Canada-U.S. Relations

Canada-U.S. Relations in the Arctic: A Neighbourly Proposal

With an increasing number of unregulated transits through the North West Passage, Brian Flemming of the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute argues that it is time for Canada and the U.S. to put aside their legal claims and create a treaty-based North West Passage Authority that will allow both countries to jointly manage the Passage.
http://www.cdfai.org/PDF/Canada-U.S.%20Relations%20in%20the%20Arctic%20%20A%20Neighbourly%20Proposal.pdf

 

The Coalition, the Obama Administration, and the Canadian Forces

Jack Granatstein of the Canadian Defense and Foreign Affairs Institute examines what the political and economic environment in Canada could mean for relations with the U.S. and for the Canadian Forces.  http://www.cdfai.org/granatsteinarticles/The%20Coalition,%20the%20Obama%20Administration,%20and%20the%20Canadian%20Forces.pdf

 

 

Economy

Focusing on Main Street Will Keep Jingle in Our Jeans

Consulting with 25 public economists from across Western Canada, Roger Gibbins of the Canada West Foundation recommends that in the face of the global economic downturn, the Government of Canada should align short-term stimulus with long-term economic policy goals.  A successful stimulus package, he writes, would be aimed more at Main Street than at Wall Street, and would help the little guy first.  It would use and enhance existing programs such as employment insurance and the child tax benefit. http://www.cwf.ca/V2/cnt/commentaries_200812181517.php

 

Leadership for Tough Times

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has released the Alternative Federal Budget fiscal stimulus plan – a one-year package that aims to protect Canadians from the worst of a recession.  Consistent with recommendations by the IMF and the OECD, the plan injects $32.9 billion (or 2.1% of the GDP) into Canada’s economy, while addressing challenges such as job loss, climate change, and aging populations. Lead authors Armine Yalnizyan and David Macdonald underscore employment insurance, municipal, and green infrastructure as key investment areas.

http://www.policyalternatives.ca/reports/2009/01/reportsstudies2065/?pa=BB736455

en français: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/reports/2009/01/reportsstudies2067/?pa=BB736455

 

What Canada Needs Now to Respond to the Economic Crisis

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives recommends that in response to the global recession, the federal government temporarily increase spending in five main areas, including employment insurance, public infrastructure, and business innovation, while simultaneously retaining policies that encourage long-term economic growth. http://www.ceocouncil.ca/publications/

 

Unstable Foundations

In a recent commentary published by the C.D. Howe Institute, David Laidler and Robin Banerjee ask longer-term questions about the adequacy of inflation-targeting as a basis for Canada’s monetary regime. Among other recommendations, the authors suggest that in writing the 2011 monetary policy, the Minister of Finance explicitly recognize the Bank of Canada as a lender of last resort. http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/commentary_278.pdf

 

The Mood of Canada

The second annual Mood of Canada poll by Nanos Research shows that, compared with last year’s survey, twice as many Canadians say they are worse off financially than they were a year ago, while only half as many say they’re better off. The results of the poll, published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, also indicate that more than half of Canadians think the economy will only get worse in the next six months. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/dec08/nanos.pdf

 

 

Energy/Environment

Environmental Justice in Canada

When it comes to environmental quality, states Michael Buzelli of the University of Western Ontario, it matters where you live, as disadvantaged communities often suffer from poor environmental standards. In a report published by the Canadian Policy Research Networks, Buzelli surveys several grassroots initiatives aimed at enhancing environmental justice.  He uses these examples to illustrate that sound environmental policy should not only aim at being sustainable, but also socially just. http://www.cprn.org/documents/50875_EN.pdf

 

 

Domestic Policy

E-Consultation: Enabling Democracy between Elections

Public involvement, through e-consultation, is one way for Canada’s democratic institutions to reduce voter apathy, build trust and establish a stronger relationship between governments and citizens, according to a study released by the Institute for Research on Public Policy.  Authors Joseph Peters and Manon Abud explore e-consultation, its strengths and weaknesses, using four case studies. The authors conclude that on-line forums are a valuable, if not essential, part of a new era of democratic governance.
Study: http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no1.pdf

Podcast: http://www.irpp.org/choices/archive/vol15no1_podcast.mp3

 

Access to Information at 25 Years: New Perspectives, Creative Solutions?

The Public Policy Forum held a full-day workshop on Modernizing the

Federal Access to Information Regime. The workshop brought together 40 leading thinkers,

practitioners, and decision-makers from academia, the private sector, civil society, and

government. The purpose was to generate new ideas and catalyze creative thinking around

options for modernizing the culture, administration and legislation of the federal Access to

Information (ATI) regime.  http://www.ppforum.ca/common/assets/publications/en/oic_report_final_for_web.pdf

 

 

Social Policy

Mandatory Retirement

In the third of a four-part labour market series from by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, Morley Gunderson (CIBC Chair of Youth Employment studies at the University of Toronto) makes the case for why governments should stop banning mandatory retirement. http://www.aims.ca/aimslibrary.asp?ft=3&id=2404

 

 

Education

Understanding the Aboriginal/Non-Aboriginal Gap in Student Performance

In a recent study published by the C.D. Howe Institute, authors John Richards, Jennifer Hove, and Kemi Afolabi observe that there exist very large gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal student performance in most B.C. schools. However, Aboriginal students in some school districts perform remarkably well. What are these districts doing right? The authors draw lessons that they predict may apply across Canada.

http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/commentary_276.pdf

 

 

Science and Technology

The Year in Review

 It’s been a stellar year in the world of science, according to Innovation Canada.  The University of Toronto announced its plans to build Canada’s most powerful and energy-efficient supercomputer, while University of New Brunswick professor Kevin Englehart helped create a new generation of prosthetic limbs. Malorie Bertrand reviews this and other 2008 research breakthroughs. http://www.innovationcanada.ca/en/articles/year-in-review-2008I

 

Fumer pendant la grosesse augmente la risque d’avoir un enfant agressif

Les femmes qui fument durant leur grossesse ont un risque plus élevé de donner naissance à des enfants agressifs, selon une récente étude canado-néerlandaise.  L’effet du tabagisme des mères sur l’incidence de comportements agressifs chez leur progéniture demeurait significatif même en faisant abstraction d’autres facteurs.  Pour réaliser cette étude, Jean Seguin, psychiatre et chercheur  à l’Université de Montréal et au Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine a collaboré avec des collègues de l’Université Laval et de l’Université McGill.

http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca/recherche/sciences-de-la-sante/fumer-pendant-la-grossesse-augmente-les-risques-davoir-un-enfant-agressif.html

 

 

Canadian Literature Abroad

La littérature québécoise fait son entrée à Moscou

La revue mensuelle russe Littérature étrangère, fondée en 1891, a consacré son dernier numéro de l’année à

la littérature québécoise.  Le Journal de l’Université Laval accueille cette publication de 300 pages, intitulée Je me souviens, comme une belle avancée de la littérature québécoise en Russie.

http://www.aufil.ulaval.ca/articles/nelligan-chez-pouchkine-13132.html