Canada’s unique opportunity to lead the future of the internet
Our digitally-powered society continually reinforces what everyone now considers a fact of life: the absolute vitality of the internet. Imagine running a business, undertaking a degree or securing a dream job without internet access. Life would be immensely different without the countless connections made online every day. The internet’s promise, to connect everyone and unlock […]
How Canada can improve its STEM gender deficit
We recently celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and there’s much to celebrate—but also, much work to do. It’s a day to celebrate just how far we’ve come since Elsie MacGill, aircraft designer and Canada’s first female engineer, was asked to leave the University of British Columbia in 1921 because of […]
Fintech caught in grey zone, stakeholders say, as feds study Bank Act
As Finance Canada is in the midst of its review of the Bank Act, observers are saying the rules need to better accommodate the emerging financial technology sector—known as “fintech”—and bring banking regulations into the digital age so that Canada can catch up to its international peers. “Things in fintech are moving in weeks and […]
Canada jeopardizing U.S. relations, trade deals by favouring Chinese takeovers
Encouraging free trade is a cornerstone of the Conservative Party’s foreign affairs strategy. Gaining access to new markets in a mutually beneficial manner facilitates the dissemination of Canadian innovation, while creating jobs and a strong economy for Canadians. However, this enthusiasm to engage does not extend to state-owned enterprises, especially when it comes at the […]
Innovation facts and figures
Bloomberg 2018 Innovation Index 2018 rank 2017 rank Year over year change Economy Total score 1 1 0 S. Korea 89.28 2 2 0 Sweden 84.70 3 6 +3 Singapore 83.05 4 3 -1 Germany 82.53 5 4 -1 Switzerland 82.34 6 7 +1 Japan 81.91 7 5 -2 Finland 81.46 8 8 0 […]
Feds must step up support for innovation in Canada’s auto industry
Since the inception of the automotive industry in Canada, automakers and automotive part suppliers have become global leaders in innovation. Especially following the financial crisis of 2008 and with ongoing NAFTA negotiations, it is clear that our government needs to step up its support of the automotive industry in Canada. Other countries have strategies to grow […]
Liberals making investments to help Canadians seize opportunities created by technology: Bains
The expansive portfolio handed to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains has already earned him the moniker the “minister of everything.” After all, the Mississauga, Ont., MP is tasked with not only shepherding the government’s all-important economic development agenda, but also helping domestic businesses become more innovative, an elusive task that seemingly boils […]
Government should prepare now for automation economy, even if layoffs aren’t imminent, say experts
Despite mixed opinions from experts as to how soon automation will lead to significant layoffs, both proponents of new technologies in industry and those more apprehensive to their adoption say it’s better for the federal government to ready Canada for potential job losses and a disrupted economy with policy sooner rather than later. “We have this […]
Innovation procurement programs looking to lure home-grown products
Yad Garcha, CEO of Bionic Power, understands why most small business owners are wary of doing business with the federal government, calling the process bureaucratic, but for him government procurement was always the end goal. The Vancouver-based Bionic Power was recently awarded a contract for $1.1-million for its Knee Based Energy Harvester through the Build in […]
Stopping online piracy is not censorship
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is considering a proposal to block Canadians from accessing websites that “blatantly, overwhelming, or structurally engage in piracy.” The proposal expands on successful efforts in other countries to address the growing problem of online piracy, while imposing extraordinary safeguards to protect users’ digital rights. In short, it is a balanced […]
