Mental Health Policy Briefing
No matter how bad the climate situation becomes, tackling it is still an uphill climb politically
OTTAWA—I used to say, “maybe people will start getting concerned about climate change when the polar bears start swimming up to their front steps.” But maybe not. Perhaps that’s just alarmist, as the climate change deniers like to say about those expressing urgent worries these days on the fate of the planet. I covered the […]
Three in four federal scientists say Canada isn’t doing enough to combat climate change
Only one in five federal scientists think Canada is doing enough to fight climate change, and PIPSC president Debi Daviau says the government needs to do more to equip these experts with the resources needed to properly combat the crisis. A recent survey conducted by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) […]
Some party housing promises get passing grade from economists, but immigration and supply key factors
The big parties’ promised tweaks to mortgage rules and help for new homebuyers could help some people get ahead, say economists, but tackling supply and demand is the best way to manage a hot market. The federal government should be twisting the arm of municipalities to change zoning rules to allow more highrise buildings, duplexes, […]
It’s time to get serious about the Official Languages Act
On Sept. 9, 1969, Canada’s first Official Languages Act came into effect. The goal of the legislation—and of the updated act, which replaced it in 1988—was to achieve substantive equality for English and French within government, but also before the courts and in Canadian society. Has this goal been met? As we say in French, […]
PBO campaign proposal costing ‘above expectations’ so far, hundreds more estimates expected
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux and team have been going full steam in costing this year’s election campaign proposals, with a flurry of reports looking at policy commitments from three of Canada’s major federal parties posted online since the beginning of September. As of filing deadline on Sept. 24, the Conservatives were leading the way […]
Statistics say: biotechnology in Canada
Biotechnology is a rapidly evolving industry. It is also somewhat misunderstood. Biotech has wide-ranging applications outside of the most obvious field, medicine. These graphs seek to answer some basic questions on the state of the biotech industry in Canada. According to the 2018 Deloitte Biotech Industry Data survey, nearly half (45 per cent) of Canadian […]
Unleashing productivity growth through open science innovation
Canadian labour productivity is negative this year. As a country, we are producing less, while using more resources. For the first time, the federal government created an innovation strategy aimed at reversing this. While its effects have yet to reach the economy, the strategy still remains tentative. We need to do more: develop innovative approaches […]
Potential agricultural, human health benefits of gene editing outweigh risks
Gene editing is the latest technology focused on modifying the DNA of a species that offers the potential for large improvements in human, animal, and environmental health. The benefits could be particularly great for the world’s poorest—Bill Gates claims gene editing can help lift millions out of poverty through reducing food insecurity and human health […]
ISED working with BIOTECanada to get better, much-needed industry data
BIOTECanada, the industry association that represents more than 200 Canadian biotechnology companies, has been in talks with Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada for “over a year” in an effort to get much-needed, comprehensive federal statistics on the biotechnology industry in Canada, says BIOTECanada president Andrew Casey. The department did not respond directly to questions […]
