Focus on human dimension of innovation
Innovation is often defined in the context of those discoveries and systems necessary to sustain Canada’s competitive leadership in a global economy. We must realize however, that innovation is only as valuable as its capacity to reflect, to resonate with and to serve the human experience. Addressing the social, cultural, and ethical impacts of new […]
Is innovation an election issue?
Since 2006, at least a dozen major reports about innovation in Canada have come to three identical conclusions. First, future growth and prosperity depend upon innovation. Second, Canada is not very good at it. Third, what we are doing about it is not working. Such conclusions attract broad political and industry agreement. But it has […]
Driving innovation—are we there yet?
‘There has been no effective mobilization of advice and counsel from outside the public service and responsibility for the expansion of various activities has been borne by individual ministers without any evidence of their relation to national policy as a whole.’ (J. Grant Glassco, Commissioner, 1963) This salient observation on the country’s national science activities […]
Toronto tech conference an American Idol for innovators
Some of the country’s most innovative companies in digital media and information and communication technology were featured at the annual Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) in Toronto last month. The Nov. 18 event, which was attended by top innovative tech experts in Canada, is described as “a technology party for the industry” by founding co-chair Rick […]
Renewable Energy
Minister Leitch promotes Lydon as new chief of staff
Labour and Status of Women Minister Kellie Leitch has finally hired a new chief of staff to run her ministerial office and last week promoted her director of communications, Chris Lydon, to the top position. Ms. Leitch’s former chief of staff, Dan Miles, left the minister’s office in April to move to Toronto to […]
We need to harness clean, safe sources of limitless energy
Recently, The Globe and Mail referred to storage as the “Holy Grail of renewable energy.” The article, “Ontario seeks wind, solar energy storage options” (Richard Blackwell, Aug. 3, 2014) described the latest provincial efforts by the Ontario government to find ways to store renewables. Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) have selected […]
Canada’s Armed Forces have a unique opportunity to drive change
Necessity has certainly fuelled invention in the energy world. As we continue to work our way through the finite global supply of fossil fuels, countries large and small have been scrambling to develop and deploy clean-energy alternatives. The most recent conflicts in Iraq sent oil prices to their highest point since the 2008 financial […]
Closing wind energy’s social gap in Canada
KINGSTON, ONT.—Ten years ago, observers of the first wave of wind energy developments in Europe coined the phrase “social gap” to highlight a contradiction. Despite consistent opinion polling results showing strong majority support for wind energy development, only a fraction of wind energy projects reached completion because of local protests. The social gap refers […]
Government has head stuck in oilsands
It is no secret that the Prime Minister has an unhealthy obsession with the oil and gas industry; his only real non-political job was sorting mail for Imperial Oil and it seems to have left a lasting impression. Despite wasting millions of taxpayer dollars flagrantly shilling for the oilsands through ad campaigns and subsidies, […]
