Northern Policy Institute

What Northern Policy Institute does

Northern Policy Institute (NPI) is an independent, evidence-driven non-profit think tank headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario, that conducts policy research and data analysis focused exclusively on Northern Ontario. Founded circa 2012 and operating with a small core team of roughly 5–10 staff (President & CEO Charles Cirtwill, VP Research William Dunstan, VP Community Engagement Paula Haapanen, plus policy analysts and an internship pipeline), NPI produces research reports, briefing notes, commentaries, a Human Capital Series, Labour Market Reports, infographics, and a Policy Bytes blog covering demographics, immigration, the economy, the environment, Indigenous peoples, and infrastructure.

The institute's product portfolio centers on three proprietary data platforms: Community Accounts (a community-level data and analytics platform), ConnectNORTH (a GIS tool mapping local supply chains such as agriculture within 75 km of Thunder Bay), and the Northern Data Consortium / Northern Data Bank (a collaborative data-sharing initiative). Adjacent products include Data 101 (a data-literacy program), interactive Boundary, Infrastructure, and Ring of Fire maps, an Experience North internship and workforce-development program, Measurement Month (a community-data awareness initiative), the SNOED data platform, and a Newcomers Mobile App funded under a 2026 FedNor grant. Programming is delivered through conferences and events such as Mini Magnetic North and the Greater Sudbury Immigration Summit, and through media placements and a monthly e-newsletter.

NPI does not charge for its research; its operating revenue comes from project-based government grants — most recently a CAD $1,304,500 investment from the Government of Canada via FedNor announced 2026-03-04 for immigration data collection, the Newcomers Mobile App, conferences, and retention research — supplemented by voluntary donations accepted via its website. The primary customer segments are Northern Ontario municipalities (data-driven guidance on attracting and retaining newcomers and on fiscal questions such as fringe populations), federal and provincial policy makers (evidence for immigration, infrastructure, and healthcare-workforce decisions), and newcomers/immigrants (settlement support and information products).

Name

Northern Policy Institute

Legal name

Northern Policy Institute

Website

https://northernpolicy.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northern Policy Institute is an independent non-profit think tank based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, that produces data-driven policy research and GIS-based tools for Northern Ontario municipalities, federal and provincial policy makers, and newcomer communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Think tank research
• Regional data analytics
• Government policy advisory
• Community economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Thunder Bay

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from federal government programs (FedNor) for specific research and immigration programs. The Government of Canada announced a $1,304,500 investment through FedNor to support workforce expansion and population retention initiatives.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through their website to support their research activities and mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Northern Policy Institute is an independent, evidence-driven think tank that conducts policy research, data analysis, and community engagement for Northern Ontario. It produces peer-reviewed publications (Research Reports, Briefing Notes, Commentaries, Policy Bytes), operates data platforms (ConnectNORTH GIS mapping tool, Community Accounts, Northern Data Consortium), runs educational and workforce programs (Data 101, Experience North), and provides advisory services to municipalities, government bodies, and communities at no cost.

Product overview

Northern Policy Institute is an independent evidence-driven think tank that operates as a platform of interconnected programs and publications focused on Northern Ontario research and policy. The organization offers a suite of data tools (ConnectNORTH GIS mapping, Community Accounts, Northern Data Consortium/NODC, Data 101), workforce programs (Experience North internship, Internship Program), community engagement initiatives (Measurement Month), and a comprehensive publications portfolio (Research Reports, Briefing Notes, Commentaries, Policy Bytes blog, Presentations, Infographics). Additionally, the Institute has developed a mobile application for newcomers and provides interactive mapping tools. These products work together to support evidence-based policy development, population retention, and economic growth in Northern Ontario communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ConnectNORTH A GIS-based tool that maps out industry supply chains such as agriculture, helping businesses identify local producers and suppliers within a geographic area. Designed for businesses, economic development organizations, and community planners in Northern Ontario.
• Community Accounts A program providing data and analytics for Northern Ontario communities, supporting evidence-based policy decisions. Used by municipalities, researchers, and community organizations to access local demographic, economic, and social metrics.
• Northern Data Consortium (NODC) A collaborative initiative working to construct a Northern Data Bank and data sources for measuring work, life, and economic activity in Northern Ontario. Serves researchers, policy makers, and data partners.
• Data 101 A program designed to help stakeholders understand and use data effectively for policy analysis and community planning. Targeted at municipal staff, community organizations, and policy researchers.
• Experience North A program providing employment and professional development placements for young people in Northern Ontario policy research. Targets young professionals and students interested in regional policy and research careers.
• Measurement Month An initiative focused on helping communities measure and understand their local data and population trends. Designed for community organizations and municipal stakeholders across Northern Ontario.
• Policy Publications Suite

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped bring over 4,000 newcomers to Northern Ontario communities through rural immigration pilot
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Government of Canada (FedNor)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026The Government of Canada, through FedNor, announced a $1,304,500 investment to support NPI in helping Northern Ontario communities attract and retain newcomers via immigration programs. Funding includes $959,500 for data collection, advisory services, mobile app development, and conferences, plus $345,000 for analyzing newcomer retention practices.
• Northern Ontario MunicipalitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPI works with municipalities across Northern Ontario to provide research, data analysis, and policy recommendations. The organization supports municipalities in measuring population program impact and strengthening their capacity to attract and retain talent.
• Northern Data Consortium (NODC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPI partners with the Northern Data Consortium to construct a Northern Data Bank and a bank of known Northern data sources, facilitating access to comprehensive data for research and policy analysis.
• Knowledge North PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with organizations like Common Voice Northwest and Ministry of Northern Development to create an online searchable library of Northern research studies.
• Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NOSM on healthcare policy research, including exploring the need for a Rural Coordinating Centre for physician attraction and retention in Northern Ontario.
• Northern Ontario collegesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with northern colleges for workforce training and employment outcomes research, including tracking key performance indicators across Ontario colleges.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Public Policy Forum: An independent Canadian non-profit focused on improving public policy and governance. Comparable to NPI in mission and operating model (independent, evidence-driven), but operates nationally and at a larger scale.
• Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP): An independent, non-partisan Canadian policy research institute. Comparable to NPI as an evidence-driven Canadian think tank, though IRPP operates at the national level with broader policy scope.
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA): An independent, non-partisan research institute focused on social, economic, and environmental justice issues. Comparable to NPI as a Canadian progressive policy research outfit producing regional economic and demographic research.
• C.D. Howe Institute: A national non-partisan think tank focused on economic and social policy. Comparable to NPI in its independence and evidence-based approach, but with a much broader mandate and larger resource base.
• The Conference Board of Canada: A large Canadian applied research organization producing economic and policy analysis. Comparable to NPI in subject-matter overlap (immigration, demographics, regional development), but it operates nationally and at significantly greater scale and scope.

Direct peers

• Smart Prosperity Institute: A Canadian policy research institute focused on productivity, sustainability and economic prosperity. Comparable to NPI as a Canadian evidence-based policy think tank producing research on regional economic development, though Smart Prosperity is national in scope.
• Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc): A networked organization supporting rural physician recruitment and retention in British Columbia. Directly referenced in NPI's research as a model for physician attraction/retention in Northern Ontario, making it a directly comparable rural-health-policy peer.

Regional players

• Canada West Foundation: An independent, non-partisan public policy think tank based in Calgary focused on Western Canada. Comparable to NPI as a regionally focused Canadian policy research organization, though it operates in a different geography and at a larger scale.
• Mowat Centre (University of Toronto): Ontario-focused public policy think tank affiliated with the University of Toronto. Comparable to NPI as an Ontario-based policy research shop, though its focus is provincial rather than sub-regional.
• Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC): An independent policy and economic research organization serving Atlantic Canada. Comparable to NPI as a regional think tank producing data-driven research and policy recommendations for a distinct Canadian region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NorthernPolicy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUAJNGVsnvLYeIBTTdITTqg
• Facebookfacebook.com/NorthernPolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-policy-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/northernpolicy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northern Policy Institute