Science minister sees funding gaps for young researchers, multidisciplinary and multinational research

Young researchers are starved for grants in Canada, which can make their work “impossible,” says Science Minister Kirsty Duncan. That’s one of the challenges she’s heard from scientists during her first year as minister, she said in a Nov. 10 interview after giving a speech at the Canadian Science Policy Conference in Ottawa. She also […]
We need a return to funding basic research

It was in the spring 2012 budget that the previous Conservative government established the primacy of utilitarian, mercantile science over basic research and pure intellectual inquiry. The budget decreed that federal funds would go to research that was “business-led [and] industry-relevant.” The significant deficit in industry investment in research and development affects our economy. We […]
University and College Research
Bains, Carr, Garneau most lobbied ministers, health most lobbied topic in October

Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains remained the most lobbied minister of the Trudeau cabinet in October, while health was the most lobbied issue between federal officials and lobbyists, according to the federal lobbyists registry. There were 21 communication reports filed for contact with Mr. Bains (Mississauga-Malton, Ont.) last month, according to registry numbers last week. Natural Resources […]
Lobbyists mobilize to remind U.S.: shutting out Canada means hurting Americans

Canada’s pro-trade lobbyists are getting ready to play defence following the election of future president and NAFTA-basher Donald Trump. Industry associations are already in talks with United States allies and Canadian officials to make sure the new American political leadership hears loud and clear: shutting out Canada will cause pain on both sides of the […]
On innovation, Canada can learn from Israel

Last spring Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced the federal government’s goal of making Canada an innovation superpower. Since then, the consultation process for the Canada Innovation Agenda has included a review not only of our historic approach to innovation but also of the best practices that have given other countries the edge in the new […]
What’s killing jobs?

LONDON, U.K.—“The notion that Uber in London is a mosaic of 30,000 small businesses linked by a common ‘platform’ is, to our minds, faintly ridiculous,” said one of the judges on the employment tribunal. So the tribunal ruled that Uber’s 30,000 drivers in London were actually employees, and therefore entitled to be paid the minimum […]
Time to walk the talk on Bombardier support

Make no mistake: the aviation industry is about to take off. Despite recent airline concerns over the rise of protectionism, annual passenger volumes will probably, at the very least, double in 20 years. In a world that can no longer afford to ignore the threat of climate change, this explosion in air travel deserves a […]
Provincial differences seen as innovation hurdle

Canada’s success in innovation could improve if it had uniform policies across the country, rather than provincial variations that can make it difficult for startups to succeed across the country, say industry experts. For startups and companies that push innovation, the provincial differences in financial regulations can be a hindrance. “One issue in Canada has to […]
Next budget will map out innovation agenda, government taking more ‘inclusive’ approach than before: Bains

PARLIAMENT HILL—The government’s innovation policy will take shape in the next federal budget and will include targeting immigrants with economic, business, backgrounds; incentives for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); and a program to promote coding, says Canada’s federal Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains. In a sit-down interview with The Hill Times in Centre Block […]