Building a healthy innovation system
Canadians expect Health Canada to deliver on its day-to-day responsibilities, like watching for and responding to global challenges like SARS, West Nile virus and the avian flu; developing programs to combat smoking, diabetes, cancer, obesity and a range of other threats to our well-being, and regulating the safety of foods, drugs, medical devices and other […]
Canada’s rapidly-increasing expertise, potential in 21st century
When he took office in December, Prime Minister Paul Martin did me the honour of naming me to his new Cabinet as Minister of State for New and Emerging Markets. In addition to the creation–for the first time–of a stand-alone Department of International Trade, the decision to dedicate a Cabinet post to raising Canada’s profile […]
Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canadian economy
On Dec. 12, 2003, Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed me to the Privy Council as Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Industry, with special emphasis on Entrepreneurs and New Canadians. The new Privy Council, which for the first time includes Parliamentary Secretaries, has been designed to strengthen the social foundations of Canadian life, to build […]
Martin’s much-hyped ‘innovation agenda’ has been cast aside
The first bad sign for the Martin government concerning productivity and innovation came when the Governor General omitted the paragraphs on science, technology and research in the Throne Speech. The second bad omen is that the much-hyped “Innovation Agenda” which cost millions of dollars to develop and publish, seems to have been cast aside. What […]
‘We will help ensure environmentally friendly, energy efficient, innovative and economically stimulating development’: Scott
History has proven that a country’s ability to innovate directly affects its economic success. Innovation makes businesses more competitive, provides consumers with choices, and provides individuals with new learning opportunities, higher incomes and better jobs. Another cornerstone to our success is our communities — their people, their public infrastructure, housing and land use. Communities are […]
Martin government to make Bill C-13 a priority: Pettigrew
The new Paul Martin government will move ahead with the Liberals’ controversial bill that outlaws human cloning but allows stem cell research on embryos, confirmed new Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew. The legislation, introduced by the previous government under former prime minister Jean Chrétien, died on the Order Paper last fall but Mr. Pettigrew (Papineau-Saint-Denis, Que.) […]
Health Canada: getting out of the business of health protection?
As a member of the House of Commons Health Committee, I have often marvelled at the sheer weight of lobbying and political influence that gets mounted by very powerful interests in the healthcare industry. There is simply no equal to the pharmaceutical industry in the scope of its activity and the depth of its pockets […]
CIHR: Positioning Canada as a country of excellence in health research and innovation, the only way to go
In the 21st century, health research and innovation will be central to Canada’s future. Harnessing our investments in health research are key to improving the health of our citizens, building sustainable, evidence-based, leading edge health care and public health systems, and developing the transformative new technologies of tomorrow. It was with this vision that CIHR […]
Public Health Agency exists in ‘virtual form’ for now: Bennett
Canada’s new Public Health Agency will only exist in a “virtual way” for the foreseeable future, says Carolyn Bennett, the new Minister of State for Public Health. Ms. Bennett (St. Paul’s, Ont.), who admitted that much ground work remains to be done before the agency is created, also said the government can not afford the […]
Health priorities must not take second place to Martin’s election
A Throne Speech and new Parliamentary session should bring a clear focus to the priorities of the nation. But what, if anything, will the tired Paul Martin Liberals deliver when it comes to health care, which continues to rank as the No. 1 concern of Canadians? As noted in a previous column in these pages, […]
