Editorial - 26-4

Why are Canada's resource and financial services sectors routinely excluded from innovation policy? That's a question that is confronted in a provocative new discussion paper that seeks to remedy the problem. The Univ of Calgary's Dr Richard Hawkins is recommending that academics re-focus their perspective on Canada's national system of innovation and participate in writing an innovation manifesto that reflects the true breadth of the national economy (see page 1).

The call for a more realistic innovation policy comes at a time when the vast majority of innovation policy in Canada and globally is inordinately focused on technology. In Canada's case, resources account for a much larger portion of GDP than the tech sector.

Our resource sector is sagging under an avalanche of international criticism for the damage it inflicts on the land, water and air. A greater focus on innovative activity in the oil & gas, mining, agriculture and forestry sectors may help to improve what's admittedly a poor track record.

Hawkins rightly notes that Canada is doubly blessed with bountiful resources and a small but vibrant tech sector. Both should be included in a national innovation policy that seeks to leverage the economic potential of the nation. Perhaps such a policy could increase the amount of Canadian-made technologies used in the resource sector and open up new markets internationally.

It's up to governments, the academic community and industry to ensure that we have an innovation policy that's reflective of the Canadian reality.