Canadian government needs to have a more unified China strategy across all domains including innovation and research direction
Questions have been raised around Huawei’s funding of 5G research in Canadian universities and whether the government should continue to allow this or not. Stimulating the debate are the current Canada-China geopolitical and trade tensions and the ongoing investigation around the potential national security threat of implementing a Chinese network infrastructure. The decision is still […]
Universities play a crucial role in Canada’s competitiveness
TORONTO—Talent and innovation—and therefore universities—play a crucial role in Canada’s competitiveness. Canadian prosperity was built on the foundation of a rich stream of natural resources and commodities; and has been fostered by liberal trade policies. Recent international developments are complicating the global trade of goods and services. We need new competitive advantages to sustain and […]
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 […]
Why are young people economically anxious about the future? The truth is, we don’t know
If you ask any young Canadian if they are anxious about their economic future, the answer is likely going to be yes. Despite being a common feeling held by youth across the country, the causes of this anxiety remain shockingly poorly understood, and policy prescriptions remain scant. We often think that anxieties could be dissolved […]
Government should take an integrated approach to ensure all four research pillars are funded appropriately
Research in its broadest sense, i.e., including scholarly works and creative activities, is the foundation of any civilization. Research enhances our social, cultural, economic and environmental well-being and improves our quality of life through better health, comfortable living environment, and access to art, music and culture for our enjoyment. Research conducted over generations in government […]
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 […]
