Second wave of virus could cut GDP by nearly 10 per cent, experts looks to future of relief programs
A recent Léger poll suggests the public is picking up on what public health officials have been warning for months: a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is possible, even likely, if existing preventative measures aren’t kept in place. Fear of a second wave is widespread, with 76 per cent of respondents to the poll […]
Boost of federal support needed for better cross-Canada internet connectivity
At the end of April, the House of Commons held its first-ever and historical virtual Parliament through the all-Member of Parliament Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. The session used video conferencing, just like thousands of Canadians have been doing over the past few weeks to connect with family and friends, to access online education […]
How the scientific community started its own COVID-19 response
Tara Moriarty, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Toronto, knew something bad was coming. In late December she started paying close attention to news from China of a novel coronavirus, just as the rest of the world was enthralled with the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and the potential consequences of […]
Research & Innovation Policy Briefing
Side effects may vary: lack of evidence prompts vigilance when considering contact-tracing apps
Mother’s Day is fast approaching. If you’re like me—lucky enough to have a loving mother who lives relatively nearby—the prospect of a hug-less Mother’s Day, thanks to COVID-19, is your current gloomy reality. Evidence tells us that hugs spread COVID-19, and that seniors are particularly susceptible to the worst of the disease. So, many of […]
Don’t let privacy concerns complicate necessary data sharing to combat public health threats
Health surveillance systems are key cornerstones to protecting populations from emerging public health threats. In Canada, these systems fall under shared responsibilities between local, federal, and provincial and territorial (FPT) agencies. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) creates the common elements to manage this system within a national framework to standardize data collection and […]
With strong privacy rules, Canada and the EU could combat COVID-19 together
With the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing an unprecedented challenge for our health-care systems, economic stability, and way of life. Technology and data have a significant role to play in combating this major crisis. Digital tools, from contact tracing and warning apps to telemedicine or symptom checkers, can really make a difference. They can, in […]
We need a smart approach to using tech in patient contact tracking during public health emergencies
Globally, the most effective way to flatten the coronavirus curve has been physical distancing. It slows the spread of the virus and ultimately leads to fewer deaths. In an ideal world, everyone would have the opportunity to practice physical distancing as prescribed by public health officials. Unfortunately, for many people, doing so can be challenging, […]
Feds haven’t consulted privacy commissioner on contact-tracing app details
Despite the first Canadian contact-tracing app, ABTraceTogether, launching in Alberta on May 1 and being downloaded by tens of thousands of residents, federal Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien’s office has not yet been contacted by the federal government on “the details of contacting tracing.” “We have had discussions with a number of federal departments and with […]
Protecting the core of Canadian values in the digital realm
COVID-19 has forced a digital transformation, with offices sitting empty, the entire non-essential workforce (that can do so) working remotely, and students furthering their education at kitchen tables around the country. Data is also being used by governments to conduct “contact” tracing, though this means different things in different countries. Some states are looking for […]
