Ottawa’s innovation strategy should focus on cities
TORONTO—There was plenty of good news for Canadian tech companies in the Liberals’ innovation-heavy budget. There was $400-million for the Business Development Bank of Canada to invest in late-stage companies, a package worth $2.2-billion to support clean technologies, and new investments in talent development to help Canada attract the best and brightest. One of the […]
On climate change, can Trudeau go where Trump says no?
TORONTO—Justin Trudeau’s priority in meeting Donald Trump was to find common ground with the unpredictable United States president. The prime minister wants to ensure Canada doesn’t feel the lash of Trump’s protectionist stance on trade. So, it’s not surprising that Trudeau seems to have avoided bringing up the awkward subject of climate change. Few issues […]
Jobs, skills, and learning in the age of self-driving cars
In January, I visited the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. What struck me was how much this large technology trade show had transformed into an auto show. This trend was most obvious in the self-driving cars that I saw. These concept models reflect how quickly the lines separating cars and computers are dissolving. I’m […]
From ‘InnovAction’ to innovation, it’s time to get serious
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Mulroney government’s Canadian Strategy for Science and Technology (InnovAction), the 15th anniversary of the Chrétien government’s two-pronged innovation strategy, and the 10th anniversary of the Harper regime’s Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage. And lo and behold, as if right on cue, comes another agenda—this one a summary of […]
Innovation statistics
Research and development, by the numbers: 1.61 per cent of GDP Canada spent this much on R&D as of 2014, according to the latest OECD data. This compares to the 2.7 per cent of GDP the United States spent, and 2.04 per cent China spent, as well as 1.7 per cent Britain spent. Korea is a […]
Tackling the digital skills gap: youth without jobs, employers without workers
Canadian youth use sophisticated technology in many aspect of their lives, but are failing to gain the skills to develop that technology themselves, something employers are seeking. This contributes to an unemployment rate for young people that’s almost double the national average. The digital skills gap is a growing problem for which experts are united […]
Statistics Act changes don’t go far enough
OTTAWA—With the introduction of Bill C-36, An Act to Amend the Statistics Act, the government is moving forward on its commitment to “make Statistics Canada fully independent.” How does the draft legislation measure up to this goal and the expectations of key stakeholders? To begin, let me say that the bill, if passed in its […]
Private sector increasingly involved in space, Canadian government investments remain scarce
As the Canadian Space Agency gets ready to launch a series of three earth observation satellites and private companies start to take more of a lead in space technology innovation, industry-insiders are hoping that the federal government’s much touted dedication to innovation and science will lead to further funding of the department. “Our space program […]
Canada must do more to boost innovation
There has been much discussion and activity around the topic of innovation. Everyone recognizes the need to create an environment in Canada that fosters innovation, and that supports the development of innovative ideas through to commercialization. The excellence of Canadian research happening at the universities and colleges across the country is well-respected in the world. […]
The rise of the knowledge disruptors
“As we develop science policy we need to look beyond the short-term context, beyond the research that looks immediately promising. If we’re blinded by the urgency of our problems, we will go the wrong way. We’ll be investing in horses, carriages, and cleaning up the streets instead of fostering the research that can give rise […]
