GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Toronto-to-Quebec City high-speed rail link would cost billions of dollars but have multibillion-dollar benefits  

The Government of Canada selected the Cadence group to design a 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail link running from Quebec City to Toronto that’s expected to cost between $60 billion and $90 billion.

But the start of construction is still at least five years off and depends on support from a future government.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the project will boost economic growth and support Canada’s steel, aluminum and copper industries at a time when Canadian resource sectors are facing tariff threats from the United States.

He said the line will allow trains to reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres an hour and dramatically improve travel times between major centres in Quebec and Ontario.

The Cadence group includes CDPQ Infra, the infrastructure division of Quebec’s pension fund; AtkinsRéalis (the new name for SNC-Lavalin); Air Canada; Keolis; SYSTRA; and SNCF Voyageurs, a major French provider of high-speed rail services in Europe. A contract with Cadence has yet to be signed.

The federal government’s announcement of $3.9 billion for a five-year planning phase – in addition to $371.8 million in Budget 2024 – is the latest step in a long-running debate over whether to proceed with high-speed rail in Canada.

Via Rail has been proposing a similar high-speed rail corridor since as far back as 1984 and the Trudeau government has been studying Via’s originally more modest high-frequency rail plan since 2016.

The cumulative economic benefits over 60 years of a new dedicated passenger rail link in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor are estimated to be $11 billion to $17 billion for a conventional rail link, according to a study by the C.D. Howe Institute.

These benefits increase to $15 billion to $27 billion with a high-speed rail link, the study says.

The study isn’t a full cost-benefit analysis and its analysis is subject to a range of assumptions, particularly passenger forecasts.

User benefits – stemming from time savings, increased reliability and satisfaction with punctuality – are the largest component, with an estimated value of $3.1 billion to $9.2 billion.

Economic benefits from agglomeration effects (leading to higher GDP) are estimated at $2.6 billion to $3.9 billion, while environmental benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions are estimated at $2.6 billion to $7.1 billion.

Additional benefits include reduced road congestion, valued between $2 billion and $5.9 billion, and enhanced road safety, which adds an estimated $0.3 billion to $0.8 billion.

Clearly, there is a cost to investment in a new dedicated passenger rail service: upfront capital investment, ongoing operations and maintenance expenditure and any financing costs, the study says.

These costs weren’t assessed in this study and will need to be considered carefully by policymakers.

However, inaction – by continuing with the status quo rail infrastructure – also has a significant opportunity cost, the study notes. Canada would forgo billions of dollars’ worth of economic advantage if it fails to deal with current challenges, including congestion on the rail and road networks, stifled productivity and environmental concerns.

“Overall, the findings in this study demonstrate and underscore the substantial economic benefits of rail investment in the Toronto-Québec City corridor, and the transformative potential impact on the Toronto-Québec City region from economic growth and sustainable development,” the study says. Prime Minister’s Office, C.D. Howe Institute

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Finance Canada priced its third new issuance of Canadian dollar-denominated green bonds. This $2-billion issuance of a seven-year bond is part of a commitment to regular green bond issuances. This issuance is the fourth offering of Canadian dollar-denominated green bonds following the prior issuances of a 10-year, $4-billion green bond in February 2024, which was reopened in October 2024 for an additional $2 billion, and Canada’s first 7.5-year, $5-billion green bond in March 2022. This new issuance is the third offering under Canada’s updated Green Bond Framework, which allows for certain nuclear energy expenditures to be eligible for green bond proceeds. Canada is the first sovereign borrower to issue a green bond including certain nuclear expenditures, “demonstrating Canada’s commitment to being a global leader in clean nuclear power,” Finance Canada said. The issuance saw demand from environmentally and socially responsible investors who represented a majority of buyers (57 percent). The final order book stood at over $3.1 billion. Finance Canada

 Intergovernmental Affairs announced the upcoming removal of an additional 20 federal exceptions in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), reducing the number of federal exceptions from 39 to 19. The majority of exceptions removed relate to government procurement, providing Canadian businesses greater opportunity to compete across the country. In July 2024, the Government of Canada announced the removal or narrowing of 17 of its CFTA exceptions. Together, these successive reviews represent the removal of 64 percent of the federal exceptions in the agreement since it launched in 2017. “The removal of these barriers comes at a critical time, as Canada positions our domestic economy to respond to the threat of tariffs from the United States,” Ottawa said. Eliminating barriers to internal trade will reduce business costs, increase productivity and potentially add up to $200 billion to the Canadian economy, the government said. Intergovernmental Affairs

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) announced an investment of over $75 million through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund to support eight projects across all regions of Canada. These projects will provide training opportunities for more than 10,000 Canadian workers, helping them gain the expertise needed for jobs in electric vehicle maintenance, green buildings and retrofits, low-carbon energy and carbon management. Steven MacKinnon, minister of ESDC, made the announcement while visiting Mississauga-based Achēv, an organization dedicated to workforce development and skills training. Through its work, Achēv helps to ensure that workers across Canada can access the training they need to succeed in the evolving job market, including electric vehicle repair and maintenance. ESDC

The Government of Alberta is investing $55 million from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction program to help industries, big and small, test and implement technologies. Delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), this funding will help 15 projects develop cutting-edge technologies that could one day be used across Canada and around the world. The funding will support projects across the economy, including the energy, newsprint, cement, water treatment, dairy and forestry sectors. In total, $46 million will go to 12 projects through ERA’s Industrial Transformation Challenge, with an additional $8.7 million invested in three projects approved through the Partnership Intake Program. Funding ranges from $500,000 to $10 million for each project, including:

• $10 million to help Alberta Newsprint Company make best-in-class energy efficiency upgrades that will reduce costs and improve the mill's competitiveness.
• $8.4 million to help Dairy Innovation West advance a new approach for developing concentrated milk products that can be transported with less energy and further processed into other dairy products, increasing the province’s milk-processing capacity.
• $7.45 million to help the City of Calgary install a first-in-Alberta and second-in-Canada technology to use thermal energy at the Fish Creek wastewater treatment plant.
• $4 million to help Lafarge Canada explore using calcined clay in cement products, lowering the overall emission intensity of cement while maintaining strength.
• $3.7 million to help Flash Forest Inc. advance a proof-of-concept that uses drones, AI-based site selection software and ecological science to speed up and improve tree planting and reforestation. 
• $2 million to help Merlin Plastics develop a commercial-scale operation that will divert hard-to-recycle plastics from landfills or incineration.
• $700,000 to help TS-Nano Canada test a new product that will more effectively seal oil and gas wells, reducing potential methane leaks and reducing operational costs. Govt. of Alberta

The Government of Canada and the Government of Québec announced $35.3 million, part of which is funded under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to support producers who adopt more sustainable farming practices. This new investment makes it possible to launch the fourth enrolment period of the Rétribution agroenvironnementale (Rewarding of Agri-Environmental Practices) and up to 1,200 new farm businesses will be eligible for support under the initiative. The total direct aid to businesses as part of this flagship measure of the Plan d’agriculture durable (Sustainable Agriculture Plan) 2020-2030 will reach $122 million. To date, the assistance offered to businesses has made it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and the use of pesticides by more than 200,000 kilograms. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) announced nearly $19 million of investments to support 10 construction and homebuilding manufacturers: Assembly Corp., CABN, Diamond Manufacturing, Innovatools Inc., Inter Build Limited, MetaLigna Modular Inc., New Earth Solutions Inc., Northland Paving, Trusscore Inc. and UCEL Inc. Trusscore, for example, is receiving nearly $3 million to automate its extrusion process and commercialize a new digital paint product for its PVC wall and ceiling boards, which are alternatives to drywall. By expanding production capabilities and adopting new equipment, these manufacturers are improving productivity to create innovative solutions to build more homes for Canadians, FedDev Ontario said. FedDev Ontario

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) announced over $16 million for six life sciences organizations: McRae Imaging Inc., Nanz Pharma, OBIO, Synaptive Medical, Traferox Technologies Inc., and Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP). As part of this funding, TIAP received $3.5 million to work with academic and research institutions to create, grow and scale life sciences ventures. TIAP will support 50 health sciences businesses by providing them with the resources to succeed, speed up the commercialization of their solutions and attract funding for continued growth, all while strengthening their presence across southern Ontario. FedDev Ontario

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) announced over $10 million for seven manufacturers in southern Ontario’s electric vehicle supply chain. The funding will boost Canadian production capabilities, upgrade equipment to improve efficiency and competitiveness and support local supply chains. These companies include: Enedym Inc., Forest City Castings Inc., Palcam Technologies Ltd., Process Research Ortech Inc., Proventus Global, Sinteris Canada and SWTCH Energy Inc. With this funding, these companies will make it easier to integrate EV charging stations for businesses and homes, increase parts production and strengthen southern Ontario’s position in the EV manufacturing sector. FedDev Ontario

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) announced a total of $8.1 million in investments for Distriq ‒ Quantum Innovation Zone Sherbrooke; the Quebec Digital and Quantum Innovation Platform (PINQ²); the Accélérateur de création d’entreprises technologiques (ACET); and Nord Quantique. The aim of these CED financial contributions is to support SMEs and non-profit organizations in adopting, developing and commercializing quantum technologies and products based on these technologies. Funding recipients are:

• Distriq is receiving a non‍-‍repayable contribution of $5.2 million to acquire state-of-the-art equipment for DevTeQ, the shared laboratory situated in Espace Quantique 1, making equipment available to businesses to develop quantum technologies.
• Nord Quantique is receiving a repayable contribution of $1.8 million to establish an assembly laboratory to manufacture quantum computers.
• PINQ² is receiving a non‍-‍repayable contribution of $250,000 (for one year) and Distriq a non‍-‍repayable contribution of $500,000 (for two years) to support the Québec Quantique initiative.
• ACET is receiving a non‍-‍repayable contribution of $435,000 to strengthen its ability to support the creation and launch of businesses that develop, enable or adopt quantum technologies. CED

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) announced federal investments totalling over $4 million for five local food initiatives in the Northwest Territories. This funding will help communities, organizations and businesses enhance infrastructure to produce, harvest, process and distribute local and country foods. This includes projects like production facilities and country food processing plants, ensuring greater access to food for communities and the entire territory. Through this investment, the Government of Canada is supporting food security in the Northwest Territories and fostering a food sector built on local resources and innovation. CanNor

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) celebrated the launch of the $5-billion Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program while announcing an additional $6.2-million investment in seven Indigenous-led energy and forestry projects in British Columbia through the Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) program. The Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation was launched in December and is open for business, supporting Indigenous groups in benefiting from the economic opportunities of natural resource development. The INRP program is helping Indigenous communities across Canada to secure economic opportunities from projects and become equal partners in the resource economy. With the new investments, for example, Fort Nelson First Nation in northern B.C., is developing the Tu Deh-Kah project, a 100-percent Indigenous-owned project that will be the first geothermal facility in the province and among the first in Canada. It will power 10,000 homes and create economic opportunity for the community. NRCan

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) announced over $3.6 million in funding for six projects in Quebec under NRCan’s Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) and the Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) Program. These projects aim to support regions and sectors in Quebec and across Canada in adapting to a changing climate by developing future climate scenarios, adaptation tools and resources, knowledge sharing networks and integrated adaptation plans and actions. The funding comes from a total investment of $39.5 million, announced on November 14, 2024, through the CCAP and the CRCC Program to reduce climate change risks and build more resilient communities across the country in support of the National Adaptation Strategy. NRCan

The Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) announced $3.4 million for Kingston Economic Development Corporation to put in place the supports and critical assets life sciences companies need as they commercialize and scale up. The organization will offer the Kingston Life Sciences and Helix Funding initiatives, as well as establish a new wet lab space at Providence Care Hospital. This project is expected to support over 100 businesses. Funding of nearly $400,000 was announced for le Centre de services à l’emploi de Prescott-Russell Inc. in Hawkesbury to expand its services for SMEs in the region. The project will support up to 150 SMEs to attract and retain newcomer Francophone or bilingual workers to support their business growth. FedDev Ontario

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) announced an investment of just over $3 million through the Community Futures Program for 10 Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) in New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Association of CBDCs. This funding will enable the CBDCs to offer essential financial assistance, specialized training, expert guidance and customized local initiatives to the rural businesses, organizations and communities they support. This investment is part of the $12.6 million allocated by the Government of Canada, through ACOA, to support the 41 CBDCs in Atlantic Canada under the Community Futures Program. ACOA

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) announced 12 more non-profit organizations selected to receive a total of $2.8 million in funding through the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program Ecosystem Fund:

• Chambre de commerce LGBT du Québec, in partnership with Réseau Mentorat, Quebec.

• LOUD Business, British Columbia.

• Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce, Manitoba.

• Northern Mosaic Network, Northwest Territories.

• Ontario Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Ontario.

• Pride PEI, in partnership with Music PEI, Prince Edward Island.

• Quadrangle NL, Newfoundland and Labrador.

• Small Economy Works, Nunavut.

• Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon, in partnership with Yukonstruct and Inclusion Yukon, Yukon

• Tribe Network, in partnership with UPlift Black, Atlantic Canada.

• True Wealth Society, in partnership with Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, Ontario.

• UPlift Black, Ontario.

This investment builds on the success of the 17 organizations previously announced to deliver the Ecosystem Fund, which aims to create a more equitable and thriving network for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs across Canada. The 2SLGBTQI+ Ecosystem Fund is an $8-million program designed to strengthen resources and supports for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs. There are more than 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned and -operated businesses in Canada. They generate over $22 billion in economic activity and employ over 435,000 Canadians. ISED

 The Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island released The Prince Edward Island Regional Energy and Resource Table Framework for Collaboration on the Path to Net Zero. This collaboration framework outlines actionable opportunities to reduce pollution through cost-effective solutions, focused on three key areas:

• Clean Electricity and Energy Storage– Scaling up renewable energy production and storage to meet the province’s growing demand for clean energy.
• Clean Fuels – Accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to affordably power homes, businesses and industries.
• Clean Technology Innovation– Expanding innovation in technologies that support the transition to a livable future for everyone.

The announcement was supported by an additional $2.7 million in federal investments for clean energy and energy efficiency projects in the province including:

• $1.8 million for the Na'ku'set Park Capacity Building Project.
• $300,000 for the Maritime Electric Mainland Transmission Connection Study.
• $307,000 for the Holland College Energy Management Project.
• $285,000 for P.E.I.’s Home Energy Labelling Project. Natural Resources Canada

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) announced just over $2.32 million to support two Quebec businesses:

• $1.75 million for Soudure Marc Marine(Réparations Marines Marc Inc.), a business specializing in the manufacture of metal structures and metalwork, for a project to expand its facilities and acquire equipment.
• $570,000 for the Chambre de commerce de Gatineau to enableExport Outaouais to pursue its mandate to offer mentoring services to Outaouais region businesses on diversifying export markets. CED

Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) announced over $1.1 million for two projects on Vancouver Island that will support sustainable aquaculture practices and boost the competitiveness of B.C.’s seaweed and shellfish producers. PacifiCan is providing $881,600 to North Island College to establish a Seaweed Innovation Hub (SIH), to advance B.C.’s sustainable seaweed industry. Funding will help the SIH create a seaweed seed bank, secure a mobile processing unit, test new seaweed dehydration and food processing technologies, and help small-scale producers improve operations and adopt innovations. PacifiCan is also providing $250,000 to the B.C. Shellfish Growers’ Association, a non-profit representing shellfish industry stakeholders. This funding will support the Industry Modernization of Practices, Accountability, and Communications Program, which helps small-scale shellfish producers modernize operations with advanced technologies, boost productivity, promote environmental stewardship and expand further into global markets. PacifiCan

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) announced a Government of Canada investment of $855,000 for the PEI IT Alliance’s The Foundry innovation hub in downtown Charlottetown. The funding will support the delivery of essential programming and mentorship services to advance the province’s tech industry. The Foundry will provide state-of-the-art facilities and resources to its members, as well as workshops and networking opportunities to connect entrepreneurs with industry leaders, investors and potential partners. The Government of Prince Edward Island, through Innovation PEI, is also supporting the project with $712,500 over 19 months. ACOA

Finance Canada released for public comment draft legislative proposals (and related explanatory notes) that would implement Budget 2024’s Electric Vehicle Supply Chain investment tax credit. Budget 2024 announced a refundable EV supply chain investment tax credit equal to 10 percent of the capital cost of eligible building property used in qualifying electric vehicle supply chain segments. The details of the credit were announced in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. The government invites all interested Canadians and stakeholders to email their comments to consultation-legislation@fin.gc.ca by March 14, 2025. Finance Canada

RESEARCH, TECH NEWS & COLLABORATION    

Several Canadian postsecondary institutions appeared in Times Higher Education’s World Reputation Rankings 2025. These rankings assess the academic reputation of institutions from around the world. This year, the assessment used a revamped methodology that included an academic opinion survey of more than 55,000 scholars, as well as new comparison and voter diversity measures. Four Canadian postsecondary institutions appeared in the top 100: University of Toronto (#21), University of British Columbia (#34), McGill University (#44), and University of Waterloo (#97). Harvard University remained #1 for the 14^th consecutive year. Times Higher Education

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) announced the publication of the Decision on a Policy, Licensing and Technical Framework for Supplemental Mobile Coverage by Satellite. The new spectrum policy prohibits providers from interfering with each other’s signals and specifies that satellite coverage will not count toward requirements that cellphone companies deliver land-based service or risk losing their spectrum rights. The policy is a first step to enabling service providers to offer expanded wireless services via satellites. This technology represents an opportunity to secure reliable and resilient wireless services across the country, with most of the benefit in typically unserved or underserved areas. While it is still in its early stages and subject to limitations, this new capability is expected to improve over time with technological development and as more satellites are launched. ISED said this new policy is about laying the foundation so Canada can maximize the benefits of this technology for Canadians as it becomes available, such as:

• expanded wireless services, particularly in unserved and underserved areas, including rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
• improved access to emergency services and 9-1-1.
• increased reliability and resiliency of telecommunications services.
• increased investment in wireless networks, in their evolution and in the expansion of services. ISED

The Government of Canada is going to court to force a Toronto company to sell a $34-million stake in a Calgary-based lithium firm that it bought from a Chinese company. The government had already deemed the previous Chinese owner's investment in Lithium Chile Inc. to be harmful to national security. The Attorney General of Canada’s application to the Federal Court says the new buyer has failed to cooperate with efforts to prove it isn't owned or influenced by China's government. The court application says lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries and clean power, is at the heart of Canada's "energy security in the transition to a low-carbon economy." The government is asking for a court order directing Gator Capital Ltd. to dispose of its shares in Lithium Chile, headquartered in Calgary with mining properties in Argentina and Chile. The government claims that Gator's owner, Wing Hong Chan, has not replied to any demands for information after Gator paid $34 million for the 20-percent stake in Lithium Chile. The application says Gator "has no known corporate presence or business at its registered corporate address or elsewhere in Canada." Gator is described as a Toronto-based investment consulting and management company, yet the court application says its only apparent physical presence in Canada is a rented mailbox. Gator had bought the Lithium Chile stake from Chengze Lithium International Ltd. after Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne ordered the Chinese firm to divest in November 2022, citing national security concerns. CBC News

The Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission did not meaningfully consult and receive the free, prior and informed consent of the Kebaowek First Nation to a proposed Ontario nuclear waste facility, a federal judge ruled. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is the private consortium that manages the nuclear research facility in Chalk River, Ont. CNL has proposed building an engineered mound, or “near-surface disposal facility” to permanently store “low-level” radioactive nuclear waste at its Chalk River site near the Ottawa River. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Canada’s nuclear regulator, approved the project in January 2024. The decision is the first case that challenges the United Nations Declaration Act, or UNDA, which in 2021 made the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) part of Canadian law. In her decision, Judge Julie Blackhawk ruled that the CNL and the CNSC must renew the consultation process with Kebaowek. However, the judge found it was reasonable for the CNSC to conclude the project is unlikely to cause significant environmental harm, contrary to Kebaowek's argument. Kebaowek also has two outstanding legal challenges against the project: the first concerns the federal Species at Risk Act and the second is another judicial review. CBC News

The Government of Nova Scotia has introduced legislation to lift blanket bans on hydraulic fracturing used to access natural gas deposits and on consideration of uranium mining. An Act Respecting Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources is an omnibus bill that includes:

• amending the Petroleum Resources Act to create the potential for hydraulic fracturing to access onshore natural gas. Any hydraulic fracturing activity would be subject to strict regulations to minimize any environmental threat, the government said.
• repealing the Uranium Exploration and Mining Prohibition Act to allow research about uranium’s presence and distribution in the province. This repeal allows government research only. All industry activity regarding uranium will continue to be prohibited through an existing ministerial order that will remain in place under the Mineral Resources Act.

“The world is demanding critical minerals and other natural resources in the transition to net zero by 2050. Nova Scotia can be a safe, responsible and ethical source of those materials and we need to remove barriers to explore all our options,” Tory Rushton, natural resources minister, said in a statement. Govt. of Nova Scotia

The Government of British Columbia has formed a new premier’s task force on agriculture and food economy, to ensure B.C.’s food supply and food economy continue to grow in the face of U.S. tariff uncertainty. The new task force is a result of ongoing conversations with industry and allows government to work closely with B.C.’s agriculture and food sector to increase the growth and competitiveness of B.C. products. Members will also recommend how to ensure people in B.C. have continued access to healthy and affordable food, no matter what happens with U.S. tariffs or a trade war. The task force’s work will be guided by diverse, knowledgeable and successful leaders, including primary producers from the province’s farming sector, as well as seafood harvesters, food and beverage processors, distributors and retailers. The task force will have 15 representatives from across the agriculture and food sectors. It will be co-chaired by leadership from the BC Agriculture Council, which advocates on behalf of 29 member associations, and BC Food and Beverage, which represents a diverse range of processors throughout the province, along with the deputy minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Govt. of B.C.

An open letter by Canadian tech founders, executives, entrepreneurs, investors and others is calling for continued protection of equity, inclusion and collective responsibility in Canada’s tech ecosystem. Influential tech companies in Canada have already started rolling back protections and support for women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Black and Indigenous communities, immigrants, and other marginalized groups, the letter states. “We will not allow business leaders, many of whom are unelected, unknown, and unaccountable, to dictate the future of this country. Businesses should not run the government. The government should not be beholden to business interests that prioritize profit over people.” If Canadians abandon the values of equity, inclusion and collective responsibility, “we risk losing everything that makes Canada a place where innovation thrives – not just for a select few, but for everyone,” the letter states. “And we risk handing even more power to a small, homogenous group of business leaders who would strip away jobs and equality in pursuit of profit,” it adds. “The future of our industry – and our country – depends on defending what makes us different. We must reject efforts to erase diversity, dismantle inclusion, and undermine equity. We must not tolerate, platform, or profit from hate.” The more than 350 signatories to the letter include Arlene Dickinson, managing general partner at District Ventures Capital; Kayla Isabelle, CEO of Startup Canada; Nancy Wilson, founder and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce; and Amber Mac, co-host of the radio show and podcast #TheFeed on SiriusXM. What in the Tech?

A team of 15 Canadian scientists is scheduled to board HMCS Margaret Brooke on February 23 for a groundbreaking Antarctic research mission. At the same time, Polar Knowledge Canada is strengthening international collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Instituto Antártico Chileno in Chile for collaboration in polar science, as well as renewing the membership of the Canadian Committee for Antarctic Research. The MOU establishes a framework for cooperation for polar scientific and technological research and logistical support over the next decade, leading up to the next International Polar Year 2032-33. The Canadian team is setting off from Punta Arenas, Chile for a month-long voyage to Antarctica as part of Operation PROJECTION 2025-01. The team will conduct research in the South Shetland Islands and the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. These open-water and coastal environments, which share similarities with the Arctic, provide a unique chance to study climate change, glacial retreat, distribution of species, ocean currents and pollution like mercury and microplastics. The team includes researchers from Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and five Canadian universities. The science program for the voyage was developed through a collaborative effort between the federal government’s science-based departments and the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR), a national academic network supported by the Strategic Science Fund. Polar Knowledge Canada

Former Toronto Raptors power forward Pascal Siakam and tech incubator DMZ, the Toronto Metropolitan University’s tech accelerator, have teamed up to launch an edtech accelerator. Siakam’s foundation, PS43, officially unveiled a new accelerator program, the Siakam EdTech Engine powered by DMZ, to propel early-stage tech startups from across Canada and the U.S. dedicated to transforming K-12 education. The program will support six selected startups with access to DMZ’s world-class programming, coaching, dedicated support from a Google for Startups mentor and Google-led workshops. Participants will also benefit from direct collaboration opportunities with educators and school boards through PS43’s extensive network, ensuring they receive the guidance and industry connections needed to scale their impact. Applications for the Siakam EdTech Engine are now open and will be accepted until March 11, 2025. DMZ

Inuvialuit Energy Security Project Ltd. and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) announced the financial close on a $100-million loan towards a community-driven solution to enhance energy security and reliability in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). The $293-million Inuvialuit-led M-18 well-development project involves the construction of a new plant to produce natural gas and synthetic diesel to secure a supply of fuel for energy, heating and transportation for local use. The project will reduce reliance on transporting liquefied natural gas and synthetic diesel from southern regions, thereby enhancing local energy security, reducing transportation emissions and providing economic benefits for the ISR. Key details include:

• Energy supply: The well will provide a stable supply of natural gas and synthetic diesel to meet the energy needs of the ISR for over 50 years, based on current consumption rates.
• Cost savings: The project is anticipated to reduce energy costs for households and businesses in the ISR, which will improve living conditions and support community growth.
• Employment and economic opportunities: The development will create long-term job opportunities and economic growth for the Inuvialuit and their businesses.
• Environmental impact: The project is expected to reduce up to 40,000 tonnes of emissions annually and has been developed in a way that respects the northern environment and its inhabitants.

The project, with a total budget of $293 million, will take two years to build and be managed and operated in accordance with the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and relevant territorial and federal regulations concerning technical, environmental and safety standards. Canada Infrastructure Bank

Vancouver-founded and now California-based D-Wave Quantum Inc. and Calgary-based Staque announced that they have built a commercial hybrid-quantum application that simulates and optimizes movements of autonomous agriculture vehicles at scale. The new application marks one of the world’s first examples of a customer-facing, real-world product powered by quantum computing for optimization in agriculture, the companies said. They expect the application to accelerate autonomy in agriculture and streamline agricultural operations for thousands of fields in real time. D-Wave develops quantum computing systems, software and services. Staque is a consulting and development practice in AI, blockchain and quantum computing. The companies will showcase the technology at World Fira 2025, the global event for agricultural robots in action, as well as at Qubits 2025, D-Wave’s annual user conference. BusinessWire

Calgary-based SageMaster AI is offering a digital platform to reduce friction and boost efficiency when it comes to searching for jobs. The startup was launched by engineer Neji Tawo, who previously worked on AI innovation built around Amazon’s Alexa product. Tawo said he was “literally homeless” following a pivot from Amazon that put Alexa innovators out of work. Initially, he began working on an AI-powered legal tool but struggled to scale the product. From there, he honed in on the jobs market, which he considered ripe for disruption. “The platform analyzes your resume, finds job opportunities that match your experience, and even highlights the skills you need to improve,” Tawo said. Beyond merely analyzing existing resumes, SageMaster will even craft one for you from scratch. Calgary.tech

Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) has paused the two main projects related to its proposed multibillion-dollar Integrated Agriculture Complex in Regina. Due to regulatory and political uncertainty, potential shifts in low-carbon public policy and escalating costs, FCL's proposed renewable diesel facility and joint venture canola crush projects, as originally conceived, are paused for the foreseeable future, FCL said. FCL and joint venture partner AGT Foods paused their proposed canola crush facility, which would have supplied feedstock to FCL’s wholly-owned renewable diesel facility to produce 15,000 barrels a day. While two major projects have been paused, FCL continues to pursue pathways to compliance with the federal government’s Clean Fuel Regulations. FCL is investing in carbon capture projects at the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) and Co-op Ethanol Complex, with plans involving co-processing and blending of renewable fuels at CRC. FCL

Fiat-Chrysler parent company Stellantis announced it’s freezing all activity at its Brampton Assembly Plant, effective immediately, to re-evaluate its strategy for the launch of the next-generation Jeep Compass. The industrial plant is currently idle and had been undergoing a $1.3-billion retooling to produce the Compass in gas, hybrid and fully electric versions. The move will drag out uncertainty for over 2,200 auto workers, many of whom expected to return to work this year after the completion of retooling that shut down the plant in early 2024. “As we navigate today’s dynamic environment, Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy in North America to ensure it is offering customers a range of vehicles with flexible powertrain options to best meet their needs,” Lou Ann Gosselin, Stellantis’s head of communications-Canada, said in an email to the Windsor Star. “As a result, the company is temporarily pausing work on the next generation Jeep Compass, including activities at the Brampton Assembly Plant.” Gosselin said the “temporary” pause and market re-evaluation will have no impact on operations at the Windsor Assembly Plant. Windsor Star

Phoenix, Arizona-based Nikola Corp. filed for bankruptcy. The company plans to liquidate its assets after entering Chapter 11 in Delaware on Wednesday. In court documents, it listed assets of between $500 million and $1 billion, and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion. The filing caps a struggle by the maker of electric and hydrogen-powered semi-trucks to get a handle on dwindling cash, slow sales and a collapsing stock price. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Nikola was exploring a possible bankruptcy filing as the company acknowledged it was “relentlessly working to raise capital.” The company has been on a tumultuous journey since it went public in 2020 through a deal with a special purpose acquisition company, with its stock surging in its early days. Shortly after, Bloomberg News reported that founder Trevor Milton had overstated the capability of Nikola’s debut truck. These allegations, coupled with a subsequent short-seller campaign targeting the company, led to Milton’s ouster and later conviction on fraud charges. In recent years, the company has endured cash-flow issues, slow demand and executive turnover. Nikola’s market value peaked at $29 billion in the days after it began trading but had fallen to less than $100 million before the bankruptcy filing. BNN Bloomberg

Microsoft announced a new quantum chip that the company expects will lead to quantum computers capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, not decades. Called Majorana 1, the chip leverages the world’s first “topoconductor,” a “transistor for the quantum age” that can observe and control Majorana particles to produce more reliable and scalable qubits, which are the building blocks for quantum computers, Microsoft said. Majorana particles are a new type of matter that doesn’t exist in nature and can only be coaxed into existence with magnetic fields and superconductors. In the same way that the invention of semiconductors made today’s smartphones, computers and electronics possible, topoconductors and the new type of chip they enable offer a path to developing quantum systems that can scale to a million qubits and are capable of tackling the most complex industrial and societal problems, the company said. The new architecture used to develop the Majorana 1 processor offers “a clear path to fit a million qubits on a single chip that can fit in the palm of one’s hand,” Microsoft said. This is a needed threshold for quantum computers to deliver transformative, real-world solutions – such as breaking down microplastics into harmless byproducts or inventing self-healing materials for construction, manufacturing or healthcare. Microsoft scientists published a paper on their work in Nature. Microsoft

Meta is planning to build a US$10-billion, 50,000-kilometre subsea internet cable reaching five major continents and using the highest-capacity technology available. Called “Project Waterworth,” the project will bring industry-leading connectivity to the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa and other key regions, Meta said. “This project will enable greater economic cooperation, facilitate digital inclusion and open opportunities for technological development in these regions.” Subsea cable projects are the backbone of global digital infrastructure, accounting for more than 95 percent of intercontinental traffic across the world’s oceans to seamlessly enable digital communication, video experiences, online transactions and more. Meta said Project Waterworth will be a multi-billion dollar, multi-year investment to strengthen the scale and reliability of the world’s digital highways by opening three new oceanic corridors with the abundant, high-speed connectivity needed to drive AI innovation around the world. Meta and its partners have developed more than 20 subsea cables over the past decade. Engineering at Meta

Cuts hit the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the latest in a string of terminations at top U.S. science agencies that conduct or support climate research. Fears are growing within the scientific community that arbitrary firings of government scientists will set back U.S. leadership in multiple fields. This includes climate research and weather forecasting, as well as public health, space exploration and basic research and development. On February 18, 168 employees were dismissed at the NSF, or about 10 percent of the agency's staff. At NASA, according to media reports, probationary employees — mainly newer staff members, but also people who had transferred agencies or recently been promoted — were cut at offices nationwide, with some staff reductions still to come. This may leave the aeronautics and space agency with "upwards of 1,000" fewer employees than it had prior to the cuts, the Planetary Society said in a statement. The culling of the newest generation of scientists from the Energy Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other parts of the Department of Health and Human Services has raised questions about where researchers will seek jobs. Axios

The Donald Trump administration is pushing a proposal that calls for Ukraine to relinquish to the U.S. half of its revenues from natural resources, including minerals, gas and oil, as well as earnings from ports and other infrastructure. The proposed agreement would significantly shift onto a mercantile footing the United States’ three-year alliance with Ukraine in the largest war in Europe since World War II. The Trump administration’s terms could also strip Ukraine of funds that are now mostly invested in the country’s military and defense industry, and that could help rebuild the country once the war is over. But while the document calls for a series of commitments from Ukraine, it doesn’t provide any specific security commitments in return from the U.S. The proposal says, however, that the U.S. intends to provide long-term financial support to help Ukraine develop economically. The proposal states that revenues from Ukraine’s resources would be directed to a fund in which the U.S. would hold 100-percent financial interest, and that Ukraine should contribute to the fund until it reaches $500 billion – the amount Trump has demanded from the war-torn country in exchange for American aid. The document states that Ukraine will be required to contribute to the fund a sum equal to twice the amount the U.S. might give to Ukraine after the deal is signed. Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported that U.S. negotiators have raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system if President Volodymyr Zelensky doesn’t agree to the U.S. proposal on critical minerals. Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to Ukraine and its military. Musk posted on X that the Reuters story was “false” and “Reuters is lying.” The New York Times

Innovate UK has announced a further investment of £4.7 million, for 11 new networks to develop regulatory science. The new networks encompass the circular economy for end-of-life wind turbines, housing retrofit technologies, bio-based and biodegradable materials, biofilm control technologies, aquatic DNA and disease monitoring, agri-robotics, novel foods, life cycle assessment, an AI digital platform to support regulators, and the quality of products sold online. Regulation has the power to accelerate innovation by providing confidence to innovators, certainty for investors and a boost to consumer confidence, Innovate UK said. Regulations can, however, struggle to keep pace with the speed of technological advances, which can discourage investment and innovation. By creating networks that develop new tools, data sets and approaches using regulatory science, the investment is aimed at giving policymakers access to the research and evidence to future-proof regulations. UK Research and Innovation

VC, PRIVATE INVESTMENT & ACQUISITIONS

The Business Development Bank of Canada, through its investment arm BDC Capital, will commit an additional $500 million to its Growth Venture Fund (GVF) and $450 million to its Growth Equity Partners (GEP) program. This new capital will help Canada's next generation of global champions access the capital they need and help buoy the current chilling effect within the investment ecosystem, BDC said. While BDC Capital has 12 different funds that invest across the business growth cycle, from pre-seed to late-stage, this new capital commitment targets the later-stage companies that have been facing challenges, while also empowering promising early-stage firms with the resources needed to scale into global champions. According to BDC's latest Venture Capital Landscape report, VC investment activity in Canada declined across all stages in 2023. Notably, the capital invested into late-stage companies was almost cut in half compared with 2022. By partnering with later-stage companies and the next generation of entrepreneurs looking to scale, the GEP has successfully invested over $440 million in 36 Canadian companies. BDC

Toronto-based OMERS Ventures was among the backers in Berkeley, California-based Arize AI’s US$70-million Series C financing, which the startup will use to make large language models (LLMs) more dependable. The investment was spearheaded by Adams Street Partners, with contributions from M12 (Microsoft’s venture fund), Sinewave Ventures, OMERS Ventures, Datadog, PagerDuty, Industry Ventures, and Archerman Capital. Arize AI’s recent research initiative, OpenEvals, showed that LLMs often struggle to accurately evaluate synthetic datasets – data generated by other AI models – compared with non-synthetic data. The research results state that LLMs are still unpredictable, difficult to troubleshoot and prone to failure. The aim of Arize AI’s technology is to correct AI systems before they can do any damage in a real-world setting. AIM

Victoria-based Certn and Toronto-based Quadshift have collectively secured $53 million from the Business Development Bank of Canada’s enhanced venture capital arm. Certn, a background-check technology startup founded in 2016, raised $30 million from BDC Capital’s Growth Venture Fund. The funding is intended to expand Certn’s AI-powered background checks. Quadshift, a B2B software rollup company founded in 2017, secured $23 million in an all-equity round led by BDC Capital’s Growth Equity Partners, alongside Celtic House Venture Partners and other investors. Quadshift plans to use the funds to enhance its acquisition pipeline. Startup Ecosystem Canada

Mount Pearl, Newfoundland-based marine tech firm Kraken Robotics took the No. 1 spot on this year’s TSX Venture 50 list that is dominated by technology and mining companies. The TSX Venture 50 list showcases small-cap issuers across energy, mining, clean technology and life sciences, diversified industries and technology. The companies are ranked by their 2024 performance in three areas: market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and Canadian consolidated trading value. Collectively, the TSX Venture 50 companies had a combined market capitalization of $21.7 billion as of the end of last year, up 289 percent year-over-year. The companies also delivered an average share price appreciation of 207 percent, far outpacing growth seen in 2023 and 2022. Kraken Robotics’ market cap soared 437 percent in 2024, adding more than $587 million. Thirty-one of the top 50 spots on the list were dominated by mining companies, with many of them focused on critical minerals — nickel, copper and uranium — as well as precious metals. Roughly half of the 50 companies on the Venture list are headquartered in B.C. Vancouver-based Artemis Gold Inc. emerged with the highest consolidated value traded of any TSX Venture 50 issuers last year, with $1.3 billion worth of shares traded, the report showed. The Canadian Press

Ottawa-based Hyperlume Inc. raised $17.8 million in a seed funding round to commercialize its high-bandwidth, low-latency, low-power interconnects for AI data centers and high-performance computing systems. The round was led by BDC's Deep Tech Venture Fund and ArcTern Ventures, with participation from MUUS Climate Partners, SOSV and Intel Capital and also included a strategic investment from LG Technology Ventures. Hyperlume was founded in 2022 to develop breakthrough technology that addresses connectivity bottlenecks in accelerated computing and AI data centers. Hyperlume's technology uses specialized, ultra-fast microLEDs and ultra-low power circuitry to achieve significant performance, cost and energy-efficiency gains relative to the traditional copper interconnects. The company plans to use the funding to accelerate the development of optical interconnect technologies, expand its teams and strengthen strategic partnerships. Hyperlume

Vancouver-based biotech startup Reverb Therapeutics raised $17 million in seed funding to develop a platform that harnesses natural immune system responses to treat diseases. The round was led by Amplitude Ventures, and included the Multiple Myeloma Investment Fund, KdT Ventures, Finchley Healthcare Ventures, InBC Investment Corp. and Seido Capital. Reverb Therapeutics’ platform is based on cytokine messaging. Cytokines are signaling proteins that direct immune cells to target infections. Reverb Therapeutics’ bispecific antibody platform amplifies natural cytokine signaling for use in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company said it will use the funding to advance one of the compounds in its pipeline to the preclinical candidate stage. Business In Vancouver

Halifax-based Maritime Launch Services Inc., which is developing the Spaceport Nova Scotia launch site for clients, has secured agreements and regulatory approval to complete its previously announced financing valued at approximately $1.6 million in cash proceeds at a price of $0.05 per share, of which $331,525 was previously released to the company over the preceding five months from existing shareholders, as short-term interest free loans. In total, the company will issue approximately 38,730,000 shares (plus 2,560,000 warrants) in conjunction with the equity financing, including fees. A portion of the proceeds will be used for the redemption of previously issued debentures, with the remaining funds allocated for vendor payments and ongoing operations. Maritime Launch received conditional regulatory approval to close a two-year extension agreement with the holders of its outstanding convertible debentures from 2021 and 2023. This agreement extends the maturity date of all outstanding convertible debentures to December 7, 2026. Maritime Launch Services

Toronto-based fintech startup Glassbox raised $1.65 million in pre-seed funding to reimagine how finance teams work with spreadsheets in the age of artificial intelligence. The round was led by FinTech Collective and StandUp Ventures, with participation from Watertower Ventures. Glassbox said the fresh capital will be used to expand the company’s team and bring its AI-compatible financial analysis platform to market. Glassbox’s solution is centered around a new framework it calls FinScript. Led by a former investment banker, the company is developing a software platform designed to help professionals in the finance space build financial models and evaluate deals faster than traditional spreadsheet tools like Microsoft Excel. BusinessWire

Victoria, B.C.-based cleantech Solaires secured $1.55 million in non-dilutive funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (whose programming has transitioned to the National Research Council-Industrial Assistance Program) to accelerate the commercialization of its perovskite-based photovoltaic solutions. The funding will support the development of Solaires’ PVModules for use in new applications such as transportation and building-integrated solar solutions. The company’s technology promises to enhance energy efficiency for low-power electronic devices while delivering significant greenhouse gas reductions in the transportation and energy sectors. Solaires’ technology is designed to capture sunlight on surfaces that traditional solar panels cannot, making it an attractive solution for transportation and commercial industries seeking sustainable energy alternatives. Techouver

Seed funding deals totalled $510 million in 2024, the lowest in four years and down from $958 million in 2023, according to a report by the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA). The number of seed-stage deals fell from 235 in 2023 to 201. Pre-seed funding totalled $99 million, down from $161 million the year earlier and the lowest since 2021, as economic uncertainty and tighter capital markets hampered investment. “We are seeing ongoing constraints at the pre-seed and seed stages,”  Kim Furlong, CEO of CVCA, said in a statement. “This decrease is significant for future rounds of financing [as] ensuring a healthy pipeline of early-stage companies is critical to long-term ecosystem strength.” Canada’s overall venture capital investment totalled $7.86 billion across 592 deals in 2024, up 11 percent from 2023. The information and communications technology sector led the way in investments, attracting $4.49 billion across 285 deals. Life sciences followed with $1.38 billion, while cleantech secured $1.07 billion in investments. Ontario took the top spot with $2.5 billion raised across 252 transactions. B.C. nearly matched Ontario’s dollars invested for the first time ever despite only closing 88 deals. Québec followed with $2 billion invested across 108 deals. Exit activity reached $5.17 billion across 40 deals, with merger and acquisition transactions driving the majority of exits. CVCA

Ohio-based private equity firm Primus Capital acquired a majority stake in Calgary-based Reach, an e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, to help it grow, launch new products and improve existing ones. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Reach said the investment will help the company scale its operations, accelerate its aggressive product roadmap, and augment its existing payments, tax compliance and fraud protection solutions for retail and SaaS businesses worldwide. Primus will join Reach’s board and Reach’s 122-person team will stay on as part of the deal. Reach was spun out of Calgary-based foreign exchange business Calforex in 2019. Calgary.tech

Texas-based GameStop said it aims to sell its Canadian and French operations. The video game retailer said in a press release that the move is part of an evaluation of its international assets. CEO Ryan Cohen posted to X that the two business arms were for sale, adding: “High taxes, Liberalism, Socialism, Progressivism, Wokeness and DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] included at no additional cost if you buy today!” As of about a year ago, GameStop had 203 locations in Canada. At the company’s annual shareholder meeting last June, Cohen said GameStop was going to focus on cutting costs and long-term profitability, which would involve a smaller store network. CTV News

REPORTS & POLICIES

Canada’s “regulatory burden” reduces GDP, employment and investment: Statistics Canada

Accumulation of regulations in Canada from 2006 to 2021 reduced Gross Domestic Product growth by 1.7 percent in the business sector, according to a study by Statistics Canada (StatsCan).

This “regulatory burden” also reduced employment growth in the business sector by a cumulative 1.3 percent, although the effect on labour productivity growth was small – 0.4 percent.

The results point to costs associated with increasing numbers of regulatory provisions, StatsCan said.

However, the study’s author cautioned that understanding economy-wide costs and benefits from regulations is challenging. The results of the study provide a first indication for Canada of the estimated impacts of the changing number of regulations over time on businesses. 

“While the results of the study point to potentially important costs for the economy, it is not meant to reflect a full economic assessment of the benefits of regulations and costs associated with not introducing regulations,” the study says.

The study’s author is Wulong Gu, acting director of StatsCan’s analytical studies division. Gu used a new model, developed by KPMG and Transport Canada, to measure Canada’s regulatory burden.

The number of total regulatory requirements increased by 2.1 percent per year from 2006 to 2021, the study says. The number of total regulatory requirements in 2021 was about 37 percent higher than in 2006.

Most regulatory requirements were imposed on industries (95.2 percent in 2019), while a very small share of the regulatory burden was placed on departments and other government organizations responsible for administering these regulations (4.8 percent in 2019).

Gu’s study found that regulatory accumulation reduced growth in output, employment and labour productivity for small and large firms, but the effect was lower for small firms.

The negative effect of regulations was about 20 percent lower among small firms than among large firms for output growth and employment growth, while it was about 25 percent lower for labour productivity growth.

Large businesses must navigate a detailed set of regulations compared with small businesses, because large businesses are more complex and often involve more lines of businesses, the study notes. “As a result, regulatory accumulation reduced firm growth more for large firms than for small firms.”

Regulatory accumulation over the 2006 to 2021 period reduced business sector investment by nine per cent. If the total number of regulatory requirements had remained at the 2006 level, business sector investment would have been nine percent higher in 2021.

This negative effect is bigger for small firms than for large firms, according to the study. The effect of regulations on investment is on intensive margins rather than extensive margins.

Regulatory accumulation reduced business startups and business dynamism. If the total number of regulatory requirements had remained at the 2006 level, the entry rate of startups would have been one percentage point, or about 10 percent, higher in 2021, and the exit rate of businesses would have been 0.5 percentage points, or about five percent, higher. StatsCan

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Canada’s percentage of R&D personnel is lower than G7 nations but higher than OECD countries: Statistics Canada

Canada's ratio of R&D personnel per thousand total employment was lower than the Group of 7 average but higher than the average for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, according to a report by Statistics Canada (StatsCan).

However, Canada had the second-lowest level of R&D spending in the G7 and was also below the OECD average.

In 2022, the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel engaged in R&D in Canada reached 315,030 FTEs, an increase of 11,310 FTEs (+3.7 percent) from the previous year.

This growth marks the sixth consecutive annual increase and aligns with the rise in Canada's gross domestic R&D expenditures, which grew by nine percent to $51.7 billion in 2022.

The number of R&D personnel rose across all provinces and territories in 2022, with Quebec (+4,240 FTEs to 88,090 FTEs; +5.1 percent) and Ontario (+3,110 FTEs to 140,890 FTEs; +2.3 percent) accounting for almost two-thirds of the total gain.

British Columbia also saw a strong increase (+1,550 FTEs to 40,710 FTEs; +four percent).

In 2022, over 90 percent of the increase occurred in the two largest performing sectors: business enterprises (+9,250 FTEs to 211,550 FTEs; +4.6 percent) and higher education (+1,380 FTEs to 84,150 FTEs; +1.7 percent).

The increase in R&D personnel in 2022 occurred across all three occupational categories. Specifically, the number of researchers rose by 5,920 to 217,000 FTEs; technicians and support staff increased by 4,100 to 86,620 FTEs; and the number of on-site research consultants was up by 1,280 to 11,400 FTEs.

Within the three occupation types, researchers accounted for 68.9 percent of total personnel, followed by technicians and support staff (27.5 percent) and on-site research consultants (3.6 percent).

Canada's ratio of R&D personnel per thousand total employment decreased slightly from 15.4 in 2021 to 15.2 in 2022. This placed Canada below the G7 average (16), although ranked above Japan (13.8) and the average for OECD countries (13.3). StatsCan

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U.S. tariffs would cause decline in Canada’s GDP, exports and imports and increase inflation: Conference Board of Canada

Canada’s GDP would fall in the second quarter, inflation would increase, and exports and imports would decline if U.S President Donald Trump imposes tariffs, according to a report by the Conference Board of Canada.

In the second quarter, Canada’s GDP would be expected to be down 1.3 per cent, driven by weaker consumption and lower exports. Inflation would increase by 0.7 points above the baseline in the quarter.

Exports would be reduced by eight percent in the second quarter, with a 57.4-percent decline in motor vehicles and parts exports.

Imports would decline by 6.5 per cent, led by weakness in imports of motor vehicles and parts, “as the North American automotive supply chain grinds to a halt.”

Household spending would decline by 0.9 percent in the quarter, led by a 1.5-percent decline in durables spending.

Business investment would weaken, down 2.8 percent for the quarter, as businesses hold off on spending given the uncertainty.

In terms of industry GDP, manufacturing (-5.2 percent), wholesale trade (-3.6 percent) and transportation and warehousing (-1.9 percent) would be among the most impacted.

Employment would fall 136,770 for the quarter, and the unemployment rate would spike to 6.9 percent.

Federal government revenues would be supported by an extra $9.3 billion in tariff revenue (on a quarterly basis).

“Despite the federal government revenue increase, the balance falls as the tariff revenue is transferred to businesses and households, the economic backdrop weakens, and employment insurance benefits increase by $4.1 billion in the second quarter (on a quarterly basis),” the CBoC’s report says.

While provincial impacts vary, all provinces would be impacted, according to the report. There are many factors that would affect the relative performance of each province’s economy under tariffs. U.S. trade exposure is a key determinant of how each province would fare.

Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan and Ontario would be the four hardest-hit provinces from the tariffs.

Alberta would be one of the hardest hit provinces due to the importance that goods (and their exports) have for the province’s economy, the report said.

While the CBoC expects the oil sector itself to face minor impacts from tariffs because of the American reliance on Alberta oil and lower tariffs for energy products, industries that support the oil sector would be negatively impacted.

“Notably mining support services and engineering construction would feel the weight of short-term uncertainty and reduced investment in the oil sector.”

Alberta is heavily reliant on the U.S., which is the destination for 90 percent of the province’s exports, and the province’s economy is highly dependent on goods exports.

While oil output, given its size, would drive some of the provincial weakness even if the industry itself faces minor impacts, other exports, especially related to the cattle industry, would be challenged by tariffs given cross-border integration for processing, the report said.

In all, the CBoC expects GDP in Alberta would decline by 1.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2024.

Saskatchewan would feel a strong impact from tariffs given the large presence of the goods sector in the economy and importance of the U.S. market to these producers. Goods account for 40 percent of the province’s GDP, the highest of any province, with many being exported.

The CBoC expects Saskatchewan’s GDP would fall 1.4 per cent below baseline in the second quarter. The decline would be driven by an expected decline in the oil, potash and agriculture sectors and their supporting industries.

Ontario would be one of the hardest hit provinces given its large manufacturing sector and the fact that close to 80 percent of goods exports go to the U.S.

However, the province’s diversified economy would help limit the aggregate impacts, the report noted. Services account for 78 percent of Ontario’s economy, the second-highest share of any province.

“In short, a relatively small part of Ontario’s economy would be impacted, but the impacts in the affected sectors would be large.” For example, auto exports would fall significantly.

The CBoC expects Ontario’s GDP would decline by 1.4 percent compared to baseline in the second quarter of 2024.

Quebec’s economy would fall 1.2 percent below baseline in the second quarter, according to the report. Key industries at risk in the province would include aerospace, primary metal, and truck manufacturing, which are each expected to be among the hardest hit by tariffs.

British Columbia would be expected to experience relatively modest impacts from tariffs, given its diversified set of trade partners, with less reliance on the U.S. and more reliance on Asia, as well as the relative importance of services in its economy, the report said.

Only 51 percent of B.C. goods exports went south of the border in 2024, among the lowest of all provinces, which would help the province insulate itself from the worst of tariffs.

Nevertheless, the CBoC expects B.C.’s GDP would fall 1.2 percent below baseline in the second quarter under the tariff’s scenario. Major contributors to the decline would be weaker engineering construction related to resource projects and the spillover effects on the province’s finance and professional services sectors.

Nova Scotia would see the smallest impact of any province, due to the province’s broadly favourable industry mix.

The province sent 68 percent of its exports to the U.S. in 2024, among the lowest of any province. But more importantly, the province’s economy has limited dependence on international exports.

The province’s GDP is made up of 81 percent services and international goods exports account for only 11 percent of GDP, the smallest share of any province.

Nova Scotia’s diversified economy, including its concentration in services, would help it best handle tariffs among Canada’s provinces.

The most impacted industries would include tire production, which are the province’s largest export, and fishing, which depends on American processors.

The CBoC expects Nova Scotia’s economy would be 0.7 per cent below baseline in the second quarter of 2025.

However, it’s not just a province’s exposure to the U.S. that drives these results, as the CBoC’s model-based approach enabled the consideration of the spillover effects from each industry.

For example, provinces that are more exposed to industries deeply affected by tariffs, especially in the transportation and manufactured goods sector, would also feel the impact in downstream industries, such as wholesale trade

In all, it’s not just a province’s exposure to the U.S. that drives these results, but also the industrial makeup of a province’s economy and each industry’s specific sensitivity to the tariffs, the report said. Conference Board of Canada

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Quantum technologies could transform the digital economy and society but need multi-sector and international collaborations: OECD

Quantum technologies have the potential to transform the digital economy and society, driving innovation towards groundbreaking applications, according to a new policy brief from the Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation (OECD).

The brief summarizes the findings of a recent OECD paper that explores what quantum technologies are, their readiness for commercial use, the benefits they bring to economies and society, the risks they pose, and how governments can play a role in responsibly shaping their development.

The policy brief’s key messages are:

• Quantum technologies harness the unique behaviours of atomic-scale particles, such as superposition and entanglement, to improve data gathering, processing and communication beyond the reach of classical information and communication technologies. Among these technologies, quantum sensing is the most mature. Quantum computing remains in a relatively earlier stage of development, facing science and engineering challenges. Quantum communication has been successfully demonstrated but still faces obstacles in scaling and implementation. However, recent developments suggest all three technologies are moving toward commercialization.
• These technologies promise significant advancements in innovation across various business sectors and could also help address societal challenges. Hybrid systems that combine quantum and classical computing are anticipated to accelerate innovation, while quantum AI holds long-term potential.
• At the same time, quantum computing could break current, widely used encryption methods, potentially compromising the security of nearly all data transmitted over the internet. Highly precise quantum sensors could also be misused for invasive surveillance. Applications in cryptanalysis, intelligence gathering and weapons development, among others, raise national security concerns that are driving countries to develop domestic capabilities in quantum technologies.
• Government support is playing a key role in advancing fundamental research in quantum and helping businesses turn breakthroughs into real-world applications. Public funding not only drives innovation but also ensures oversight of potential risks associated with these technologies. International collaboration is needed to realize the potential of quantum technologies, even as security risks, dual-use concerns [civilian and military use], and competition for technological leadership cause tensions. A global, values-based approach – informed by diverse stakeholders – is needed to define responsible quantum development and build trust in cross-border partnerships.

Quantum sensing, quantum computing and quantum communication are each advancing at different rates.

Quantum sensing is the most developed, with first-generation technologies like atomic clocks and quantum magnetometers already in use for applications such as GPS and medical imaging.

In healthcare, quantum sensors are advancing early disease detection and the real-time monitoring of medical treatments, while future quantum computers could accelerate drug discovery and personalized medicine.

In quantum computing, a quantum computer running simulations of materials science may perform exponentially faster than a classical computer, such as reducing a computation that would normally take 100 years to complete to just a few minutes.

However, quantum computing is in a relatively nascent stage due to the challenge of managing the fragile quantum states necessary for computation.

While significant progress has been made in developing quantum algorithms and hardware platforms, current devices – such as noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers – remain prone to errors and are limited in size and practical utility.

Achieving fault-tolerant, large-scale quantum computing capable of broadly outperforming classical computers remains a future milestone, according to the policy brief.

Quantum communication falls somewhere in between quantum sensing and quantum computing in stages of development.

Quantum key distribution has been successfully demonstrated in real-world settings, offering highly secure communication. However, deployment challenges like limited transmission distances and high costs hinder widespread adoption.

Many commercial applications of quantum technologies will help tackle some of today’s most pressing societal challenges, the brief says.

In the fight against climate change, for example, quantum technologies could lead to new and improved renewable energy sources, advanced batteries and novel carbon-capture methods.

Applications in agriculture could strengthen food security through improved monitoring of crop health and stress levels and by supporting the development of next-generation fertilizers and alternatives to pesticides and herbicides.

One of the most significant concerns about quantum technologies is the potential impact on digital security, particularly through the development of quantum computers capable of breaking widely used encryption methods. This capability could compromise the security of digital communications and transactions that underpin today’s economies, according to the brief.

To address this risk, cybersecurity agencies and financial authorities, among other government actors, recommend that public and private organizations start to implement new cryptographic standards that are resistant to quantum attacks.

The extreme precision of quantum sensors also raises privacy risks, as they could enable unprecedented surveillance. Quantum illumination, for example, may allow observation of objects not in the direct line of sight or in extreme low-light conditions.

Quantum magnetic sensors might enable malicious individuals to intercept near-field communication signals from afar, potentially extracting payment details from bank cards or smartphones.

The dual-use nature of quantum technologies, such as their application in intelligence gathering, advanced weapon development or cryptanalysis, raises national security concerns, the brief says.

Given the lengthy timelines and financial risks involved, many governments have introduced national strategies and funding programs to develop quantum technologies.

In addition to funding measures, establishing benchmarks to assess and compare quantum technological capabilities can help monitor technological progress and guide investments. International collaboration is needed to solve pending bottlenecks in quantum science and engineering and to tackle global policy issues. However, considerations around digital security, privacy, dual-use applications and technology leadership are creating frictions in cooperation. The concentration of investments in developed countries risks worsening global inequalities and limiting the economic and societal benefits of quantum technologies.

To accelerate development and adoption, public research and education systems will need to train a whole new generation of scientists, technicians and professionals that will make up the quantum workforce.

“Quantum technologies hold the promise of a new technological era, but realizing their potential requires thoughtful, anticipatory policymaking,” the brief says.

By investing in research, fostering international collaboration and addressing anticipated downside risks (such as privacy and digital security), governments can help ensure that quantum technologies benefit all of society.

The OECD’s policy brief recommends that policymakers:

• Learn more about quantum technologies, their capabilities, limitations and how they could support industries and help tackle societal challenges by enabling breakthroughs in computing, sensing and communication. Policymakers should recognize the long-term investment required for most of these technologies to mature, the digital security and privacy risks they raise, and how such risks could be mitigated.
• Facilitate collaboration among academia, industry and public agencies to support quantum technology ecosystems. Public-private partnerships fund technology investments that can aid in aligning longer-term public benefits with shorter-term business goals. Additionally, technology benchmarking and standardization initiatives can help ensure quantum technologies transition efficiently from research to real-world applications.
• Collaborate with industry and academia to map skill demands, tailor STEM education and support quantum-specific training programs. For supply chains, policymakers can map sources of critical materials and components, identify vulnerabilities and explore diversification pathways.
• Foster international co-operation that helps align funding initiatives and leverages cross-border skills and capabilities. Inclusive collaboration can help address global challenges while preventing the deepening of existing divides. Policymakers could help define shared principles for the human-centric and values-based development and use of quantum technologies. OECD

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More Canadians are encountering health misinformation, leading to negative health outcomes: Canadian Medical Association

More Canadians are encountering health misinformation and the trend is having direct negative consequences on health outcomes, according to a survey from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

“We’re seeing a direct link between misinformation and negative health outcomes,” the CMA said. “Compared to last year, more Canadians report delaying medical treatment, straining personal relationships and experiencing heightened anxiety due to false health claims.”
The 2025 Health and Media Tracking Survey, commissioned by the CMA and delivered by Abacus Data, asked respondents to spot misinformation among several health-related statements. The survey was conducted online with 2,500 Canadians.

The survey found that 43 percent of Canadians are highly susceptible to believing misinformation, while another 35 percent are moderately susceptible.
More than one-third of Canadians (35 percent) say they avoided effective health treatments due to false information, up six percentage points from 2024.
An increasing number of Canadians (43 percent) also say they are experiencing mental distress or increased anxiety due to misinformation.

According to the survey, health misinformation has real consequences: 

• 37 percent of Canadians say poor access to health care and information has led them to try medical advice found online.
• 31 percent have taken medical advice found online instead of advice received from a medical professional.
• 23 percent have had an adverse reaction or negative health impact from following health advice found online.

Other key findings of the survey include:

• Age is the most influential factor in news and information consumption behaviour. It influences channel preferences which has consequences for exposure to misinformation.
• Canadians are passive consumers of health news and information. Canadians are most likely to consume health/healthcare news and information when a specific situation arises or if they are “served” this content in the communications channels they frequent.
• Canadians believe misinformation is common in health and health system news/information. Exposure is common and most Canadians have accepted the presence of misinformation.
• Canadians feel confident in their ability to navigate this misinformation but there are clear signs they look for to signal accuracy. Trust in source is one of them.
• Given the presence of misinformation, building trust with audiences is critical in healthcare communications. Establishing trust in health care communications is largely dependent on the communicator and their proximity to health care.

The survey found that Canadians continue to place the highest trust in physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide quality health information. Year-over-year trust in physicians remains stable at 80 percent.

The survey confirms a majority of Canadians report that seeing trusted health information leaves them better informed and equipped to counter rising misinformation.

According to the survey, an increasing number of Canadians (40 percent, up three percent from 2024) believe health associations and groups representing health professionals are among the best positioned to provide protection from health misinformation, alongside governments.

The CMA said it is committed to supporting improvements in the quality and quantity of accurate and accessible health and health system information in Canada.

This includes the commitment to annual tracking research, providing stable funding for health journalism and supporting medical advocates and experts who share credible information.

The CMA also helps Canadians make sense of key issues in health care with initiatives such as Healthcare For Real.

For more information, read Fault Lines, the Council of Canadian Academies expert panel’s 2023 report on the socioeconomic impacts of science and health misinformation. Canadian Medical Association

THE GRAPEVINE – News about people, institutions and communities

Karl Kenny, founder and former CEO of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland-based marine tech company Kraken Robotics Inc., died on February 11 at age 64. Kenny founded Kraken in 2012 and was instrumental in building the company into a leading player in subsea robotics over his 10-year tenure, before retiring in December 2022. Kenny grew up in a small fishing village in Newfoundland with a deep connection to the sea. Over his 45-year career in the marine technology industry, he led the development of a wide range of advanced marine technologies and products in Canada, the United States and Europe. Kraken Robotics

Toronto-based Dye & Durham Limited, a provider of cloud-based legal practice management software, appointed Sid Singh as interim CEO, effective immediately. Singh, who remains a director of the company, replaced Hans Gieskes, who also remains on the board, as interim CEO. Arnaud Ajdler was appointed chair of the board. Singh is an accomplished executive and board director with over 25 years of leadership experience in B2B vertical market software, data and analytics, and fintech. Dye & Durham has been looking for a permanent CEO since Matthew Proud announced plans to leave the role last year. Dye & Durham

The Bank of Canada appointed Michelle Alexopoulos, a professor of economics at the University of Toronto (U of T), as an external deputy governor for a term of two years, effective March 17, 2025. Alexopoulos’s appointment is the result of a public external recruitment process and will bring the size of the Bank’s governing council to seven members on an ongoing basis. The Bank’s governing council is its policy-making body, responsible for conducting monetary policy and promoting a safe and efficient financial system. The Bank created the external deputy governor role in 2023 to bring diverse perspectives to its consensus-based policy-making process. In keeping with the nature of the role, Alexopoulos will work with the Bank of Canada in a part-time capacity and will maintain her U of T teaching and research responsibilities. Bank of Canada

Board directors Noel Biderman, Rob Godfrey and Igor Gimelshtein stepped down from the board of Toronto-based  crypto-platform operator WonderFi Technologies Inc. Activist investor Kaos Capital nominated Godfrey and Gimelshtein following its 2024 push to shake up the company’s board, while WonderFi appointed Biderman amid the tussle. The activist investor retains the right to nominate two directors at WonderFi’s 2025 annual general meeting and one more at the 2026 annual general meeting as long as it maintains a stake of a certain size, according to an agreement between the firms. WonderFi

Vancouver-based Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals appointed Alex Rothwell as new chief financial officer, effective immediately. Bruce Cousins, the company's outgoing CFO, is retiring and will remain in a consultant role in the near-term to ensure an orderly transition of the CFO responsibilities. Based in Victoria, B.C., Rothwell brings more than 25 years of experience as a business leader and as a senior executive in the Canadian capital markets and investment banking. Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing locally delivered, extended-release products that have the potential to address therapeutic areas with high unmet medical need. Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Professor Emeritus Stephen Jones was appointed acting academic director of Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement at McMaster University. He will remain in the role through August 2025, at which point a search will begin for a permanent academic director. Jones was chair of McMaster’s Department of Economics from 2015 to 2020. Wilson College was founded in 2022 following a $50-million donation from McMaster chancellor emeritus L.R. “Red” Wilson. A partnership between the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities, Wilson College is home to Canada’s only combined honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Leadership and Civic Studies, which students will receive along with a BA in a subject in social sciences or humanities. McMaster University

Applications for international student admissions are plummeting in some universities in Quebec, The Canadian Press reported. Jean-François Roberge, minister of Immigration, promised to spare regional programs, amid calls that he avoid imposing quotas for graduate and postgraduate students (master’s and doctoral) who are at the heart of Quebec’s scientific research. According to data from the Institut de la statistique du Québec cross-referenced with that of the Ministry of Education, the 17 Quebec university institutions welcomed just over 56,000 international students, or 18.4 percent of a university student population of just over 306,000 people. Half (51.1 percent) of these international students are in the second and third cycles. Of these, six university institutions have more than 25 percent of international students among their total student body. Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS), the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, the École de technologie supérieure, and Polytechnique Montréal have all seen a decline in international student applications. INRS, a component of the Université du Québec, has 67 percent of whose students were recruited abroad. However, the number of applications for admission from foreign students decreased at INRS by 32 percent in fall 2024 compared to fall 2023. Quebec’s chief scientist, Rémi Quirion, added his voice in an opinion piece published by Le Devoir on November 14, recalling his own career as a researcher. “Without the essential contribution of foreign students, my laboratory would simply not have succeeded in standing out as a world leader in research on mental health and neurodegenerative diseases,” he wrote. Quirion said it was essential to maintain, or even increase, the number of foreign students because “in several disciplines and fields of research where Quebec excels, the lack of Quebec and Canadian students is alarming (life sciences, engineering, digital, aerospace, environment and several others).” The Canadian Press

York University (YorkU) is temporarily suspending new admissions to 18 of its programs across the humanities, arts and sciences. YorkU spokesperson Yanni Dagonas cited low enrolment and financial pressures as the reasons behind the cuts, adding that the pauses will help the institution “achieve financial sustainability in light of unexpected policy directions at the provincial and federal levels affecting higher education.” Among the affected programs at YorkU are biomedical physics, classics and classical studies, environmental biology, gender and women studies, and Indigenous studies. Students already enrolled in these programs can continue their studies and will be supported to meet graduation requirements, Dagonas said. YorkU is the first Canadian university to make significant program suspensions, in the wake of similar announcements from colleges across the country. Alex Usher, president of consultant group Higher Education Associates, said he expects more than 1,000 college programs to shutter in Ontario as a result of federal and provincial policies. CBC News

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) members – representing college faculty and staff – held rallies on college campuses across Ontario last week to draw attention to provincial funding cuts to the college system. The rallies highlighted the ongoing crisis regarding widespread program closures and layoffs. Participants are calling for bridge funding to preserve programming and staff, college funding formula changes to allow more domestic student enrolment, and additional investments in faculty and staff. “Important programs are being lost, and public colleges are moving further away from their mandate to support local communities and economies and to make postsecondary education widely accessible,” said Loyalist College professor Craig Jackman. CISION

Algonquin College in Ottawa and Mohawk College in Hamilton both have announced new measures to offset their respective projected financial deficits. Algonquin is officially recommending to its board of governors the suspension of 37 academic programs, the closure of its Perth Campus, and the implementation of a targeted retirement departure initiative, among other efficiency measures. Claude Brulé, Algonquin’s president, said these interventions are needed to avoid incurring a $60-million deficit in 2025-26. Brulé added that while layoffs are unavoidable, Algonquin is committed to mitigating their impact through staged adjustments. Mohawk College initiated its third round of layoffs to curb its projected $50-million deficit this year. This round will affect an undisclosed number of faculty, adding to the nearly 200 administrative and support positions that were cut in the last few months. Ottawa Citizen, Hamilton Spectator

Saskatchewan universities are anticipating a significant financial impact due to a decline in new international students, CBC reported. Both the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan reported a drop in enrolments for the winter intake: URegina said that its number has declined by over 50 percent compared to last January, while USask said that their numbers suggest a 20-percent decrease. “What international students actually bring to the University of Saskatchewan, they bring potentially to the province if they decide to stay. That’s something that we definitely are feeling a loss [in],”said Jerome Cranston, USask’s vice-provost of students and learning. Statistics Canada data for Saskatchewan shows that in the current academic year, international undergraduates paid an average of $31,540  in tuition, while domestic students paid $9,609. CBC News

Brandon University in Manitoba and the Brandon University Faculty Association (BUFA) issued a joint statement to reaffirm their commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The two parties emphasized the importance of EDI principles in creating a welcoming environment, supporting academic freedom and improving the institution and mission. They acknowledged the role that universities have played in perpetuating racism and inequality, as well as the responsibility they have in repairing the damage. Looking to the future, BrandonU and BUFA have committed to integrating EDI into collegial governance, research, teaching and service and noted that a new EDI Strategic Plan will guide further action. Brandon University

The University of Guelph (UoGuelph) is launching a Master of Engineering Management program in the fall of 2025. The four-semester, course-based program covers advanced engineering principles and business management topics to prepare students to fill leadership positions in high-demand fields. Students will develop their skills and knowledge in areas such as business analytics, operation management and engineering leadership. The program comes from a partnership between the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. “With the rise of AI, Industry 4.0 challenges, cybersecurity management, sustainability issues and more, we need leaders who can anticipate problems and communicate with members of the supply chain effectively,” said UoGuelph professor Dr. Soha Eid Moussa, who is one of the co-chairs of the program’s development committee. University of Guelph

The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) launched a new Canada Research Chair in Northern living environments. The post will be held by UQAM professor Laurie Guimond, who will lead a team of 15 master’s and doctoral researchers. Together, they will analyze the geographic processes involved in “Northern living” in the context of change. Specifically, they will focus on three axes of research: the ways in which we inhabit a territory on a daily basis; how territories relate to mobility; and intercultural cohabitation. The Chair's research focuses on practices, representations and knowledge rooted in ancestral territories, Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, environments transformed by the extractive industry, and so-called disappeared settlements that are very much alive in collective memories, such as the construction camps of Northern Quebec. UQAM

A University of Calgary student team, the Biomedical Engineering Research and Innovation Team (BMERIT) is developing DNADetect, a modular biosensor project aimed at addressing delays in neurodegenerative disease diagnosis, specifically Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of DNADetect is to create a non-invasive, low-cost biosensor capable of early biomarker detection. The team, made up of engineering, biological sciences, chemistry and physics undergraduate students, traveled to Kyushu, Japan in November for the annual BIOMOD Jamboree. They won a bronze medal for their proof-of-concept biosensor. Nearly 750,000 Canadians have Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, according to Statistics Canada. However, after a check-in with their primary physician, patients typically have to wait months to get access to imaging scans and assessments, which can provide better diagnoses, “but their disease usually progresses by that point,” said team member Stavan Patel. DNADetect’s early biomarker-detection ability will allow patients to get results within 30 minutes, said team member Jezrael Carpio. The team’s goal is to make the technology available to clinicians by offering it as an option alongside blood tests when lab work is requested. University of Calgary

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