University & College Research
Despite dairy concessions under USMCA, Trudeau Liberals’ ambitions in Quebec likely not in peril, strategists say
The Trudeau government’s decision to bow down to U.S. pressure to loosen restrictions on access to Canada’s dairy industry is a cudgel for opposition parties, but strategists say there are limits to how far they can ride the wave of backlash from the industry. The new NAFTA deal, renamed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, was […]
USMCA: better than nothing, but don’t expect a breakthrough with Trump
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has put as positive a face as possible on his government’s rearguard action to save Canada’s trading relationship with the United States. And, given President Donald Trump’s paranoid view of international dealings as commercial warfare in which everyone is trying to take advantage of the U.S., the new version of NAFTA […]
Bains says funding agreements for superclusters, aid for firms hurt by U.S. metal tariffs to likely be made in coming weeks
In the last year, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains has seen the $950-million superclusters initiative pick five winners, has dished out new money under the $1.26-billion Strategic Innovation Fund, and is watching the beginning of his efforts to consolidate a variety of innovation business programs scattered across multiple departments. In an email Q&A interview with The […]
Government-struck business panel recommends major changes to feds’ innovation policy
A government-assembled panel composed of six advisory groups filled with dozens of industry representatives is urging the Trudeau Liberals to enact sweeping changes to the federal government’s innovation policies in order to help capital-thirsty firms in an increasingly competitive global market. The six “economic strategy tables” released their respective final reports on Sept. 25, along […]
Let’s hard-wire inclusion into Canada’s innovation economy
Ministers are on the road this fall, talking to Canadians about what the next federal budget should include. One of the key questions being asked is how to put Canada on a path to “inclusive growth.” By many economic indicators, Canada is excelling. Unemployment is low and Canada led the G7 in real GDP growth […]
To get the benefits of innovation, Canada needs a national effort
Canadian efforts to extract social and economic benefit from innovation have not only been late but tepid. For too long, pundits and policy-makers considered innovation manna that falls from heaven without any strategy or government involvement. We have focused on attracting jobs and getting access to foreign technology rather than on building a Canadian innovation […]
Clean-tech innovation: why are there still barriers?
The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been positioning itself as promoting clean growth and innovation. The “superclusters” may prove to be very effective enablers of innovative technologies. At this stage, they remain experimental. But the easy things to promote innovation and clean-tech are still untouched. It is hard to know why. It is […]
Innovation Policy Briefing
Stakeholders divided on need for renewable targets in new clean fuel standard
Some stakeholders say the current rules around renewable fuel have a place in Canada’s anticipated clean fuel standard, while others say that the government should stick to mandating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but allow producers to reach those targets their own way. “[The government] should not in any way, shape or form dictate how […]
