Our parliamentary committees should operate better, especially now
OTTAWA—These have not been the finest days for the Parliament of Canada. A Member of Parliament urinated on camera during a non-public House session. This, after he was caught naked on camera during a House session a few weeks earlier. Recently, Mark Carney, vice chair of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., appeared before the House of […]
The CRTC has abandoned its mandate, and it’s hurting Canadians
The CRTC has let Canadians down. At a time when internet access is so critically important, the CRTC has inexplicably chosen to overturn its own 2019 ruling that would have lowered rates for consumers across Canada. At Distributel, we work hard to build the innovative services Canadians want at the affordable prices they need. We […]
Patents have a place, but they’re no magic bullet
If patents are the measure of success in the digital age, Canada is in deep trouble. This country ranks 14th in the world in filing global patents, according to a 2020 report by the World Intellectual Property Organization. Relative to our population or the size of our economy, Canada isn’t even in the top 20. And […]
Canada’s government still doesn’t get innovation—and that’s a problem
TORONTO—Could it be that the disappointing results from the Trudeau government’s innovation strategy are due to its lack of understanding of how the digital knowledge-based economy actually works? When then-industry minister Navdeep Bains unveiled his innovation strategy in 2017, he boldly declared that there was no need for further studies. Jim Balsillie, the chair of […]
Canada needs academic, industry collaboration to fix the internet, not rushed legislation
The Trudeau government is learning how difficult governing the information environment can be. Bill C-10, a move to amend the Broadcasting Act to include online content, has confused everyone, including a former chairperson of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. With no clear indication of whether or not the amendment will apply to everyone with […]
Inclusive pandemic recovery can’t happen without targeted support for youth
When it comes to our collective pandemic recovery, investing in young Canadians is essential. However, success will depend on our ability to not simply create opportunities, but to create meaningful ones that allow youth to not only recover but to use their unique qualities and perspectives to shape and define what that recovery will look […]
About time to get a grip on money-laundering problems in Canada
One of the pleasant surprises in the April federal budget was the announcement to earmark $2.1-million to build and implement a national corporate beneficial ownership registry. In December 2017, federal and provincial/territorial finance ministers had agreed in principle to pursue amendments to their respective legislative corporate law statutes to require corporations to hold accurate and […]
2017 Naylor Report recommendations just as relevant now as ever, panellists say
Four years after releasing Canada’s Fundamental Science Review, also known as the Naylor Report, its author David Naylor says Canada is still not making science and research a top priority and it should. “There is still no high-level oversight function—nothing like the National Advisory Council on Research and Innovation that we recommended,” he said in […]
Motion to establish House Science and Research Committee has cross-partisan support
Canada’s former minister of science says there should be a full-fledged House Science and Research Committee in the next Parliament and says it could have played a vital role during the global pandemic. Ms. Duncan (Etobicoke North, Ont.), who served as the federal minister of science and sport in the last Parliament and currently serves […]
Innovation for net zero: governance and policy innovation as important as technological advances
After decades of muddling along, it finally appears that Canada is putting in place the conditions to make headway on the climate file. The federal government is advancing legislation to formalize its net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions goal and establish a Net Zero Advisory Body. It has announced its intention to ramp up the […]
