Making Canada an innovation powerhouse

By Amit Chakma. Contrary to some of the predictable commentary before and after the latest federal budget was brought down earlier this month, it was hardly a “do-nothing” plan. Indeed, only after the initial coverage had faded did it become clear that Budget 2014 had taken some very important steps that were overlooked at the time: Canada is finally getting serious about innovation.
With its $1.5-billion commitment to establish a Canada First Research Excellence Fund, the government — and university leaders who advocated for it — is signaling that our country’s brightest minds will be more strongly supported to excel at knowledge creation. More...