secondstreet.org

What secondstreet.org does

SecondStreet.org is a Canadian nonprofit think tank founded in 2019 by Troy Lanigan, a 26-year veteran of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, the organization operates with a small team of under 15 staff and leadership including President Colin Craig and Research Director Bacchus Barua (formerly of the Fraser Institute). Its mission is to advocate for free-market policy reforms in Canadian healthcare, education, and affordability by combining personal stories from everyday Canadians with original investigative research and international policy comparisons.

The organization's core products form an integrated advocacy ecosystem. Research outputs include policy briefs produced through Freedom of Information requests, data analysis, and comparative studies. Content distribution runs through a YouTube channel with 350+ videos, a weekly television show ('On Second Street' on The News Forum), and a documentary ('Health Reform Now'). Engagement infrastructure includes a Health Care Complaint System, a Petitions platform, a Fund-a-Project crowdfunding tool, and the 'Real Stories' initiative. Two satellite websites — PatientOptions.ca (helping patients find timely surgery options domestically and abroad) and SchoolOptions.ca (K-12 education choice resources for parents) — extend the brand into actionable consumer-facing tools. The organization has documented 25+ policy changes contributed to across healthcare, education, red tape reduction, and taxation since 2019.

As a donor-funded nonprofit, SecondStreet.org generates revenue entirely through individual donations (one-time and monthly), project-specific fundraising, and petition-driven campaigns. Preset donation tiers range from $10 to $250, with a stated 2026 fundraising goal of $100,000. The organization serves three primary audiences: everyday Canadians who share policy-affected stories, policy-makers (NDP, Conservative, and Liberal politicians have cited the organization's research), and major media outlets (CBC, CTV, Global News, National Post, Financial Post). Its go-to-market relies on community-led advocacy, amplifying citizen voices through grassroots storytelling combined with rigorous research to pressure for reform. Notable strategic partners include the Montreal Economic Institute, Canadian Constitution Foundation, and Institute for Liberal Studies.

Name

secondstreet.org

Legal name

Second Street

Website

https://secondstreet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SecondStreet.org is a Canadian nonprofit think tank founded in 2019 that combines personal storytelling from everyday Canadians with original investigative research to advocate for free-market healthcare and education policy reforms, distributing content through videos, documentaries, petitions, and a 20,000+ subscriber network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Advocacy and Research

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Policy research advocacy
• Healthcare reform research
• Education policy advocacy
• Public policy storytelling
• Government accountability research

Headquarters

HQ city

Regina

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: SecondStreet.org operates as a nonprofit think tank funded primarily through public donations. They accept one-time and monthly donations, with a stated 2026 fundraising goal of $100,000. They also offer project-specific funding opportunities where donors can contribute to particular initiatives like education reform research or documentary production.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SecondStreet.org is a Canadian nonprofit think tank that combines personal storytelling with original investigative policy research to advocate for free-market reforms in healthcare, education, and affordability. It collects real stories from everyday Canadians, produces policy briefs and documentaries, conducts Freedom of Information requests, runs petition campaigns, and amplifies its findings through media and events to influence government policy.

Product overview

SecondStreet.org is a Canadian think tank focused on policy research and storytelling. The organization operates primarily as a policy advocacy platform rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include a Health Care Complaint System for Canadians to share experiences, Policy Research and Policy Briefs produced through Freedom of Information requests, Petitions campaigns, Video Documentaries including the 'Health Reform Now Documentary' and 'On Second Street' TV show, and fundraising platforms. The organization also maintains subsidiary websites PatientOptions.ca and SchoolOptions.ca. The products work together as an integrated advocacy ecosystem: complaints and stories provide raw material for research, which informs petitions and videos, while the fund-a-project platform enables direct supporter funding of specific initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health Care Complaint System An online submission form allowing Canadians to share their personal experiences with the healthcare system, including long wait times, cancelled surgeries, denied care, and waitlist deaths. Submissions feed SecondStreet.org's research and advocacy work.
• Policy Research and Policy Briefs Original investigative research reports examining Canadian government policies in healthcare, education, and affordability. Includes Freedom of Information requests, data analysis, and international policy comparisons.
• Petitions Platform Online petition campaigns advocating for common-sense reforms in healthcare, education, and affordability issues. Mobilizes supporters to contact politicians on specific policy issues.
• Video Documentaries and Storytelling Original video content including patient stories, documentaries on healthcare reform, international healthcare system comparisons, and educational content. Includes the 'On Second Street' TV show broadcast on The News Forum channel.
• PatientOptions.ca A satellite website helping patients find timely surgery and health services, including information on options within Canada and medical tourism abroad.
• SchoolOptions.ca A tool for parents to explore K-12 education options in Canada, including charter schools and alternatives to the public school system.
• Health Reform Now Documentary Documentary examining Canada's healthcare crisis, featuring patient stories and five policy solutions from European countries to improve health outcomes.
• On Second Street TV Show Weekly cable TV show featuring discussions on healthcare, education, and important policy topics, broadcast on The News Forum channel. Hosted by President Colin Craig.
• Fund-a-Project Platform Crowdfunding platform allowing Canadians to directly fund specific advocacy projects including documentary films, research reports, and investigative journalism.
• Real Stories Initiative Feature series pairing Canadians' personal experiences with constructive policy ideas to show how government decisions impact everyday lives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ policy changes in health care, education, red tape, and taxation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Consumer Choice CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026Joint signatory on open letter to Prime Minister Carney applauding openness to Alberta health reforms.
• Macdonald-Laurier InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026Joint signatory on open letter to Prime Minister Carney supporting provincial health care flexibility.
• Canadian Health Policy InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026Joint signatory on open letter to Prime Minister Carney supporting health reform innovation.
• Montreal Economic Institute (MEI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2024Co-host of 'Prescriptions for Health Reform' annual forum - a one-day health reform conference exploring public opinion research and international health system lessons.
• Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2024Co-host of 'Prescriptions for Health Reform' annual forum exploring health reform policy solutions.
• Institute for Liberal Studies (ILS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer a 10-week fellowship program for policy interns. Interns gain hands-on experience in research and video production, participate in weekly leadership webinars, and attend the Freedom Week conference in Montreal.
• Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal firm contracted to identify changes needed to Canada Health Act and provincial legislation to remove barriers to private healthcare options.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• C.D. Howe Institute: Canada's premier economic policy think tank with broader remit across monetary policy, fiscal policy, and international trade. More established and resourced than SecondStreet.org, but operates in adjacent Canadian policy research space.

Direct peers

• Fraser Institute: Canada's largest free-market think tank, formerly employing SecondStreet.org's Research Director Bacchus Barua as Director of Health Policy Studies. Both organizations produce healthcare and economic policy research, with strongly overlapping methodological and ideological positioning.
• Macdonald-Laurier Institute: Ottawa-based think tank producing public policy research and a co-signatory on SecondStreet.org's open letters to Prime Minister Carney. Both produce Canadian policy research across healthcare, taxation, and economic competitiveness.
• Montreal Economic Institute (MEI): Quebec-based free-market think tank and co-host of SecondStreet.org's 'Prescriptions for Health Reform' annual forum. Both focus on healthcare reform, tax policy, and government efficiency from a market-oriented perspective in Canada.
• Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF): Calgary-based constitutional and free-market litigation/advocacy organization, co-host of 'Prescriptions for Health Reform.' Both advocate for individual freedoms and limited government in Canada, including healthcare choice.
• Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF): Canada's primary taxpayer advocacy organization, where SecondStreet.org's founder Troy Lanigan served as President/CEO for 10 years. Multiple board members and staff came from CTF. Both advocate for lower taxes, reduced government spending, and improved public services.
• Institute for Liberal Studies: Canadian student-focused libertarian think tank running SecondStreet.org's 10-week policy fellowship program. Both share free-market ideological foundations and Canadian policy focus.

Emerging players

• Canadian Health Policy Institute (CHPI): Canadian health policy think tank affiliated with SecondStreet.org's Research Director Bacchus Barua. Both focus specifically on Canadian healthcare policy research and reform advocacy.
• Consumer Choice Center: International consumer choice advocacy group and joint signatory with SecondStreet.org on open letters to PM Carney. Both advocate for consumer choice in healthcare and against protectionist policies.
• Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy: Alberta-based free-market think tank where SecondStreet.org's Communications Director Danny Randell serves as a Visiting Fellow. Both produce Canadian public policy research and advocate for free-market reforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SecondStreetOrg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SecondStreetOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/secondstreet.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/secondstreetorg/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/secondstreet-org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about secondstreet.org