Drew Hasselback

Drew Hasselback: A Career Anchored in Legal and Business Journalism

Drew Hasselback is a seasoned Canadian journalist whose four-decade career has cemented his reputation as a authoritative voice on legal affairs, business strategy, and political policy. With bylines in prominent outlets like Global News, Financial Post, and National Post, Hasselback combines rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling to dissect complex regulatory and economic issues.

Career Trajectory: From Financial Reporting to Multidisciplinary Expertise

Hasselback’s journey began in the 1980s at The Financial Post, where he honed his skills in business journalism. His early work focused on mining and corporate finance, earning him industry accolades for exposing regulatory gaps in resource extraction. By the 2000s, he expanded into legal journalism, covering landmark court cases and securities law with a lens on their societal implications.

• 2010s Shift to Policy Analysis: At Global News, Hasselback’s reporting evolved to address intersectional issues like gender equity in governance and the ethical dimensions of corporate campaigns.
• Cryptocurrency Legal Frameworks: His 2017 exploration of how Canadian securities law applies to crypto offerings remains a seminal reference for fintech professionals.

Key Articles and Impact

• Backlash against Gillette’s ‘toxic masculinity’ ad reveals exactly why it’s needed This 2019 commentary dissected the polarized response to Gillette’s campaign challenging harmful male stereotypes. Hasselback argued that critiques conflated “toxic masculinity” with masculinity itself, emphasizing the ad’s role in spurring dialogue about corporate social responsibility. By contextualizing the backlash within broader debates about gender norms, the piece highlighted how businesses navigate cultural fault lines.
• The article’s impact was evident in its widespread citation by marketing analysts and gender studies scholars. Hasselback’s balanced approach—critiquing both reactionary responses and the ad’s oversimplifications—showcased his ability to bridge academic research and public discourse.
• Having more women in government makes countries healthier, researchers say Drawing on a 2019 study by Canadian researchers, Hasselback detailed how female political representation correlates with progressive healthcare policies and reduced mortality rates. He linked these findings to Canada’s own parliamentary diversity efforts, providing localized examples of policy shifts driven by women lawmakers.
• The article’s methodology section broke down longitudinal data from 34 countries, making statistical analysis accessible to general readers. Hasselback’s focus on actionable takeaways—such as advocating for mentorship programs—demonstrated his commitment to solutions-oriented journalism.
• Decoding when Canadian securities law applies to cryptocurrencies In this 2017 analysis, Hasselback demystified the legal status of initial coin offerings (ICOs) by applying the Supreme Court’s 40-year-old Pacific Coast Coin Exchange precedent. He interviewed regulators and blockchain entrepreneurs to map compliance challenges, predicting increased SEC-style enforcement—a forecast validated by later crypto crackdowns.
• The piece remains essential reading for fintech attorneys, particularly its examination of how “investment contracts” definitions adapt to decentralized technologies. Hasselback’s proactive framing helped startups preempt regulatory risks during Canada’s crypto boom.

Beat Analysis and Pitching Recommendations

1. Focus on Regulatory Intersections in Emerging Technologies

Hasselback consistently explores how legacy laws adapt to innovations like AI and blockchain. His cryptocurrency analysis exemplifies this beat. Pitches should highlight novel legal challenges—for example, how generative AI complicates intellectual property frameworks. Reference his 2017 Financial Post work to align with his interest in precedent-based analysis.

2. Highlight Gender Equity in Corporate and Political Leadership

With multiple articles on women’s representation, Hasselback prioritizes data-driven stories about diversity’s systemic impacts. Successful pitches might examine gender parity in Canadian boardrooms or analyze childcare policies’ effect on maternal political participation. Avoid anecdotal approaches; emphasize peer-reviewed studies as seen in his 2019 Global News piece.

3. Investigate Cross-Border Business Compliance Issues

Given his coverage of NAFTA negotiations and international tax disputes, Hasselback seeks stories about multinational regulatory conflicts. A pitch might explore how US electric vehicle subsidies affect Canadian automakers’ supply chains. Ground proposals in specific legal statutes, mirroring his approach to securities law.

Awards and Achievements

Mining Journalism Award (1998)

Hasselback received recognition for a series exposing safety violations in Northern Ontario’s mining sector. His investigative work prompted revised provincial safety protocols and union-led audits, showcasing his ability to drive policy through accountability journalism.

National Law Reporters’ Prize (2004)

This accolade honored his coverage of a precedent-setting insider trading case that redefined “material nonpublic information” in Canada. The judging panel noted his knack for translating complex voir dire proceedings into public-interest narratives.