Let’s put the ‘super’ in ‘supercluster’
These are exciting times for research and innovation in Canada. With a continued emphasis on innovation as a key to job creation, new areas of focus were announced in Budget 2017. With the additional input of the Naylor report and feedback from stakeholders working to improve research and innovation in our country, there are clear […]
Skilled trades must remain part of conversation on innovation, say advocates
As the Trudeau government seeks out avenues to bolster innovation, advocates are urging Ottawa to tap into the opportunities available in the skilled-trades field, arguing innovation isn’t restricted to the digital sphere. Bob Blakely, operating officer for Canada’s Building Trades Unions, which represents more than 500,000 construction workers, argued that not only have technological advancements […]
Innovation agenda about creating good-paying jobs, says Bains
For Navdeep Bains, the goal is simple. Whether it’s superclusters, skills upgrading, or university research, the minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development says the Trudeau government’s innovation-steered investments are being trotted out to accomplish one immensely important task—to create jobs, and good-paying, middle-class supporting jobs, at that. And while that may be easier said […]
Research and Innovation: 06-05-2017
Bernier wants to scrap it, but poll suggests majority of Conservative voters back supply management
Libertarians, despair: a new poll shows support for Canada’s supply management system, even if Canadians are told it takes a toll on their pocket-books. Three of every four Canadians polled said they approved when asked to evaluate the agricultural system, described as follows: “Canada protects its dairy and poultry industries from foreign imports with tariffs […]
Fundamental science, innovation don’t need to be seen in opposition
In current policy discussions, fundamental science and innovation are often placed in opposition to one another. Is it possible to resolve this apparent conflict, and to optimize the value of government research investment, by strengthening the continuum from basic research to innovation? The question arises, in part, from the excellent recommendations of the recently released […]
Got milk? Wisconsin has too much, but that’s not Canada’s problem
U.S. President Donald Trump recently denounced Canada’s dairy system. His animus resulted from a long-advertised change to Canadian dairy import regulations that affected ultra-filtered milk. The public face of the dispute is the about 75 dairy farmers in and around Wisconsin who were told that their milk was no longer needed by their processor, Grassland […]
Canadian farmers getting Trumped
U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent war of words on supply management has emboldened several anti-Canadian-farmer cheerleaders to emerge. Chief among them is Sylvain Charlebois, who speaks from his comfortable bubble as the dean of the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University. Charlebois sounds like he comes from the past when he indicates that killing supply management could […]
Where will Trudeau draw the line on Trump’s trade tactics?
TORONTO—Where are we going on NAFTA renegotiation? Ill-informed grandstanding by U.S. President Donald Trump, along with the threat to terminate the trade agreement, is no doubt intended to intimidate Canada and Mexico into making concessions to advantage the U.S. But how far do we go? Facts don’t matter. The U.S. has a trade surplus with […]
MPs from all parties defend supply management against Trump, Bernier
Rural MPs from across multiple parties have been hearing concern from their constituents after American President Donald Trump threatened to come after Canada’s dairy industry. Mr. Trump turned his sights, and his tweets, towards Canadian dairy farmers last month, claiming that because of Canada’s trade regulations on dairy products, which block much of the United States’ dairy […]
