New ideas open doors for women around the world
Canada’s Innovation Strategy, launched in 2002, is based on a simple premise: Our prosperity depends on investments in science, technology, and innovation (STI). In economic terms, innovation means converting knowledge into value. Put more simply, it means improving people’s lives by finding ways to do things better than before. STI is as critical in the […]
Private-sector innovation: investing in universities and colleges makes good business sense
When the University of British Columbia licensed a novel drug technology to a leading global provider of healthcare products at the end of last year, it highlighted the Centre for Drug Research and Development’s role in closing the gap between discovery research and commercial opportunity in Canada. The technology, which allows potentially toxic drugs to […]
Feds’ approach to internet regulation disastrous for consumers
When you look at the Conservative government’s approach to internet regulation what you get is a confusing maze of announcements, reversals and half-measures all resulting in disastrous outcomes for consumers. Canadians pay more than most other OECD countries for internet service while receiving a comparatively lower level of service, particularly with respect to download speed. […]
CRTC in controversy mode these days
The CRTC appears to be in controversy mode these days and there’s lots of fodder for the curious and critical. I teach a course in communications policy at Carleton University and every year I have students discuss the CHOI-FM case at the first class, because it’s easy to identify the key issues at stake and […]
Clement wants to help transform Canada into a global leading innovator, but has some challenges
GOAL: To ensure Canada is a leading innovator in the world. CHALLENGE: To combine government, public policy, private sector investment, and excellence in academia to make it happen. Industry Minister Tony Clement says he wants to make Canada the world’s leader in innovation, but business research and development is “troublesome.” It’s something he says he’s […]
Canada has gone from ‘leader’ to ‘backwater’ in global digital economy competitiveness, say critics
Industry Minister Tony Clement has said that by 2020, Canada will boast a “globally competitive digital economy.” While one policy analyst says it’s possible, opposition critics are wondering why Canada isn’t becoming more competitive sooner. The year “2020 is way too late. We’ve gone from being a leader to basically being a backwater, and for […]
Canada at ‘competitive disadvantage’ in funding innovation, say industry stakeholders
Changes to Canada’s tax regime are working to attract flagging foreign investment to Canadian innovation, but firms are still having a hard time accessing funds for their new ideas, say business and industry insiders. “We have a good research base in this country. When you have the resources to drive the research you can do […]
Funding for innovation most likely to be cut in next budget, say opposition MPs
With the government’s commitment to slay the now estimated $27.4-billion budget deficit, opposition MPs say “there’s no doubt” that funding for innovation will be cut in the upcoming March budget. “The government has kind of indicated that they have to cut right across the board, and I imagine since there is not specific long term […]
On improving dialogues between scientific illiterate and politically clueless
GATINEAU, QUE.—The interactions between politicians and scientists are undergoing more scrutiny these days. And well they should as science underpins much of what constitutes public policy. It is also a two-way street. Science needs to better grasp the oft-complex context behind policy and the polity needs to better understand the growing knowledge agenda. Thirty years […]
Health care has gone ‘beyond the minister,’ Cabinet must move forward on policy changes, say experts
Health care is not at the top of the federal government’s agenda and the Conservatives are not showing leadership on tackling the important issues Canadians face when it comes to the healthcare system by being silent on the renewal of the 2004 health accord, say opposition MPs and stakeholders. “I don’t believe there’s any leadership […]
