COVID-19 and the future of Canadian universities
COVID-19 sparked a global crisis in post-secondary education that has remained seriously under-appreciated. In the United States, tuition-dependent private colleges are in dire financial straits; several recently closed permanently, and more mergers and bankruptcies seem sure to follow. The decline in international enrolments has caused enormous financial damage in Australia, with widespread layoffs and serious budget […]
Parties ramp up fundraising to cope after ‘big hiccup’ of pandemic, with a modified ‘return to normal,’ say experts
As parties adjust to the new normal of operating amid COVID-19, the threat of a fall federal election is a “convenient” reason to resume ramping up digital fundraising efforts, prompting a modified “return to normal,” say experts. Speaking to The Hill Times last week, Dean Tester, president of Tester Digital, noted the pandemic “made things […]
Doubling down on research during the COVID-19 pandemic
As Canada grapples with the impacts of COVID-19, we have witnessed the essential role our research community plays in our society. Indeed, scientists are leading our country’s efforts to address the pandemic. It is therefore critical that we sustain Canada’s research excellence, talent, and knowledge so that our research community is in a strong position […]
Politics This Morning: Trudeau heads into day two of cabinet retreat, while Bloc leader, caucus in self-isolation
Good Tuesday morning, As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent much of the day yesterday hunkered down with his cabinet at the beginning of a two-day retreat in Ottawa, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam reiterated calls for Canadians to “keep up our collective efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in Canada,” amid a steady […]
Sharing few details, Trudeau eyes setting out ‘next steps’ in cabinet retreat, continues calls for ‘vigilance’ on COVID-19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained tight-lipped on details Monday before he headed up his government’s two-day virtual cabinet retreat, telling reporters his focus is on getting the country through a pandemic that is not yet over. “We need to get through this in order to be able to talk about next steps, so a lot […]
Collaborative IP strategies for publicly funded R&D needed now and for the future
It has been said that a crisis brings out the best and the worst in people. This pandemic is no different. So many people and so many nations have come together in hopes of finding solutions more quickly by sharing and pooling their resources. They have clearly put the collective good ahead of their own […]
Donald Trump and the art of the lie
HALIFAX—When, I wonder, will Donald Trump write the one book he is qualified to produce: The Art of the Lie? American, Canadian, Mexican, North Korean, Russian, Chinese, or African—it doesn’t matter what your nationality is, Trump’s lying rampage impacts your life. Take Canada and the battle against the pandemic. In this country, there has been, up […]
Experts sound alarm over ‘politicized’ U.S. intelligence, say COVID-19 pandemic a ‘wake-up call’ about Canada’s new national security threats
Security and intelligence experts are sounding the alarm about increasingly “politicized” intelligence information from the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, with one saying it could “undermine” intelligence sharing within the Five Eyes alliance, and another suggesting the events of the past few months represent a “wake-up call” about the changing nature of threats to […]
Human challenge studies to speed development of a COVID-19 vaccine are unethical
LONDON, ONT.—The COVID-19 pandemic is a once-in-a-century global health crisis. In Canada, a coordinated public health response, involving physical distancing, testing, contact tracing, and isolation of cases and contacts, has largely been successful in “flattening the curve.” Yet, many European countries are now in the midst of a second wave that Canada may not be […]
Challenge trials face too many ethical and logistical hurdles to go forward, experts say
The race to develop the COVID-19 vaccine, or a series of vaccines, is well underway and at the time of writing, three clinical trials are in phase three, with dozens more in phases one and two and in the pre-clinical stage. One Russian vaccine was even approved before phase three of testing. Developing a vaccine takes […]
