Senate studying role of robotics in health care
Robotics have a growing and essential role in the health-care systems in Canada and a Senate study into the issue is hoping to shed light on where the technology can best help Canadians. The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology is studying into the role of robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence […]
Canada remains without a universal pharmacare program
Canadians are proud of our universal health care, and rightfully so. But many would be surprised to hear that of the countries with universal health care, Canada remains the only one without a universal pharmacare program. This is to our detriment. Canadians pay some of the highest drug prices in the world, and many simply […]
MPs alarmed by Radio-Canada/CBC report on cellphone spying around the Hill
The revelation that someone may be using a device to track and spy on cellphones around Parliament Hill, and the subsequent RCMP and CSIS investigations it prompted, was the result of shrewd sleuthing by Radio-Canada investigative reporter Brigitte Bureau who, with CBC News colleague Catherine Cullen, broke the story last week. But it has created […]
Government needs to deal with technology’s effect on future job market
TORONTO—Will robots and artificial intelligence take our jobs? One of the greatest uncertainties as we face the future is what kind of jobs, if any, will many of us have as technology continues to take over many tasks that once only humans could do. Investment superstar Warren Buffet has even suggested we tax robots and […]
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 […]
