Without cities, we won’t have an innovative Canada
TORONTO—Cities are taking greater charge of their futures—in fact, they don’t have a choice if they want to prosper in a global economy. What we see in the Communitech centre in Kitchener, at Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone in Toronto, or in the crowded incubator space at Invest Ottawa, are start-up cities. But they are […]
Foreign multinationals investing in Canada to become an innovation nation
TORONTO—With free trade, foreign multinationals are no longer here to get around high tariff walls. Instead, they are here as part of their global innovation strategies, making them significant players in Canadian efforts to become an innovation nation. Here’s why. Canada has a reputation for high-quality university and college graduates, especially in science and engineering. […]
Bernier’s frank talk on supply management starts Tory leadership race on right foot
TORONTO—During my previous political job, I had the opportunity to talk and privately meet many people in Ottawa, including then ministers of the former government of Stephen Harper. I learned a lot during those meetings and I had a chance to know good people and politicians. One of those who impressed me the most was […]
Trade deals, infrastructure, national climate framework key for B.C. business
Canada is a small, open economy that depends on trade for much of its prosperity. Given our modest population, geographic location, and vast landmass, we must work collaboratively, innovate, and be more competitive for capital and talent if we hope to maintain a thriving national economy in the future. With collaboration and the future in […]
Nurturing the next BlackBerry
TORONTO—Building a more innovative country, with good jobs, will depend on close collaboration among business, universities and colleges, and government. This is no time for limited or small government any more than it is a time for risk-averse businesses or academia operating in silos. As the old TV commercial used to put it, “together, we […]
Universities key to boosting Canada’s innovation ecosystem
Canada has a world-leading innovation infrastructure. We rank second on the Global Entrepreneurial Index; second on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development list of innovation indicators; and third on the OECD tally of national educational attainment. Twenty-three Canadian universities have been listed among the best 500 in the world, a remarkable showing from a […]
The good news stories in the PBO report on climate change
There is a relatively good news message in the report of the Parliamentary Budget Officer on climate change: there’s not a huge cost to the economy in meeting Canada’s climate change targets, and much of the needed slashing at greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved with existing technology or technology currently under development, and at […]
Canada needs an ‘Own the Podium’ strategy for clean energy
Last week’s signing of the Paris climate accord marks the start of a new age, with huge implications for Canada. The fossil fuels that power the global economy today are entering a permanent—if slow—decline. Gone are cozy assumptions of endless growth in oil exports. Winners in the high stakes global energy market of the 21st […]
Cancelled Statistics Canada data series led to Emerson report proposal
Canada needs to produce and share more transportation data with the public or risk falling behind in global logistics, several analysts said today. Their comments came the same day Transportation Minister Marc Garneau (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, Que.) pledged to share more information about dangerous rail crossings in Canada. The focus on data collection has also served to […]
New Zealand high commissioner brings defence, trade background
“I arrived at the end of February, 3 o’clock in the morning, in the middle of a snowstorm.” What a welcome to Canada for New Zealand’s high commissioner, Daniel Mellsop. It was a few days after Ottawa got its last big dump of snow: 50-something centimetres of the white stuff. “That was fun, bringing a young […]
