TLDR - Innovation - May 2025
- Coralie Gagné
- May 26
- 3 min read
Innovation in Service of Democracy
In our world, strategy occupies a central place. This is the case in innovation as it is in politics. Obviously, a known danger of strategy is relying too heavily on planning and thus neglecting our changing realities. Very often, yesterday's solutions are no longer sufficient to solve today's problems. In innovation, we have long recognized this reality, so iterations are fundamental elements integrated into any good process. This capacity for adaptation could inspire the political world, which faces increasingly complex challenges.
While many perceive the growing distance between institutions and citizens as a crisis, we consciously choose to consider it as an opportunity. While current methods need to be revised, what better way than to innovate to change things for the better. This is where we think about social innovation. Social innovation, in a political context, offers a lever to strengthen democracy, particularly by focusing on participatory, inclusive practices rooted in ground realities.
This can take many forms. Rethinking the formats of our electoral debates to enhance the value of political exchanges is one. Indeed, it would be possible to consider rules that favor direct responses to citizen questions and limit partisan attacks, while reserving a distinct space for confrontations of ideas. An expanded and clarified mandate for the Debate Commission could go in this direction: better framing discussions so they are truly useful to the electorate.
Furthermore, initiatives such as citizens' assemblies or participatory budgets are already implemented approaches. These social innovations demonstrate that it is possible to make room for citizen voices, beyond elections, and to co-construct public policies that respond to the real needs of communities. Far from questioning representative democracy, these innovations enrich it. They allow institutions to reconnect with the diversity of citizen knowledge and encourage more collaborative and agile forms of leadership.
The question is therefore no longer whether we should innovate in politics, but how to achieve this collectively with rigor, transparency, and imagination. Because innovation is a path to solutions, even in the context of elections.
On our radar:
Transforming your business model in a sustainability context
Sustainable development goals open the door to developing business models that are not only greener, but also more innovative.
Budget du Québec 2025-2026: l'innovation, un pilier?
Quebec is betting on innovation - it's up to you to take advantage of it.
Notable Events:
By combining innovation, networking and business opportunity creation, Quebec Slush'd aims to create connections for our startups and better position Quebec. Learn More
The environment - in the broad sense - is changing. How to adapt to it? Climate Summit Mtl aims to offer tools to help you. Learn more
Our inspirations:
"The strength of rules lies in the exceptions"
A little more flexibility is worth considering in our municipalities
The "Breakthrough method" is a Dutch approach increasingly advocated in municipal management. This method offers municipal employees more flexibility in decision-making by setting aside rigid procedural frameworks. By treating citizens' cases individually, employees can propose concrete and effective solutions that would otherwise be impossible to achieve by following usual procedures.
It is not surprising to see that this method strengthens relationships between citizens and institutions. It is gaining ground in many municipalities because it leads to more sustainable results. The key is to ensure job security for municipal employees - who must absolutely be well trained. The central challenge remains reconciling administrative innovation and equity in rule application. If there are only exceptions, there are no rules.
Taylor Swift: an example of innovation?
In an industry that makes artists precarious for the benefit of platforms, one has managed to reinvent the game to come out winning.
Opmerkingen