How many PhDs, engineers and lawyers do we need to create a growth economy in Canada?

 By Nobina Robinson At a conference in Ottawa last fall, where speakers included Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, and Growth Council Chair Dominic Barton, a challenge was laid on the table.  We live in a low-growth world, and Canada is not immune.  We’ve experienced sluggish growth for

Sustained and Steady Growth of the Chinese  

 Economy will Continue to Make a Significant Contribution to the Development of the World Economy In the first half of this year, despite continued slowdown in global growth, China’s GDP expanded by 6.7 percent, ranking among top of the world’s major economies. This growth rate was within the appropriate range

Double-Failing on Health

 Why it is critical we learn from past healthcare mistakes Forty is the new thirty. Orange is the new black. And Failure is the new success. It seems these days that no success story is complete without a failure (or two) along the way: the bankruptcy that gave birth to

Canada’s Building Trades Unions: How One Union is Fighting for Canada’s Economic Future

 Representing 15 unions and 60 different skilled trades, Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) has the job of keeping the construction industry in Canada safe, high-paying and fair. These challenges, however, are only a few of the many facing the CBTU and Canada’s construction industry. Half a million members strong, the

Seeing Clearly: Canada’s Healthcare System Performs Well with a Human Touch

 I had cataract surgery last year--a terrifying prospect for a visual person. I love art and ocean views, and I was nervous about anyone working on my eyes. I delayed surgery a couple of times but finally committed. As it turned out, my surgery went fine. In fact, I loved

A ”Less Is More” Approach to Canadian Health Care: Reformulating the Canada Health Transfer

  Change has come to Canada’s health-care funding model. In December 2011, federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty announced that the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) – the legislative vehicle through which much of the funding (some $29 billion for the 2012-2013 period alone) for Canada’s provincial and territorial health-care systems is

Who’s Responsible for the Health of Canada’s Health Care System

 “Our health outcomes, with a few exceptions, are among the best in the world and a strong majority of Canadians who use the system are highly satisfied with the quality and standard of care they receive. Medicare has consistently delivered affordable, timely, accessible and high-quality care to the overwhelming majority

Giving Up On Government As An Agent For The Public Good…Is Not A Good Idea

 When I first got into the commercial polling business, about 70% of Canadians held a somewhat favourable impression of politicians. Today, more believe in the devil or that Elvis is alive than hold this particular point of view. Now, I know all of us smirk knowingly, from time to time,