Health policy experts pushing for change in feds’ funding for research and development
Health policy experts are pushing for changes to the federal government’s system of funding the research and development of new pharmaceuticals in the hopes of making drugs that are necessary to patients’ health more affordable. Federal and provincial governments currently give pharmaceutical companies tax breaks and subsidies to encourage them to devote more of their […]
Ten issues that should have been talked about in campaign, but weren’t
Whatever happened to Senate reform, Parliamentary decorum, aboriginal inclusion, refugee policy, skills development, and the future of the CBC? Or, for that matter, Calgary and Chicoutimi? And the Green Party? It’s evident that parties pick certain issues for their campaigns and then others just come up. And others just get left off. Here are 10 […]
Federal biotech regulation challenged by rapid innovation in life sciences
While the federal government maintains strong oversight over consumer products developed by the life sciences sector, industry leaders say the rapid advancement of biotechnological innovation requires reforms in the approval process and regulatory harmonization with foreign markets. Canada’s life sciences sector encompasses an array of sub-sectors that apply branches of chemistry, biology and engineering in […]
Economy to grow, but in danger of being one with diminished expectations
TORONTO—As gasoline, electricity, food, and other prices keep rising while incomes stay flat, families are facing a painful squeeze on their budgets which can only make many of us feel poorer. The danger is that we could be facing a decade of lean years. Yet a surprise in the election is that, despite a focus […]
PM Harper promises wildlife advisory panel, but environmentalists concerned it will make protecting endangered species more difficult
A new advisory panel proposed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to give rural groups better representation on wildlife conservation decisions would make protecting endangered species more difficult, environmental organizations say. Mr. Harper made the campaign promise to create a hunting and wildlife advisory panel made up of hunters, fishers, and conservation groups to offer advice […]
Experts support NRTEE advice, but climate change policy takes back seat on campaign trail
Despite expert approval and public support for a more aggressive climate change policy, the opening days of the 2011 election campaign have seen little or no discussion on strategies to tackle climate change. Earlier this year, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) released its most recent report, Parallel Paths: Canada-U.S. […]
It’s been five years of Conservative climate change inaction
After five years of Prime Minister Stephen Harper being in power, I suspect I have run out of different ways to say that he doesn’t care about climate change. Point in case was the recent federal budget. The Conservatives showed their true colours and they certainly weren’t green. The budget would spend billions on jets, […]
Critics concerned about food safety in Canada-U.S. border agreement
A border security agreement reached between Canada and the United States in February would weaken the Canadian government’s ability to protect its citizens from food diseases, say the NDP and Liberals. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama announced in February they were beginning negotiations to look at ways of harmonizing the two […]
Environmentalists hoping for new standards on national air quality regulations
Environmentalists say they hope that, after four years of waiting, federal and provincial governments will adopt new standards for national air quality regulations in the next year. Provincial environment ministers agreed in October 2010 to have the “major elements” of new emissions standards in place before the end of 2011. This would force industry members […]
Environment minister touts Conservative environmental leadership in face of criticism
Environment Minister Peter Kent says the federal government is providing environmental leadership through regulation stewardship, but the Conservatives’ public policies continue to face criticism on a number of fronts. In an interview last week with The Hill Times, Mr. Kent maintained that the Conservatives have a proven track record based on environmental regulation and stewardship. […]
