Dr. Maryse

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Maryse is a Behavioural Science Fellow with the Impact and Innovation Unit of the Privy Council Office. Her work combines behavioural science and quantitative research methods to design, test, and evaluate innovative solutions to complex public policy challenges. Before joining the unit, Maryse worked as a research scientist at Innodem Neurosciences and SilicoLabs, where she used eye movements and motion analysis to investigate brain-behaviour relationships in clinical and research settings.

Dr. Derek

Submitted by natcoder on

Derek is a Behavioural Science Fellow with the Impact and Innovation Unit of the Privy Council Office, where he works to apply behavioural science techniques and insights to inform government policies and programs. Prior to joining the Fellowship program, Derek worked as a Behavioural Science Consultant, supporting clients across various sectors, including technology, sustainability, transportation, and mental health.

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  3. Applying Behavioural Science to Optimize Home Energy Label Design
Research Abstract

Applying Behavioural Science to Optimize Home Energy Label Design

Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Cartoon Illustration of Window with Energuide colours behind.

The EnerGuide home labelling program, administered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is a key federal tool for improving residential energy efficiency. The program aims to help Canadians understand home energy performance and make informed decisions when buying, selling, or renovating. While EnerGuide includes a comprehensive home assessment, research and user feedback indicate that the label contains some information that can be hard to interpret or ineffective for decision making. Research is needed to improve communication of energy performance via the label in ways that are accessible and motivating for the average Canadian.

In collaboration with NRCan’s Home Energy and Adaptation Labelling team, we are conducting a multi phase behavioural science research program to inform home energy label design. Since 2024, this work has included a literature review, focus groups, a national survey of 1,400 Canadians (data collected Nov-Dec 2024), and a combined survey experiment and discrete choice experiment of over 4,000 Canadians (data collected Feb-Mar 2025). Findings show that Canadians are especially interested in and motivated by cost related information, including annual operating costs, potential savings from upgrades, and the cost of retrofits. They also value guidance on retrofit options and steps they can take to improve their home. While many Canadians express interest in their home’s carbon footprint, GHG emissions are often difficult to interpret and have limited influence on label utility. This research will help inform policies and programs to further home energy labelling, including potential updates to the EnerGuide label for homes.

For further information on our research contact iiu-uii@pco-bcp.gc.ca.

Published: 2026-04-20
Last modified: 2026-04-21
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  3. A snapshot of Canadians’ key well-being determinants
Research Abstract

A snapshot of Canadians’ key well-being determinants

Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Cartoon Illustration of city views, vehicles, nature, tech, and people moving along a line.

Health and well-being are multifaceted, shaped by various factors such as physical and mental health, the presence of social supports, and engagement in healthy behaviours. These potential determinants were the focus of Wave 5 of the Health, Attitudes & Behavioural Insights Tracker (HABIT) Survey, conducted by Impact Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Behavioural Science Office. Together, Impact Canada and PHAC's Behavioural Science Office sought to understand how these factors may impact well-being and identify areas where policy and program interventions may be needed to promote healthier, more socially-connected communities.

A representative sample of 2,265 Canadian adults were surveyed in February and March 2025. Overall, we found that a meaningful proportion of Canadians rated their physical and mental health as fair or poor (30% and 28%, respectively). While most Canadians (91%) felt they had strong relationships as evidenced by the presence of people they can rely on or talk to, half reported feelings of loneliness – either in lacking companionship or feeling isolated or left out. Barriers to social engagement were reported by 43% of respondents, and most attributed it to lack of time, personal or family responsibilities, or high costs. Half of respondents planned to exercise more in the next 12 months, but commonly cited barriers to exercise included lack of motivation (47%), energy (43%), and time (37%). These results offer a snapshot of Canadians’ key well-being determinants, and demonstrated some major areas of challenge.

For further information on our research contact iiu-uii@pco-bcp.gc.ca.

Published: 2026-04-20
Last modified: 2026-04-21
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  3. Examining Canadians’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to public health emergencies
Research Abstract

Examining Canadians’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to public health emergencies

Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Cartoon Illustration with preventative pandemic measures on the left side and wildfires on the right.

Public health emergencies like pandemics and wildfires can significantly affect health and well-being; however, national data on how Canadians understand and respond to these events is limited. To address this gap, Wave 4 of the Health, Attitudes & Behavioural Insights Tracker (HABIT) Survey—co-led by Impact Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Behavioural Science Office—examined Canadians’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to public health emergencies, including viral outbreaks and extreme weather events like wildfires.

A representative sample of 2,498 Canadian adults were surveyed in October 2024. Overall, results revealed that many respondents had some familiarity with viruses such as mpox (88%) and avian flu (73%), but far fewer were confident in their understanding of these illnesses and very few (14%) were concerned about the risks they pose. We also found that most respondents supported the reintroduction of public health measures if another pandemic were to occur, particularly for international travel restrictions (72%) and masking (70%), with less support for closing businesses/workplaces (34%). For extreme weather events, we found that half of respondents (51%) had experienced wildfire smoke in the past two years, of whom 79% reported health issues such as breathing problems and headaches. Fewer than half (42%) had sought information about wildfire preparedness, including actions to improve air quality and understand local risks. These findings highlight gaps in awareness and point to areas where public health efforts could better support Canadians in understanding and responding to potential public health emergencies.

For further information on our research contact iiu-uii@pco-bcp.gc.ca.