Climate change action top priority for universities and colleges in 2020 budget
On the heels of the federal government declaring a climate emergency and polls showing climate change as top of mind for voters heading in to the election, universities, colleges, and post-secondary education-related advocacy organizations are asking the federal government for more money to help post-secondary institutions bolster climate research efforts and improve campus carbon footprints. […]
Canada’s universities and colleges are navigating challenges created by China
China’s kidnapping and detention of two innocent Canadians, the execution court sentences for two more, and trade actions against our agricultural products are giving many Canadian organizations concerns about their partnerships with China, including the academic community. Canada’s science collaborations with modern China go back to the 1950s, and have become one of the most […]
The future of research transparency at Canada’s universities
Can we call a university that enters into secret research agreements with corporations and refuses to disclose these activities a public-serving institution? In December of 2018, my university refused to provide me access to basic information about research grants and contracts at the University of Regina against the recommendation of Saskatchewan’s privacy commissioner. The university […]
There’s a long-running irritation in Sino-Canadian universities and colleges relations
A long-running irritation in Sino-Canadian university and colleges relations has been the persistent use by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of its students here as shock troops in propaganda warfare and its persecution of Canadians it considers dissidents. Canada believes in freedom of speech and expression, but the marshalling by Beijing’s diplomats in Canada of […]
Life-long learning increasingly important to further our society as a whole
During my PhD studies, I was working mainly at a national research institute at which my university supervisor was cross-appointed. Even though the institute was 30 km away from the university, my supervisor insisted that I attended regular seminars at the university. I thought it would be more efficient if universities concentrated on teaching while […]
When excellence meets equity: re-imagining research chairs
OTTAWA—“Our government recognizes that when our institutions better reflect the diversity of Canada, science and research are stronger and their impacts on the lives of Canadians are more profound,” said Minister of Science and Sports Kirsty Duncan on June 14. When the minister of science and sport made the announcements of 364 new Canada Research […]
University and College Research Policy Briefing
Canada’s child care ‘crisis’ should be ballot box issue, say advocates, economists
Daycare in Canada has reached a crisis point, say some MPs, child care advocates and economists, who urge a conversation on a federally funded and developed system to address affordability and availability, and ultimately boost the economy through increased participation by women in the workforce. Part of the problem preventing political movement on a policy […]
Five ways NDP seeks to differentiate itself from Trudeau government
An NDP government under Jagmeet Singh may be a long shot, given the party’s performance in the polls, which have had the Conservatives and the Liberals running neck and neck for months at a time. Still, the party is hoping to pry some progressive votes away from the Liberals in part by calling for a universal […]
Crews brace for Canada Day crowd on the Hill
