Critics say Canada needs a national strategy on water management
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in both the 2007 and 2010 Throne Speeches, stated his government’s commitment to better managing Canada’s water resources, but critics say Ottawa has yet to match words with action. Nancy Goucher, program coordinator at the Forum for Leadership On Water (FLOW), said currently the federal government’s action plan is narrowly focused […]
Canada needs to shift paradigm, get with green economy
One unfortunate prevailing idea held by this government is that dealing with climate change needs to entail significant economic hardship. This view ignores the human and economic costs from unmitigated climate change. Many expert economists and studies also indicate that climate change action will be much more affordable than we now think, especially if we […]
On the environment, it’s simple: Canada needs strong federal political leadership
At a time when meaningful integration of the environment and the economy—the challenge of the 21st century—is occurring in so many jurisdictions, it is clear that the golden thread that weaves its way through the Reform-Conservative approach to the environment is utter and complete incoherence. On virtually every front, the Conservatives have weakened Canada’s approach […]
Canada could be a leader in digital economy, says Goodyear
Canada can and should be a leader in the digital economy, says Gary Goodyear, minister of state for Science and Technology, but it will only happen with governments, academia and business working together. The government has already publicly announced the need for a nationwide strategy for the digital economy, said Mr. Goodyear (Cambridge, Ont.), also […]
A sorry state of affairs: Canada gets failing grade in science and innovation
Let’s get down to brass tacks; Canada has no science policy. It is drifting and its competitors are overtaking it. What it has is a minister of state who says exactly the same thing every time he is questioned on the subject: “Canada is making record investments in science and technology.” This is not only […]
Research and innovation: vital to Canada’s new economy
There is a growing worldwide consensus that countries which invest strategically and competitively in education, research and innovation will emerge from the global recession in a better position to lead on economic and social development. World-class research at Canadian universities and research institutes and the talent we foster, are the lifeblood of global knowledge societies. […]
A stronger knowledge union: renewing the Canada-U.S. science and technology partnership
MONTREAL—As the federal government moves to integrate, and otherwise harmonize economic, security and environment approaches to those of the U.S., an opportunity is perhaps emerging to consider strengthening the Canada-U.S. innovation space. After all, it is arguably the world’s most extensive knowledge relationship where more than one-third of the world’s R&D is conducted, and where […]
Canada consistently fails grade as innovation nation
Canada has consistently received a failing grade as an innovation nation, but it can do better by making the research and development environment more conducive to commercialization, and continuing to fund science and technology, say experts. In its report “How Canada Performs,” released on Feb. 2, the Conference Board of Canada gave Canada a “D” […]
Social scientists, humanists helping Canada harness the power of technology
The great Canadian thinker, Marshall McLuhan, would have enjoyed the recent cover of The Economist that portrayed Steve Jobs as Moses coming down from Mount Sinai to deliver his new iPad to the world. McLuhan’s famous insight that ‘the medium is the message’ resonates more than ever as new digital technologies extend our ideas and […]
Clean technologies can give Canada competitive edge in global marketplace
Canada is fortunate to have extensive natural resources which underpin our economy. Whether it be energy, agriculture or forestry, we owe it to ourselves to maximize the value of these natural resources by increasing their utilization as well as efficiency of production. In an increasingly competitive world, with economies that have lower wage and cost […]
