Student debt levels on the rise since 2009 recession
By Chris Plecash Post-secondary students have been graduating with increasingly large debt burdens and limited job prospects since the recession, and financial literacy advocates say the federal and provincial governments need to do a better job of informing today’s students about job market realities and loan repayment options when financing their education. The […]
Aboriginal education funding ‘10 years late’: Martin
The federal government has been praised for recently-announced investments in aboriginal education in this year’s federal budget, but the initiative is “10 years late,” says former prime minister Paul Martin, who struck his own agreement with Canada’s aboriginal peoples in 2005 only to have it abandoned after the Conservatives formed government the […]
National youth unemployment figures mask major regional disparities
Canada may boast a below average youth unemployment rate compared to its OECD counterparts, but the national average is hiding significant disparities between regions and social groups. The national unemployment rate for workers aged 15 to 24 was 13.6 per cent last year, but Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and […]
Stay-the-course budget gets high marks on research and innovation
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s latest budget has been dismissed as little more than a restrained set-up to a surplus ahead of next year’s election, but research-based industries and post-secondary institutions were among the winners in this year’s fiscal blueprint. Mr. Flaherty (Whitby-Oshawa, Ont.) held off on introducing new nationwide initiatives or tax credits […]
More than one way to bring research, industry together
You’ve heard this story before: a great idea emerges from a research lab, is developed into something that can be commercialized, and a spin-off company is launched. This familiar pathway in which research knowledge is “pushed” from a university or college into the marketplace can sometimes be very successful. Take, for example, Winnipeg-based IMRIS, […]
We need to cultivate economic benefits from Canadian discovery research
The success of GreenCentre as a Centre of Excellence for the Commercialization of Research (CECR) in cultivating the economic benefits of discovery research in green chemistry from Canadian post-secondary institutions, as well as entrepreneurs, should be built upon and generalized to certain other sectors in order to transform innovation in Canada. All of the […]
Innovation is a people business
In the 21st century, prosperous markets are consumer-driven, high-performing schools are student-centered, effective health care is patient-centered, and successful technology is user-centered. This people-centered focus has made social sciences and humanities skills essential to the innovation agendas of businesses, community organizations and governments alike. Social sciences and humanities graduates are uniquely equipped to help […]
Canada could be a world leader in clean energy through innovation
Clean technologies can pave a path to innovation and sustainable economic growth. The global clean-tech industry has huge economic potential for Canada. Clean energy technology is efficient and diversifies energy sources. It also reduces negative environmental impacts, especially by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Worldwide, the clean technology economy is worth $1-trillion, and is expected […]
Tories’ election budget fails to hide cuts to research, innovation
Budget 2014 represents a subtle shift in the federal government’s strategy for the research and innovation file. With the next election on the near horizon, the Conservatives are now trying to hide their shortsighted cuts with lavish promises of billions in investments delayed over the next decade. Most of these commitments are slotted to […]
Canada needs a senior science and innovation minister
OTTAWA—When federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced his 10th budget on Feb. 11, he once again demonstrated that science, technology, and innovation suffer from that Ottawa affliction known as CPA, continuous partial attention. Budgets with this government and others before it are usually careful to make some sort of statement about the need to […]
