Feds’ approach to internet regulation disastrous for consumers
When you look at the Conservative government’s approach to internet regulation what you get is a confusing maze of announcements, reversals and half-measures all resulting in disastrous outcomes for consumers. Canadians pay more than most other OECD countries for internet service while receiving a comparatively lower level of service, particularly with respect to download speed. […]
Clement wants to help transform Canada into a global leading innovator, but has some challenges
GOAL: To ensure Canada is a leading innovator in the world. CHALLENGE: To combine government, public policy, private sector investment, and excellence in academia to make it happen. Industry Minister Tony Clement says he wants to make Canada the world’s leader in innovation, but business research and development is “troublesome.” It’s something he says he’s […]
Canada has gone from ‘leader’ to ‘backwater’ in global digital economy competitiveness, say critics
Industry Minister Tony Clement has said that by 2020, Canada will boast a “globally competitive digital economy.” While one policy analyst says it’s possible, opposition critics are wondering why Canada isn’t becoming more competitive sooner. The year “2020 is way too late. We’ve gone from being a leader to basically being a backwater, and for […]
Canada at ‘competitive disadvantage’ in funding innovation, say industry stakeholders
Changes to Canada’s tax regime are working to attract flagging foreign investment to Canadian innovation, but firms are still having a hard time accessing funds for their new ideas, say business and industry insiders. “We have a good research base in this country. When you have the resources to drive the research you can do […]
Funding for innovation most likely to be cut in next budget, say opposition MPs
With the government’s commitment to slay the now estimated $27.4-billion budget deficit, opposition MPs say “there’s no doubt” that funding for innovation will be cut in the upcoming March budget. “The government has kind of indicated that they have to cut right across the board, and I imagine since there is not specific long term […]
Ritz says agriculture ‘backbone’ of Canadian economy
Agriculture is the “backbone” of Canada’s economy, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, whose top priority is to put farmers first after years of governments developing agriculture policy without input from farmers in the industry. “For far too long, policies were dictated by politicians to farmers in rural Canada. We’ve taken a different approach—we’re working with […]
Canada could be on leading edge of world competitiveness in agriculture sector: Agriculture Committee
The House Agriculture Committee released its comprehensive report on the competitiveness of the Canadian agriculture industry recently, noting that while Canada is losing market share, it has the resources, knowledge and people to remain “at the leading edge of world competitiveness in the agriculture and agri-food sector.” Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ont.), Parliamentary secretary […]
Canada should have national food policy, say political parties’ agriculture critics
Canada needs a national food strategy, but governments don’t have the political will to create one, say opposition MPs, however, the government says just because agriculture policies don’t have a “food strategy” label it does not mean the government doesn’t have one. “It’s unbelievable that we as a country don’t have a national food policy […]
Are agriculture numbers telling us to do something differently?
“Men, women and families who produce primary food are barely surviving economically, and too often they are not surviving at all. There is no way of avoiding the conclusion that many are locked in a deep and continuing economic crisis.” The preceding statement was presented to federal and provincial ministers of agriculture in a 2005 […]
Improving competitiveness and food sovereignty go hand-in-hand
“Competitiveness” is often assumed to be about market liberalization and deregulation. In Quebec, the agricultural sector, in particular, but also the public, at large, is increasingly aware that liberalization and deregulation can backfire. That is why food sovereignty has become an unavoidable issue when improving competitiveness is on the agenda. Food sovereignty is a nation’s […]
