The politics behind the PM’s pipeline gamble
To understand the counterintuitive political calculus behind Justin Trudeau’s controversial decision to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline, one has to go back to the fundamental equation that has governed this prime minister’s energy and climate change policies since his days in opposition. That Trudeau had no choice but to take over the pipeline if he […]
Sajjan says $2.3B of defence budget not spent, promises increased transparency
National Defence did not spend its entire $6.2-billion budget, with $2.3-billion left over in the first year since the feds unveiled its new defence policy, said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on Wednesday during an industry event, where he gave an update on the government’s spending plan. Mr. Sajjan said the unspent funds were a result […]
Majority of Canadians says pipeline could lift economy, but generational divide in support exists: poll
Ottawa is ensnared in a legal battle with British Columbia over concerns of the environmental impact of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, but one recent poll suggests that a significant proportion of Canadians thinks that the project could be a boon to the economy, though there’s a sharp generational gap in support that could dampen […]
Bains says he’s taking action on innovation promises in 2018
Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains has been busy in 2018. Last year’s budget included major investments in industry programs, and the four-term MP from Mississauga-Malton, Ont., has spent this year overseeing their implementation. That includes the Strategic Innovation Fund, a $1.26-billion pot of money meant to support “cutting edge” projects, the subject of a major lobbying […]
Research & Innovation
Do the robot: public servants unplug from typical telecommute
Employment and Social Development Canada policy analyst Pierre-Olivier DesMarchais is tall—six-foot-three, to be exact—but when most of his colleagues see him, he’s only about four-foot-five—and a robot. Mr. DesMarchais lives in Montreal, but his physical presence in Ottawa is that of an iPad attached to two Segway-style wheels via a vertical stick, which he uses to telecommute […]
A new prescription for cancer treatments
Back in August of 2012, I received the devastating news that my mother had an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was quickly admitted to the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) in our hometown of Montreal, where she was immediately taken under the charge of an incredible team. Being by her side from diagnosis through treatment, […]
More data regulation needed as smart cities develop, say some experts
As the Trudeau government continues to review its private-sector privacy act, some experts are calling for a national data strategy to set the framework of ownership rights and usage limits around collected data. The issue was highlighted by the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal, said Brock University professor Blayne Haggart, but experts have been sounding the […]
‘For me, it’s personal’: Minister Sohi reflects on passion for infrastructure portfolio
Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi doesn’t mince words when discussing the role infrastructure played in his ‘Made in Canada’ success story. An immigrant from India, Mr. Sohi (Edmonton Mill Woods, Alta.) spoke little to no English when he arrived in Edmonton in the early 1980s, after being sponsored by an older brother. After moving to the […]
Infrastructure
