Science Canada: 07/16/10

Friday, July 16, 2010

National forum on science policy back for another year

Jul 12, 2010
The Biotechnology Initiative
http://www.ontbi.org/Nationalforumonsciencepolicybackforanotheryear

2010-2013 Québec Research and Innovation Strategy announced by the Government of Québec

The FRSQ hails tangible support for health research
Jun 29, 2010
Government of Québec
http://www.frsq.gouv.qc.ca/en/publications/autres_publications/communiques/2010.06_29.html

Genome Canada Appoints New Chair of its Science and Industry Advisory Committee

Jul 9, 2010
Genome Canada
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Genome-Canada-Appoints-New-Chair-of-its-Science-and-Industry-Advisory-Committee-1288123.htm

Northern science camps get funding boost

Jul 15, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/15/north-science-camps-cannor.html

Government of Canada Partners to Provide Northern Youth Science, Engineering and Technology Skills

Jul 14, 2010
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Government-Canada-Partners-Provide-Northern-Youth-Science-Engineering-Technology-Skills-1289976.htm

Quebec Merck closure could mean ‘brain drain’

Pharmaceutical giant shuts 16 facilities, including Montreal-area research facility
Jul 8, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/07/08/merck-closures.html

Loss of Merck centre 'a hit to us'

Hurts whole biotech industry: Clement
Jul 16, 2010
JASON MAGDER
The Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Loss+Merck+centre/3285523/story.html

Robots enlisted to boost comp-sci enrolment

Jul 13, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/13/computer-science-robots.html

Quebec rescues climate-research group

UQAM centre $1.5 million replaces lost federal funding
Jul 13, 2010
MONIQUE BEA UDIN
The Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Quebec+rescues+climate+research+group/3269900/story.html

Toward a Transformative Agenda for FedDev Ontario

Jun 29, 2010
Neil Bradford & David A. Wolfe
Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation
http://www.mowatcentre.ca/pdfs/mowatResearch/16.pdf

From Entanglement to Alignment: A Review of International Practice in Regional Economic Development

Jun 29, 2010
David A. Wolfe
Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation
http://www.mowatcentre.ca/pdfs/mowatResearch/14.pdf

Regional Economic Development Agencies in Canada: Lessons for Southern Ontario

Jun 29, 2010
Neil Bradford
Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation
http://www.mowatcentre.ca/pdfs/mowatResearch/15.pdf

So, you want to be a Science Writer when you grow up...

Jul 15, 2010
The Black Hole: Science in Canada - Issues Affecting Trainees
http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2010/07/15/so-you-want-to-be-a-science-writer-when-you-grow-up%e2%80%a6/

University enrolment: up, sideways or down?

Jul 14, 2010
Leo Charbonneau
University Affairs
http://www.universityaffairs.ca/margin-notes/university-enrolment-up-sideways-or-down/

Taxes and the grad student

The smartest thing I did was delay grad studies until I had built up a nest egg.
Jul 12, 2010
Jane Sorensen
University Affairs
http://www.universityaffairs.ca/taxes-and-grad-students.aspx

Census controversy: Garbage in, garbage out

Jul 16, 2010
Chronicle-Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1192218.html

If the census ain't broke...

Jul 16, 2010
National Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/census+broke/3284269/story.html

Statisticians go wild

When the number-crunchers get angry, government should know it made a mistake
Jul 16, 2010
Dan Gardner
The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Statisticians+wild/3284799/story.html

The politics of census forms

Jul 16, 2010
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/836488--the-politics-of-census-forms

Tony Clement’s rash decision

Jul 16, 2010
Keith Beardsley
National Post
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/07/16/keith-beardsley-tony-clements-rash-decision/

Opposition growing to Tories’ census changes

Top Jewish, Evangelical groups want long form maintained
Jul 16, 2010
JENNIFER DITCHBURN
The Canadian Press
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1192184.html

We all share Canada's toxic asbestos legacy

PM continues to boost the market for a deadly product overseas
Jul 16, 2010
Kathleen Ruff and Colin Soskolne
Times Colonist
http://www.timescolonist.com/business/share+Canada+toxic+asbestos+legacy/3285804/story.html

If climate change didn’t exist, Obama would've had to invent it

For the President, clean energy is the means to an end: jobs
Jul 16, 2010
Clifford Orwin
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/if-climate-change-didnt-exist-obama-wouldve-had-to-invent-it/article1641575/

Food manufacturers question Health Canada's gluten-free labelling review

Jul 16, 2010
Meagan Fitzpatrick
Postmedia News
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Food+manufacturers+question+Health+Canada+gluten+free+labelling+review/3283035/story.html

Toronto marijuana expo to tout health benefits

Over 30,000 expected to attend
Jul 16, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/07/16/toronto-marijuana-expo561.html

Raw sewage may have poured into ocean for more than an hour, say Environment Canada investigators

Jul 16, 2010
Dan Maclennan
Courier-Islander
http://www.canada.com/sewage+have+poured+into+ocean+more+than+hour+Environment+Canada+investigators/3284697/story.html

Bad science: Global-warming deniers are a liability to the conservative cause

Jul 15, 2010
Jonathan Kay
National Post
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/07/15/bad-science-global-warming-deniers-are-a-liability-to-the-conservative-cause/

Acid rain’s lessons for carbon emissions

If Canada ever adopts a cap-and-trade system to restrain greenhouse-gas emissions, it should learn from emerging problems in the U.S. anti-acid-rain system: the stricter the cap is, the less trade there will be
Jul 15, 2010
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/acid-rains-lessons-for-carbon-emissions/article1641652/

Quebec’s foresight on in-vitro fertilization

The decision to pay for up to three cycles of in-vitro fertilization is a welcome move, justified by the savings in costs to the health-care system, and one that other provinces should consider
Jul 15, 2010
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/quebecs-foresight-on-in-vitro-fertilization/article1640342/

Let them eat carrots!

The assumption among food reformers is that ‘healthy food’ is only available to those who can afford it
Jul 15, 2010
Margaret Wente
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/let-them-eat-carrots/article1640351/

N.W.T. board seeks own lake mercury tests

Jul 15, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/07/15/nwt-mercury-lake-lab.html

Shorter census harms health care, journal says

Jul 15, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/07/15/census-short-healthcare.html

Ideology trumps evidence with new voluntary survey

Jul 15, 2010
CMAJ
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/rapidpdf/cmaj.100976v1?ijkey=ac5f531d988a3b43ff81c6d36b428e95a132887e&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

Tories refuse to reverse census decision

‘It’s all about the nanny state,’ senior party strategist says
Jul 15, 2010
Steven Chase
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-refuse-to-reverse-census-decision/article1641394/

PM facing revolt over census change

Jul 15, 2010
Haroon Siddiqui
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/835993--siddiqui-pm-facing-revolt-over-census-change

Axing census questions adds up to trouble for Tories

"Truly a stupid decision," Liberal critic says
Jul 15, 2010
Bruce Campion-Smith
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/census/article/835932--axing-census-questions-adds-up-to-trouble-for-tories?bn=1

Air-conditioning: Keeping cool and green

Innovations in air-conditioning systems mean cooling down buildings is going to require less energy
Jul 15, 2010
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/node/16588677

A census designed by 'drunken monkeys'

Jul 14, 2010
Dan Gardner
The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/census+designed+drunken+monkeys/3275397/story.html

Will we come to our census?

Jul 14, 2010
Alec Bruce
Times & Transcript
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1134377

Coalition urges Tories to reverse census stand

Long form provides vital information to society: groups
Jul 14, 2010
SHANNON PROUDFOOT
Postmedia News
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Coalition+urges+Tories+reverse+census+stand/3274395/story.html

Liberals demand meeting on long-form census

'We want to speak to Tony Clement,' Garneau says of industry minister
Jul 14, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/07/14/liberals-census.html

Privacy commissioner sees few complaints about census form

Jul 14, 2010
Shannon Proudfoot
Postmedia News
http://www.vancouversun.com/Privacy+commissioner+sees+complaints+about+census+form/3277449/story.html

Privacy commissioner not consulted on plan to scrap compulsory census

Only three complaints filed in the last decade, Jennifer Stoddart's office says
Jul 14, 2010
Steven Chase
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/privacy-commissioner-not-consulted-on-plan-to-scrap-compulsory-census/article1640288/

Privacy commissioner not consulted on decision to scrap 'intrusive' census

Jul 14, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/privacy-commissioner-not-consulted-on-decision-to-scrap-intrusive-census-98437914.html

If there’s an oil spill, who’s at risk? Canadian taxpayers

With the National Energy Board about to begin a review, it’s time to re-examine liability regimes Jul 14, 2010
Will Amos
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/if-theres-an-oil-spill-whos-at-risk-canadian-taxpayers/article1638799/

Nasal vaccine against flu gets green light in Canada

Now it’s up to provinces to decide whether they want to purchase the new seasonal flu vaccine for use in the coming season
Jul 14, 2010
Carly Weeks
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/nasal-vaccine-against-flu-gets-green-light-in-canada/article1640399/

Keep Avandia on market: FDA panel

Diabetes drug increases heart attack risk but evidence not strong enough to pull
Jul 14, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/07/14/avandia-heart-fda.html

Nestle slapped over probiotic health claims

Claimed a children's probiotic product would reduce school absences
Jul 14, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/07/14/con-nestle-ruling.html

BP explores B.C. coal methane reserves

Demonstration planned for Fernie to protest tests
Jul 14, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/14/cp-coal-bed-methane-bc.html

The green suits

The economics of biodiversity and business
Jul 14, 2010
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/node/16587949

Far north plan still incomplete

Jul 14, 2010
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/835374--far-north-plan-still-incomplete

Oil sands ads urge tourists to avoid Alberta

U.S. environmental group calls province ‘arrogant’ in attempt to portray industry as green
Jul 14, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/oil-sands-ads-urge-tourists-to-avoid-alberta/article1639617/

Tornado warning system 'horrible', expert says

Jul 14, 2010
BARB PACHOLIK
Postmedia News
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Tornado+warning+system+horrible+expert/3274378/story.html

Don't just fall back on fogging

Jul 14, 2010
Josh Brandon and Anne Lindsey
Winnipeg Free Press
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/dont-just-fall-back-on-fogging-98396059.html

Funding in peril for eco-training project

Aimed at immigrants, program needs stable funding to continue
Jul 14, 2010
Ian Shelton
Times Colonist
http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Funding+peril+training+project/3275369/story.html

Fish kill investigated in P.E.I.

Jul 14, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/14/pei-fish-kill-west-prince-584.html

Census changes 'indefensible,' retired top statistician says

Decision to axe long questionnaire likely to bias data, Fellegi says
Jul 13, 2010
Shannon Proudfoot
Canwest News Service
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Census+changes+indefensible+retired+statistician+says/3270177/story.html

Good information comes at a price

Yes, the census long form is intrusive, but statistics empower Canadians
Jul 13, 2010
William Robson
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/good-information-comes-at-a-price/article1637565/

Federal budget bill damages the environment, critic says

Jul 13, 2010
Richard J. Brennan
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/federalbudget/article/835436--federal-budget-bill-damages-the-environment-critic-says

Coalition urges Conservatives to reverse census stand

Jul 13, 2010
Shannon Proudfoot
Postmedia News
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Coalition+urges+Conservatives+reverse+census+stand/3273475/story.html

HIV/AIDS strategy unveiled in U.S.

'We can't afford complacency'
Jul 13, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/07/13/us-hiv-aids-strategy.html

A human right Canada rejects: Access to clean water

Contary to what Ottawa says, UN convention would not compel exports to U.S.
Jul 13, 2010
Maude Barlow and Anil Naidoo
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/835040--a-human-right-canada-rejects-access-to-clean-water

We’re missing the boat on regulating death on the water

Let’s focus on two policies already on the books – life jackets and drinking
Jul 13, 2010
Jeffrey Simpson
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/were-missing-the-boat-on-regulating-death-on-the-water/article1637432/

Electric car agenda pushed by Obama

Dispatches White House officials to explore advancing clean energy
Jul 13, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/13/con-obama-electric.html

Renewable energy expands in Europe

Jul 13, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/13/con-eu-renewable.html

Statement on 2011 Census

Jul 13, 2010
Industry Canada
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Statement-on-2011-Census-1289664.htm

65-thousand academics can’t be wrong

Professors and researchers unite in defence of long-form census
Jul 12, 2010
Carson Jerema
Macleans
http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2010/07/12/65-thousand-academics-cant-be-wrong/

The census coalition

Jul 12, 2010
Aaron Wherry
Macleans
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/12/the-census-coalition/

Canada's environment threatened by regressive changes in omnibus budget bill, say critics

Environmentalists say the government's move to 'gut' the Canadian Environment Assessment Act will weaken environmental protection assessments for development projects like the tar sands, mine, oil and gas pipelines and nuclear power plants
Jul 12, 2010
KRISTEN SHANE
The Hill Times
http://www.hilltimes.com/page/view/environment-07-12-2010

Grit Senators question offshore oil and gas exploration in Arctic

As Gulf of Mexico oil spills, federal legislators wonder if it's wise for the Canadian government to keep reviewing bids for offshore oil exploration licences in parts of frozen Arctic.
Jul 12, 2010
KRISTEN SHANE
The Hill Times
http://hilltimes.com/page/view/oil-07-12-2010

New system urged to treat rare-disease patients: analysis

Canada is one of the few developed countries that doesn't have a formal policy allowing access to ‘orphan drugs'
Jul 12, 2010
Carly Weeks
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-system-urged-to-treat-rare-disease-patients-analysis/article1637599/

Salmon struggle in warmer Miramichi River

Miramichi Salmon Association has reports of fish dying
Jul 12, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/12/nb-salmon-miramichi-warm-waters-1100.html

Oil spill result of technological 'hubris': expert

Jul 12, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/12/bp-spill-gulf-technology.html

Bruce Power plans to ship waste on Great Lakes

Jul 12, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/12/win-radioactive-bruce-power.html

African mammal populations shrinking: study

Jul 12, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/12/african-mammal-declines.html

Census changes will handcuff researchers

Jul 11, 2010
Lynn Bestari
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/834646--census-changes-will-handcuff-researchers

The federal government is senseless on the census

There's no evidence of a broad public backlash against the long-form census, and the imposition on Canadians is not unreasonable
Jul 11, 2010
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/the-federal-government-is-senseless-on-the-census/article1635140/

Why the census matters

Jul 11, 2010
Elsbeth Mehrer
Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/census+matters/3262689/story.html?cid=megadrop_story

Why aren’t more women breastfeeding?

Health experts are increasingly concerned about the lack of increase in breastfeeding rates in Canada, which they say is tied to a lack of support for mothers across the country
Jul 11, 2010
Carly Weeks
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/family-and-relationships/why-arent-more-women-breastfeeding/article1636178/

Species at risk need big, linked parks: report

Jul 9, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/09/parks-cpaws-animals-endangered-species-threatened-at-risk.html

Numbers behind electric vehicles don't add up

Jul 9, 2010
David Booth
National Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/Numbers+behind+electric+vehicles/3253545/story.html

The sneaky ‘eco fee’

Jul 9, 2010
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/833901--the-sneaky-eco-fee

Don’t mess with census, statisticians tell Tories

Industry Minister’s decision to scrap mandatory long form should be ‘revisited, reinformed and reversed,’ Statistical Society of Canada says
Jul 9, 2010
Stephen Thorne
The Canadian Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/dont-mess-with-census-statisticians-tell-tories/article1635031/

Momentum builds to reinstate the census long form

Jul 9, 2010
Leo Charbonneau
University Affairs
http://www.universityaffairs.ca/margin-notes/momentum-builds-to-reinstate-the-census-long-form/

Scrapping long census could prove costly: expert

Jul 9, 2010
Sherri Gallant
Lethbridge Herald
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/208646/109/

Census change latest move in PM’s dumbing down of Canada

Jul 8, 2010
James Travers
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/833169--travers-census-change-latest-move-in-pm-s-dumbing-down-of-canada

Census change leaves Harper’s constituency ‘crippled’

Killing mandatory long form hurts Calgary’s ability to deliver services properly, city planner says
Jul 8, 2010
Jennifer Ditchburn
The Canadian Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/census-change-leaves-harpers-constituency-crippled/article1633298/

What we’re missing is a disciplined approach to planned investments to modernize Ontario’s power delivery system
Jul 8, 2010
Jatin Nathwani
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/heat-waves-and-blackouts-heres-the-fix/article1633491/

Manufacturing electric cars: The lighter drive

Electric cars made from carbon fibre will be safer and go farther
Jul 8, 2010
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/node/16537608

'Climategate' inquiry mostly vindicates scientists

But panel of inquiry chides some researchers for failing to share data with critics
Jul 7, 2010
Raphael G. Satter
The Associated Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/climategate-inquiry-mostly-vindicates-scientists/article1631614/