Newspapers, magazines, and other general interest publications are important sources for public policy research. The news is often the first venue in which government policy direction is articulated, and is particularly useful if the policy is significant or controversial. Reading news coverage is also an efficient way to identify bills under consideration, key stakeholders, and other important information.
Suggested databases for news articles include:
Users may also wish to consult Ontario News Watch, a politics and government news portal which is especially useful for detailed, insider, information about the Provincial Government.
Tip: If you become overwhelmed by the number of repetitive articles you find, try restricting the sources. Certain news sources fulfill a role as “newspapers of record” and provide excellent and detailed coverage of Ontario politics and current affairs. Unless the issue is a regional one, you may wish to start off restricting yourself to two or three major papers such as the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the National Post. Factiva works best if you opt to go this route:
See also: Guide to Finding Newspapers Articles
Scholarly articles offer greater analysis and may have the historical perspective not found in popular works such as newspapers and general interest magazines. Try the databases listed below or see the full list of subject research guides to see the key databases for a subject area.
Suggested databases for journal articles:
Tip: It takes some time for academic articles to be researched, written, and accepted for publication. Don’t count on finding one unless the issue has been around for some time or is very significant.
Try searching the Library Catalogue by keyword first. If you find too many items, use the Advanced Search and limit by searching the subject fields. Most of the time, if a book is on Ontario government policy, the word Ontario will appear in the subject field. You can search for as many different concepts as you wish, limiting yourself to searching the subject field and linking them together by selecting AND on the left. A search might look like this:
