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Open Policy Ontario is the social policy consultancy of John Stapleton.

John Stapleton
John Stapleton

John Stapleton is a writer, instructor and a former Innovation Fellow with the Metcalf Foundation.

He worked for the Ontario Government for 28 years in the areas of social assistance policy and operations and was Research Director for the Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working-Age Adults in Toronto. John teaches on public policy for community advocates and is extensively published in local and national media.

Read more about John.


What is policy? - first slide from John Stapleton's course on policyNeed help framing and articulating policy issues for governments and other bodies?

Book a training with John for your agency.

“The insights and practical tips that I gained from the course have helped tremendously in framing communications with government funders.” – participant


Retiring on a low income coverLow income? Get tips on retirement planning

View and download resources or attend a workshop with John.

Translations available in French, Gujarati and Simple Traditional Chinese.


Cover image: End of Large Scale Pandemic BenefitsRecent publications

Keep six federal ridings in Scarborough

‘Rent geared to income’ should apply to all Toronto Community Housing tenants, not just some

Poor people don’t have the resources to pay back CERB


Working full time full year in poverty - report coverRecent presentations

Working full-time full-year but still in poverty?

An informed Scarborough residents response to the affordable housing task force

Ontario’s social assistance and employment transformation plan for Toronto


John with Julie PayetteMore

John with Governor General Julie Payette and Navy veteran Don Stewart in Pontecorvo, Italy, 2019

In stride: Governor General Julie Payette