Innovation: Canada’s entrepreneurs must show us how
Canada’s economic prosperity depends on us becoming a more innovative and productive nation. Innovation makes businesses and societies more competitive and prosperous. But Canada is weak in innovation. Legions of studies have investigated the issue, including a February 2010 Conference Board of Canada report that assigned the country a “D” for innovation and ranked it […]
New ideas open doors for women around the world
Canada’s Innovation Strategy, launched in 2002, is based on a simple premise: Our prosperity depends on investments in science, technology, and innovation (STI). In economic terms, innovation means converting knowledge into value. Put more simply, it means improving people’s lives by finding ways to do things better than before. STI is as critical in the […]
Private-sector innovation: investing in universities and colleges makes good business sense
When the University of British Columbia licensed a novel drug technology to a leading global provider of healthcare products at the end of last year, it highlighted the Centre for Drug Research and Development’s role in closing the gap between discovery research and commercial opportunity in Canada. The technology, which allows potentially toxic drugs to […]
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. […]
Evidence and the privatization of health care
Evidence-based medicine has been enthusiastically embraced in Canada and elsewhere, and broadened to include evidence-based policy. Meanwhile, we are faced with a clamour for the privatization of important features of our public health-care system in Canada. The evidence is clear that privatization means increased costs, reduced accessibility and even reduced quality. Why then this clamour? […]
The $2-billion extra price tag of brand-name drugs in Canada
Canadians often think that their prescription drugs are cheap. Otherwise, why would so many Americans cross the border to buy them? Yet in the last five years, Canada has been the world’s third most expensive country for brand-name drugs. In 1987, Canada passed changes to the Patent Act extending patent protection for prescription drugs from […]
Walking the talk: negotiating a more effective Canada Health Transfer
The current federal-provincial accord governing the Canada Health Transfer expires in 2014 and early preparations for the next round of negotiations are underway. At this stage, signs are not encouraging. The Harper government appears to want to get Ottawa out of the health sector as much as possible, so its primary objective is likely to […]
Health care has gone ‘beyond the minister,’ Cabinet must move forward on policy changes, say experts
Health care is not at the top of the federal government’s agenda and the Conservatives are not showing leadership on tackling the important issues Canadians face when it comes to the healthcare system by being silent on the renewal of the 2004 health accord, say opposition MPs and stakeholders. “I don’t believe there’s any leadership […]
Time to build next generation of health care for Canadians
Canada’s universal public health-care system has been the pride of our country for many years. Since its introduction in Saskatchewan by former NDP leader Tommy Douglas, it has become the most important component of our social support network. It is the tool with which we look after one another, and is the great equalizer. However, […]
Canada needs a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy and a Family Care Plan to support home caregivers
Stephen Harper is continuing his attack on our health-care system. In a recent interview with Postmedia News, he once again made it clear that he believes that “the provinces are responsible for the management of our health-care system.” On Monday, Jan. 31, during Question Period, Mr. Harper stated that “We operate in a federal system […]
