Canada needs an ‘Own the Podium’ strategy for clean energy
Last week’s signing of the Paris climate accord marks the start of a new age, with huge implications for Canada. The fossil fuels that power the global economy today are entering a permanent—if slow—decline. Gone are cozy assumptions of endless growth in oil exports. Winners in the high stakes global energy market of the 21st […]
Cancelled Statistics Canada data series led to Emerson report proposal
Canada needs to produce and share more transportation data with the public or risk falling behind in global logistics, several analysts said today. Their comments came the same day Transportation Minister Marc Garneau (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, Que.) pledged to share more information about dangerous rail crossings in Canada. The focus on data collection has also served to […]
New Zealand high commissioner brings defence, trade background
“I arrived at the end of February, 3 o’clock in the morning, in the middle of a snowstorm.” What a welcome to Canada for New Zealand’s high commissioner, Daniel Mellsop. It was a few days after Ottawa got its last big dump of snow: 50-something centimetres of the white stuff. “That was fun, bringing a young […]
Meat industry officials see opportunity in TPP
On the heels of Canada’s meat industry winning a trade dispute over labelling of products in the United States, the sector sees opportunity in the signed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said it was “elated” by the U.S. repealing its country of origin labelling (COOL) after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled […]
Canada’s biotechnology industry ready to take centre stage
With the Canadian dollar and the price of oil hitting historical lows it is not surprising that while at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about Canada’s economic prospects in the face of this economic headwind. Trudeau quite correctly noted Canada’s economic strength lies in its diversity which […]
Standard of living, quality of life rely on innovation, innovation relies on engineering design
Global quality of life has advanced since the industrial revolution—this advancement is the result of continuous innovation. World population growth, diminishing non-renewable resources, social inequity, and escalating environmental challenges all require global scale innovations or our collective quality of life will not be sustained. Collective global innovation has never been more critical. Canadians have contributed […]
City councils strike back in broadband battle
OTTAWA—The Canadian battle over broadband services has taken an unexpected turn in recent weeks as Bell’s effort to win high-profile support for its appeal of a crucial ruling issued by Canada’s telecom regulator appears to have backfired. After support from Toronto Mayor John Tory and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson for the telecom giant came to […]
It’s time to reconcile infrastructure, because it’s 2016
The federal Liberals’ commitment to increase infrastructure investment to $125-billion over the next decade could transform Canada for the better. Realizing the program’s full transformative potential, however, requires as much focus on how funding is spent, as on what is spent. Above all, the new program should support and reward municipalities with modern, structured, and […]
We can’t afford to put off e-prescribing
Like many other Canadians, I was proud to learn Canada was named second best country in the world in which to live at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month. Our high standard of living, our celebration of diversity, and our position as a high-tech industrial society are just a few of the […]
The long game starts now
There’s a reset happening in Canada. Despite the oil slump and struggling loonie, a new federal government in Ottawa has spurred some fresh thinking about the future of Canada. Optimistic, hopeful thinking. That combination of harsh reality and hopeful thinking requires us to be both ambitious and manage our expectations as we look for ways […]
