If government strategy isn’t coherent, it’s a complete waste of money
When it comes to science and technology, government involvement is key. Let’s take the pharmaceutical industry as an example. From 1969 to 1987, the mandatory licensing regime offered little patent protection, driving up the production of generics in Ontario. Ontario was pleased with this policy that provided little innovation but ensured a high economic turnout. […]
MPs among thousands showing their warrior spirit for annual Army Run
As much of Ottawa was without electricity, a number of MPs powered up to run in the 11th annual Army Run in the city’s downtown core on Sept. 23. The politicians joined staffers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, reporters, and more than 20,000 other registrants who walked, ran, and rolled for the annual event, […]
MPs sick of state of debate in Parliament, but divided on how to fix it: Samara report
A majority of MPs aren’t happy with the state of debate in the House, suggest the results of a new survey of elected officials, but there is no strong consensus on the way forward to reform Parliament. Results of the Samara Centre for Democracy study, conducted in May and June by the non-profit and released […]
Nike scores a touchdown with Kaepernick ad
OTTAWA—While coaches and sideline staff in the Canadian Football League come out on the field in “Diversity Is Strength” T-shirts, the president of the United States regularly whips up his base by denigrating professional players who kneel during the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality. The CFL shirts are meant to celebrate diversity […]
Calamity shouldn’t be the only catalyst for political co-operation
OTTAWA—This past weekend, the Ottawa-Gatineau region was battered by two severe tornados. Nearly 300,000 homes were without power at the height of the storm damage and many people had their residences destroyed in the community of Dunrobin, on the outskirts of the capital. My own home was without power for just under 24 hours and […]
Use biotech to spur a real energy transition
While federal action on climate change has been slow and stilted, many provinces understand that we need to turn towards renewable energy sources. They are taking bold steps to create ways of life that better respect the environment and are fairer for future generations. This August, our party’s leader, Jagmeet Singh, toured Quebec to meet […]
Maybe the 2019 ballot question should be about politics itself
If you weren’t aware before last week that Canada’s federal politicians are now in election-countdown mode, the event that greeted MPs returning to the House of Commons after the summer of killer heat waves (or the “summer of failure,” depending on what you spent your vacation tweeting about) will have instantly acclimatized you to our […]
Yeehaw! Hillites don plaid and boots for Political Party fundraiser
So, it turns out that some well-known journalists and politicians can really bring down the house with country music. Who knew there was this much musical talent on the Hill? The Political Party, held Sept. 21, brought together about 250 Hillites from the political, lobbying, and media realms for a night of country music, with […]
Are Liberals and the PQ running on empty?
This is the time in past election campaigns when the Quebec Liberals would set aside their platform to focus single-mindedly on the Parti Québécois’ referendum agenda. Forcing the question of whether voters wanted to risk a return to referendum politics on the ballot did not always result in a Liberal victory, but it did make […]
Balancing the budget is not Canada’s top economic priority
TORONTO—The Conservatives say they would like to make the economy the issue in the next federal election, about a year from now. But if they simply want a return to the discredited austerity policies of the Harper government, which slowed Canada’s recovery from the Great Recession and kept too many Canadians unemployed for too long, […]
