Let’s spark plug the transportation industry
As Canada begins to emerge from a very difficult period, the federal government must look forward to smart and effective measures that will ensure a robust and resilient recovery. As a member of the Senate of Canada, I have the immense privilege of sitting on the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications (TRCM). As […]
Building sustainable infrastructure for next-generation cities
COVID-19 has abruptly changed the professional urban lifestyle in cities with daily commutes and national and international business travel moving towards days of virtual meetings and walks within the neighbourhood. And the work efficiency has often benefitted from these gains in time otherwise spent in private cars or airports. Having hardly mastered the COVID crisis, […]
For the Canada we want, we need to build better
The yellow-brick road to recovery post-economic downturn is often paved in shovel-ready infrastructure projects. The result of short-sighted investment planning, these projects all too often are merely a drop in the proverbial bucket of infrastructure needs. The growing national infrastructure deficit is estimated at upwards of $150-billion, with at least $30-billion in Indigenous communities alone. […]
Building back better requires rethinking construction
Civil infrastructure—the set of interconnected structural elements such as roads, water supply, sewers, electrical grids, telecommunications networks, and the built infrastructure of domestic, commercial, and public buildings—is the foundation of a community’s health, safety, and prosperity. Unfortunately, Canada and countries around the world are experiencing a rapid loss of serviceability and safety in their infrastructure. […]
Infrastructure projects should look past COVID-19 to include climate focus, says McKenna
Climate change is the lens through which Canada must evaluate the infrastructure projects that will drive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, according to outgoing Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna. “Every dollar we invest has to drive us to a cleaner future and tackle climate change,” said Ms. McKenna (Ottawa Centre, Ont.). “Every time there’s […]
A second chance to reimagine our cities
“Build Back Better” has been a COVID-19 pandemic tagline lately, but every time it is mentioned, I question: build what? Back to what? And better than what? Focusing on urban infrastructure, the pandemic has magnified many challenges and brought to the forefront issues that deserve attention that previous crises haven’t managed to do. Every crisis […]
Paula Simons launches video series celebrating Alberta
Continuing her crusade to share the amazing variety in her home province of Alberta, Independent Senator Paula Simons has started filming a set of videos as of the week of Aug. 9 focused on exploring different aspects of the region and its people. “Calling them ‘mini-docs’ may be a bit grand,” she said in an […]
Liberal sick days promise still a day late and a dollar short
OTTAWA—Is this election over yet? This is not the start the Liberals had been hoping for and it behooves one to consider the possibility of another minority Liberal government; they may end up spending millions of dollars on an election just to wind up with the same result. The election is still in its early […]
Let’s not go back to the way we engaged with government pre-pandemic
A child-care consultation earlier this year simultaneously included stakeholders from Yellowknife, Winnipeg and Toronto. Late last year, 36 youth held 25 meetings with MPs across eight provinces and territories to talk about how COVID is impacting their health, employment, and communities. Gender equity advocates from across the country spoke with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland about […]
Promises, promises, but the GG might actually keep hers
In Beauty and the Beast, there is a scene where the Beast is looking for advice as to how he can win the love of Belle. Lumière, the talking candlestick, helpfully suggests that the Beast make Belle “promises you don’t intend to keep.” As we have entered the season where election promises are made, some […]
