Innovation
Why the CRTC should endorse FairPlay’s piracy site-blocking plan
It’s time to have a fair and reasonable conversation about the issue of online piracy in 2018. Piracy has evolved significantly since the days of making bootleg copies of movies on VHS tapes. We live in a world where innovation has allowed us to access content from anywhere, anytime, on any screen; and where operators […]
Canada should heed lessons from Israel to become global innovation leader
Canada is by no means alone in seeking to boost innovation. But our country does have undeniable and enviable—potential to be a true global leader in research, development, and entrepreneurial thinking. To realize that potential, we need to invest in all aspects of innovation, including fundamental research. We also need to take every opportunity to […]
Four ideas to make Canada more inclusive of people with disabilities
“As a scientist, I could not understand how at the end of the 20th century disabled people have no other option than a wheelchair,” said Israeli Amit Goffer. Goffer made international headlines by inventing ReWalk, an extraordinary bionic system that enables paraplegics to stand upright, walk, and even climb stairs. Having become a quadriplegic after […]
Innovation is the talk of the town
Innovation is the talk of Ottawa, with the government having made it the centrepiece theme of its last budget, and currently preparing to roll out billions of dollars in innovation-enhancing policy programs. Yet while artificial intelligence, augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and other fields are getting the lion’s share of attention, it is critical we not […]
Why this backbench MP is lobbied more than most ministers
Canada’s most-lobbied backbench MP in 2017, Francis Drouin, is a “rising star” who’s developed a reputation as a rural champion, say lobbyists. Mr. Drouin’s 136 communications posted to the lobbyist registry in 2017 are connected to agriculture, tied to his work on the House Agriculture Committee and the interests of his Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ont., constituents. A […]
Canada needs to think bigger to see true growth in its cleantech industry
The worldwide movement to fight climate change is electrifying unprecedented momentum in the global cleantech market. This momentum is characterized by a global race to innovate, develop, verify, and bring solutions to market. Canada has the potential to lead the pack. There’s no question we have the talent; Canada’s clean technology sector continues to punch […]
Health Canada adding staff, launches new branch, in preparation for legal pot
Health Canada is taking the lead on the marijuana file in Ottawa in advance of the summer deadline for legalization, overseeing product licensing and regulations, quality monitoring, health research, and public education. In preparation, the department is transforming significantly, according to experts and a former Liberal health minister, adding new inspectors and staff to deal with backlogged licensing […]
Forthcoming national IP strategy needs incentives to spur Canadian growth
It is well established, both in Canada and abroad, that all forms of intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyright, industrial designs, trade secrets, etc.) are important to business scalability and sustainability. However, for many years Canada has been lagging behind other jurisdictions in taking advantage of this knowledge by failing to establish policy incentives for developing […]
Canada already leading on the international science front, says IDRC head
Re: “Canada is back? Not so fast when talking international science,” (The Hill Times, Dec. 6, 2017, p. 16). I have read with interest the recent article of Daryl Copeland you published on Wednesday, December 6, 2017. The issues raised are very important, especially in this current sociopolitical climate in which the erosion of trust […]
