National semiconductor strategy key for Canada’s economic growth and recovery
Canada is at a crossroads. We’re navigating a pandemic, climate change, and economic uncertainty like we haven’t seen in years; all while being asked to weigh in on the country’s future in a federal election. Crises are competing for our attention, but there’s one overlooked issue that deserves a seat at Canada’s policy table: the […]
Investment goes beyond supporting the institutions themselves
On Sept. 8, nearly all of Lethbridge College’s 5,000-plus students returned to campus to start the school year. While we’d been able to safely offer some in-person classes and labs throughout the 2020-21 academic year—with as many as 400 students per day on-campus—this was as close to a full campus as we had seen since […]
Investing in people and ideas for Canada’s recovery
For those in the education sector, September is always a time of hope and promise. This year, those hopes are tempered by threats of a fourth wave of the pandemic. But to see students arrive on campus, to see residences and classrooms open safely, and to see researchers back in labs at higher levels gives […]
University innovation: a transformative force for Canada’s post-pandemic economy
Every technological revolution that society has witnessed was preceded by a major global crisis, and each was driven by major public investments. In each case, the distribution of economic power changed. As we consider what technological shifts will transform our society following massive post-pandemic investments, we must look at further developing and nurturing a culture […]
Universities and Colleges Research
All-party support mutes impact of supply management in election, despite political sniping
Despite concessions in successive trade deals on access to Canada’s supply-managed dairy sector, cross-party support means it is unlikely to be a decisive ballot box issue in crucial rural ridings in Ontario and Quebec. All five major political parties have pledged their backing for the supply management system, with the Liberal government committing not to […]
To boost Canadian innovation, resist the lure of Silicon Valley
TORONTO—Kitchener-Waterloo made a big deal out of attracting Google to set up a large R&D branch plant in an old industrial building there. Not to be outdone, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the early days of his government, made a high-profile visit lauding Google’s expanding R&D branch plant. He wanted Google to play a bigger […]
Moon shot can’t be the final frontier for Canadian space program, say sky watchers
The Canadian government may be shooting for the moon, but there’s still plenty of room for the space program to stretch among the stars, according to experts and observers, who say the country needs more of a plan to capitalize on investments and interest in the space industry. There’s been some movement on this file […]
Canada’s government still doesn’t get innovation—and that’s a problem
TORONTO—Could it be that the disappointing results from the Trudeau government’s innovation strategy are due to its lack of understanding of how the digital knowledge-based economy actually works? When then-industry minister Navdeep Bains unveiled his innovation strategy in 2017, he boldly declared that there was no need for further studies. Jim Balsillie, the chair of […]
Bloc blames Liberals for delaying bill to end supply management concessions
The Bloc Québécois are accusing the Liberals of delaying a private member’s bill that would bar trade negotiators from being able to make supply management concessions in future trade talks even as the bill has received broad support. Bill C-216, which was introduced by Bloc MP Louis Plamondon (Bécancour–Nicolet–Saurel, Que.), passed at second reading in […]
