Ottawa must respect Quebec’s differences in agriculture
This is a difficult period for agriculture. The mad cow crisis in Alberta is just the latest in a series of blows that have led to a steady drop in farmers’ incomes. The Farm Product Price Index (FPPI) is lower today than it was eight years ago, while production costs continue to rise. When Paul […]
Bio-security protocol breached by humans in avian flu crisis, according to chief veterinarian of CFIA, says NDP’s Proctor
In politics, it’s good to be lucky and lucky to be good. Recently-minted Agriculture Minister Bob Speller has enjoyed some of each. Although the second case of mad cow disease last December was devastating for cattle farmers the timing for the minister — nine days after being sworn into Cabinet — could not have been […]
Agriculture in Canada needs a framework for prosperity
It has been said the road to hell is paved with good intentions and though the Liberal government hasn’t paid much attention to paving roads lately, the destination they have in mind for rural Canadians seems to be the same. Struggling with an endless stream of misdirected regulations, excessive taxes and costs, and curious forms […]
Where do the Conservative leadership candidates stand on urban diversity?
Could it be that the new Conservative Party is becoming more mainstream, more like its Progressive Conservative side and less like it Reform-Alliance past? A new survey on urban diversity priorities of the three leadership candidates found that they all now subscribe to several of the old PC policies on some key diversity issues, while […]
A national science adviser for Canada
Like many of my colleagues in government and university circles, I have often felt over the years that Canada would be well-served by the appointment of a national science adviser who would not only articulate the perspective of science within the Canadian government, but also advance Canadian S&T interests internationally. Such positions have long existed […]
‘Commercialization gap’ will require more dollars: Fontana
The Paul Martin government is working on possibly creating a new source of funding or seed money to help Canadian businesses better market their research ideas, says the Prime Minister’s new Parliamentary secretary on science and small business. Liberal MP Joe Fontana (London North Centre, Ont.) says it’s his new job to create […]
Building a healthy innovation system
Canadians expect Health Canada to deliver on its day-to-day responsibilities, like watching for and responding to global challenges like SARS, West Nile virus and the avian flu; developing programs to combat smoking, diabetes, cancer, obesity and a range of other threats to our well-being, and regulating the safety of foods, drugs, medical devices and other […]
Canada’s rapidly-increasing expertise, potential in 21st century
When he took office in December, Prime Minister Paul Martin did me the honour of naming me to his new Cabinet as Minister of State for New and Emerging Markets. In addition to the creation–for the first time–of a stand-alone Department of International Trade, the decision to dedicate a Cabinet post to raising Canada’s profile […]
Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canadian economy
On Dec. 12, 2003, Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed me to the Privy Council as Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Industry, with special emphasis on Entrepreneurs and New Canadians. The new Privy Council, which for the first time includes Parliamentary Secretaries, has been designed to strengthen the social foundations of Canadian life, to build […]
Martin’s much-hyped ‘innovation agenda’ has been cast aside
The first bad sign for the Martin government concerning productivity and innovation came when the Governor General omitted the paragraphs on science, technology and research in the Throne Speech. The second bad omen is that the much-hyped “Innovation Agenda” which cost millions of dollars to develop and publish, seems to have been cast aside. What […]
