News That Matters To You

By Jeffrey Crelinsten
Join us for Part 2 of our conversation with Iain Stewart, former President of the National Research Council of Canada. In the final segment of our conversation, Iain tackles the challenges holding Canada back – from slow tech adoption to the impact of protected industries – and the priority actions we must take to build a stronger, more competitive ecosystem.

By Jeffrey Crelinsten
Join us for Part 1 of our conversation with Iain Stewart, former President of the National Research Council of Canada. With decades of leadership in government on science and innovation policy, Iain has played a key role in shaping Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem. In the first part of this two-segment podcast, he shares his journey, insights, and vision for the future of Canadian innovation.

By Mark Lowey
The federal government's cap on international students has significantly cut college revenues and sparked internal strife, higher education expert Alex Usher and academic Mikal Skuterud said during C. D. Howe Institute podcast. They urged Ottawa to revisit both its immigration policy and international student program and set data-driven goals to attract the brightest immigrants, avoid labour market distortions and promote long-term economic growth.

By Mark Lowey
Solar geoengineering through injecting sulphur aerosols into the stratosphere likely would mitigate the worst risks of climate change, but David Keith at the University of Chicago says Canada needs more research to inform policy decisions. Keith and Lisa Dilling at the Environmental Defense Fund underscore the urgency, as Canada risks being unprepared for international climate discussions on the topic without doing the necessary research.

By Mark Lowey
Canada could thrive in the era of electricity if it addresses barriers to the clean energy transition, speakers at The Walrus Talks Power Economy said. Transitioning to clean energy is not just about cutting emissions but about building industries that will define Canada’s prosperity, said Susan McGeachie, CEO of the Global Climate Finance Accelerator.

By Mark Lowey
AI chatbots are negatively impacting individuals and families as users increasingly rely on the technology for companionship, experts said during a webinar by the the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Guardrails are needed, including policies and regulations, to prevent chatbot conversations from harming children and other vulnerable groups.

By Mark Lowey
Canada needs to put science, technology and innovation at the centre of its economic policy agenda or risk losing ground to other countries that are doing so, panellists said at Research Money’s 24th annual conference in Ottawa. The country is at a critical moment in history and requires a bold vision for what it desires to be and wants to accomplish – a vision that all Canadians can support, they said.

By Mark Lowey
Canada confronts a national health security emergency, and the country’s life sciences sector faces an unprecedented crisis, says a new report by the Public Policy Forum. The report urges Canada to prioritize resilience, innovation and self-reliance, including fast-tracking Health Emergency Readiness Canada.

By Mark Lowey
Canadian businesses are under-investing in training their employees while industry and academia are still operating in silos when it comes to training the future workforce, experts said at Research Money's annual conference in Ottawa. There needs to be more incentives for companies to de-risk training, more training in professional skills, and more experimentation in training, they said.