The main industries and sectors that set to boom in 2021

 Canada’s GDP was $1.8 trillion in 2019, making it the tenth-largest economy in the world. The most profitable industries are minerals, the processing of natural resources, and transportation. Over 75% of Canadians work in the services sector, with the other 25% working in construction, manufacturing and agriculture. The mining and

Oil: A High-Stakes Game of Chance

 Popular wisdom has it that the only certainty in life is death and taxes. Until a few short months ago, most economists, politicians, political pundits and journalists would have added to that short list a perpetual increase in the price of oil. But, in today’s interconnected world, much can happen

Health in all Policies Approach Gaining Traction Across Political Spectrum in Canada

 By Danyaal Raza and Ryan Meili When counselling patients on health, physicians often focus on lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise or smoking. This kind of advice can be important for the individual, but does little to change underlying drivers of health like income, education and employment. These factors are

New Spirit of Cooperation in Rail

 Photo by Frederic Dekkal Everything old is new again, and a new spirit of cooperation in negotiations between the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union and two of Canada’s biggest railways, CN and VIA Rail, has the potential to use old-style sitting down and talking to change a century of

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction”: Zeppelins and Airships

 The zeppelin – also known as the blimp, dirigible or airship – is a common vehicle in science-fiction. The steampunk and dieselpunk sub-genres are especially known for a love of zeppelins, with science-fiction series like Airborne and Leviathan being set primarily aboard these vessels. Unlike most other science-fiction technologies, the

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Kang the Conqueror

  Kang the Conqueror is a character from the Marvel Comics universe who hails from the 30th century. He is a genius with machinery and military tactics, and has access to the most advanced military technology that his age offers. Of all the devices at Kang's disposal, perhaps the most impressive

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction”: The Stargate

 In my last blog, I discussed the ideas of teleportation, and some of the issues that are preventing that much desired technology from becoming feasible. Although there are many hurdles that would need to be overcome before teleportation becomes possible, if it ever does, science fiction offers another idea of

Rail on the Rise

 GETTING PRODUCTS TO TIDEWATER AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE Energy is a key market for Canadian Pacific (CP) and the increase in traffic has been particularly strong as a result of a targeted growth strategy. Energy-related traffic represented about 45 per cent of this portfolio’s revenue in 2011. With an extensive

The O-Train: Getting It Right the First Time

 The City of Ottawa's plan for an expanded 0-Train is being tackled in rather a piecemeal fashion. Eventually, trains will replace much of the bus service that clogs downtown streets at rush hour. Futuristic trains (aka Light Rail Transit — or LRT — vehicles) will glide from Bayview Station to