Canada’s Big Challenges: Morneau’s got bold rhetoric on an innovation agenda, but can he deliver?
In his first budget speech, Finance Minister Bill Morneau promised that within the next year the government will deliver its innovation agenda—“a new vision for Canada’s economy as a centre of global innovation, renowned for its science, technology, resourceful citizens and globally competitive companies.” This, he said, will set out “our plans for real change.” […]
The birth of global internet TV
Since it launched in Canada in 2011, the company has been building to create it into a service that’s available globally, said Anne Marie Squeo, director of corporate communications at Netflix. “Canada was our first international, all-streaming market … and we’ve been building our service globally from there,” Ms. Squeo told P&I in an exclusive […]
Experts warn of perils in federal-municipal funding arrangements
When the federal government has money to spend on innovation, municipal leaders are often quick to vie for some of it in hopes of creating their own local hubs of innovation. Many cities are trying to replicate the innovation boom that happened in California’s Silicon Valley and, to a certain degree, in Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo region. “It is kind of a […]
Why universal, affordable internet access is a job for everyone
OTTAWA—The future of internet access in Canada takes centre stage this week at a major hearing focused on whether it is time to update the rules associated with universal access to communications services. Canada has long had regulations in place that ensure that basic telephone service is available to everyone, using a funding model […]
Very little benefit to joining TPP, panelists tell Broadbent Institute conference
The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is a power grab by corporations, panelists at the Broadbent Institute’s Progress Summit said Saturday. “Trade deals are designed for corporations to benefit and not designed for workers,” said Canadian Labour Congress senior economist Angella MacEwen during a panel discussion on the TPP. “These aren’t trade deals, so why are we […]
Engage Canadians on open government: lessons learned from Tony Clement
Tony Clement, the former president of the Treasury Board, is credited with hosting the government’s first Google Hangout. He was criticized by some for trying too hard to “look cool.” On April 6, 2016, Scott Brison, the current president of the Treasury Board, will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, to host a Google […]
Liberals light on details for green innovation spending, opposition wants answers
The government is committed to growing Canada’s green economy, says Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, but critics are calling for a concrete plan. In an email interview with The Hill Times last week, Ms. McKenna (Ottawa Centre, Ont.) was light on details when asked about how the government intends to spend a collective $300-million a […]
New ‘skinny’ TV packages provide jump-start to competition
Canadians appear to have become so accustomed to an uncompetitive cable and satellite market typified by frequent price increases and restrictive options that many are failing to recognize the arrival of greater consumer choice. Last week’s launch of the new $25 basic “skinny” cable packages, mandated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, left many […]
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 […]
Feds need to close gaps governing human participation in scientific research
The disturbing announcement recently that a man died and four others were seriously harmed in Rennes, France, as a result of participation in a research study is a timely reminder of the importance of protecting those who volunteer to be subjects of research. The drug being tested was thought to show promise in treating a […]
