Canada West Foundation

The Prairie provinces, which rely heavily on trade with the U.S., need a new way of settling trade disputes with the U.S., wrote Carlo Dade in a submission to the House Standing Committee on International Trade. This is especially true as Canada strategizes for the 2026 review. His solution? Get creative and find ways to win in the court of public opinion - and he has a suggestion for the VCOOL scrimmage.

For more 👉 https://cwf.ca/research/publications/testimony-2026-cusma-review-a-western-canadian-perspective/

Slip in under the wire! Just days left to register for this webinar on amendments to the Impact Assessment Act. Our panel of experts, including Jesse McCormick, will discuss whether changes to the act are enough to transform Canada's project approval process.

Register here: https://cwf.ca/research/publications/webinar-amendments-in-the-hot-seat-spotlight-on-changes-to-the-impact-assessment-act/

CWF's Carlo Dade notes that as Canada prepares a concerted effort to engage with the U.S. after this fall's election, it would do well to remember that countries are allies and competitors - not friends. We have been good allies in the past, but we need to learn to be better competitors when we engage in economic diplomacy.

Opinion: Canada has become roadkill in global economic competition In competing globally with the U.S. for economic opportunity, rather than friend or competitor, Canada has often been roadkill

The 2026 review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade accord faces a critical year in 2024, as both Mexico and the United States will have presidential elections, writes Carlo Dade in the Latin American Advisor. What actions are likely given who is elected in the two countries? What’s at stake for businesses that are affected by the USMCA? Read on to learn more.

OP-ED | Will the USMCA Accord survive an upcoming review? - Canada West Foundation The upcoming USMCA review makes 2024 a critical year for the future of the agreement, as both Mexico and the United States will have presidential elections.

Bird flu in cows? Yes, the virus has made the leap. While that sounds alarming, the political response has been underwhelming. It seems we have not taken the lessons drawn from COVID seriously. Read more in the North America Brief.

North America Brief 18 | Bird flu in U.S. dairy cows ruffles few feathers - Canada West Foundation Bird flu has jumped from birds to U.S. dairy cows, which should be cause for alarm. But the fractured, uncoordinated response suggests lessons from COVID 19 are not being taken seriously.

Canada needs a new language to talk about trade with the U.S. to counter arguments that trade is destroying middle class America. CWF's Gary G. Mar and Carlo Dade point out that oil and gas exports create, not take, American jobs. This message, they write in this Calgary Herald op-ed, should be part of any "Team Canada" approach to the U.S.

OP-ED | Alberta a key player in new story about Canada-U.S. trade - Canada West Foundation Canada's enormous trade deficit with the U.S. should not be considered a problem by economists because our exports create, not take, jobs.

Is decarbonization of the energy sector an economic threat or opportunity? It can be both, says CWF's Gary Mar, adding "but you can mitigate the threat with good public policy." That's where we come in, providing public policy advice on resource development - as well as how to train the thousands of workers we'll need to make the transition happen.

Read more about Dow's megaproject (the first of its kind in the world!) in Chris Varcoe's piece.

Varcoe: '6,000 construction workers on site' — Dow's Alberta megaproject highlights 'opportunity' of energy transition Decarbonizing Alberta’s energy sector is increasingly seen as an opportunity, with new projects being built and new employees being hired.

The Canada West Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Roger Gibbins, former President and CEO. During his 14 years here, Roger shaped the Foundation into what it is today - an organization with the belief that a strong West would lead to a strong Canada. Those of us who worked with him still feel his influence as well as his warmth and kindness. To the Gibbins family we offer our deepest condolences.

In memory of Dr. Roger Gibbins | Canada West Foundation In memory of Dr. Roger Gibbins The Canada West Foundation is deeply saddened at the passing of Dr. Roger Gibbins, President and CEO from 1998 to 2012. During his tenure at the helm of the Foundation, Roger inspired people across the West and Canada to think differently about policy issues. His appro...

Under pressure. A little known but vital industry on the Canadian prairie - the shortline sector - is under threat. Shortline farm equipment - attachments that plant & harvest soybeans for example - is being blocked from working with tractors and combines manufactured by larger companies. In our latest policy brief, authors Anthony Rosborough and Carlo Dade examine the issue, the federal response and the provincial action now needed to offer further protection to these companies and the rural communities that rely on them.

WHAT NOW? | Farming in the software age | Canada West Foundation System Update Required Farming in the software age: Interoperability and provincial legislation Anthony Rosborough and Carlo Dade March 2024 Read the full brief In recent years, while governments have tried to create new industries in the West, an economic and innovation champion of the agricultural...

There’s been much speculation on what a Biden vs Trump win might mean for trade with Canada. Two reports were recently released which shed some light on the impacts of either administration on trade policies. To save you from wading into the swamp, this Hot Take by CWF's Carlo Dade provides an in-depth analysis of relevant sections of both documents

HOT TAKES | North American Brief 16 Extended | Canada West Foundation North American Brief Extended Issue 16 | March 2024 HOT TAKES | North American Brief Extended There’s been a lot of necessary speculation on what a Trump2 administration would mean for Canada and global trade, and also a lot of the same type of consideration about a Biden2 administration. Speculat...

Our labour market expert Janet Lane weighs in on potential solutions to current and ongoing labour shortages. Want details? Read her comments in this CBC piece and for a deeper dive take a look at Janet's recent report Matching People with Jobs and Jobs with People at www.cwf.ca

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/the-city-released-a-multi-year-forecast-of-calgary-s-labour-market-here-s-what-it-found-1.7134984

The city released a multi-year forecast of Calgary's labour market. Here's what it found | CBC News Calgary’s labour market is expected to cool over the next couple of years before staffing challenges are projected to re-emerge in the next budget cycle — but labour shortages in certain sectors could persist for the next decade.

Third time a charm? The federal government released its third iteration of proposed Clean Electricity Regulations. Our Gary G. Mar reviews the changes to see if they'll satisfy the concerns of people in the electricity sector and provincial governments. His conclusions? Read on to find out.

Opinion: New draft electricity framework: Clean and green or ugly scene? The third iteration of Clean Electricity Regulations got some things right but there are still concerns with parts of the act.

CWF's Indo-Pacific trade expert Carlo Dade was in Ottawa this week testifying to the Special Committee on the Canada - People's Republic of China Relationship. To read CWF insights into the West's trade relationship with the region, subscribe to China Brief.
https://cwf.ca/research/publications/china-brief-100-experts-look-ahead-to-2024/

The current state of the Canada-China relationship? "Quietly progressive" came through loud and clear from the audience at our recent event with H.E. Jennifer May, Ambassador of Canada to China. Subscribe to our newsletter and you won't miss another event with experts from across Canada and around the world.
https://cwf.ca/newsletter/

We celebrated China Brief's 100th issue by asking experts to offer their thoughts on what 2024 might hold for Canada's relationships with China, India and the wider Indo-Pacific. Don't miss these insights by Vina Nadjibulla, David Detomasi, Greg Cherewyk, Jia Wang, Karthik Nachiappan, Dominic Barton, Senator Yuen Pau Woo, Hon. Jeremy Harrison and our own Jeff Mahon.

China Brief 100 | Experts look ahead to 2024 | Canada West Foundation China Brief: China, the Indo-Pacific and Canada’s West Issue 100 | February 2024 In this issue: We ring in the New Year by canvassing experts, stakeholders and leaders for a reflective look ahead to seek principles and advice for getting Canada’s relationship with China and the Indo-Pacific on t...

New op-ed challenging the need for a Canadian oil and gas emissions cap: Gary G. Mar and Colleen Collins argue such measures are not only unnecessary but also unaffordable and unattainable.

Key Points:
✅ Existing regulations already target greenhouse gas emissions effectively.
✅ The sector has made significant strides, including achieving 2025 methane targets early.
✅ A cap could pose unnecessary costs and constitutional issues.

Interested in energy policy, environmental regulations and the future of Canada's energy industry? Read on:

Opinion: Oil and gas emissions cap unnecessary, unaffordable, unattainable Enough is enough. Canada doesn’t need another set of regulations layered on top of layers of existing regulations.

We are delighted to welcome Lyall D. Knott, K.C. to our Board of Directors!

We are pleased to announce Kim McConnell has joined our Board of Directors!

In this issue, we focus on a pressing concern for employers: attracting and retaining talent. Stay informed on trends and approaches across various sectors, including bio-tech and retail. Interested in the changing demands of the workforce? Read on: https://cwf.ca/research/publications/future-of-work-and-learning-41-workforce-attraction-and-retention/

Future of Work and Learning 41 | Workforce attraction and retention | Canada West Foundation The Future of Work and Learning Brief Issue 41 | December 2023 This brief focuses on talent attraction and retention strategies as employers seek new and creative ways to find and retain talent. If you know of something relevant and want to send for inclusion in the next brief, email Sectoral-approa...

Check out our 2023 EIB finale! Dive into carbon fibre—a super-strong material found in hockey sticks, premium bikes, cars and planes. This hydrocarbon-based innovation drives energy reduction across industries.

Energy Innovation Brief 35 | Close up on carbon fibre | Canada West Foundation Carbon fibre, a hyper-strong material used in everything from hockey sticks to bicycle frames to cars and airplanes, is seeing a wave of innovation.

ICYMI: Catch the latest in our China Brief: a deep dive into the EU's diverse stances on China policies, alongside insights on the U.S.'s divided perspectives on the IPEF and more. Interested? Read the full brief: https://cwf.ca/research/publications/china-brief-99-eu-policies-on-china-u-s-divided-on-ipef-more/

China Brief 99 | EU policies on China, U.S. divided on IPEF & more | Canada West Foundation China Brief: China, the Indo-Pacific and Canada’s West Issue 99 | November 2023 In this issue: EU countries not aligned on China policies, no surprise – the U.S. is split on IPEF, and more. EU’s China policies not uniform Getting China ‘right’ in Europe was subject of Politico’s ChinaWat...

It's been a year since the launch of federal and provincial Indo-Pacific strategies. How far have we come? Join us at the Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum for “Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: A Year in Review”.

🗓️ December 4 | ⏰ 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM

Panelists include:
Trevor Kennedy, Vice President, Trade & International Policy, Business Council of Canada
Jeff Nankivell, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Jeremy Paltiel, Senior Fellow, Institute for Peace & Diplomacy
Kim Nossal, Professor Emeritus, Queen's University

Moderated by: Sven List, Senior Vice President, Corporate & International, Export Development Canada

Learn more and register today: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2023-indo-pacific-strategy-forum-tickets-749198251137?aff=oddtdtcreator

Catch the latest in our China Brief: a deep dive into the EU's diverse stances on China policies, alongside insights on the U.S.'s divided perspectives on the IPEF and more. Interested? Read the full brief. ⬇
https://cwf.ca/research/publications/china-brief-99-eu-policies-on-china-u-s-divided-on-ipef-more/

China Brief 99 | EU policies on China, U.S. divided on IPEF & more | Canada West Foundation China Brief: China, the Indo-Pacific and Canada’s West Issue 99 | November 2023 In this issue: EU countries not aligned on China policies, no surprise – the U.S. is split on IPEF, and more. EU’s China policies not uniform Getting China ‘right’ in Europe was subject of Politico’s ChinaWat...

The latest Future of Work and Learning brief delves into the critical issue of mental health in the workplace. Learn how mental health and substance use are impacting workers across industries.

Future of Work and Learning 40 | Mental Health and Workers | Canada West Foundation The Future of Work and Learning Brief Issue 40 | November 2023 This edition of the brief is focused on mental health and substance use impacts on the workforce and includes references to su***de and specific substances. Help is available 24/7 at the following: The Canadian Mental Health Association....

Issue 13 of North American Brief just dropped! In this issue: Good news for Canada on critical minerals and softwood lumber, Deja-LNG on hydrogen.

Catch the full story:

North America Brief 13 | Soft win on softwood, Deja-LNG on hydrogen | Canada West Foundation Good news for Canada on critical minerals and softwood lumber, U.S. invests in hydrogen hubs, and more.

We are thrilled to announce the third annual Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum, the largest and most comprehensive conference on Canada’s defense and trade engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Co-hosted by the Canada West Foundation and the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy, the IPSF 2023 will feature 45 expert speakers from Canada, the US and the Indo-Pacific region over two days.

What to expect:

- Diverse participation: 150 participants, encompassing federal and provincial government officials, academics, business leaders, the foreign diplomatic corps and key stakeholders from the Indo-Pacific region.

- In-depth discussions: Delve into critical topics, a year after the launch of federal and provincial Indo-Pacific strategies. Evaluate the strategy's implementation, explore Canada’s broader engagement with the region and understand the perception of this engagement within the Indo-Pacific.

- Networking opportunities: Connect with policymakers, industry experts, and thought leaders in an engaging, in-person setting.

📅 December 4-5, 2023
📍 The Westin Ottawa

🔗 Learn more and register:

IN-PERSON EVENT | Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum 2023 | Canada West Foundation Join experts from Canada, the U.S. and the Indo-Pacific for two-days of insightful discussion at the 2023 Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum in Ottawa.

Halloween brings longer nights and chilly air, along with eerie energy innovations. Prepare for some spooky stories, but don't fret—we'll return next month with significant Canadian innovations.

Energy Innovation Brief 34 | Unusual, strange and maybe even SPOOKY energy innovation stories | Canada West Foundation Energy Innovation Brief Issue 34 | October 2023 In Western Canada and around the world, the energy sector is rapidly transforming to one that promises to be cleaner, greener and more efficient. Each month, the Canada West Foundation’s Energy Innovation Brief brings you stories about technology inn...

In time for Halloween - SPOOKY energy innovations!

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder and Halloween is just around the corner. This October we’re sharing some of the strange-- and sometimes even creepy--energy innovations we’ve found.

01| Ghost power: Capturing energy released by crematoriums
02| It was a dark and stormy night: Harvesting energy from raindrops
03| The phantom-grid zone: Wireless energy transfer
04| Mad science: A nuclear fusion gun
05| Rust and Resurrection: De-oxidizing iron for emission-free energy storage
06| Floating leviathans: Airborne wind turbines
07| Dawn of the dead: Installing solar panels in cemeteries

Energy Innovation Brief 34 | Unusual, strange and maybe even SPOOKY energy innovation stories | Canada West Foundation Energy Innovation Brief Issue 34 | October 2023 In Western Canada and around the world, the energy sector is rapidly transforming to one that promises to be cleaner, greener and more efficient. Each month, the Canada West Foundation’s Energy Innovation Brief brings you stories about technology inn...

Join Mairead Lavery, President and CEO of Export Development Canada - Exportation et développement Canada, and Gary G. Mar, President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation, as they discuss resources available to western Canadian exporters looking to take advantage of new trade opportunities in a complex and changing world.

📍 USask Calgary Hub, Calgary, AB
📅 Wednesday, November 8, 2023
🕙 10:00-11:00 am MT

Register here: https://share.hsforms.com/1SoY4Dap4SKiEw2ArSTvxRgcp94z

🔗 https://cwf.ca/research/publications/in-person-event-brand-new-landscape-assessing-trade-opportunities-for-western-canada-with-mairead-lavery/

IN-PERSON EVENT | Brand New Landscape: Assessing trade opportunities for Western Canada with Mairead Lavery | Canada West Foundation Assessing trade opportunities for Western Canada with Mairead Lavery, President and CEO, Export Development Canada, and Gary Mar, President and CEO, CWF