Aviation Policy Briefing
We must go from Inuit exclusion to self-determination in research
Inuit are one of the most researched peoples in the world. We are also one of the fastest-growing populations, yet the number of peer-reviewed publications and dissertations that focus on Inuit and Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland, has outpaced the rate of our population growth by a wide margin. In 1996 there was one publication […]
Canada needs Saudi Arabia ‘whether we like it or not,’ says booted Canadian envoy
Canada—and the world—needs Saudi Arabia “whether we like it or not,” according to Canada’s recently expelled ambassador to the kingdom, but a path to renewed relations is unclear with the impulsive Saudi crown prince showing no sign of backing down. As “imperfect as it might be,” a stable Saudi Arabia is key in the Middle […]
Time for action on neglected Naylor report advice
OTTAWA—As the Trudeau government gears up for the coming election year, recommendations from the 2017 expert panel on Canada’s Fundamental Science Review, chaired by former University of Toronto president David Naylor and commissioned by the federal science minister, are coming to the fore. In the past few weeks, federal ministers have fanned out across the […]
Support innovation in remote regions to build on Canada’s strengths
Since 2016, the government has taken essential and reassuring steps that demonstrate its commitment to transforming Canada into an innovative society. By unmuzzling federal scientists and establishing the chief science adviser of Canada’s office, the government sent a clear signal: science must be a pillar of federal government decision-making. The 2018 budget subsequently implemented the […]
Pot lobbying to remain high in wake of legalization, insiders say
Since the Liberals came to power with a promise of cannabis legalization, a sophisticated government relations industry has bloomed out of the historic policy shift, with lobbying skyrocketing and the companies registered since 2015 having doubled those in the arena compared to three years before. That comes as no surprise to any involved in the […]
Mali mission is more modern colonialism than altruism
OTTAWA—A Canadian Press news story last week about Canada’s United Nations peacekeeping mission to Mali said an internal UN report noted that the violence level in that war-torn West African nation has actually increased since Canadian troops first deployed in June. Probably even the most self-delusional of Canada’s defence pundits would have realized that the […]
With science funding restored, universities and colleges push for more student support in 2019 budget
Building on unprecedented investments for science in the 2018 budget, universities and colleges are pressing the Liberals ahead of the 2019 budget for new funding to cover the “least sexy” costs of research, as well as dramatically expanding the number of students in work placements. More than two-dozen individual universities and colleges, as well as […]
Large gaps, questions remain in federal support for research
For many years, Canadian researchers have seen a gradual, but significant decline, in funding from the federal government. For example, from 2013 to 2015, Canada’s average investment in research was 1.6 per cent of GDP, compared to a G7 average of 2.3 per cent. The 2017 Naylor Report found that Canada is falling behind on […]
On populism, Harper buys into right wing’s old ruse
OTTAWA—I won’t be buying Stephen Harper’s book. As was usually the case when he was prime minister, Harper seems in his new tome to be keeping his real thoughts to himself—in this case in favour of some fairly mundane observations and warmed-over conservative shibboleths. Apparently worried about maintaining his celebrity status among U.S. billionaires, the […]
