Canada-U.S.
“Buy America” Deal Is Success for Canadian Trade
Canada and the Obama administration have just completed their first negotiated deal on cross-border trade and it is a much-needed success in a relationship that has been very positive in words but short on deeds, asserts Alexander Moens of the Fraser Institute. He explains how this is just the beginning of what can be accomplished bi-laterally. Read

Border Barometer
An analysis by Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute and University at Buffalo’s Regional Institute of economic activity along the U.S.-Canadian border likely reflects the impact of economic recession and tighter border controls, as the value of trade between the two nations dropped 9 percent in 2008 and auto and truck traffic declined nearly 5 percent. The report also provides a snapshot of economic activity for eight ports of entry. Read

Foreign Affairs
The Future of Nuclear Energy
The Centre for International Governance Innovation released its study on Nuclear Energy to 2030. Preceding the May 2010 G8 summit hosted by Canada, the project focuses on nuclear proliferation with a mandate to strengthen global governance in the nuclear field. Read

Economy
Employment Gains among Women and Youth
Employment gains in January were driven in part by young people, according to Statistics Canada. Employment for individuals ages 15 to 24 increased by 29,000, pushing the unemployment rate down nearly one percentage point to 15.1%. This is the first notable employment gain among youth since the beginning of the downturn in fall 2008. Read

Trade Variety and Productivity in Canada
A new Asia Pacific Foundation report examines how trade variety affects productivity. Utilizing this new model, author Bo Chen argues that economists are able to examine two effects: the input variety effect and output variety effect. A diversity in product is of great benefit to Canadian producers in the global market. Read

Competition in the Canadian Debit Card Market
VISA and Mastercard are entering the Canadian Debit market, a move that could potentially damage the current Debit system in Canada, claims the C.D. Howe Institute. Philippe Bergevin investigates this issue and makes recommendations for government action to ensure that consumers and merchants are protected well served. Read

Energy/Environment
Alberta Energy Efficient Act
The Pembina Institute has published a paper describing Alberta’s Energy Efficient Act. The paper summarizes the importance of energy efficiency, identifies how other jurisdictions have used legislation to improve energy efficiency and offers a wide range of possible options for future energy efficiency legislation in Alberta. Read

The Role of Relationships in Arctic Research and Policy
Noorjehan Johnson, a Vanier scholar in Anthropology at McGill University discusses the role of the researcher in Inuit communities, in an article for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Johnson believes research, climate change and politics have intertwined to renegotiate and redefine relationships in the Arctic. Read

Public Policy
Providing Pharmacare for an Aging Population
A prefunded plan where Canadians contribute to a dedicated fund during their working years to pay for their prescription drugs when they reach 65 would help protect public health care, according to the new Institute for Research on Public Policy study. The study’s authors propose making this program mandatory, but acknowledge that prefunding is not without its challenges. Read

Assessing High School Performance
The Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) has released its annual Report Card for Western Canadian schools. The AIMS Report Card on High Schools is a comprehensive assessment of school performance based on attendance and student participation in university preparatory courses. Read

News from Canadian Universities
University of Saskatchewan Professors Participate in Developing New Oilseed Crop
Two University of Saskatchewan professors are participating in a research project that aims to unlock the potential of Canada’s next oilseed crop. Possible benefits of the plant include a replacement feed for the aquaculture industry, an alternative biofuel for jets, a source of Omega 3s for the nutraceutical industry and a viable cash crop for Canada’s agricultural and seed crushing industry. Read