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 […]
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 […]
On political activities, the Public Service Commission deserves to be challenged
OTTAWA—Political parties have already begun recruiting candidates and campaign workers for the next federal election in 2019. Many candidates could be drawn from the federal public service, as there you find people who understand government and know how to get policies adopted. There are also public servants who want to volunteer in the democratic process. […]
Expect Liberal budget to focus on science, women’s role in economy
OTTAWA—Thomas Mulcair got it right a few years back when, commenting on the approach of Stephen Harper’s government to the role of science in policy development, he said the Conservatives relied on “decision-based fact-making.” But, unfortunately for the NDP, it was Justin Trudeau’s Liberals who managed to capitalize in the 2015 election on a commitment […]
Innovation
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 […]
The government’s ‘air traffic controller’: peeking behind the curtain of the PCO
It’s the department that never sleeps. The Privy Council Office could be described as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s department, and Clerk Michael Wernick as his deputy minister. One of the most important government bodies, it advises Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) and his cabinet, and co-ordinates the public service to implement the government’s agenda. Housed within […]
Kudos to Trudeau for education funding
Full kudos goes to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals for their recent pledge to the Global Partnership for Education of $180-million over three years. This couldn’t have come at a better time, with United States President Donald Trump’s recent slashing of more than half of America’s funding to the United Nations agency that runs schools for Palestinian children. […]
Good grievance! Treasury Board wading through more than 4,000 Phoenix-related complaints
The Treasury Board Secretariat has been hit with more than 4,000 individual complaints from government employees related to the Phoenix pay system, an amount that a labour relations expert says could be a slog to wade through. Kevin Banks, a Queen’s University labour relations law professor, said payroll grievances are “pretty straightforward” but the amount […]
