Want More Innovation? Increase Pressure, Not Support

From: James MilwayTo: Productivity observersDate: March 12, 2026Re: Want More Innovation? Increase Pressure, Not Support Canada’s policymakers are concerned about our poor economic productivity and innovation performance. The two are the highly linked – productivity improvement (more value added per hour worked) comes from innovation in process or product. But what drives innovation and hence […]

The Missing Pillar of Canada’s AI Strategy: Data Supply Chains

Canada has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) talent, research, and computing infrastructure, but an important foundation for its innovation remains underdeveloped: strong, secure, and trusted data supply chains. Without clearer rules and institutions to support responsible data sharing, Canada risks constraining AI innovation and falling behind global competitors

Data Supply Chains Are a Missing Link in Canada’s AI Strategy

February 12, 2026 – Canada has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) talent, research, and computing infrastructure, but an important foundation for its innovation remains underdeveloped: strong, secure, and trusted data supply chains. Without clearer rules and institutions to support responsible data sharing, Canada risks constraining AI innovation and falling behind global competitors, […]

Creative Destruction and Canada’s Strategic Imperative: Openness Over Isolation

From: Peter HowittTo: Concerned CanadiansRe: Creative Destruction and Canada’s Strategic Imperative: Openness Over Isolation Artificial intelligence, rising protectionism, and uncertainty in Canada’s most important bilateral relationship have converged to test the country’s resilience. While some interpret these developments as a call for renewed self‑sufficiency, a more historically grounded reading suggests the opposite. Periods of rapid […]

The Gap Between Canadian R&D and IP Ownership

Trade Balance in R&D Services and Intellectual Property Income, as a Percentage of GDP, Selected Countries, 2024Canada exports more research and development (R&D) services than it buys from abroad, while paying significantly more than it receives for the use of intellectual property (IP) (e.g., royalties or copyrights) derived from R&D. In contrast, the UK or US both export research services and receive net payments for the use of their IP abroad, […]

Canada’s AI Coordination Gap: Federal Levers Needed to Prevent Market Fragmentation

From: Harvey NaglieTo: Innovation observers Date: January 16, 2026Re: Canada’s AI Coordination Gap: Federal Levers Needed to Prevent Market Fragmentation A key challenge for Canada’s artificial intelligence policy is avoiding jurisdictional fragmentation. As provinces, agencies, and regulators develop procurement rules, public-sector AI requirements, and privacy expectations on separate tracks, Canadian firms – particularly smaller ones […]

The Timidity Danger in AI Regulation

From: Daniel SchwanenTo: Artificial Intelligence watchersDate: December 17, 2025Re: The Timidity Danger in AI Regulation Ottawa’s forthcoming AI strategy needs to walk a tightrope between two equally important principles: Safeguarding Canadians from possible misuses of AI but also giving our private and academic sectors the leeway to use Canada’s AI strengths to develop and commercialize new technologies and products. […]

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