes or financial investments to bridge the gap.

The other studies will look at the pandemic’s impact on air pollution; telework and its impact on employee performance and barriers and challenges facing low-income residents in filing income taxes in order to access benefits like low-income housing and child care fee subsidies.

Ryerson University will be involved in seven of the projects; Seneca College, York University and University of Toronto each have two and Humber College has one.

Toronto’s HEIs also include George Brown College, OCAD University and Centennial College.

The partnership between the city and the schools is expected to be made permanent.

The current projects are to be completed between December 2020 and September 2021, with more research proposals to be brought forward in late 2020 or early 2021.

The studies will be conducted with a variety of city departments, from Toronto Public Health to the technology services division. The projects are expected to produce new data, research papers and recommendations and the findings used to inform changes to city policies, processes and service and support the work of COVID-19 response and recovery, according to a press release from the city.

Mitacs, a not-for-profit national research organization aimed at fostering growth and innovation, funded by the federal and provincial governments, is contributing more than $50,000. The HEIs are contributing more than $25,000.

Conducting collaborative research was identified as an opportunity by the mayor’s Economic Support and Recovery Task Force, through an Academic Institutions Working Group, chaired by Coun. Jennifer McKelvie, a former research scientist.

“It’s going to employ students and we will have some excellent research and recommendation outcomes for the city,” said McKelvie, (Ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park).