Canada-U.S. Relations

Bilateral Priorities

In an open letter to President Obama and Prime Minister Harper, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives urges the North American leaders to work together to speed economic recovery, launch a bilateral energy and environment initiative, and enhance joint management of North American defence and security.  http://www.ceocouncil.ca/en/view/?area_id=1&document_id=1319

The Obama Opportunity

While attention has been directed to the magnitude of the economic challenge facing President Obama, often overlooked is the opportunity for the U.S. president to utilize the near-trillion-dollar stimulus package to fundamentally transform aspects of America, writes Thomas Courchène for the Institute on Research and Public Policy. Courchène focuses on some of these transformations, and then addresses their implications for Canada’s economic prospects. http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/feb09/courchene.pdf

Policy Options : http://www.irpp.org/po/index.htm

Options politiques : http://www.irpp.org/fr/po/index.htm

The Obama Effect

In a report released in advance of President Barack Obama’s visit to Ottawa, Bruce Campbell of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives analyzes how U.S. efforts to combat the economic crisis will affect Canadians and Canada-U.S. relations. http://www.policyalternatives.ca/

Economy

Currents

The February 2009 edition of Currents, the Canada West Foundation’s monthly economic bulletin, features a review of job growth in the Western provinces in 2008.  While job losses are a concern all across Canada, the article notes that employment in western Canada is still at a relatively high level—thanks primarily to vigorous growth over the last few years, including 2008.  According to Statistics Canada, about 123,000 new jobs emerged in the West last year. http://www.cwf.ca/V2/files/Currents-09-2print.pdf

The Importance of Social Infrastructure

In a new report from the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, author Sherri Torjman makes the case for investment in social infrastructure as a key element of Ottawa’s economic stimulus package. Torjman asserts that funding for social infrastructure can both create employment now and contribute to well-being over the long term. Social infrastructure includes such items as affordable housing, schools, libraries, recreation centres and museums that contribute immeasurably to community well-being but often get overlooked in the rush to pump billions of dollars into physical infrastructure such as roads, sewers and water systems.  http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/752ENG.pdf

Saskatchewan Prosperity

A new report released by the Fraser Institute states that Saskatchewan possesses an opportunity to build on its recent economic growth and develop a foundation for unprecedented prosperity and wealth creation in the province that would extend for years, if not decades. The study was written for Saskatchewanians to create an improved economic environment for lasting prosperity which can continue to attract human capital back to the province.

http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/product_files/SaskatchewanProsperity2009.pdf

Des médias et des gouvernements alarmistes

La crise économique actuelle est une crise de confiance, constate Marcel Boyer de l’Institut économique de Montréal.  Malgré une intervention musclée des banques centrales, la perte de confiance et la peur de la faillite se sont généralisées : les banques ont cherché à renflouer leurs réserves et à augmenter leurs capitaux propres, rendant plus difficiles conditions de crédit.  Parallèlement, trop de médias et de gouvernements sont devenus alarmistes et finissent par nourrir la perte de confiance, accélérant et amplifiant la crise. http://www.iedm.org/main/show_editorials_en.php?editorials_id=694

The Red-Ink Budget

The 2009 federal Budget’s four stated goals were: to support the economy; to support Canadian families and sectors most affected; to ensure maximum impact for Canadian jobs and output; and to protect Canada’s fiscal position by targeting new spending in the next two years. A new report from the Caledon Institute of Social Policy restates these aims to be more explicit and assesses how the Budget measures up in delivering on them. http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/750ENG.pdf

Foreign Policy

India Rising

As one of the fastest growing economies, India is a coveted market for many global players. A

coherent, coordinated ‘India strategy’ is necessary so that Canadian businesses can take advantage of this emerging economic powerhouse, says the Public Policy Forum. They explain how to achieve this in a new report. http://www.ppforum.ca/common/assets/publications/en/india_rising_for_web.pdf

Public Opinion

Majorities in Canada and the U.S. Support Greater Co-operation

A new four-year tracking study by Nanos Research and The State University of New York at Buffalo conducted between 2005 and 2008 shows that the Canada US relationship remains strong.  The double survey of over 1,000 Americans and 1,000 Canadians found both Americans and Canadians were in favour of closer cooperation on border security, anti-terrorism measures, and are overwhelmingly in agreement on an integrated energy policy that would eliminate dependence on the need for Middle East oil.

http://www.nanosresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-W09-T362.pdf

Canada Remains Americans’ Most Favored Nation
Canada enjoys the highest favorable rating of 19 nations rated by Americans in a recent Gallup Poll. Nine in 10 Americans view the U.S.’ neighbor to the north favorably, while only 6% view it unfavorably. Great Britain, another English-speaking ally of the United States, nearly matches Canada in its U.S. popularity, with an 89% favorable rating. Japan and Germany fall a notch lower, viewed favorably by about 8 in 10 Americans, followed by France, India, and Israel, all with positive ratings around 64%. This is the fourth straight year that Canada has topped the country rankings.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/115258/Canada-Remains-Americans-Favored-Nation.aspx

Energy and Environment

What Obama Means for Canadian Environmental Policy

In a new commentary, Philip Gass and John Drexhage of the International Institute for Sustainable Development consider how President Obama’s environmental policies might benefit Canada. http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2009/special_feature_enviro_policy.pdf

Automobile Politics

The University of Ottawa interviews Matthew Patterson on his book, Automobile Politics, in which Patterson analyzes our dependence on cars, and draws broader conclusions about climate change and global environmental governance. 

http://www.alumninews.uottawa.ca/fss/LandingPage.aspx?id=341941&lm=18346997&q=113166001&qz=cab2d52954e9184b0f0523d66a111ca8

Going Green for Less

Wind power, solar air and hot-water heating are the clear winners when it comes to the cost-effective use of taxpayers' money, according to a study released by the C.D. Howe Institute. Authors Roger A. Samson and Stephanie Bailey Stamler review the efficacy of the entire portfolio of federal and provincial renewable energy incentive programs - with respect to major liquid biofuels, renewable power, and renewable heat options - to determine their cost effectiveness in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs).  http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/commentary_282.pdf

Science and Technology

Mechanism Activating Weight-Loss Gene Discovered

Diet and exercise are both important in weight loss, but individual response to diet and exercise vary dramatically - something that has long perplexed medical professionals. Now, however, a University of Ottawa Heart Institute research team has unlocked the mechanism that turns on a weight-loss gene in muscle. This finding represents a major step forward in developing new treatments for chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, which are increased as a consequence of obesity. http://www.innovationcanada.ca/32/en/