With key tax credit under microscope, biotech firms say it should stay, be improved
As the federal government starts reviewing a tax credit key to the biotechnology sector, some industry representatives say they’re happy with it but would like to see its eligibility expanded, whereas others think documentation standards are too high. The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED, pronounced “shred”) program allows companies in Canada to get a […]
How government can spark venture capital for biotech success
As the government looks to shape its venture capital policy, biotechnology industry representatives say it’s important to minimize direct government intervention, instead letting the private sector decide what companies to invest in. The Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI), as announced in the 2017 budget, is set to provide $400-million to help ease the way for […]
Government putting money where its mouth is on innovation: Bains
As the world celebrates Global Biotech Week, it’s high time for our companies and researchers to do something that most would consider rather un-Canadian: pat themselves on the back. After all, it’s Canada that has led the way in the global biotech industry for so many years with advances in areas like genomics, stem cell […]
Investments in discovery have never been more important to Canada
Recently, I joined Science Minister Kirsty Duncan for an announcement of a major investment in cutting-edge research and hundreds of post-graduate scholarships, both funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). What NSERC does best, year in and year out, is invest in ideas and talent for the benefit of Canada. […]
Parliamentarians were right to pass law against genetic discrimination
One consequence of the Human Genome Project was a vast increase in the variety and availability of genetic tests. In response, governments in most Western countries passed laws to protect their citizens from genetic discrimination. On May 4, Canada caught up, when the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (Bill S-201) received royal assent. Your genetic information has […]
Liberals must prioritize growing research and development sector
As the Conservative shadow minister for science, I think it’s important to recognize that we have some of the best and brightest minds in research labs across Canada. To support our researchers, the federal government must continue to foster an environment where their ideas can be used to improve the lives of Canadians, and exported […]
To diffuse technology or not to diffuse: that’s the question
Let me give you a choice between two compelling narratives on the topic of diffusion—efforts to make technologies available by means of government policies. The first is an argument for the broad diffusion of biotechnologies, including synthetic biology and CRISPR (a genome editing tool). The other is an argument for a slow-down or clamp-down. You be […]
Biotechnology
Public-sector expert recommends government technological overhauls be done in smaller increments
Governments should not waver from pushing ahead with technological changes to improve the way they operate despite several examples—such as the Phoenix pay system for federal employees—turning into disasters, says a U.S. public-sector expert who was in Ottawa last week. The Phoenix pay system, turned on last year, was supposed to bring efficiencies to the […]
Is technological change a huge, dark cloud threatening to create a jobless society?
TORONTO—Is technological change—the digital world of robots, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things—a huge dark cloud threatening to create a jobless society? Or at least an uneven world where a small percentage of highly paid, high-skilled workers and a similar percentage of low-paid, low-skill servant workers co-exist, with no need for a middle-skills world? Or […]
