Now is the time for Canada to lead in fostering global research collaborations that drive innovative solutions to grand challenges
Countries around the world clearly understand the close connection between strong research, development, and innovation efforts and national economic growth, prosperity, and competitiveness. The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought building domestic resilience to the forefront of many national agendas. At the same time, however, in the face of climate change, food insecurity, health crises, and […]
Health data is good medicine for an improved health system
In 2014, the federal government tasked Dr. David Naylor with identifying the five most promising areas of innovation in Canada with potential to sustainably reduce growth in health-care spending while improving quality and accessibility of care. One key theme from the report, Unleashing Innovation: Excellent Healthcare for Canada,was health data. Innovation in Canadian health care […]
Canada’s ability to attract and retain international talent is crucial to creating business success
Canada’s small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face an average of 11 cyber attacks per device daily, but nearly half have made no investment in cybersecurity protection. These SMBs, along with municipalities, Indigenous communities, health-care providers, and critical infrastructure providers have borne the brunt of the impact from cyber attacks, particularly in the form of ransomware. […]
Canada’s jobs gap puts skills training, education atop growth agenda
TORONTO—We knew employers were having a tough time finding workers. But it was still a shock to learn that in the second quarter of this year there were nearly one million job vacancies in Canada, more than double the 452,000 job vacancies a few years earlier, in 2015 for example. This jobs gap means the […]
Here’s what’s still needed to drive innovation
In 2017, Canada launched the world’s first national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. The Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy—led by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and funded by the federal government—was created to help establish a robust national AI ecosystem by 2030. The ambitious goal was to accelerate AI research and education, spur the development […]
Canada’s innovation strategy must pay mind to intellectual property
TORONTO—The Trudeau government seems to be working around the clock to dream up new programs, one after another, for a more innovative economy. That the need for a more innovative economy is recognized is important and welcome. Our prospects for a better and more sustainable future with good jobs, and our ability to afford high-quality […]
Higher tech, lower competition? It shouldn’t be this way
The term “off the grid” got a whole new meaning last month when more than 10 million Canadians from coast to coast to coast woke up to discover their cell phone service and internet connection had gone down. In a world that depends on connectivity, millions of Canadians had no choice but to sit and […]
Ten years after the ‘death of evidence,’ scientists again march on Parliament Hill
Ten years ago, thousands of scientists and their supporters marched through Ottawa to Parliament Hill in the “death of evidence” rally. Some wore white coats, while others came in grim reaper costumes, complete with scythes. All came to mourn the demise of science in Canada’s democracy. At the time, research sites were being shuttered and […]
Consumer interest is being overlooked and manipulated
OTTAWA—Canadians lack basic consumer protection at a time when the economy is not favouring the consumer. This was illustrated on July 8 when Rogers had a nation-wide shut down, taking down its customers’ internet, phone, wireless services, some retail payment transactions, and 911 services. The reaction by federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne was to meet […]
Rogers outage another reason to get rid of Canada’s efficiencies defence in competition law
On the morning of July 8, Canadians woke up to the consequences of monopoly. Rogers’ nationwide wireless and wireline networks had gone down, which meant not only was a third of the country in the dark when it came to connectivity, but also core payment infrastructure relying on the same network was also down. The […]
