Editorial - 15-11

What is the S&T community to make of the strange and convoluted process behind the Innovation White Paper? For a document that’s so important to laying out a strategy for the nation’s economic future, its visibility or lack thereof, is intriguing to say the least.

First promised for June and now projected for a fall release, the White Paper has been subjected to fierce secrecy. But that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from shifting into high gear. Now we’re hearing that the primary focus of the document has been widened to include a strong element of social inclusion. That seems to have pitted two powerful federal departments — Industry Canada and Human Resources Development Canada — against one another in a battle of wills and political agendas.

The contention by some that the departments are barely on speaking terms seems excessive, but there’s obviously a chasm opening that needs to be closed quickly so that the process can move to the next stage.

Once the final text of the document is set and released, the stakeholder community will have its chance to comment further on its contents. The ultimate goal is to have a working document that breathes life into a national innovation strategy, providing all players a coherent set of principles and goals they can work with.

The bold objectives the federal government has laid out for the S&T community need more than incrementalism and the White Paper has a key role to play. This is no time for reinforcing old silos or muddying the vision that’s required for the future. The stakes are simply too high.