No, but because of how students learn today means that the role of the teacher has to change drastically
In the spate of recent violence, one incident that got little coverage resulted in six deaths and more than 100 injured – more than half of whom were police. The event occurred in Mexico in June. It was instigated by teachers who opposed the imposition of mandatory testing on themselves. Although their methods were deeply…Your current workers can do a good job finding suitable workers for free or for a small cost
It is August. Fall clothes and back-to-school items appear in the stores. So do help wanted signs, as students leave their summer jobs hoping to enjoy the last bit of summer before heading back to their studies. Employers are faced with the task of filling those newly vacated positions. Staffing will be a major challenge,…
But we need a policy regime that encourages these innovators to find new ideas, then gets out of their way while they pursue them
How can the sluggish Canadian economy generate more wealth for all of us? We need to find ways to encourage the innovative thinkers among us. We all wouldn’t mind at least a little more income. And most of us would like to see that increase spread around a little more evenly. But Canadian income growth, especially…
Britain's withdrawal from Europe may hurt Canada’s access to the much-larger European markets
Brexit is a game changer but how can one country’s decision to leave an economic union affect that nation, its former partners and the world, including Canada? Any real changes in trade conditions, labour mobility, etc., will take at least two years to define, negotiate and implement. But negative anticipation and uncertainty have already thrown…
Across Canada, significant projects have improved conditions in many communities, thanks to a funding model that demands accountability
First Nations have long been the stepchildren of the Canadian economy. But a funding initiative is changing that. By measures like income, health, longevity, access to services and others, many First Nations people fall well below what are considered normal levels in the rest of Canadian society. The resulting problems rightfully disturb us all. Insufficient and/or…
A dangerous step back in time for the world's most powerful nation
Donald Trump's success as a presidential hopeful is a mystery to many. He has no political or governance experience. His business record is sprinkled with bankruptcies. And him yelling “You’re fired!” on television does not lead you to think he can command the world stage, leading a superpower. However, what Trump promises, says or implies…
Public bodies that budget beyond their means send the wrong social message and leave a legacy of debt
‘We can't afford it.’ They are simple words and the concept is so critical. Yet society has a difficult time accepting the notion that you can't spend more than you have. The YWCA is a great organization that does a lot of great work for women and their children in Vancouver. In the 1980s, I…
We can prevent tragedies like that in Attawapiskat by focusing on culture, connectivity and commerce
The tragedies of Attawapiskat – suicides, hopelessness and poverty – have touched us all. But what can we do? Former prime minister Jean Chretien proposed shutting down that and perhaps other small, isolated settlements and shipping the residents elsewhere. But that ignores the feelings of the people who call these communities home. Instead, there are steps we can take to bring long-term viability…
Even though fewer people are preparing their own meals, the restaurant industry is struggling to find staff and pay them more
All the gourmet cooking TV shows notwithstanding, people are preparing fewer and fewer of the meals they eat at home. We are happy when we are eating, as numerous studies on time use and well-being have shown — but we are not happy cooking. This conclusion comes from revealed preference: what you choose to do or not do tells what…
The Liberals embrace a $30-billion deficit without making jobs a priority
The new Liberal government’s first federal budget contains few surprises – except, of course, in how far it has strayed from election campaign promises. In recent weeks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has said more than enough to let us know what was to come in the budget. The surprise? Compare Tuesday’s budget numbers to…