Faculty

Marc Fortin on Rethinking University Research to Drive Canadian Innovation | Canada's National Observer

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:04:44 +0000

July 11, 2025 | In an opinion piece published in Canada’s National Observer, Marc Fortin, alongside Richard Gold, Evan Henry, and Martin Bader, argue that Canada should seize the moment created by U.S. research setbacks to build a stronger, more collaborative innovation ecosystem. With American universities facing cuts and instability, the authors call on Canada to rethink how they support research, moving away from patent sales toward long-term industry partnerships, open data, and simplified licensing.

Vincent Rigby on Strategic Autonomy Amidst G7 Uncertainty | The Globe and Mail

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:44:40 +0000

June 14, 2025 | Vincent Rigby, quoted in The Globe and Mail, sees Carney’s foreign policy as a clear break from traditional diplomacy rooted in values. He argues that Canada is embracing a more pragmatic, hard-headed approach in response to global volatility. While diversification of defence partnerships—such as working with European suppliers—is on the table, Rigby stresses that close coordination with the U.S. remains essential.

Vincent Rigby on NATO, Canada’s 2% Commitment, and Alliance Readiness | CDA Institute

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:48:51 +0000

June 23, 2025 | Vincent Rigby joined the CDA Institute’s Expert Series alongside former Canadian Ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck and former NATO Assistant Secretary General Wendy Gilmour to unpack what’s at stake as leaders gather in The Hague for the 76th NATO Summit. The conversation focused on Canada’s recent pledge to meet NATO’s long-standing 2% GDP defence spending target by March 2026, as well as the summit’s broader agenda—expected to include raising the defence spending floor to 3.5%, enhancing alliance readiness, and addressing industrial capacity shortfalls.

Vincent Rigby on the Challenges Ahead for the Canada-EU Defence Pact | Expert Group on Canada-US Relations

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:45:02 +0000

June 2025 | Vincent Rigby, alongside other senior experts, co-authored a white paper analyzing the Canada-EU Security and Defence Partnership. While the agreement aims to reduce reliance on U.S. defence suppliers and expand access to the European market, the report warns that its success is far from guaranteed. Rigby and his co-authors highlight major fiscal and political barriers, including Canada’s underinvestment in defence, EU divisions over spending targets, and implementation hurdles in aligning procurement and supply chains.

MPP '25 Al-Amin Ahamed on Why the Ideology Behind Conversion Therapy Still Persists | Policy Magazine

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:33:24 +0000

July 14, 2025 | In an article for Policy Magazine, MPP '25 Al-Amin Ahamed examined the gap between Canada’s 2022 federal ban on conversion therapy and the ongoing harm caused by its underlying ideology. While Bill C-4 made it a criminal offence to attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, Ahamed warns that the ideology behind these practices has simply evolved—adopting new language and methods that fall outside the law’s reach.

Pearl Eliadis on Potential United Nations Challenge to Bills 21 and 96 | Montreal Now with Aaron Rand

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:50:48 +0000

June 16, 2025 | Speaking on Montreal Now with Aaron Rand, Pearl Eliadis cautioned that if Canada’s Supreme Court does not act to limit Quebec’s use of the notwithstanding clause in laws such as Bills 21 and 96, the anglophone community may need to seek recourse through the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Eliadis noted that Canada, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has a duty to uphold principles of equality and non-discrimination—protections she believes are being undermined by the legislation.

Pearl Eliadis on Challenging Quebec’s Bills 21 and 96 at the UN | City News Montreal

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:42:05 +0000

July 12, 2025 | Pearl Eliadis spoke to CityNews Montreal about the potential to challenge Quebec’s Bills 21 and 96 before the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Eliadis explained that bringing the case to the UN would aim “to get the UN committee's view” on whether the laws violate international human rights obligations. The interview highlights growing legal interest in using international mechanisms to confront the controversial legislation.

Vincent Rigby on the Risks and Realities of Canada’s New EU Defence Pact | The Globe and Mail

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:40:00 +0000

July 9, 2025 | Vincent Rigby, along with retired vice-admiral Mark Norman, former deputy trade minister Tim Sargent, former defence minister Perrin Beatty, and professor Fen Hampson, wrote a report highlighted in The Globe and Mail that raises concerns about Canada’s new Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union. The pact, signed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, aims to reduce Canada’s reliance on U.S. military contractors and boost the Canadian defence industry by tapping into the EU’s growing defence market.

Taylor Owen on Gander, a Canadian Social Media App | 1075koolfm

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:44:09 +0000

June 25, 2025 | Professor Taylor Owen, founding director of The Center for Media, Technology and Democracy has come together with other advisors to build an application, called Gander. It’s a social media platform that lets you post videos, write updates, and tailor your feed to what you actually want to see — minus the trolls, conspiracy theories, and the “why is this even in my feed?” content.

Chris Ragan on Carbon Tax Woes | TVO Today

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:37:33 +0000

June 23, 2025 | Professor Chris Ragan, chair of Ecofiscal Commission spoke about the pitfalls of the Carbon Tax at the TVO on The Agenda with Steve Paikin. Chris mentioned the lack of not presenting rebates, and about the resentment from the Conservatives, "when the liberals adopted a carbon pricing policy and traditionally we viewed a carbon pricing policy as actually a fairly market-friendly and even a conservative type policy," said Ragan.

Vincent Rigby on 76th NATO Summit | CDA Institute

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:41:51 +0000

June 23, 2025 | Professor Vincent Rigby, a former NSIA to the Prime Minister, along with Kerry Buck, a former Canadian Ambassador to NATO and Former Assistant Secretary General, Defence Investment, Wendy Gilmour joined the CDA Institute Expert Series to discuss the key issues, challenges, and likely outcomes of this year’s Summit for Canada and the Alliance in this podcast.

L’Europe et le défi américain | Tour de Table

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:53:16 +0000

June 18, 2025 | In March 2023, Jennifer Welsh launched Tour de Table, a podcast series that joins leading scholars and policymakers for a bilingual discussion of the political, economic, and security challenges confronting our world and whether and how Canada is prepared to address them.

Vincent Rigby on Trump's Tariffs Wars | Washington Examiner

pinaki.siwach@mail.mcgill.ca — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:12:42 +0000

June 17, 2025 | Professor Vincent Rigby, a former Global Affairs Canada and Department of National Defence government official, contended at how Canada must not step away from the U.S. completely regarding trade, economics, defense, and security, despite “diversification strategies” because of Trump. “I mean, we share a continent...we are indivisible in that respect, and so it makes sense for Canada to still work closely with the United States on defense and security issues,” said Rigby.

Asif Khan on Why the Canada Disability Benefit Falls Short Without Urgent Fixes | Policy Magazine

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:01:42 +0000

May 19, 2025 | MPP ’21 Asif Khan in Policy Magazine critically examines the long-awaited rollout of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). While the federal government has promoted the CDB as a landmark anti-poverty initiative, Khan argues it falls drastically short. Capped at just $200 per month, the benefit will only lift a fraction of working-age Canadians with disabilities out of poverty in its first decade.

Jennifer Welsh on Israel-Iran Tensions and What’s at Stake at the G7 Summit | CBC Radio

isabela.sullivan@mcgill.ca — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:48:09 +0000

June 15, 2025 | Jennifer Welsh joined CBC Radio’s The Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay to analyze how rising tensions between Israel and Iran are shaping the global security landscape—just as G7 leaders gather in Alberta. Speaking alongside former Canadian ambassador Arif Lalani, Welsh described Israel’s latest military strikes as unusually ambitious in scale and timing.