Social media companies that violate new political ad rules, even inadvertently, will be fined, minister suggests
Canada has a new regime for online political ads heading into October’s election, but in an interview last week the minister responsible expressed some frustration with certain social media companies’ approach to the new system. Instead of agreeing to implement a registry of all campaign ads, as is required by the newly passed election-reform law […]
Privacy watchdog proposing rule change that could see firms revise data-use policies
Companies could soon be rewriting their privacy policies to fit a change the privacy commissioner is contemplating that could mean getting a person’s explicit okay in all cases when their data is to be transferred across the border. Though the proposed change isn’t final, it has some interested people and groups saying that they’re now […]
The EU and Canada: a transatlantic partnership with a strong digital dimension
Relations between the European Union and Canada are probably stronger now than they have ever been before. The Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, both signed in October 2016, show our mutual commitment to an open, democratic, sustainable, and progressive international order. I am delighted that an EU-Canada digital dialogue is […]
Confessions of a former digital utopian
Consider this a confession of a former digital utopian. When I was first elected as an MP, I believed that Parliamentarians needed to protect the “open” internet and embrace what we thought of as the digital commons. I swallowed the Silicon Valley line that government regulation would impede innovation. What was at stake was the […]
Digital Privacy and Security
‘A diversity of thought, experience, background, breeds great research’: Duncan trumpets equity in science and research
With increased diversity, equity, and inclusion, Canadian research improves, says Science Minister Kirsty Duncan. In a wide-ranging May 3 phone interview, Ms. Duncan (Etobicoke North, Ont.) pointed to the impact that changes in Canada Research Chairs have had. She said for the first time in Canadian history, half of those nominated for Canada Research Chairs […]
Broad scope needed for Canada’s upcoming Athena SWAN program, say stakeholders
A pilot program the government is expected to launch soon to boost diversity in the research ranks should include a variety of institutions in order to have the impact the feds intend, says two organizations representing post-secondary institutions at the national level. Universities have varying needs and challenges when it comes to achieving equity goals, […]
The future of work will determine the future of equality
The future of work is here. Technological disruption is already rapidly changing work, but we still have little idea of what the job market will look like in the years ahead here in Canada or elsewhere, including in developing countries. Because we know little about what impact automation technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics […]
Feds hope low earth orbiting satellites are answer for rural broadband access
In the recent budget, the government announced $1.7-billion for its plan to get broadband access for all Canadian homes by 2030, but how much funding will go to satellites to cover the most remote and northern communities remains unclear. In the 2019 budget, the Liberal government announced $1.7-billion for the Universal Broadband Fund, which will […]
Research & Innovation Policy Briefing
