Former prime ministers: do their legacies have a future?
OTTAWA—If it weren’t for the death of Nelson Mandela, we were well on the way to forgetting that Canada ever played a key role in ending apartheid in South Africa. Brian Mulroney along with his then, foreign minister, Joe Clark did some heavy lifting in getting a good chunk of the international community to […]
Balanced Liberalism is what Chrétien delivered
OTTAWA—Twenty years ago, the Little Guy from Shawinigan became prime minister, overcoming the “Nervous Nellies” in his caucus, those MPs who were spooked by Kim Campbell’s rise in the polls when she was elected Progressive Conservative leader. Indeed, Jean Chrétien overcame all those who underestimated him at various points in his career. His sense […]
Innovation
Our government’s telecommunications policy was not created overnight
The following is an edited copy of Industry Minister James Moore’s speech to the Canadian Club of Ottawa on Sept. 18. OTTAWA—Canadians have said consistently that their top priority for the Government of Canada is the economy and, as a result, our government has listened, is focused, and is delivering on key issues […]
Current status and future of Canadian science policy
As minister of state for science and technology, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Canadian innovators, academics and entrepreneurs across the country. Canada’s researchers bring great energy, intelligence and talent to science, technology and innovation from coast-to-coast-to-coast. I am consistently impressed with the depth and span of Canada’s innovation landscape. Our government remains committed […]
Federal scientists guided by government’s communications policy
(The following is an edited speech by Conservative MP Mike Lake, Parliamentary secretary to the minister of industry, on Oct. 28 in the House on whether or not federal government scientists are being muzzled by the government. He was asked about why hundreds of federal scientists, in a survey for the Professional Institute of […]
Getting innovation to market, encouraging an innovative ecosystem, culture
(The following is an edited excerpt of a speech by Michelle Rempel, minister of state for Western Economic Diversification in the House on Oct. 28 on Bill C-4, the Budget Implementation Act). It is time for us to take a look at the last five years of our country’s economy. If we rewind […]
Canada needs an innovation agenda directed by knowledge, not mythology
CALGARY, ALTA.—It has become almost a throwaway that innovation is vital for Canada’s future. Indeed, for any Canadian government these days, being against innovation is like being against hockey. But as often as we are told we are good at hockey, which is fairly easy to substantiate, we are told that we are […]
Tapping into Canada’s incredible storehouse of research opens potential
Nearly two years ago, Marie-Claude Héroux and Grégoire Dorval, the founders of Champignons Advitam Inc. in Saint-Ours, Que., were looking for a way to expand the product line of their mushroom business. A chance encounter with Université de Montréal biology professor Mohamed Hijri, an expert in fungi, was the beginning of a partnership that has helped Héroux and […]
Getting it right: government’s role in supporting R&D and commercialization
Canada’s innovation and productivity shortcomings are well-documented and much-lamented. The federal government clearly has a role to play in helping solve these issues, but the challenge is to find the most effective way to direct the government’s major investments in research and development. How can government best support the effective translation of world-class […]
