Digital Privacy and Security

Broad scope needed for Canada’s upcoming Athena SWAN program, say stakeholders

A pilot program the government is expected to launch soon to boost diversity in the research ranks should include a variety of institutions in order to have the impact the feds intend, says two organizations representing post-secondary institutions at the national level. Universities have varying needs and challenges when it comes to achieving equity goals, […]
The future of work will determine the future of equality

The future of work is here. Technological disruption is already rapidly changing work, but we still have little idea of what the job market will look like in the years ahead here in Canada or elsewhere, including in developing countries. Because we know little about what impact automation technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics […]
Parties wading deeper into ‘Wild West’ of text-message outreach

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Conservative Party’s headline-grabbing move to text thousands of Canadians about the Liberal government’s incoming carbon tax at the end of March was only scratching the surface of how text messaging is being used by political campaigns to reach out to voters, donors, and volunteers, both in Canada and south of the border. All […]
New NAFTA deal gets it right on digital trade

Canada has quickly become a leader in digital innovations. Our federal government has, in the last few years, launched superclusters across the country, with the goal of transforming our innovation economy. We are leading the world in the development of artificial intelligence, with research hubs in Montreal and Waterloo, among other cities. And we are […]
When making transport policy, don’t forget how it affects company vehicles

From changing environmental and transportation policies to the intense NAFTA renegotiation, the past few years have been a roller-coaster ride for the auto industry and fleet managers. The federal government is in the process of developing some very important policies for the ever-evolving transportation sector. Last year, Transport Canada released its Transportation 2030 strategy, which […]
We need a different kind of growth agenda

TORONTO—With much fanfare last June, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains launched national consultations on policies to help Canada succeed in the digital transformation of society and the economy. The consultations were closed last October, but since then there has been silence. What was learned in these nationwide consultations is not being shared. My own efforts to […]
Agriculture

Let’s end plastic waste

Plastic waste reduction has been on the forefront of the federal policy discussion over the last year, from a commitment to reduce the amount of single-use plastics in federal government operations, to Canada leading the development and completion of the G7 Ocean Plastics Charter that was signed by the European Union and five G7 countries […]
Canadian icebreaking capabilities not up to snuff, experts say

The town of L’Anse-au-Loup, N.L., sits on north shore of the Strait of Belle Isle, just over 20 km east of the lower north shore of Quebec. The 600-person community relies on a ferry service to provide them with everything from groceries to propane. “All our grocery stores rely on it for their produce and […]