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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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David Crane

David Crane is an award-winning journalist with special interests in the economics of globalization, innovation, sustainable development and social equity.

Trump’s new national security strategy raises alarms, fears over threats posed to Canada’s sovereignty and prosperity

  • There will be little tolerance for countries pursuing policies that run counter to U.S. commercial interests and, in the Western Hemisphere, little hesitation in
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 15, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, pictured with Prime Minister Mark Carney on May 6, 2025, at the White House, has had Canada in his sights since assuming office last January. But if Canada is not to become the 51st U.S. state, then it must at least become, for him, a vassal state, subservient to U.S. interests, writes David Crane. Photograph courtesy of White House photographer Gabriel B. Kotico

Trump’s new national security strategy raises alarms, fears over threats posed to Canada’s sovereignty and prosperity

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 15, 2025
  • There will be little tolerance for countries pursuing policies that run counter to U.S. commercial interests and, in the Western Hemisphere, little hesitation in

Trump’s new national security strategy raises alarms, fears over threats posed to Canada’s sovereignty and prosperity

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 15, 2025
  • There will be little tolerance for countries pursuing policies that run counter to U.S. commercial interests and, in the Western Hemisphere, little hesitation in
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, pictured with Prime Minister Mark Carney on May 6, 2025, at the White House, has had Canada in his sights since assuming office last January. But if Canada is not to become the 51st U.S. state, then it must at least become, for him, a vassal state, subservient to U.S. interests, writes David Crane. Photograph courtesy of White House photographer Gabriel B. Kotico

Building up Canada’s defence sector will depend on long-term homegrown support

  • The promised defence industrial strategy offers a significant opportunity to advance Canada’s innovation performance and the high-value jobs that should go with it. The
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 8, 2025
Defence Minister David McGuinty, pictured third from left with Canada's Chief of Defence Jennie Carignan, right, is one of the ministers in charge of bolstering Canada’s defence capabilities. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Building up Canada’s defence sector will depend on long-term homegrown support

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 8, 2025
  • The promised defence industrial strategy offers a significant opportunity to advance Canada’s innovation performance and the high-value jobs that should go with it. The

Building up Canada’s defence sector will depend on long-term homegrown support

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 8, 2025
  • The promised defence industrial strategy offers a significant opportunity to advance Canada’s innovation performance and the high-value jobs that should go with it. The
Defence Minister David McGuinty, pictured third from left with Canada's Chief of Defence Jennie Carignan, right, is one of the ministers in charge of bolstering Canada’s defence capabilities. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Expanding exports to the rest of the world unlike anything Canada has tried to before

  • No previous prime minister has spent so much time in meeting world leaders, nor done so much so quickly. Yet spending this time is
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 1, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney has also made commitments to Britain, the European Union, various European countries including France, Germany, Poland and Sweden, Mexico, Korea, India, Indonesia, and other ASEAN nations, Brazil, and China.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Expanding exports to the rest of the world unlike anything Canada has tried to before

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 1, 2025
  • No previous prime minister has spent so much time in meeting world leaders, nor done so much so quickly. Yet spending this time is

Expanding exports to the rest of the world unlike anything Canada has tried to before

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 1, 2025
  • No previous prime minister has spent so much time in meeting world leaders, nor done so much so quickly. Yet spending this time is
Prime Minister Mark Carney has also made commitments to Britain, the European Union, various European countries including France, Germany, Poland and Sweden, Mexico, Korea, India, Indonesia, and other ASEAN nations, Brazil, and China.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget delivers measures to grow the economy, but fails to deliver urgently needed transformation and generational change

  • A new Council of Canadian Academies report underlines that bolder and more ambitious policies for innovation and productivity are needed now, more than ever.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 24, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne speaks to reporters in the House of Commons foyer after the vote on the 2025 federal budget passes on Nov. 17. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget delivers measures to grow the economy, but fails to deliver urgently needed transformation and generational change

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 24, 2025
  • A new Council of Canadian Academies report underlines that bolder and more ambitious policies for innovation and productivity are needed now, more than ever.

Budget delivers measures to grow the economy, but fails to deliver urgently needed transformation and generational change

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 24, 2025
  • A new Council of Canadian Academies report underlines that bolder and more ambitious policies for innovation and productivity are needed now, more than ever.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne speaks to reporters in the House of Commons foyer after the vote on the 2025 federal budget passes on Nov. 17. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget 2025 is more of the same

  • The budget has positive measures, but it fails to provide a credible plan for the future. What is the Carney government’s vision for the
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 17, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne prepare to present the 2025 budget in the House of Commons on Nov. 4. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget 2025 is more of the same

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 17, 2025
  • The budget has positive measures, but it fails to provide a credible plan for the future. What is the Carney government’s vision for the

Budget 2025 is more of the same

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 17, 2025
  • The budget has positive measures, but it fails to provide a credible plan for the future. What is the Carney government’s vision for the
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne prepare to present the 2025 budget in the House of Commons on Nov. 4. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

First budget in years to tackle Canada’s dismal performance in innovation and investment, but we could still fall short: need guardrails

  • We need to truly transform our economy when so much around us is changing so fast. We need an arm’s length council to independently
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 10, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured inside the media budget lockup in the John G. Diefenbaker Building on Sussex Drive in Ottawa before holding his press conference on the budget on Nov. 4, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

First budget in years to tackle Canada’s dismal performance in innovation and investment, but we could still fall short: need guardrails

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 10, 2025
  • We need to truly transform our economy when so much around us is changing so fast. We need an arm’s length council to independently

First budget in years to tackle Canada’s dismal performance in innovation and investment, but we could still fall short: need guardrails

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 10, 2025
  • We need to truly transform our economy when so much around us is changing so fast. We need an arm’s length council to independently
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured inside the media budget lockup in the John G. Diefenbaker Building on Sussex Drive in Ottawa before holding his press conference on the budget on Nov. 4, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

As Trump tries to destroy our economy, Carney should be selling Canada as a nation of leading tech and innovation to the world, not as an energy superpower

  • Canada lacks the capacity for transformative change. If the Nov. 4 budget fails to change that, our nation will be more of a bystander
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 3, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, second right, pictured on Oct. 7, 2025, with U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and other top Canadian and American politicians and officials in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C. Photograph courtesy of the White House

As Trump tries to destroy our economy, Carney should be selling Canada as a nation of leading tech and innovation to the world, not as an energy superpower

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 3, 2025
  • Canada lacks the capacity for transformative change. If the Nov. 4 budget fails to change that, our nation will be more of a bystander

As Trump tries to destroy our economy, Carney should be selling Canada as a nation of leading tech and innovation to the world, not as an energy superpower

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 3, 2025
  • Canada lacks the capacity for transformative change. If the Nov. 4 budget fails to change that, our nation will be more of a bystander
Prime Minister Mark Carney, second right, pictured on Oct. 7, 2025, with U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and other top Canadian and American politicians and officials in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C. Photograph courtesy of the White House

Carney’s big promises all hinge on Canadians’ trust

  • The real test will come with the delivery of Liberal commitments, which makes next month’s budget so important.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 27, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney's biggest challenge is to win Canadians' trust, to convince them that he's on the right track, and that he's pursuing a short-term-pain-for-long-term-gain strategy that is in Canada’s best interests, David Crane writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s big promises all hinge on Canadians’ trust

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 27, 2025
  • The real test will come with the delivery of Liberal commitments, which makes next month’s budget so important.

Carney’s big promises all hinge on Canadians’ trust

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 27, 2025
  • The real test will come with the delivery of Liberal commitments, which makes next month’s budget so important.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's biggest challenge is to win Canadians' trust, to convince them that he's on the right track, and that he's pursuing a short-term-pain-for-long-term-gain strategy that is in Canada’s best interests, David Crane writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Can Carney ensure Canada is a true innovation nation?

  • Canada’s poor performance on innovation is apparent in the World Intellectual Property Organization's 2025 Global Innovation Report which ranks our nation in 17th spot, compared to 14th a
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 20, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney. While Canada has potential, the World Intellectual Property Organization's 2025 Global Innovation Report says it lags badly on high-tech exports, creative outputs from the business sector, industrial designs, trade marks, and other forms of intellectual property, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Can Carney ensure Canada is a true innovation nation?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 20, 2025
  • Canada’s poor performance on innovation is apparent in the World Intellectual Property Organization's 2025 Global Innovation Report which ranks our nation in 17th spot, compared to 14th a

Can Carney ensure Canada is a true innovation nation?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 20, 2025
  • Canada’s poor performance on innovation is apparent in the World Intellectual Property Organization's 2025 Global Innovation Report which ranks our nation in 17th spot, compared to 14th a
Prime Minister Mark Carney. While Canada has potential, the World Intellectual Property Organization's 2025 Global Innovation Report says it lags badly on high-tech exports, creative outputs from the business sector, industrial designs, trade marks, and other forms of intellectual property, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney has an obligation to better define his priorities for the Canada-U.S. relationship

  • Meanwhile, we need much greater debate on our choices—and this is where Parliament is derelict in its duty. 
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 13, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump at the West Wing entrance of the White House on May 6, 2025. Photograph courtesy of White House photographer Daniel Torok

Carney has an obligation to better define his priorities for the Canada-U.S. relationship

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 13, 2025
  • Meanwhile, we need much greater debate on our choices—and this is where Parliament is derelict in its duty. 

Carney has an obligation to better define his priorities for the Canada-U.S. relationship

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 13, 2025
  • Meanwhile, we need much greater debate on our choices—and this is where Parliament is derelict in its duty. 
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump at the West Wing entrance of the White House on May 6, 2025. Photograph courtesy of White House photographer Daniel Torok

Current fiscal outlook has not put us on a precipice yet, but a rush to balance the budget is not the answer

  • Canada faces enormous challenges and disruptive change in transitioning to an economy that can thrive in a world of sweeping change in technologies, markets
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 6, 2025
The September Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report from Jason Jaques, pictured, the interim parliamentary budget officer, with its dire warning of unsustainable federal spending, deficits, and debt, should not be treated lightly. But it should not be taken as a call for an austerity budget next month, writes David Crane.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Current fiscal outlook has not put us on a precipice yet, but a rush to balance the budget is not the answer

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 6, 2025
  • Canada faces enormous challenges and disruptive change in transitioning to an economy that can thrive in a world of sweeping change in technologies, markets

Current fiscal outlook has not put us on a precipice yet, but a rush to balance the budget is not the answer

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | October 6, 2025
  • Canada faces enormous challenges and disruptive change in transitioning to an economy that can thrive in a world of sweeping change in technologies, markets
The September Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report from Jason Jaques, pictured, the interim parliamentary budget officer, with its dire warning of unsustainable federal spending, deficits, and debt, should not be treated lightly. But it should not be taken as a call for an austerity budget next month, writes David Crane.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s push to expand Canada’s exports to other countries won’t be easy

  • Canada has spent much of its history seeking to cement close ties with the U.S. while failing to seek opportunities elsewhere. We've failed to
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 29, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Indonesian President Prabowo Sugianto signed a trade agreement between the two countries in Ottawa on Sept. 24, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s push to expand Canada’s exports to other countries won’t be easy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 29, 2025
  • Canada has spent much of its history seeking to cement close ties with the U.S. while failing to seek opportunities elsewhere. We've failed to

Carney’s push to expand Canada’s exports to other countries won’t be easy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 29, 2025
  • Canada has spent much of its history seeking to cement close ties with the U.S. while failing to seek opportunities elsewhere. We've failed to
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Indonesian President Prabowo Sugianto signed a trade agreement between the two countries in Ottawa on Sept. 24, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney still has to tell us what kind of economy he’s trying to create

  • What we need from the Carney government is a clear strategy to build up investments by the public and private sectors in the economy
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 18, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa on Aug. 6, 2025. The seven government priorities listed in Carney's mandate letter to his cabinet ministers are worthwhile, yet insufficient. They fail to address Canada’s terrible productivity performance, writes David Crane.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney still has to tell us what kind of economy he’s trying to create

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 18, 2025
  • What we need from the Carney government is a clear strategy to build up investments by the public and private sectors in the economy

Carney still has to tell us what kind of economy he’s trying to create

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 18, 2025
  • What we need from the Carney government is a clear strategy to build up investments by the public and private sectors in the economy
Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa on Aug. 6, 2025. The seven government priorities listed in Carney's mandate letter to his cabinet ministers are worthwhile, yet insufficient. They fail to address Canada’s terrible productivity performance, writes David Crane.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

On affordable housing, Ottawa should support bottom-up initiatives, not impose top-down solutions

  • This is a moment of opportunity. Former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson should listen to former Toronto mayor David Crombie. Cities are where things actually
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 15, 2025
Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, the former mayor of Vancouver, arrives for the Liberal caucus meeting in the West Block on June 11, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

On affordable housing, Ottawa should support bottom-up initiatives, not impose top-down solutions

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 15, 2025
  • This is a moment of opportunity. Former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson should listen to former Toronto mayor David Crombie. Cities are where things actually

On affordable housing, Ottawa should support bottom-up initiatives, not impose top-down solutions

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 15, 2025
  • This is a moment of opportunity. Former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson should listen to former Toronto mayor David Crombie. Cities are where things actually
Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, the former mayor of Vancouver, arrives for the Liberal caucus meeting in the West Block on June 11, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A dose of realism about Canada’s LNG plans

  • Despite the high-level drum-beating for Port of Churchill possibilities and especially for an LNG plant, an oil pipeline, or a hydrogen plant, none may
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 8, 2025
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson was recently in Germany touting Canada's LNG potential to prospective buyers, but David Crane writes that this government needs to be more realistic about that potential. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A dose of realism about Canada’s LNG plans

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 8, 2025
  • Despite the high-level drum-beating for Port of Churchill possibilities and especially for an LNG plant, an oil pipeline, or a hydrogen plant, none may

A dose of realism about Canada’s LNG plans

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 8, 2025
  • Despite the high-level drum-beating for Port of Churchill possibilities and especially for an LNG plant, an oil pipeline, or a hydrogen plant, none may
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson was recently in Germany touting Canada's LNG potential to prospective buyers, but David Crane writes that this government needs to be more realistic about that potential. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Any new industrial strategy must be an innovation strategy

  • Canada’s capacity for technological progress and scaling the industries of the future will be critical for our future growth prospects and much-needed gains in
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 1, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
On Aug. 22, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised in a statement that his government will soon announce a “comprehensive” industrial strategy that “protects Canadian jobs, boosts Canadian competitiveness, buys Canadian goods, and diversifies Canadian exports.” The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Any new industrial strategy must be an innovation strategy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 1, 2025
  • Canada’s capacity for technological progress and scaling the industries of the future will be critical for our future growth prospects and much-needed gains in

Any new industrial strategy must be an innovation strategy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 1, 2025
  • Canada’s capacity for technological progress and scaling the industries of the future will be critical for our future growth prospects and much-needed gains in
Mark Carney
On Aug. 22, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised in a statement that his government will soon announce a “comprehensive” industrial strategy that “protects Canadian jobs, boosts Canadian competitiveness, buys Canadian goods, and diversifies Canadian exports.” The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Carney was talking about Canada’s productivity problem in 2010. It’s now his job to fix it.

  • The challenge for the Carney government is to map a way out of this slow growth trap, which is why productivity, fueled by innovation
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 25, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke of Canada's lagging productivity in 2010 when he was governor of the Bank of Canada. Now as prime minister, it's up to him and his government to provide the answers, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney was talking about Canada’s productivity problem in 2010. It’s now his job to fix it.

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 25, 2025
  • The challenge for the Carney government is to map a way out of this slow growth trap, which is why productivity, fueled by innovation

Carney was talking about Canada’s productivity problem in 2010. It’s now his job to fix it.

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 25, 2025
  • The challenge for the Carney government is to map a way out of this slow growth trap, which is why productivity, fueled by innovation
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke of Canada's lagging productivity in 2010 when he was governor of the Bank of Canada. Now as prime minister, it's up to him and his government to provide the answers, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The feds have the tools they need to reshape the country. Will they use them?

  • The transition required in the months ahead will be disruptive, requiring an unprecedented level of leadership. Without such leadership, it will fail.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 20, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget has to focus on growth, but it also faces constraints since it must respond to the fallout from U.S. protectionism, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The feds have the tools they need to reshape the country. Will they use them?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 20, 2025
  • The transition required in the months ahead will be disruptive, requiring an unprecedented level of leadership. Without such leadership, it will fail.

The feds have the tools they need to reshape the country. Will they use them?

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 20, 2025
  • The transition required in the months ahead will be disruptive, requiring an unprecedented level of leadership. Without such leadership, it will fail.
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget has to focus on growth, but it also faces constraints since it must respond to the fallout from U.S. protectionism, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney better be sharp on Canada’s game-changing projects

  • Without the capacity for rigorous analysis of which projects make sense, and an ability to say 'no' to projects that cannot meet rigorous review,
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 18, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the West Block on Parliament Hill ahead of a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of United States Senators on July 21, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney better be sharp on Canada’s game-changing projects

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 18, 2025
  • Without the capacity for rigorous analysis of which projects make sense, and an ability to say 'no' to projects that cannot meet rigorous review,

Carney better be sharp on Canada’s game-changing projects

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 18, 2025
  • Without the capacity for rigorous analysis of which projects make sense, and an ability to say 'no' to projects that cannot meet rigorous review,
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the West Block on Parliament Hill ahead of a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of United States Senators on July 21, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney government has two duties to younger Canadians, and one is to offer real hope

  • First, it must closely monitor employment and housing trends for younger Canadians as it sets economic policy, and second, it must show that the
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 11, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney scrums with reporters before the Prime Minister’s First Nations summit on Bill C-5 in Gatineau, Que., on July 17, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney government has two duties to younger Canadians, and one is to offer real hope

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 11, 2025
  • First, it must closely monitor employment and housing trends for younger Canadians as it sets economic policy, and second, it must show that the

Carney government has two duties to younger Canadians, and one is to offer real hope

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 11, 2025
  • First, it must closely monitor employment and housing trends for younger Canadians as it sets economic policy, and second, it must show that the
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney scrums with reporters before the Prime Minister’s First Nations summit on Bill C-5 in Gatineau, Que., on July 17, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity, but we better not miss it this time

  • Building this capacity to implement innovation possibilities, in partnership with the private sector and our university-based research community, is the urgent pre-condition if we
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 4, 2025
Who is going to address the shortcomings in innovation policy, including access to capital, if our Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is preoccupied with saving the steel, aluminum, and auto industries, asks David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity, but we better not miss it this time

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 4, 2025
  • Building this capacity to implement innovation possibilities, in partnership with the private sector and our university-based research community, is the urgent pre-condition if we

Canada never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity, but we better not miss it this time

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 4, 2025
  • Building this capacity to implement innovation possibilities, in partnership with the private sector and our university-based research community, is the urgent pre-condition if we
Who is going to address the shortcomings in innovation policy, including access to capital, if our Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is preoccupied with saving the steel, aluminum, and auto industries, asks David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If we want a prosperous and sovereign nation, big disruptive change is needed right now

  • Building an economy for the future poses huge challenges that will require strong leadership and a focus on clearly set targets and timelines, co-operation
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 28, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney scrums with reporters before the Prime Minister’s First Nations summit on Bill C-5 in Gatineau, Que. on July 17, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney scrums with reporters before the Prime Minister’s First Nations summit on Bill C-5 in Gatineau, Que. on July 17, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured July 17, 2025, in Gatineau, Que. The credibility of the upcoming budget will be test number one for the building an economy for the future. Implementation will be test number two. Success is urgent. And some early deliverables are vital for ongoing public support. It’s all about our future, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If we want a prosperous and sovereign nation, big disruptive change is needed right now

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 28, 2025
  • Building an economy for the future poses huge challenges that will require strong leadership and a focus on clearly set targets and timelines, co-operation

If we want a prosperous and sovereign nation, big disruptive change is needed right now

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 28, 2025
  • Building an economy for the future poses huge challenges that will require strong leadership and a focus on clearly set targets and timelines, co-operation
Prime Minister Mark Carney scrums with reporters before the Prime Minister’s First Nations summit on Bill C-5 in Gatineau, Que. on July 17, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured July 17, 2025, in Gatineau, Que. The credibility of the upcoming budget will be test number one for the building an economy for the future. Implementation will be test number two. Success is urgent. And some early deliverables are vital for ongoing public support. It’s all about our future, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s fall budget could be the toughest one Canadians have ever faced in peacetime

  • Mark Carney will still face a domestic economy with weak growth prospects while having no choice but to act quickly to bring fiscal discipline to
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 21, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney gives opening remarks at the Prime Minister’s First Nations Summit on Bill C-5 at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on July 17, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s fall budget could be the toughest one Canadians have ever faced in peacetime

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 21, 2025
  • Mark Carney will still face a domestic economy with weak growth prospects while having no choice but to act quickly to bring fiscal discipline to

Carney’s fall budget could be the toughest one Canadians have ever faced in peacetime

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 21, 2025
  • Mark Carney will still face a domestic economy with weak growth prospects while having no choice but to act quickly to bring fiscal discipline to
Prime Minister Mark Carney gives opening remarks at the Prime Minister’s First Nations Summit on Bill C-5 at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on July 17, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

BC Ferries story reveals Canada’s confused policy on China

  • What basic message are we sending as we condemn the purchase of Chinese-made ferries while profiting from our sale of goods and services to
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 14, 2025
In comments to the House of Commons on June 18, Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland seemed to imply that the ferries could have been purchased from a Canadian company, yet no Canadian shipyard responded when BC Ferries sought proposals last year, David Crane writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

BC Ferries story reveals Canada’s confused policy on China

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 14, 2025
  • What basic message are we sending as we condemn the purchase of Chinese-made ferries while profiting from our sale of goods and services to

BC Ferries story reveals Canada’s confused policy on China

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 14, 2025
  • What basic message are we sending as we condemn the purchase of Chinese-made ferries while profiting from our sale of goods and services to
In comments to the House of Commons on June 18, Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland seemed to imply that the ferries could have been purchased from a Canadian company, yet no Canadian shipyard responded when BC Ferries sought proposals last year, David Crane writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada can’t ignore climate change just because the U.S. is missing in action

  • At some point, the U.S. will again become a responsible stakeholder, but its failure to assume its responsibility is no excuse for Canada or
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 7, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House's Oval Office on May 6, 2025. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Canada can’t ignore climate change just because the U.S. is missing in action

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 7, 2025
  • At some point, the U.S. will again become a responsible stakeholder, but its failure to assume its responsibility is no excuse for Canada or

Canada can’t ignore climate change just because the U.S. is missing in action

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 7, 2025
  • At some point, the U.S. will again become a responsible stakeholder, but its failure to assume its responsibility is no excuse for Canada or
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House's Oval Office on May 6, 2025. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Canada’s government and banks are stuck on oil—and this is a problem

  • Economic success will only succeed if we become an innovation nation, not a petrostate. We have great talent in Canada and many ambitious entrepreneurs
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 27, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne at a press conference in the West Block on June 19, 2025. The challenge for the Carney government is to get Canada's banks and other financial institutions to think beyond pipelines to new sources of economic growth that are based on ideas, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s government and banks are stuck on oil—and this is a problem

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 27, 2025
  • Economic success will only succeed if we become an innovation nation, not a petrostate. We have great talent in Canada and many ambitious entrepreneurs

Canada’s government and banks are stuck on oil—and this is a problem

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 27, 2025
  • Economic success will only succeed if we become an innovation nation, not a petrostate. We have great talent in Canada and many ambitious entrepreneurs
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne at a press conference in the West Block on June 19, 2025. The challenge for the Carney government is to get Canada's banks and other financial institutions to think beyond pipelines to new sources of economic growth that are based on ideas, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s riding high right now, but his real tests are yet to come

  • Canadians will need clear evidence that there is a strategy to deliver real change and the political stamina to withstand a process that will
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 23, 2025
European Council President Antonio Costa, front left, Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s PM Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, U.K. PM Keir Starmer, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on June 16, 2025. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada

Carney’s riding high right now, but his real tests are yet to come

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 23, 2025
  • Canadians will need clear evidence that there is a strategy to deliver real change and the political stamina to withstand a process that will

Carney’s riding high right now, but his real tests are yet to come

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 23, 2025
  • Canadians will need clear evidence that there is a strategy to deliver real change and the political stamina to withstand a process that will
European Council President Antonio Costa, front left, Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s PM Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, U.K. PM Keir Starmer, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on June 16, 2025. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada
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Freeland’s budget bases Canada’s future heavily on attraction and retention of foreign direct investment

  • TORONTO—When members of the European Union, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, announced plans to wean themselves off Russian oil and gas, Canada’s
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 18, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured April 6, 2022, out shopping for her budget-day shoes at the Rideau Centre in Ottawa. While some foreign investment can help, it is really up to our own companies to deliver prosperity. That won’t happen if we rely on subsidizing foreign investment, without regard for Canadian enterprise benefits, and if we continue our policy that means almost all of our companies are for sale to the highest foreign bidder, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Freeland’s budget bases Canada’s future heavily on attraction and retention of foreign direct investment

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 18, 2022
  • TORONTO—When members of the European Union, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, announced plans to wean themselves off Russian oil and gas, Canada’s

Freeland’s budget bases Canada’s future heavily on attraction and retention of foreign direct investment

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 18, 2022
  • TORONTO—When members of the European Union, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, announced plans to wean themselves off Russian oil and gas, Canada’s
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured April 6, 2022, out shopping for her budget-day shoes at the Rideau Centre in Ottawa. While some foreign investment can help, it is really up to our own companies to deliver prosperity. That won’t happen if we rely on subsidizing foreign investment, without regard for Canadian enterprise benefits, and if we continue our policy that means almost all of our companies are for sale to the highest foreign bidder, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada is at a tipping point on productivity

  • TORONTO—When will our politicians smarten up? There was Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, we are told, telling reporters after her budget speech that “talking about
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 11, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured April 7, 2022, at a press conference in Ottawa on budget day. Contrary to what Freeland is saying, a really smart politician would engage with all Canadians on how we build a more successful economy and society. And that means talking much more about productivity, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada is at a tipping point on productivity

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 11, 2022
  • TORONTO—When will our politicians smarten up? There was Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, we are told, telling reporters after her budget speech that “talking about

Canada is at a tipping point on productivity

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 11, 2022
  • TORONTO—When will our politicians smarten up? There was Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, we are told, telling reporters after her budget speech that “talking about
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured April 7, 2022, at a press conference in Ottawa on budget day. Contrary to what Freeland is saying, a really smart politician would engage with all Canadians on how we build a more successful economy and society. And that means talking much more about productivity, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Feds’ zero emissions plan a good first step, but getting there will be an enormous challenge

  • TORONTO—The federal government has taken an important and necessary step in publishing its first Zero Emissions Reduction Plan, which sets out how it might
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 4, 2022
Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, pictured Jan. 31, 2022, on the Hill. It is very much in the broad public interest that Canada, and the world, make the transition to a decarbonized way of life, and that we do it as rapidly as we can. But it will take hard choices, not hype, to succeed. Leadership is about hard choices, not sugar-coating the changes that must be made, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ zero emissions plan a good first step, but getting there will be an enormous challenge

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 4, 2022
  • TORONTO—The federal government has taken an important and necessary step in publishing its first Zero Emissions Reduction Plan, which sets out how it might

Feds’ zero emissions plan a good first step, but getting there will be an enormous challenge

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 4, 2022
  • TORONTO—The federal government has taken an important and necessary step in publishing its first Zero Emissions Reduction Plan, which sets out how it might
Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, pictured Jan. 31, 2022, on the Hill. It is very much in the broad public interest that Canada, and the world, make the transition to a decarbonized way of life, and that we do it as rapidly as we can. But it will take hard choices, not hype, to succeed. Leadership is about hard choices, not sugar-coating the changes that must be made, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

After the horrors of Ukraine, Canada should aim to be a major player in helping the world meet its future food needs

  • TORONTO—The Russian invasion of Ukraine is triggering many responses in Canada, including calls for more aid to Ukraine, tougher sanctions against Russia, accelerated welcoming
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 28, 2022
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pictured March 15, 2022, virtually addressing Canada's Parliament. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is triggering many responses in Canada, including calls for more aid to Ukraine, tougher sanctions against Russia, accelerated welcoming of displaced Ukrainian families, dramatic new defence spending and ways for our oil industry to profit, writes David Crane. Screen capture image courtesy of CBCNN

After the horrors of Ukraine, Canada should aim to be a major player in helping the world meet its future food needs

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 28, 2022
  • TORONTO—The Russian invasion of Ukraine is triggering many responses in Canada, including calls for more aid to Ukraine, tougher sanctions against Russia, accelerated welcoming

After the horrors of Ukraine, Canada should aim to be a major player in helping the world meet its future food needs

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 28, 2022
  • TORONTO—The Russian invasion of Ukraine is triggering many responses in Canada, including calls for more aid to Ukraine, tougher sanctions against Russia, accelerated welcoming
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pictured March 15, 2022, virtually addressing Canada's Parliament. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is triggering many responses in Canada, including calls for more aid to Ukraine, tougher sanctions against Russia, accelerated welcoming of displaced Ukrainian families, dramatic new defence spending and ways for our oil industry to profit, writes David Crane. Screen capture image courtesy of CBCNN

Climate change remains the most significant existential threat to human society

  • TORONTO—Canada’s oil and gas companies, along with wheat and many other commodity producers, all stand to gain from sharply rising raw material prices as
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 21, 2022
Minster of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, pictured on Oct. 27, 2021, in Ottawa with staffers James Hutchingame, left, and Ian Cameron. Much of the focus today is on how to profit from the European and American decisions to wean themselves off Russian oil and gas. Wilkinson is hoping to pump an extra 200,000 barrels a day of high-carbon Canadian oil exports to the U.S., writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Climate change remains the most significant existential threat to human society

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 21, 2022
  • TORONTO—Canada’s oil and gas companies, along with wheat and many other commodity producers, all stand to gain from sharply rising raw material prices as

Climate change remains the most significant existential threat to human society

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 21, 2022
  • TORONTO—Canada’s oil and gas companies, along with wheat and many other commodity producers, all stand to gain from sharply rising raw material prices as
Minster of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, pictured on Oct. 27, 2021, in Ottawa with staffers James Hutchingame, left, and Ian Cameron. Much of the focus today is on how to profit from the European and American decisions to wean themselves off Russian oil and gas. Wilkinson is hoping to pump an extra 200,000 barrels a day of high-carbon Canadian oil exports to the U.S., writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

World must resolve conflict in Ukraine before it spills over into something much worse

  • TORONTO—Nothing is more urgent today than to resolve the conflict over Ukraine before it spills over into something much worse. As Barbara Tuchman once
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 14, 2022
Vladimir Putin's Eyes, art installation. Re-establishing that 'legitimacy' is the world’s biggest future challenge if we are to minimize future risks of conflict and solve global problems. This won’t be achieved as the U.S. is trying to do by dividing the world into a zero-sum competition between democracies and autocracies. It will be achieved by designing the guidelines for a workable world community. That requires a different kind of statesmanship, writes David Crane. Image courtesy of Flickr

World must resolve conflict in Ukraine before it spills over into something much worse

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 14, 2022
  • TORONTO—Nothing is more urgent today than to resolve the conflict over Ukraine before it spills over into something much worse. As Barbara Tuchman once

World must resolve conflict in Ukraine before it spills over into something much worse

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 14, 2022
  • TORONTO—Nothing is more urgent today than to resolve the conflict over Ukraine before it spills over into something much worse. As Barbara Tuchman once
Vladimir Putin's Eyes, art installation. Re-establishing that 'legitimacy' is the world’s biggest future challenge if we are to minimize future risks of conflict and solve global problems. This won’t be achieved as the U.S. is trying to do by dividing the world into a zero-sum competition between democracies and autocracies. It will be achieved by designing the guidelines for a workable world community. That requires a different kind of statesmanship, writes David Crane. Image courtesy of Flickr

Canada should make next-generation manufacturing a national priority, like U.S. and Germany

  • TORONTO—Without a much stronger and more innovative manufacturing industry, it’s hard to imagine a post-pandemic “Build Back Better” strategy that delivers good jobs and
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 7, 2022
While next-generation manufacturing is a national priority in the United States and countries such as Germany, it so far has not been a clear priority for Canada. U.S. President Joe Biden, for example, highlighted U.S. manufacturing in his State of the Union speech last week. Germany has published its own industrial strategy, writes David Crane. Image courtesy of Pexels

Canada should make next-generation manufacturing a national priority, like U.S. and Germany

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 7, 2022
  • TORONTO—Without a much stronger and more innovative manufacturing industry, it’s hard to imagine a post-pandemic “Build Back Better” strategy that delivers good jobs and

Canada should make next-generation manufacturing a national priority, like U.S. and Germany

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 7, 2022
  • TORONTO—Without a much stronger and more innovative manufacturing industry, it’s hard to imagine a post-pandemic “Build Back Better” strategy that delivers good jobs and
While next-generation manufacturing is a national priority in the United States and countries such as Germany, it so far has not been a clear priority for Canada. U.S. President Joe Biden, for example, highlighted U.S. manufacturing in his State of the Union speech last week. Germany has published its own industrial strategy, writes David Crane. Image courtesy of Pexels

Canada’s greater potential, bigger strengths are hydrogen and fuel cells technology

  • TORONTO—If it plays its cards right, Canada should benefit much more from pursuing an aggressive strategy for hydrogen and fuel cells than it would
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 28, 2022
We should do what we can to be part of the battery-powered future. But our bigger strengths and greater potential are in hydrogen and fuel cells technologies, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s greater potential, bigger strengths are hydrogen and fuel cells technology

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 28, 2022
  • TORONTO—If it plays its cards right, Canada should benefit much more from pursuing an aggressive strategy for hydrogen and fuel cells than it would

Canada’s greater potential, bigger strengths are hydrogen and fuel cells technology

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 28, 2022
  • TORONTO—If it plays its cards right, Canada should benefit much more from pursuing an aggressive strategy for hydrogen and fuel cells than it would
We should do what we can to be part of the battery-powered future. But our bigger strengths and greater potential are in hydrogen and fuel cells technologies, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Asset price inflation may pose a greater threat

  • TORONTO—While much attention is now being focused on the consumer price index and what it may mean for the economy, a perhaps much more
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 21, 2022
Finance Chrystia Freeland and Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, pictured Dec. 13, 2021, in Ottawa. David Crane says the overpriced housing market and unrealistic increases in stock prices have the potential for a dangerous reckoning ahead, both for the Bank of Canada and for Freeland's forthcoming budget. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Asset price inflation may pose a greater threat

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 21, 2022
  • TORONTO—While much attention is now being focused on the consumer price index and what it may mean for the economy, a perhaps much more

Asset price inflation may pose a greater threat

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 21, 2022
  • TORONTO—While much attention is now being focused on the consumer price index and what it may mean for the economy, a perhaps much more
Finance Chrystia Freeland and Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, pictured Dec. 13, 2021, in Ottawa. David Crane says the overpriced housing market and unrealistic increases in stock prices have the potential for a dangerous reckoning ahead, both for the Bank of Canada and for Freeland's forthcoming budget. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Freedom Convoy’ a seditious campaign organized by those with more a dangerous agenda

  • TORONTO—The ability of a small group of anti-vaxxers, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, anti-democracy activists, Nazi sympathizers, and others calling for the overthrow of the
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 14, 2022
A 'Freedom Convoy' protester dances on the sidewalk across from the Prime Minister’s office on Feb. 10, 2022. This crusade for freedom and freedom of choice is misdirected. Freedom of choice is not a legal right. There is no freedom of choice in many areas of our daily lives because the welfare of the community comes ahead of preferences of individuals, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Freedom Convoy’ a seditious campaign organized by those with more a dangerous agenda

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 14, 2022
  • TORONTO—The ability of a small group of anti-vaxxers, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, anti-democracy activists, Nazi sympathizers, and others calling for the overthrow of the

‘Freedom Convoy’ a seditious campaign organized by those with more a dangerous agenda

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 14, 2022
  • TORONTO—The ability of a small group of anti-vaxxers, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, anti-democracy activists, Nazi sympathizers, and others calling for the overthrow of the
A 'Freedom Convoy' protester dances on the sidewalk across from the Prime Minister’s office on Feb. 10, 2022. This crusade for freedom and freedom of choice is misdirected. Freedom of choice is not a legal right. There is no freedom of choice in many areas of our daily lives because the welfare of the community comes ahead of preferences of individuals, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s trying to become a true nation of innovation

  • TORONTO—Canada is trying to become a true nation of innovation, as it must. Our future prosperity, including our ability to generate the taxes we
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 7, 2022
So what to do? The fundamental problem is that we lack the analysis that would let us do better. Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland, in her mandate letter from the prime minister, is instructed to establish a permanent Council of Economic Advisers to 'provide the government with independent advice and policy options on long-term economic growth,' writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s trying to become a true nation of innovation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 7, 2022
  • TORONTO—Canada is trying to become a true nation of innovation, as it must. Our future prosperity, including our ability to generate the taxes we

Canada’s trying to become a true nation of innovation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 7, 2022
  • TORONTO—Canada is trying to become a true nation of innovation, as it must. Our future prosperity, including our ability to generate the taxes we
So what to do? The fundamental problem is that we lack the analysis that would let us do better. Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland, in her mandate letter from the prime minister, is instructed to establish a permanent Council of Economic Advisers to 'provide the government with independent advice and policy options on long-term economic growth,' writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Champagne has to help boost Canada’s capacity for successful innovation

  • TORONTO—The Liberals have promised a Canada Advanced Research Projects Agency (CARPA) as a public-private “bridge” to “help unleash bold, new research and ideas, protect
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 24, 2022
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in Ottawa on Feb. 6, 2020. Champagne’s mandate letter instructs him to work with Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos to implement the promise with 'a uniquely Canadian approach' modelled on DARPA The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Champagne has to help boost Canada’s capacity for successful innovation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 24, 2022
  • TORONTO—The Liberals have promised a Canada Advanced Research Projects Agency (CARPA) as a public-private “bridge” to “help unleash bold, new research and ideas, protect

Champagne has to help boost Canada’s capacity for successful innovation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 24, 2022
  • TORONTO—The Liberals have promised a Canada Advanced Research Projects Agency (CARPA) as a public-private “bridge” to “help unleash bold, new research and ideas, protect
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in Ottawa on Feb. 6, 2020. Champagne’s mandate letter instructs him to work with Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos to implement the promise with 'a uniquely Canadian approach' modelled on DARPA The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to raise the rate of productivity growth so there’s more to share

  • TORONTO—There is something wrong when productivity is growing but the typical worker doesn’t share in that growth. Yet that has been the experience of
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 17, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured arriving at a press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Dec. 13, 2021, with Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem to announce the Bank of Canada’s inflation mandate. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to raise the rate of productivity growth so there’s more to share

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 17, 2022
  • TORONTO—There is something wrong when productivity is growing but the typical worker doesn’t share in that growth. Yet that has been the experience of

Canada needs to raise the rate of productivity growth so there’s more to share

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 17, 2022
  • TORONTO—There is something wrong when productivity is growing but the typical worker doesn’t share in that growth. Yet that has been the experience of
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured arriving at a press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Dec. 13, 2021, with Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem to announce the Bank of Canada’s inflation mandate. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

China policy will be a major foreign policy test for Trudeau’s government

  • TORONTO—It is a serious cause for concern that the word “China” never appears in the mandate letter for Mélanie Joly, our latest minister of
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 10, 2022
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured Dec. 8, 2021, in a Hill scrum. It is a serious cause for concern that the word 'China' never appears in the mandate letter for Joly, our latest minister of foreign affairs, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

China policy will be a major foreign policy test for Trudeau’s government

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 10, 2022
  • TORONTO—It is a serious cause for concern that the word “China” never appears in the mandate letter for Mélanie Joly, our latest minister of

China policy will be a major foreign policy test for Trudeau’s government

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | January 10, 2022
  • TORONTO—It is a serious cause for concern that the word “China” never appears in the mandate letter for Mélanie Joly, our latest minister of
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured Dec. 8, 2021, in a Hill scrum. It is a serious cause for concern that the word 'China' never appears in the mandate letter for Joly, our latest minister of foreign affairs, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Russia’s proposals should be seen as an opportunity, failure is not an option

  • TORONTO—The Jan. 12 launch of negotiations in Geneva on Russian proposals for future security arrangements in Europe should be seen as an opportunity because
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 30, 2021
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s core goal is to enforce the security of Russia by ensuring that he has a buffer between his borders and an encroaching NATO. That means for him no NATO membership for Ukraine or Georgia. But what he has proposed, as an opening gambit, is a series of ideas for negotiation for a broader agreement on European security, writes David Crane. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Russia’s proposals should be seen as an opportunity, failure is not an option

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 30, 2021
  • TORONTO—The Jan. 12 launch of negotiations in Geneva on Russian proposals for future security arrangements in Europe should be seen as an opportunity because

Russia’s proposals should be seen as an opportunity, failure is not an option

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 30, 2021
  • TORONTO—The Jan. 12 launch of negotiations in Geneva on Russian proposals for future security arrangements in Europe should be seen as an opportunity because
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s core goal is to enforce the security of Russia by ensuring that he has a buffer between his borders and an encroaching NATO. That means for him no NATO membership for Ukraine or Georgia. But what he has proposed, as an opening gambit, is a series of ideas for negotiation for a broader agreement on European security, writes David Crane. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Ottawa, we have a problem

  • TORONTO—Parliament is not working to the benefit of Canada, but it’s not evident that many MPs care. And if Parliament is falling well short
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 23, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Dec. 14, 2021, speaking with reporters on his way into the Liberal party caucus meeting in the West Block. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Ottawa, we have a problem

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 23, 2021
  • TORONTO—Parliament is not working to the benefit of Canada, but it’s not evident that many MPs care. And if Parliament is falling well short

Ottawa, we have a problem

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 23, 2021
  • TORONTO—Parliament is not working to the benefit of Canada, but it’s not evident that many MPs care. And if Parliament is falling well short
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Dec. 14, 2021, speaking with reporters on his way into the Liberal party caucus meeting in the West Block. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ rosy economic update could do more harm than good

  • TORONTO—Perhaps the boldest promise made by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in her 2021 fiscal outlook is that the Trudeau government “will ensure that there
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 20, 2021
Deputy PM and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is pictured with Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem ahead of an announcement on the bank's inflation rate on Dec. 13, the day before she delivered the fall fiscal update. If our government pretends all is well, despite contrary evidence, we will end up a poorer nation, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ rosy economic update could do more harm than good

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 20, 2021
  • TORONTO—Perhaps the boldest promise made by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in her 2021 fiscal outlook is that the Trudeau government “will ensure that there

Feds’ rosy economic update could do more harm than good

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 20, 2021
  • TORONTO—Perhaps the boldest promise made by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in her 2021 fiscal outlook is that the Trudeau government “will ensure that there
Deputy PM and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is pictured with Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem ahead of an announcement on the bank's inflation rate on Dec. 13, the day before she delivered the fall fiscal update. If our government pretends all is well, despite contrary evidence, we will end up a poorer nation, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada is a country in trouble, we have no credible plan for a prosperous future

  • TORONTO—We don’t know what approach Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will take in her fiscal update on Dec. 14. But what’s needed is an honest
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 13, 2021
Minster of Finance Chrystia Freeland, pictured Dec. 9, 2021, at the House Finance Committee. 'Winning an election is not a reward. It is a responsibility. It is the Trudeau government’s responsibility to ensure Canada is on the right track to achieve a better Canadian future. Freeland’s fiscal update should show it is ready to try new approaches and prioritize investment and growth,' writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada is a country in trouble, we have no credible plan for a prosperous future

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 13, 2021
  • TORONTO—We don’t know what approach Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will take in her fiscal update on Dec. 14. But what’s needed is an honest

Canada is a country in trouble, we have no credible plan for a prosperous future

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 13, 2021
  • TORONTO—We don’t know what approach Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will take in her fiscal update on Dec. 14. But what’s needed is an honest
Minster of Finance Chrystia Freeland, pictured Dec. 9, 2021, at the House Finance Committee. 'Winning an election is not a reward. It is a responsibility. It is the Trudeau government’s responsibility to ensure Canada is on the right track to achieve a better Canadian future. Freeland’s fiscal update should show it is ready to try new approaches and prioritize investment and growth,' writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland should be pushing World Bank to lead campaign to save Afghanistan’s children

  • TORONTO—How many infants and children must die in Afghanistan from malnutrition and lack of access to  health care in one of the world’s poorest
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 8, 2021
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Nov. 24, 2021, at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland should be pushing World Bank to lead campaign to save Afghanistan’s children

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 8, 2021
  • TORONTO—How many infants and children must die in Afghanistan from malnutrition and lack of access to  health care in one of the world’s poorest

Freeland should be pushing World Bank to lead campaign to save Afghanistan’s children

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | December 8, 2021
  • TORONTO—How many infants and children must die in Afghanistan from malnutrition and lack of access to  health care in one of the world’s poorest
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Nov. 24, 2021, at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a U.S. ‘strategy’

  • TORONTO—There’s much effort in Canada to devise a China “strategy.” But we also need a U.S. “strategy.” America First is now a bipartisan U.S.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 25, 2021
The threat to Canada is in proposed legislation backed by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration. It's now before the U.S. Senate and it would limit major U.S. tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles and batteries to vehicles made in the U.S. and only in unionized plants, meaning General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, writes David Crane. Caricature courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/DonkeyHotey

Canada needs a U.S. ‘strategy’

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 25, 2021
  • TORONTO—There’s much effort in Canada to devise a China “strategy.” But we also need a U.S. “strategy.” America First is now a bipartisan U.S.

Canada needs a U.S. ‘strategy’

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | November 25, 2021
  • TORONTO—There’s much effort in Canada to devise a China “strategy.” But we also need a U.S. “strategy.” America First is now a bipartisan U.S.
The threat to Canada is in proposed legislation backed by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration. It's now before the U.S. Senate and it would limit major U.S. tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles and batteries to vehicles made in the U.S. and only in unionized plants, meaning General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, writes David Crane. Caricature courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/DonkeyHotey

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