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David Crane

Success of the Stephenville project is an important test case for Canada

  • There is room for Canada to profitably participate in the future domestic and international markets for hydrogen and fuel cells with our own proprietary
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 2, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, launch the Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance in Stephenville, N.L., on Aug. 23, 2022. It has great potential. But can Canada deliver? Photograph courtesy of PMO/Adam Scotti

Success of the Stephenville project is an important test case for Canada

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 2, 2023
  • There is room for Canada to profitably participate in the future domestic and international markets for hydrogen and fuel cells with our own proprietary

Success of the Stephenville project is an important test case for Canada

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 2, 2023
  • There is room for Canada to profitably participate in the future domestic and international markets for hydrogen and fuel cells with our own proprietary
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, launch the Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance in Stephenville, N.L., on Aug. 23, 2022. It has great potential. But can Canada deliver? Photograph courtesy of PMO/Adam Scotti

Morneau says PMO consumed with short-term politicking, longer-term growth prospects not a priority

  • But the recent report on Canada’s fiscal outlook, quarterbacked by former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge, underlines the serious challenges we face. It
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 30, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and then-finance minister Bill Morneau, pictured March 22, 2017, on budget day. In his new book, Morneau’s harsh assessment is that Trudeau and key figures in the PMO have been preoccupied with opportunistic and short-term thinking. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Morneau says PMO consumed with short-term politicking, longer-term growth prospects not a priority

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 30, 2023
  • But the recent report on Canada’s fiscal outlook, quarterbacked by former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge, underlines the serious challenges we face. It

Morneau says PMO consumed with short-term politicking, longer-term growth prospects not a priority

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 30, 2023
  • But the recent report on Canada’s fiscal outlook, quarterbacked by former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge, underlines the serious challenges we face. It
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and then-finance minister Bill Morneau, pictured March 22, 2017, on budget day. In his new book, Morneau’s harsh assessment is that Trudeau and key figures in the PMO have been preoccupied with opportunistic and short-term thinking. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Peter Nicholson’s bold route to a better health-care system

  • Under Nicholson’s plan, the CHT would be abolished. Instead, corporate and personal income tax points, or HST points, equivalent to the $43-billion CHT could
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 23, 2023
In a new policy brief for the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School for Public Policy at the University of Regina, Peter Nicholson has set out a proposal for what would amount to a radical change in how health care is financed in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Peter Nicholson’s bold route to a better health-care system

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 23, 2023
  • Under Nicholson’s plan, the CHT would be abolished. Instead, corporate and personal income tax points, or HST points, equivalent to the $43-billion CHT could

Peter Nicholson’s bold route to a better health-care system

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 23, 2023
  • Under Nicholson’s plan, the CHT would be abolished. Instead, corporate and personal income tax points, or HST points, equivalent to the $43-billion CHT could
In a new policy brief for the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School for Public Policy at the University of Regina, Peter Nicholson has set out a proposal for what would amount to a radical change in how health care is financed in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Canada needs more ‘economic patriotism,’ like the United States

  • The United States is dressing up its massive programs to boost the U.S. economy, including its increasingly protectionist mentality, as 'economic patriotism.' If this
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 16, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, pictured Feb. 23, 2021, delivering a virtual joint press statement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin in the East Room of the White House. 'Under my leadership, the United States can and will lead the worlds in manufacturing once again,' Biden said last week, following the announcement by Hanwha Q CELLS. Official White House Photograph by Adam Schultz

Canada needs more ‘economic patriotism,’ like the United States

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 16, 2023
  • The United States is dressing up its massive programs to boost the U.S. economy, including its increasingly protectionist mentality, as 'economic patriotism.' If this

Canada needs more ‘economic patriotism,’ like the United States

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 16, 2023
  • The United States is dressing up its massive programs to boost the U.S. economy, including its increasingly protectionist mentality, as 'economic patriotism.' If this
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, pictured Feb. 23, 2021, delivering a virtual joint press statement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin in the East Room of the White House. 'Under my leadership, the United States can and will lead the worlds in manufacturing once again,' Biden said last week, following the announcement by Hanwha Q CELLS. Official White House Photograph by Adam Schultz

Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific Strategy already raising serious doubts

  • To adopt an Indo-Pacific strategy that largely excludes China and attempts with the U.S. to isolate it, is a dead end. It solves nothing while
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 5, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on the Hill. Canadian foreign policy now seems driven by a determination to show the United States we are its most reliable ally in its efforts to contain China, as well as by our vulnerability to American protectionism, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific Strategy already raising serious doubts

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 5, 2023
  • To adopt an Indo-Pacific strategy that largely excludes China and attempts with the U.S. to isolate it, is a dead end. It solves nothing while

Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific Strategy already raising serious doubts

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 5, 2023
  • To adopt an Indo-Pacific strategy that largely excludes China and attempts with the U.S. to isolate it, is a dead end. It solves nothing while
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on the Hill. Canadian foreign policy now seems driven by a determination to show the United States we are its most reliable ally in its efforts to contain China, as well as by our vulnerability to American protectionism, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada emerges from pandemic ‘reasonably well’ according to IMF, but a rocky road lies ahead

  • A decline in the role of fossil fuels without a needed transition plan would weaken our economic growth and employment, increase Canada’s balance of
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 19, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland arrives for an appearance at the House Finance Committee on Nov. 28, 2022. Canada needs a 'comprehensive strategy' to help with an economic transition to a green economy, the International Monetary Fund says. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada emerges from pandemic ‘reasonably well’ according to IMF, but a rocky road lies ahead

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 19, 2022
  • A decline in the role of fossil fuels without a needed transition plan would weaken our economic growth and employment, increase Canada’s balance of

Canada emerges from pandemic ‘reasonably well’ according to IMF, but a rocky road lies ahead

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 19, 2022
  • A decline in the role of fossil fuels without a needed transition plan would weaken our economic growth and employment, increase Canada’s balance of
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland arrives for an appearance at the House Finance Committee on Nov. 28, 2022. Canada needs a 'comprehensive strategy' to help with an economic transition to a green economy, the International Monetary Fund says. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Big money to scale up our most promising, young companies often from the United States

  • And many of the most promising early-stage companies that go public do so on American, not Canadian, stock exchanges, where they can quickly fall
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 12, 2022
Canada’s rich Strategic Innovation Fund and the equally rich Net Zero Accelerator are mainly subsidizing foreign corporations to locate in Canada where they can generate wealth for their foreign parents, writes David Crane.   Image courtesy of Pixabay

Big money to scale up our most promising, young companies often from the United States

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 12, 2022
  • And many of the most promising early-stage companies that go public do so on American, not Canadian, stock exchanges, where they can quickly fall

Big money to scale up our most promising, young companies often from the United States

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 12, 2022
  • And many of the most promising early-stage companies that go public do so on American, not Canadian, stock exchanges, where they can quickly fall
Canada’s rich Strategic Innovation Fund and the equally rich Net Zero Accelerator are mainly subsidizing foreign corporations to locate in Canada where they can generate wealth for their foreign parents, writes David Crane.   Image courtesy of Pixabay

Canada loses sight of its own national interest with Indo-Pacific Strategy

  • While Western countries all have differences with China, other key players, including Germany and France, are working to keep doors open.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 5, 2022
When Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly unveiled the Trudeau government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, she quickly won praise from the United States, which was perhaps the main goal of the strategy after all, suggests David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada loses sight of its own national interest with Indo-Pacific Strategy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 5, 2022
  • While Western countries all have differences with China, other key players, including Germany and France, are working to keep doors open.

Canada loses sight of its own national interest with Indo-Pacific Strategy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 5, 2022
  • While Western countries all have differences with China, other key players, including Germany and France, are working to keep doors open.
When Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly unveiled the Trudeau government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, she quickly won praise from the United States, which was perhaps the main goal of the strategy after all, suggests David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What will it take to move Canada forward?

  • Too often we measure success by the number of jobs retained or created. This is the wrong metric. We should be looking for high-value
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 28, 2022
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is scouring the world, from Japan and South Korea, to the United States and Germany, offering foreign corporations billions of dollars in subsidies to come and build the next economy for us. But he is building a branch-plant economy where the decision-making powers rest in foreign head offices. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What will it take to move Canada forward?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 28, 2022
  • Too often we measure success by the number of jobs retained or created. This is the wrong metric. We should be looking for high-value

What will it take to move Canada forward?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 28, 2022
  • Too often we measure success by the number of jobs retained or created. This is the wrong metric. We should be looking for high-value
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is scouring the world, from Japan and South Korea, to the United States and Germany, offering foreign corporations billions of dollars in subsidies to come and build the next economy for us. But he is building a branch-plant economy where the decision-making powers rest in foreign head offices. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada trying to match or outdo American hostility to China?

  • As Pierre Trudeau said in 1968, 'many of the major world issues will not be resolved completely, or in any lasting way, unless, and
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 21, 2022
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured Oct. 27, 2022, holding a joint press conference in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada trying to match or outdo American hostility to China?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 21, 2022
  • As Pierre Trudeau said in 1968, 'many of the major world issues will not be resolved completely, or in any lasting way, unless, and

Is Canada trying to match or outdo American hostility to China?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 21, 2022
  • As Pierre Trudeau said in 1968, 'many of the major world issues will not be resolved completely, or in any lasting way, unless, and
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured Oct. 27, 2022, holding a joint press conference in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We need to take this innovation challenge much more seriously, the United States is

  • Without adopting America First protectionism, we need some Canada First thinking.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 14, 2022
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in a Hill scrum on Oct. 26, 2022. We have to take this innovation challenge much more seriously. While many worry about China, we must also worry about the new American challenge, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We need to take this innovation challenge much more seriously, the United States is

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 14, 2022
  • Without adopting America First protectionism, we need some Canada First thinking.

We need to take this innovation challenge much more seriously, the United States is

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 14, 2022
  • Without adopting America First protectionism, we need some Canada First thinking.
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in a Hill scrum on Oct. 26, 2022. We have to take this innovation challenge much more seriously. While many worry about China, we must also worry about the new American challenge, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a serious innovation-investment strategy, time is running out

  • The most important way to fight inflation and to deliver a better country is by investment in research, training, branding, software, pursuits of new
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 7, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Nov. 3, 2022, holding a press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a serious innovation-investment strategy, time is running out

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 7, 2022
  • The most important way to fight inflation and to deliver a better country is by investment in research, training, branding, software, pursuits of new

Canada needs a serious innovation-investment strategy, time is running out

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 7, 2022
  • The most important way to fight inflation and to deliver a better country is by investment in research, training, branding, software, pursuits of new
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Nov. 3, 2022, holding a press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada must push harder to curb greenhouse gas emissions

  • Canada's grand national project should be achieving a clean energy economy and meeting our net zero emissions target, but it has been our biggest
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 31, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has failed to unite Canadians behind transformative climate action, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada must push harder to curb greenhouse gas emissions

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 31, 2022
  • Canada's grand national project should be achieving a clean energy economy and meeting our net zero emissions target, but it has been our biggest

Canada must push harder to curb greenhouse gas emissions

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 31, 2022
  • Canada's grand national project should be achieving a clean energy economy and meeting our net zero emissions target, but it has been our biggest
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has failed to unite Canadians behind transformative climate action, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When will Canada finally invest in Canadian companies?

  • This was designed as another one of those win-win events. Nokia, the giant Finnish telecommunications company, was announcing a big new investment in Ottawa’s
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 24, 2022
From left: Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO of Nokia, sits next to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne at an event in Kanata, Ont. on Oct. 17 to announce the expansion of the Nokia Campus on March Road. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When will Canada finally invest in Canadian companies?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 24, 2022
  • This was designed as another one of those win-win events. Nokia, the giant Finnish telecommunications company, was announcing a big new investment in Ottawa’s

When will Canada finally invest in Canadian companies?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 24, 2022
  • This was designed as another one of those win-win events. Nokia, the giant Finnish telecommunications company, was announcing a big new investment in Ottawa’s
From left: Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO of Nokia, sits next to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne at an event in Kanata, Ont. on Oct. 17 to announce the expansion of the Nokia Campus on March Road. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to address the biggest issues facing humanity, and not help the U.S. start a Cold War

  • TORONTO—We are at a point where critical choices are being made that risk plunging humanity into a crisis worse even than those experienced in
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 17, 2022
Parroting the position of U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, in a recent Washington speech, signalled Canada’s support for, effectively, a league or concert of democracies that would exclude countries that did not follow Western practices. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to address the biggest issues facing humanity, and not help the U.S. start a Cold War

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 17, 2022
  • TORONTO—We are at a point where critical choices are being made that risk plunging humanity into a crisis worse even than those experienced in

Canada needs to address the biggest issues facing humanity, and not help the U.S. start a Cold War

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 17, 2022
  • TORONTO—We are at a point where critical choices are being made that risk plunging humanity into a crisis worse even than those experienced in
Parroting the position of U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, in a recent Washington speech, signalled Canada’s support for, effectively, a league or concert of democracies that would exclude countries that did not follow Western practices. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Disastrous year for climate-related events on planet

  • TORONTO—This has been a disastrous year for climate-related events in almost every part of our planet and, as we continue to fiddle, the world
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 10, 2022
Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan, left, Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, second from right, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 28, 2022, in Port aux Basques, N.L., which suffered devastating damage from Hurricane Fiona. Photograph courtesy of Gudie Hutchings' Twitter handle

Disastrous year for climate-related events on planet

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 10, 2022
  • TORONTO—This has been a disastrous year for climate-related events in almost every part of our planet and, as we continue to fiddle, the world

Disastrous year for climate-related events on planet

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 10, 2022
  • TORONTO—This has been a disastrous year for climate-related events in almost every part of our planet and, as we continue to fiddle, the world
Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan, left, Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, second from right, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 28, 2022, in Port aux Basques, N.L., which suffered devastating damage from Hurricane Fiona. Photograph courtesy of Gudie Hutchings' Twitter handle

Canada’s jobs gap puts skills training, education atop growth agenda

  • TORONTO—We knew employers were having a tough time finding workers. But it was still a shock to learn that in the second quarter of
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 29, 2022
Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan, pictured in Ottawa on Sept. 19, 2022. This jobs gap means the growth potential of the economy is being held back, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s jobs gap puts skills training, education atop growth agenda

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 29, 2022
  • TORONTO—We knew employers were having a tough time finding workers. But it was still a shock to learn that in the second quarter of

Canada’s jobs gap puts skills training, education atop growth agenda

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 29, 2022
  • TORONTO—We knew employers were having a tough time finding workers. But it was still a shock to learn that in the second quarter of
Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan, pictured in Ottawa on Sept. 19, 2022. This jobs gap means the growth potential of the economy is being held back, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada should not rely on foreign corporations to build electric vehicle industry here

  • TORONTO—Globe and Mail reporter Josh O’Kane has written a fine book, Sideways: The City Google Couldn’t Buy, explaining why Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 26, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Nov. 2, 2017, taking part in an armchair discussion with Alphabet’s Eric Schmidt at the Google Canada's GO North conference in Toronto Photograph courtesy of PMO/photograph by Adam Scotti

Canada should not rely on foreign corporations to build electric vehicle industry here

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 26, 2022
  • TORONTO—Globe and Mail reporter Josh O’Kane has written a fine book, Sideways: The City Google Couldn’t Buy, explaining why Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of

Canada should not rely on foreign corporations to build electric vehicle industry here

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 26, 2022
  • TORONTO—Globe and Mail reporter Josh O’Kane has written a fine book, Sideways: The City Google Couldn’t Buy, explaining why Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Nov. 2, 2017, taking part in an armchair discussion with Alphabet’s Eric Schmidt at the Google Canada's GO North conference in Toronto Photograph courtesy of PMO/photograph by Adam Scotti

Crane: Canada needs to rethink its ‘zombie’ identity as an oil and gas superpower

  • TORONTO—In Canada we have a new zombie—a bad idea that refuses to die. This is the ongoing push to build liquified natural gas plants
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 19, 2022
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is likely aware of the risks of the transition to a green economy, which will be highly disruptive, changing the kinds of industries and jobs we need, and turning carbon-intensive assets into stranded assets. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Crane: Canada needs to rethink its ‘zombie’ identity as an oil and gas superpower

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 19, 2022
  • TORONTO—In Canada we have a new zombie—a bad idea that refuses to die. This is the ongoing push to build liquified natural gas plants

Crane: Canada needs to rethink its ‘zombie’ identity as an oil and gas superpower

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 19, 2022
  • TORONTO—In Canada we have a new zombie—a bad idea that refuses to die. This is the ongoing push to build liquified natural gas plants
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is likely aware of the risks of the transition to a green economy, which will be highly disruptive, changing the kinds of industries and jobs we need, and turning carbon-intensive assets into stranded assets. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

International Energy Agency delivers forward-looking report, Canada should jump on board

  • TORONTO—For the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial held in Bali on Sept. 2, the International Energy Agency delivered a forward-looking report containing some key messages
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 12, 2022
What we need today are not backward-looking diatribes from zealous fossil-fuel advocates seeking to allocate capital to projects that threaten worse climate change, but rather forward-looking Canadians who want to be a part of the new-energy world, based on the opportunities for a better world future. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

International Energy Agency delivers forward-looking report, Canada should jump on board

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 12, 2022
  • TORONTO—For the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial held in Bali on Sept. 2, the International Energy Agency delivered a forward-looking report containing some key messages

International Energy Agency delivers forward-looking report, Canada should jump on board

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 12, 2022
  • TORONTO—For the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial held in Bali on Sept. 2, the International Energy Agency delivered a forward-looking report containing some key messages
What we need today are not backward-looking diatribes from zealous fossil-fuel advocates seeking to allocate capital to projects that threaten worse climate change, but rather forward-looking Canadians who want to be a part of the new-energy world, based on the opportunities for a better world future. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Canada’s innovation strategy must pay mind to intellectual property

  • TORONTO—The Trudeau government seems to be working around the clock to dream up new programs, one after another, for a more innovative economy. That
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 5, 2022
International Trade and Small Business Minister Mary Ng recently announced the Global Hypergrowth Project or GHP, which will select and help up to 15 small-size corporate winners, chosen by a panel from the venture capital industry. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s innovation strategy must pay mind to intellectual property

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 5, 2022
  • TORONTO—The Trudeau government seems to be working around the clock to dream up new programs, one after another, for a more innovative economy. That

Canada’s innovation strategy must pay mind to intellectual property

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 5, 2022
  • TORONTO—The Trudeau government seems to be working around the clock to dream up new programs, one after another, for a more innovative economy. That
International Trade and Small Business Minister Mary Ng recently announced the Global Hypergrowth Project or GHP, which will select and help up to 15 small-size corporate winners, chosen by a panel from the venture capital industry. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to get ambitious about green hydrogen, or risk being left behind

  • TORONTO—After a successful German visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canada now joins that country’s global network of potential green hydrogen suppliers. But shouldn’t we
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 29, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the chancellor's visit to Montreal, Que., on Aug. 21. Photograph courtesy of PMO/Adam Scotti

Canada needs to get ambitious about green hydrogen, or risk being left behind

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 29, 2022
  • TORONTO—After a successful German visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canada now joins that country’s global network of potential green hydrogen suppliers. But shouldn’t we

Canada needs to get ambitious about green hydrogen, or risk being left behind

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 29, 2022
  • TORONTO—After a successful German visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canada now joins that country’s global network of potential green hydrogen suppliers. But shouldn’t we
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the chancellor's visit to Montreal, Que., on Aug. 21. Photograph courtesy of PMO/Adam Scotti

To ‘build back better,’ Canadians need a shared purpose

  • TORONTO—If we are to ‘build back better’ as a country, Canadians need unifying goals and projects to show how a better future is possible.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 22, 2022
The reason the world was able to create COVID-19 vaccines so quickly, argues David Crane, was because government, business, and civil society all had a vested interest and a shared goal. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pictured receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Photograph courtesy of PMO/Adam Scotti

To ‘build back better,’ Canadians need a shared purpose

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 22, 2022
  • TORONTO—If we are to ‘build back better’ as a country, Canadians need unifying goals and projects to show how a better future is possible.

To ‘build back better,’ Canadians need a shared purpose

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 22, 2022
  • TORONTO—If we are to ‘build back better’ as a country, Canadians need unifying goals and projects to show how a better future is possible.
The reason the world was able to create COVID-19 vaccines so quickly, argues David Crane, was because government, business, and civil society all had a vested interest and a shared goal. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pictured receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Photograph courtesy of PMO/Adam Scotti

Smart Canadian talent to pay crucial role in quantum computer revolution

  • TORONTO—Smart Canadian talent will play a critical role in bringing about the quantum computer revolution, the next really big and transformative jump in the
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 8, 2022
The interior of an IBM quantum computing system, pictured October 2019. According to the New Scientist, quantum computers 'are machines that use the properties of quantum physics to store data and perform computations,' which 'can be extremely advantageous for certain tasks where they could vastly outperform even our best supercomputers.' Photograph courtesy Flickr

Smart Canadian talent to pay crucial role in quantum computer revolution

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 8, 2022
  • TORONTO—Smart Canadian talent will play a critical role in bringing about the quantum computer revolution, the next really big and transformative jump in the

Smart Canadian talent to pay crucial role in quantum computer revolution

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 8, 2022
  • TORONTO—Smart Canadian talent will play a critical role in bringing about the quantum computer revolution, the next really big and transformative jump in the
The interior of an IBM quantum computing system, pictured October 2019. According to the New Scientist, quantum computers 'are machines that use the properties of quantum physics to store data and perform computations,' which 'can be extremely advantageous for certain tasks where they could vastly outperform even our best supercomputers.' Photograph courtesy Flickr

Climate change is the greatest existential threat facing mankind, but you wouldn’t know it from the Conservative leadership race

  • TORONTO—The world seems to be on fire this summer as record-breaking temperatures are causing death and destruction on every continent. Unless the world acts
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 28, 2022
Conservative leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre and Jean Charest, the two front-runners, would scrap much of the federal climate change action plan, including the carbon tax, and push development of oil and gas projects and production, despite the threat this would pose to the world’s climate. It seems they would govern as though the future didn’t matter. But a commitment to serious action on climate change should be a litmus test for anyone who wants to be prime minister, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Climate change is the greatest existential threat facing mankind, but you wouldn’t know it from the Conservative leadership race

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 28, 2022
  • TORONTO—The world seems to be on fire this summer as record-breaking temperatures are causing death and destruction on every continent. Unless the world acts

Climate change is the greatest existential threat facing mankind, but you wouldn’t know it from the Conservative leadership race

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 28, 2022
  • TORONTO—The world seems to be on fire this summer as record-breaking temperatures are causing death and destruction on every continent. Unless the world acts
Conservative leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre and Jean Charest, the two front-runners, would scrap much of the federal climate change action plan, including the carbon tax, and push development of oil and gas projects and production, despite the threat this would pose to the world’s climate. It seems they would govern as though the future didn’t matter. But a commitment to serious action on climate change should be a litmus test for anyone who wants to be prime minister, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Canada Pension Plan is of growing importance

  • TORONTO—While it appears these days that governments are incapable of doing anything right—the chaos at airports and delays in processing passport applications are just
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 25, 2022
People, pictured Sept. 3, 2019, in downtown Ottawa. While public-sector workers are well-protected—90.2 per cent have a registered pension plan—only 24.1 per cent of the much larger workforce in the private sector have a plan, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada Pension Plan is of growing importance

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 25, 2022
  • TORONTO—While it appears these days that governments are incapable of doing anything right—the chaos at airports and delays in processing passport applications are just

Canada Pension Plan is of growing importance

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 25, 2022
  • TORONTO—While it appears these days that governments are incapable of doing anything right—the chaos at airports and delays in processing passport applications are just
People, pictured Sept. 3, 2019, in downtown Ottawa. While public-sector workers are well-protected—90.2 per cent have a registered pension plan—only 24.1 per cent of the much larger workforce in the private sector have a plan, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Recapitalizing Canada’s military should also be a key part of our innovation strategy

  • TORONTO—Defence Minister Anita Anand’s announcement of $4.9-billion of federal spending to upgrade North American air defence, along with an expected $40-billion of new spending
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 14, 2022
Minister of National Defence Anita Anand scrums with reporters at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on June 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Recapitalizing Canada’s military should also be a key part of our innovation strategy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 14, 2022
  • TORONTO—Defence Minister Anita Anand’s announcement of $4.9-billion of federal spending to upgrade North American air defence, along with an expected $40-billion of new spending

Recapitalizing Canada’s military should also be a key part of our innovation strategy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 14, 2022
  • TORONTO—Defence Minister Anita Anand’s announcement of $4.9-billion of federal spending to upgrade North American air defence, along with an expected $40-billion of new spending
Minister of National Defence Anita Anand scrums with reporters at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on June 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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Will the ‘superclusters’ ever live up to their superstar status?

  • TORONTO—They are no longer the “superclusters.” With a new minister we have a new name. Navdeep Bains, as minister of innovation, science and economic
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 11, 2022
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured here on June 16, dropped the term 'superclusters' and is now calling them 'global innovation clusters.' This is what often passes for progress in Ottawa, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will the ‘superclusters’ ever live up to their superstar status?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 11, 2022
  • TORONTO—They are no longer the “superclusters.” With a new minister we have a new name. Navdeep Bains, as minister of innovation, science and economic

Will the ‘superclusters’ ever live up to their superstar status?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 11, 2022
  • TORONTO—They are no longer the “superclusters.” With a new minister we have a new name. Navdeep Bains, as minister of innovation, science and economic
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured here on June 16, dropped the term 'superclusters' and is now calling them 'global innovation clusters.' This is what often passes for progress in Ottawa, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time to think big and be bold

  • TORONTO—Both the Liberal and Conservative parties contend that Canada either is, or could quickly become, a world leader in clean-energy technology. But while we
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 4, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 21, 2022, in Ottawa. It will take a much more activist and focused government approach if we are to expand our capacity for exports of clean technologies to offset the eventual fall in fossil-fuel exports and capitalize on the huge future market in the green revolution, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time to think big and be bold

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 4, 2022
  • TORONTO—Both the Liberal and Conservative parties contend that Canada either is, or could quickly become, a world leader in clean-energy technology. But while we

Time to think big and be bold

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 4, 2022
  • TORONTO—Both the Liberal and Conservative parties contend that Canada either is, or could quickly become, a world leader in clean-energy technology. But while we
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 21, 2022, in Ottawa. It will take a much more activist and focused government approach if we are to expand our capacity for exports of clean technologies to offset the eventual fall in fossil-fuel exports and capitalize on the huge future market in the green revolution, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to fix its foreign policy in a troubled world

  • TORONTO—There are growing signs of unhappiness with Canada’s foreign policy—or more accurately, perhaps, the lack of a coherent foreign policy, one that safeguards Canada’s
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 27, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 6, 2022, in Ottawa. Too often, Canada has sacrificed its interests or pursued policies contrary to our stated values to curry favour with the U.S., writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to fix its foreign policy in a troubled world

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 27, 2022
  • TORONTO—There are growing signs of unhappiness with Canada’s foreign policy—or more accurately, perhaps, the lack of a coherent foreign policy, one that safeguards Canada’s

Canada needs to fix its foreign policy in a troubled world

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 27, 2022
  • TORONTO—There are growing signs of unhappiness with Canada’s foreign policy—or more accurately, perhaps, the lack of a coherent foreign policy, one that safeguards Canada’s
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 6, 2022, in Ottawa. Too often, Canada has sacrificed its interests or pursued policies contrary to our stated values to curry favour with the U.S., writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time for a hard, public look at national security to avoid democratic backsliding

  • While opposition MPs and media pundits spent days trying to turn the attendance of a Canadian protocol officer at a Russian embassy reception into
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 20, 2022
What appalled many Canadians about the trucker protests in Ottawa was not only the emergence of extremist groups, but the failure of police forces and other law-enforcement and intelligence agencies to deal with the protesters, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time for a hard, public look at national security to avoid democratic backsliding

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 20, 2022
  • While opposition MPs and media pundits spent days trying to turn the attendance of a Canadian protocol officer at a Russian embassy reception into

Time for a hard, public look at national security to avoid democratic backsliding

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 20, 2022
  • While opposition MPs and media pundits spent days trying to turn the attendance of a Canadian protocol officer at a Russian embassy reception into
What appalled many Canadians about the trucker protests in Ottawa was not only the emergence of extremist groups, but the failure of police forces and other law-enforcement and intelligence agencies to deal with the protesters, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Globalization and finding a happy medium

  • TORONTO— The war in Ukraine clearly shows that globalization is alive, though not well. Rising threats of a world food crisis, along with soaring
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 13, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on June 6. In a world of secular stagnation, governments will find themselves unable to deliver on promises of healthcare and pensions and workers will see a shrinkage in living standards, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Globalization and finding a happy medium

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 13, 2022
  • TORONTO— The war in Ukraine clearly shows that globalization is alive, though not well. Rising threats of a world food crisis, along with soaring

Globalization and finding a happy medium

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 13, 2022
  • TORONTO— The war in Ukraine clearly shows that globalization is alive, though not well. Rising threats of a world food crisis, along with soaring
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on June 6. In a world of secular stagnation, governments will find themselves unable to deliver on promises of healthcare and pensions and workers will see a shrinkage in living standards, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to transition to a net-zero economy, now

  • TORONTO—For those hoping that Jean Charest would lead the Conservative Party away from its ostrich-like policy on climate change to a more responsible and
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 6, 2022
Rather than clinging to the fantasy that we can have our cake and eat it too—that we can have a strong oil and gas industry and achieve net zero emissions economy—it is time to wake up as a country and acknowledge that without much stronger action, we face a dire future, writes David Crane. Image courtesy of Pexels

Canada needs to transition to a net-zero economy, now

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 6, 2022
  • TORONTO—For those hoping that Jean Charest would lead the Conservative Party away from its ostrich-like policy on climate change to a more responsible and

Canada needs to transition to a net-zero economy, now

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 6, 2022
  • TORONTO—For those hoping that Jean Charest would lead the Conservative Party away from its ostrich-like policy on climate change to a more responsible and
Rather than clinging to the fantasy that we can have our cake and eat it too—that we can have a strong oil and gas industry and achieve net zero emissions economy—it is time to wake up as a country and acknowledge that without much stronger action, we face a dire future, writes David Crane. Image courtesy of Pexels

Next big existential risk to worry about? U.S. and China

  • TORONTO—We know that the 2020s will be a dangerous decade. Climate change is the biggest existential risk to the future of human society. But
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 30, 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden, China's President Xi Jinping, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured. For Canada, this would mean a foreign policy where we are ready to advocate for a multipolar world with effective global institutions to increase  prospects for peace and deal with the big and urgent problems the world faces, starting with climate change, writes David Crane. Photographs courtesy of Flickr and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Next big existential risk to worry about? U.S. and China

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 30, 2022
  • TORONTO—We know that the 2020s will be a dangerous decade. Climate change is the biggest existential risk to the future of human society. But

Next big existential risk to worry about? U.S. and China

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 30, 2022
  • TORONTO—We know that the 2020s will be a dangerous decade. Climate change is the biggest existential risk to the future of human society. But
U.S. President Joe Biden, China's President Xi Jinping, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured. For Canada, this would mean a foreign policy where we are ready to advocate for a multipolar world with effective global institutions to increase  prospects for peace and deal with the big and urgent problems the world faces, starting with climate change, writes David Crane. Photographs courtesy of Flickr and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

On China, Canada cannot blindly follow the U.S. into another Cold War

  • TORONTO—With the conflict in Ukraine, are we headed for an era where war—or the threat of war—becomes the new normal? In an important speech
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 20, 2022
'We know that one day—hopefully one day soon—this war will come to an end,' Defence Minister Anita Anand, pictured, said recently to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, referencing the conflict in Ukraine. Which meant, she went on to say, that 'we must contemplate the world order that awaits Canada on the other side.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

On China, Canada cannot blindly follow the U.S. into another Cold War

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 20, 2022
  • TORONTO—With the conflict in Ukraine, are we headed for an era where war—or the threat of war—becomes the new normal? In an important speech

On China, Canada cannot blindly follow the U.S. into another Cold War

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 20, 2022
  • TORONTO—With the conflict in Ukraine, are we headed for an era where war—or the threat of war—becomes the new normal? In an important speech
'We know that one day—hopefully one day soon—this war will come to an end,' Defence Minister Anita Anand, pictured, said recently to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, referencing the conflict in Ukraine. Which meant, she went on to say, that 'we must contemplate the world order that awaits Canada on the other side.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada missing out on lucrative IP economy

  • The upsurge in world oil prices, driven by the shut off of supplies from Russia, the world’s second biggest oil exporter, is benefitting Canada’s
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 16, 2022
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, writes David Crane, has been writing big cheques to pay foreign automakers to produce electric vehicles here, but the intellectually property will  be owned outside Canada and the gains will flow to other countries.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada missing out on lucrative IP economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 16, 2022
  • The upsurge in world oil prices, driven by the shut off of supplies from Russia, the world’s second biggest oil exporter, is benefitting Canada’s

Canada missing out on lucrative IP economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 16, 2022
  • The upsurge in world oil prices, driven by the shut off of supplies from Russia, the world’s second biggest oil exporter, is benefitting Canada’s
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, writes David Crane, has been writing big cheques to pay foreign automakers to produce electric vehicles here, but the intellectually property will  be owned outside Canada and the gains will flow to other countries.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade