Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are the leading cause of climate change, however many people have misguided perceptions about where these pollutants come from. Considerable blame is placed on businesses, (industrial companies particularly) but there are other sources of pollution that must be addressed too. Cities contribute more than 66% of global carbon emissions – this…
Developing value-added products and services is critical to Canada’s knowledge economy and competitiveness. More than ever, startups and early-stage businesses are being called on to support innovation and respond to new consumer/market preferences. Because of the rising demand for new consumer products, Canadian startups should focus on finding and establishing themselves within this market. Thankfully,…
Ontario’s agri-food industry continues to experience sustained growth and is an economic leader within the province. In 2015, farming and food processing employed approximately 1 in 9 Ontarians and contributed $36.4 billion in GDP to the province, representing nearly 6% of Ontario’s total GDP. In fact, food processing contributes 15% of the province’s total manufacturing…
I love hockey. I love the intensity, the camaraderie, and the tradition. Growing up, hockey was, and still is, a centrepiece in my household. Many other sports bring my family together – baseball, football, the Olympics – but despite our love for watching sports, neither my sister nor I ever played team sports and we…
Unifor, Canada’s largest automotive workers’ union, recently approved new 4-year labour deals with General Motors and Chrysler-Fiat Automobiles. The agreements, which also prevented a potential October 10 strike, will secure slight increases to wages and pensions of workers. However, the real gains made through these negotiations come from securing new investments into Canadian production facilities. Negotiations…
Most Canadians share an inaccurate, out-of-date view of how businesses grow and succeed in international markets. Gone are the days where businesses manufactured products in Canada and shipped them internationally; now companies must extend beyond borders and become part of an integrated international value chain. Traditional trade measurements fail to recognize is the effect that…
Jet planes were always something that amazed me growing up. Taking a giant metal ship and make it soar through the sky at 1,000 km/h by burning dinosaur remains was undeniably cool. I was far from alone in this method of thinking; in Ontario aerospace is a big deal. The Ontario aerospace sector, despite what…
Can industry-led research and development help Canada transition to a knowledge-based economy? The Government of Canada thinks so, and has been calling on businesses across the country to become more innovative by all means possible. Since the Liberal government took power in Canada, there has been a stark contrast in the way economic development has…
Wind power is in the midst of extreme market growth. The advancement of technologies, in addition to rapidly changing legislation from governments, are helping to fuel strong growth rates year-over-year in North America and around the world. Wind technologies present a significant opportunity for businesses across the world. Technology development companies are rapidly researching ways…
I have worked for businesses of varying sizes in numerous industries, and have often found myself wondering how innovators generate breakthrough ideas. For example, how did Kiichiro Toyoda come up with the Toyota Production System? How do innovators discover great new opportunities that others fail to see? How did the greatest innovators in the world…