AI, climate crises converging
LONDON, U.K.—Maybe we can get through the climate crisis without a global catastrophe, although that door is closing fast. Maybe we can cope with the huge loss of jobs caused by the revolution in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) without a social and political calamity. But can we do both at the same time? We […]
PSAC head says avoiding Conservative government ‘No. 1’ election issue
The head of Canada’s largest federal public service union says the number one issue for the Public Service Alliance of Canada is “not to end up with another Conservative government” and to “get the NDP elected wherever we can.” “There’s no way we can have more of Stephen Harper, and that’s exactly what Andrew Scheer will […]
Bold new measures are in place to protect Canadians’ cybersecurity
Canadians now work, play, shop, bank, do business, and keep in touch online every day. Yet the same digital infrastructure that has contributed to our prosperity, our education, and our social lives can also enable those who seek to do us harm. While our most sensitive personal and financial information floats in a cloud, hackers […]
Social media companies that violate new political ad rules, even inadvertently, will be fined, minister suggests
Canada has a new regime for online political ads heading into October’s election, but in an interview last week the minister responsible expressed some frustration with certain social media companies’ approach to the new system. Instead of agreeing to implement a registry of all campaign ads, as is required by the newly passed election-reform law […]
The EU and Canada: a transatlantic partnership with a strong digital dimension
Relations between the European Union and Canada are probably stronger now than they have ever been before. The Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, both signed in October 2016, show our mutual commitment to an open, democratic, sustainable, and progressive international order. I am delighted that an EU-Canada digital dialogue is […]
The step-by-step guide to legally manipulate the 2019 Canadian election
First, I feel obligated to say this is not serious advice, or intended as an operating manual, but it’s intended to demonstrate how easy it would be to manipulate the Canadian elections this year. Second, while I am associated with a political party, I would go under oath stating that I have not participated in […]
Canadian political parties are prime targets for hackers: here’s how to defend them
Last month, the Communications Security Establishment released an update to its cyber threat report, where it unambiguously states that Canada will face foreign cyber interference in the fall federal election. It also notes that foreign cyber interference “has become the most common type of cyber threat activity against democratic processes worldwide.” After the well-publicized Russian […]
The future of work will determine the future of equality
The future of work is here. Technological disruption is already rapidly changing work, but we still have little idea of what the job market will look like in the years ahead here in Canada or elsewhere, including in developing countries. Because we know little about what impact automation technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics […]
New NAFTA deal gets it right on digital trade
Canada has quickly become a leader in digital innovations. Our federal government has, in the last few years, launched superclusters across the country, with the goal of transforming our innovation economy. We are leading the world in the development of artificial intelligence, with research hubs in Montreal and Waterloo, among other cities. And we are […]
We need a different kind of growth agenda
TORONTO—With much fanfare last June, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains launched national consultations on policies to help Canada succeed in the digital transformation of society and the economy. The consultations were closed last October, but since then there has been silence. What was learned in these nationwide consultations is not being shared. My own efforts to […]
