Archive for March, 2012

Could CETA Lead to a NAFTA Complaint?

A new report by the Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy and Competitiveness Research Network finds that the Canada- EU Trade Agreement could lead to a NAFTA complaint by the U.S. if Canada caves to European pressure to include new protection for geographical indications. The paper notes that GI protection could lead […]

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March 28, 2012 1 comment News

CRTC Approves Canadian Broadcasting Participation Fund

The CRTC has approved a proposal to establish the Canadian Broadcasting Participation Fund. The fund, which is seeded with $3 million from the BCE purchase of CTVglobemedia, will be used to fund public interest and consumer group participation in CRTC broadcasting proceedings.

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March 28, 2012 Comments are Disabled News

The Upcoming Budget and the Implications for Canadian Tech Policy

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will unveil the government’s much-anticipated budget this week amidst widespread speculation that it will feature sizable spending cuts and significant reorganization of major government programs. While changes to old age pension eligibility, the CBC, as well as government departments and programs will attract the lion share of attention, my weekly technology column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the budget choices could have major implications for technology policy.

The government has telegraphed some measures, including an initiative to recast the National Research Council into a service focused on providing assistance to business rather than an entity emphasizing basic research. Changes to the NRC may be just the starting point as the budget’s fine print could include some important clues about where the government is headed on the digital economy.

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March 27, 2012 8 comments Columns

Reading the Tech Tea Leaves in the Fine Print of the Budget

Appeared in the Toronto Star on March 25, 2012 as Budget Could Have Implications for Technology Policy Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will unveil the government’s much-anticipated budget this week amidst widespread speculation that it will feature sizable spending cuts and significant reorganization of major government programs. While changes to old […]

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March 26, 2012 Comments are Disabled Columns Archive

Creative Commons Canada Re-Launches

Athabasca University, BCcampus, and the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa have joined together to re-launch Creative Commons Canada. All three organizations will take part in the official relaunch at the Creative Commons Salon Ottawa: Open Data on Friday, March 30th.

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March 26, 2012 1 comment News