bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE, SUBSTANCE USE TRENDS AND ASSOCIATED PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS AMONG VETERANS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY OF US VETERANS
Authors: Obermann Jason , Divadeenam Krishna , Flynn Alexandra V. , Thakur Hemant , Singh Vikas , Sharma Rishi , Wiegmann Thomas , Boinpelly Varun , Grasing Kenneth , Sharma Mukut , Sharma Ram
Published: August 2024

Background: Amphetamine and other substances induced psychotic disorder and associated suicidal risk among hospitalized US veterans is not clear. Aims: To understand the demographic profile, substance use trends, psychotic disorders and suicide attempts in veterans hospitalized with acute Mental Health Conditions (MHC). Methods: Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure Database (ICD) and codes were used to identify veterans hospitalized with MHC diagnosis between 1999 and 2022. Laboratory records used to determine types of substances used hospitalization frequency, all-cause mortality, suicide attempts and suicide outcomes. SAS was used for statistical analysis. Results: Among veterans with MHC, psychosis, manic-bipolar and PTSD were common diagnosis. Psychosis was comparatively less among males above 50 years of age, but prevalent among Hispanics. In general, substances use was significantly higher, and amphetamines were most used, followed by cannabis codeine, morphine, cocaine, barbiturates, fentanyl, and PCP among veterans with MHC. Amphetamine induced psychotic disorder persisted in 22.28% and other substance induced psychotic disorder persisted in 77.72% of veterans hospitalized with MHC. Psychosis was associated with higher rates of hospitalization, suicide attempts, and suicide death. Conclusions: Among US Veterans with MHC, amphetamine was most used substance associated with higher rates of psychotic disorders, hospitalization, suicide attempts, and death.
Digital tools to support dementia diagnosis
Authors:   , van Gils Aniek Marlina
Published: August 2024

In a changing dementia landscape, there is a need for innovative and sustainable solutions to keep dementia diagnosis and treatment accessible and scalable. The introduction of medication for Alzheimer’s disease underscores the necessity of precision medicine, as these drugs may be beneficial for some patients but certainly not for all. Even for those who are eligible, the medications carry a risk of side effects, further emphasizing the need for shared decision-making and effective communication. All these aspects can be supported by digital tools. However, despite the positive attitudes of end-users, many of these innovations remain unused. Therefore, this thesis aimed to improve the translation of digital tools into daily memory clinic practice by focusing on the end-users (physicians, patients, and care partners).

The key findings of this thesis indicate that end-users generally have positive attitudes towards digital tools (Chapters 2, 3, 6). Innovations such as digital cognitive testing and automated MRI quantification show promise for improving the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) (Chapters 4, 5) and maintaining accessibility and affordability of dementia diagnosis (Chapter 7). The assessment of the preferences and needs of the end-users led to the identification of several requirements to support the implementation of tools (Chapters 2, 3, 6, 8). These factors are centered around healthcare professionals, who need sufficient knowledge of the tool, time to learn it and become familiar with it, and the assurance of their clinical autonomy. The key considerations regarding the tool itself are ease of use, usefulness, relevance, and validity (Chapters 2, 6). Furthermore, professionals use the tool in a specific human environment, where important factors include the interaction between the patient and the professional, patient preferences, and the ability to tailor the tool accordingly (Chapters 3, 6, 8). Finally, the tool is used in a specific organizational environment, and its use depends on the clinical setting, where the workload is generally high. Therefore, the tool needs to be flexible and adaptable to fit seamlessly into work routines, and the provision of training, education, and real-time (administrative) support are important requirements to encourage its adoption (Chapters 6, 7, 8).

The future is at our doorstep and the use of digital tools in memory clinic practice could provide support for keeping dementia diagnosis and management accessible and scalable. The research in this thesis highlights the challenging reality of implementing digital tools in memory clinic practice by identifying and exploring the gap between the need for innovation and positive attitudes towards it, and its non-implementation in daily memory clinic practice. Finally, this thesis provides key recommendations to guide the road to successful implementation.
Doença de Graves: uma revisão abrangente
Authors: Mascarenhas Anne Christina Faria , Guimarães Felipe Souza , Assis Fernanda Duarte , Teixeira Gabriela Peron , Rosa Neto João Salviano , Faria Júlia Rodrigues , Herdy Camila Souza , Guerra Gabriel Toledo , Barbosa Christina Santos , Arguello Victor Fernando Bogado , Araújo João Pedro de Almeida , Couri Juliana Calil de Carvalho , Casséte Lucas de Carvalho , Guimarães Carolina de Araújo , Macedo Lucas Augusto Rocha de
Published: August 2024

A Doença de Graves (DG) é uma condição autoimune que afeta a glândula tireoide, levando à produção excessiva de hormônios tireoidianos, como T3 e T4, que aceleram o metabolismo e causam sintomas como taquicardia, tremores, sudorese e exoftalmia. Essa patologia, a principal causa de hipertireoidismo, afeta cerca de 0,5% da população global e é mais comum em mulheres. A etiologia da DG envolve uma combinação de fatores genéticos e ambientais, com destaque para polimorfismos genéticos, como os alelos de risco HLA e o gene HCP5, além de influências ambientais como tabagismo e ingestão de iodo. A fisiopatologia da doença está relacionada a um mecanismo autoimune em que anticorpos anti-receptor de TSH (TRAb) ativam continuamente a tireoide, resultando em hipertireoidismo. O diagnóstico da DG é confirmado por exames laboratoriais que mostram baixos níveis de TSH e elevados níveis de T3 e T4, além de exames de imagem como cintilografia e ultrassonografia que auxiliam na avaliação da glândula tireoide. O tratamento é multifacetado, envolvendo medicamentos antitireoidianos, terapia com iodo radioativo, cirurgia e manejo da oftalmopatia tireoidiana, com a escolha da abordagem dependente da resposta ao tratamento e das características individuais do paciente.
Diagnosis, clinic and treatment of tuberculosis
Authors: Editorial Article
Published: August 2024

В соответствии с планом научно-образовательных и конгрессно-выставочных мероприятий на 2022 год под патронатом Департамента здравоохранения города Москвы ГБУЗ «МНПЦ борьбы с туберкулезом Департамента здравоохранения города Москвы» совместно с Межрегиональной общественной организацией «Московское общество фтизиатров» провели 1–2 сентября 2022 года Х Ежегодную конференцию московских фтизиатров «Латентная туберкулезная инфекция в мегаполисе: эпидемиология, методы диагностики и ведения пациентов», целью которой было дальнейшее совершенствование работы противотуберкулезных учреждений города Москвы.

В этом номере журнала мы завершаем публикацию поступивших в адрес Оргкомитета конференции тезисов, охватывающих все многообразие проблемы защиты населения от туберкулеза.

При подготовке публикации проведена только техническая и редакторская правка; термины и дефиниции сохранены в авторской редакции.
Effective Analytical Techniques for the Condition Monitoring of Induction Motors
Authors: Zhang Yike , Honarvar Shakibaei Asli Barmak
Published: August 2024

As industrialisation progresses, electric motors are increasingly utilised in manufacturing sectors, and their regular operation plays a crucial role in enhancing production efficiency, safety, and ease. Consequently, there's a growing emphasis on developing technology for monitoring the condition of electric motors. This study focuses on the analysis of common issues like rotor bar failure and eccentricity in induction motors, examining their causes, creating motor models in both normal and malfunctioning conditions through computer simulations, identifying the stator current signals, and comparing their spectra to validate the stator current data. Additionally, this research offers a dependable and efficient dataset for further analysis. The complex and fluctuating nature of the current signals in induction motors necessitates the use of advanced techniques like the tunable-Q wavelet transform (TQWT) and box dimension method for feature extraction, which is more effective in signal characterisation than other approaches. The study then explores the application of Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) in fault diagnosis, achieving accuracies of 91.67% and 100%, respectively. The findings indicate that ANN is superior to SVM and suggest this strategy for the automatic detection of motor faults. Implementing such intelligent systems can prevent unexpected and unplanned production interruptions caused by electric motor failures.
Economy, demography and urbanization, The urban policy context in mid-sized metropolitan areas – Europe
Authors: Barati-Stec Izabella
Published: August 2024

The cases of four capitals, Budapest, Zagreb, Tbilisi and Belgrade presented in this paper help to understand the challenges faced by cities in the post-communist part of Europe. Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia are cities in member states of the European Union (EU). Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, a candidate country for membership in the EU and Tbilisi in Georgia is a city in a Eastern Partnership Agreement (EaP). All cities are capitals and not only is their recent history similar, but their early development also shows similarities due to their geographical settings, forming gates between East and West and being melting pots of cultures, religions, and traditions. All inherited a strong vertical hierarchy of political and economic structures and experienced multiple transitions since 1990. The transition from planned to market economy, from one party politics to democratic elections prompted important changes that affected these capital cities. The FDI inflow strongly influenced their economic development after the transition. While their population is becoming older, large cities also started to shrink for several reasons. The fertility rate is falling below the replacement level and instead of people moving from rural areas to the cities, citizens started migrating in the opposite direction. In addition, the urban poor are not able to maintain expensive city housing. The first chapter gives an overview of the four countries’ governance systems and economic development levels. The following sections introduce the four capital cities. Each section follows the same structure, the introduction and history section is followed by the demographic data, then the economic power of the city, its position and relations within the public administration system, the public finances of the country, and of the capital, and finally a discussion of land use issues. Data collection was challenging in many cases. Some cities did not disclose laws or budget information, or only partially disclosed. Some provided all data but merged with abundant non-relevant information and in a format, that makes it impossible to research.
The Western Alliance in the Face of the Russian (Dis)information Machine: Where Does Canada Stand?
Authors: Sukhankin Sergey
Published: August 2024

The Ukrainian crisis has witnessed intensification of information confrontation between Russia and the West. Canada - being an integral part of Western alliance and staunchly opposing to Russian actions on the Ukrainian Southeast – attracted Kremlin`s ire expressed in intensification of Russia`s information assault against it. The decision of Ottawa to deploy military forces in the Baltic Sea region and some legislative gestures were construed in Moscow as openly anti-Russian behaviour and a perfect example of Russophobia. This paper seeks to investigate the structure, key operative principles and distinctive features of Russia`s propaganda machine, and how these are used by the Russian side in its information campaign against Western alliance and Canada, in particular. The research demonstrates sophistication and elaborateness of Russia`s disinformation techniques: borrowing certain traits from the pre-1991 period, Russia managed to surpass its historical predecessor. This owed to the advent of new technologies and elimination of the ideological surcharge and previous dogmatism. On the basis of this research it could be argued that in spite of fierce disinformation assault that countries of the Western alliance have had to deal with after 2014, Russia`s resources are finite and Kremlin`s actions vary on a country-to-country basis. It thus could be stated that Russia`s capabilities against Canada in terms of information-phycological warfare are limited. This, however, does not mean that the peril is nonexistent. If (and, apparently, when) interests of Canada and Russia clash in the Arctic region, Moscow might be willing activate other means (the “cyber” pillar) of information confrontation, which have been tested in other theaters of Russia`s activities.
Industrial Policy in Alberta: Lessons from AOSTRA and the oil sands
Authors: Hastings-Simon Sara
Published: August 2024

This paper examines the record of industrial policy in Alberta and on this basis proposes principles for future innovation focused industrial policy in the province. I find that the development of the key technology in unlocking the majority of the Canadian oil sands, Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), is an example of industrial policy in Alberta responsible for disruptive innovation and economic development. Under strong political leadership and against the wishes of the incumbent industry – which preferred path following innovation in enhanced oil recovery – royalties were raised on the conventional oil industry to fund the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA), an extensive research and development project in what was seen as an “alternative” industry. While much of the research and testing was conducted in partnership and with matching funds from industry, after the initial $854 million (2019 dollars) government investment failed to demonstrate significant results, the pivotal investment in SAGD was purely government led in the face of opposition from industry that viewed the construction of the Underground Test Facility as a boondoggle. Once SAGD was proven it was the private sector, made up of personnel trained under AOSTRA, and with continued financial support from government, which grew SAGD into a significant industry. Over time the pivotal role of the $1.4 billion (2019 dollars) government investment and the original opposition the investment faced has been largely forgotten.
There is growing interest in the potential for mission oriented innovation or industrial policy to address major social and environmental challenges and spur economic growth. As the Government of Alberta addresses the dual challenges of diversification and decarbonisation in the province, AOSTRA’s past success holds important lessons for future government policy. I explore these lessons and set out an industrial policy approach for the role of government in industry creation. Alberta’s economic development history shows the important role of industrial
policy in disruptive innovations and economic growth, and how careful policy design can minimize rent-seeking and minimize the costs of the necessary mistakes in the process – the “losers” that end up picked in the necessary process of finding the “winners”.
The role of storage in Alberta’s electricity market: Summary of a School of Public Policy roundtable event
Authors: Shaffer Blake
Published: August 2024

Alberta’s electricity market is in transition. Coal, the long-dominant source of supply, is set to retire or be phased-out by 2030. A combination of climate policies and rapidly declining renewable energy costs is changing Alberta’s electricity generation mix to one that will contain a larger share of renewable energy.
Fiscal Policy Trends: The Federal Government's Policy Response to COVID-19: Acting Quickly and Decisively
Authors: Petit Gillian , Tedds Lindsay
Published: August 2024

As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and in Canada continues to climb, the global economy is experiencing large disruptions not seen since 2008. On the morning of Monday, March 9th, 2020, trading on Wall Street was halted for 15 minutes shortly after the opening bell by the market’s circuit breakers due to a large decline in prices, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell by 24.59% to $31.13/barrel―it’s second worst day ever on record.
Impediments to Health Innovation in Canada: Identifying Policy Barriers in Alberta’s Precision Health Innovation and Commercialization Ecosystem
Authors: Scott Craig , Eng Hubert , Dubyk Alexander , Zwicker Jennifer
Published: August 2024

Health systems globally are shifting towards precision health (PH), the utilization of individual information to inform health and social services delivery to improve health outcomes. PH is a major area of focus for economic development across the globe, however most Canadian provinces do not have a clear strategy for this sector. This research examines Alberta’s PH innovation and commercialization (I&C) ecosystem to identify key policy barriers in the development of new technologies and processes.
An environmental scan of existing policies for PH through the lens of an innovation framework revealed three gaps in the PH I&C system. There is a lack of formal leadership, such as an I&C decision-making body; public policy development and implementation does not involve industry; and lastly, demand stimulating policies are absent or underrepresented.
Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify policy challenges utilizing perspectives from senior level executives currently engaged in PH I&C in Alberta. Participants were grouped by category from the Triple Helix Model of Innovation – Government, Industry and Academia. A qualitative thematic analysis of the interviews was conducted on the interview transcripts, coded using NVivo software, to generate thematic policy challenges.
The findings from the interviews were grouped into five major policy challenges. Sub-optimal coordination between the various ecosystem players was the most consistent and prevalent findings across all groups. Most respondents identified the absence of a mandated organization for PH I&C as an impediment to decision-making. Multi-sectoral activity and collaboration were identified as concerns despite the importance of these activities in this sector. Tension between academics and government (including health service providers) was present between the research funding mechanisms “discovery-driven” versus “demand-pull”. Many respondents were concerned with the low level of local innovation public procurement by the health system.
Findings suggest the need for a stronger role of governance structures to coordinate PH innovation ecosystem activity. A group with the capacity to address the multifaceted and interdisciplinary policy challenges may improve PH I&C outcomes in Alberta. Future research is required to inform design of horizontal and vertical governance structures.
Cross-Canada Infrastructure Corridor, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and 'Meaningful Consultation'
Authors: Wright David
Published: August 2024

Pursuit of a cross-country infrastructure corridor raises complex legal issues with respect to the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The legal context has changed significantly since the corridor concept was initially presented in the 1960s. This article sets out the diverse legal landscape across treaty and non-treaty contexts in Canada today, and then describes Crown obligations with respect to Indigenous peoples, including “meaningful consultation”, that would be involved in pursuing the corridor concept. A key observation is that, while the jurisprudence provides relatively comprehensive guidance on the meaningful consultation standard, the contextual nature of the duty to consult legal framework will make it difficult to achieve in the practical Corridor context. This article also puts forward preliminary comments and queries with respect to legal forms that the Corridor concept make take and formal forums in which Crown consultation might occur, including in relation to the new federal impact assessment regime. Overall, this article observes that tensions, complexities and sensitivities that have produced friction in the contemporary legal sphere pertaining to large linear infrastructure projects and the rights of Indigenous peoples would still be present in pursuing the corridor proposal. Meanwhile, further change in the law is entirely foreseeable.
Buying With Intent: Public Procurement for Innovation by Provincial and Municipal Governments
Authors: Crisan Daria
Published: August 2024

Innovation is a key factor for economic growth and wealth accumulation and a constant preoccupation for governments around the world. This study reviews the theoretical foundations and existing evidence for using public procurement to stimulate innovation. The focus is on procurement programs at subnational level, since in Canada almost ninety per cent of procurement is undertaken by subnational governments. I review current public procurement programs in OECD countries and Canada to develop a set of recommendations for increasing the use of public procurement programs to stimulate innovation, particularly in the education sector.
Governance Options for a Canadian Northern Corridor
Authors: Sulzenko Andrei , Koch Katharina
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework for the consideration of governance structures and processes related to the development of a new northern corridor. The framework divides corridor development into four stages: policy development; corridor routing; project implementation; and ongoing operations management. Governance options are examined for each of these stages, with an analysis of advantages and disadvantages. In doing so, the paper draws on examples of other major transportation infrastructure projects in Canada and abroad. Finally, the paper provides an assessment of a practical way forward and outlines the sequence of steps governments and other stakeholders could pursue towards a successful outcome.
The 2019 Tax Competitiveness Report: Canada’s Investment and Growth Challenge
Authors: Mintz Jack , Bazel Philip
Published: August 2024

After a decade of corporate tax reform, the 2012 Tax Competitiveness Report (Chen and Mintz 2012) came to the conclusion that Canada’s record was a good news story: more investment and growth with corporate tax revenues as a share of GDP little changed despite the sharp reduction in the general corporate income tax rate.  Since that time, much has changed.
Economic Policy Trends: The Bank of Canada's Response to COVID-19 and the Collapse in World Oil Prices
Authors: Cameron Scott
Published: August 2024

The Canadian economy is being hammered by global demand and supply shocks from the COVID-19 crises and a collapse in world oil prices. Much attention has been on the various fiscal policy measures introduced by governments in Canada, but the Bank of Canada has also been actively engaged in companion emergency monetary policy measures.
The oil production response to Alberta's government-mandated quota
Authors: Hallak Amir , Jensen Adam , Lybbert Gilbert , Muehlenbachs Lucija
Published: August 2024

Two years ago, the Alberta government put in place a temporary oil-production quota. However, the quota’s impact could well be felt in the province’s oil production for years to come. The quota applied only to firms producing more than 10,000 barrels of oil per day and was instituted as a response to pipeline constraints that caused Alberta oil prices to be much lower than prices elsewhere. Production from both oilsands mines and oil wells dropped as soon as the government announced the quotas. The media warned that the quotas would force production to transfer to Saskatchewan, but the research for this paper found that this never occurred. 
The quota policy was announced in December 2018 and a week later, the price of Alberta oil had jumped from $29.09/bbl to $50.08 bbl, a 72 per cent rise. When the quota policy actually took effect the first of January 2019, the price increased again, but by much less. The anticipation of the quota alone was enough to create the desired price increase. 
The quota, which set limits for the total combined crude oil and bitumen permitted to be produced, was assigned to individual operators and designed to provide an 8.5 per cent reduction in oil production. The total quota was fixed at 3.56 million barrels a day in January 2019, but individual quotas could be traded across eligible operators, minimizing the overall costs of achieving the total goal. However, total production continued falling even when the quota was eventually relaxed; the market and a low world price created a scenario in which production fell below the amount permitted by the quota. All the oil companies reduced their production regardless of whether they fell within the quota’s guidelines or not; however, the firms that were subject to the quota reduced their production more than the others. The quota was lifted in December 2020 when export capacity again became sufficient. 
While curtailing production had the desired result of raising Alberta oil prices and resolving the differential between local prices and the world benchmark, its ripple effects may well be felt in the longer term. This paper finds that fewer wells are being drilled and more wells are suspending production. Tradition dictates that when a well becomes inactive, it is rarely returned to a productive state. Those firms that resorted to low levels of drilling in order to meet the quota have created a situation that could affect Alberta oil production in the years ahead.
The key role of No-Carbon State-Owned Enterprises in Global Climate Action: Leveraging the G20 forum to accelerate the energy transition
Authors: Beltran-Rodriguez Leonardo , Lozano-Maya Juan Roberto
Published: August 2024

The energy sector is the single largest source of carbon emissions, for which actions oriented to reduce its carbon intensity are critical to effectively tackle climate change. A great and yet largely untapped potential to reduce its emissions lies in oil and gas companies. Cognizant of this potential, in recent years several International Oil Companies (IOCs), publicly traded organizations with large capital access and wide geographical reach, have looked forward to effectively reduce their carbon intensity by shifting their operations to non-core low-carbon energy development.
The IOCs have embraced this transition to leverage the business opportunities presented by political and social environments progressively more accountable of the energy sector’s contributions to climate change. Owing to the potential of this transition to produce positive climate outcomes, it has sparked great interest in an increasing number of stakeholders; nevertheless, National Oil Companies (NOCs) and other state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the energy sector are still notoriously absent.
SOEs not only dominate the global oil and gas industry over IOCs, but they typically enjoy more favorable industry conditions, as they benefit from improved capital access and governmental support, as their overall value proposition, business strategies and budgets are interlinked with, or heavily influenced by governmental policies.
Under a mutable business environment which favors the development of energy resources with low or zero carbon content, it is reasonable to anticipate that national governments will become more determined to join the energy transition through their SOEs based on two main reasons: meeting their national targets under global emissions reductions commitments while sustaining shareholder value. Given the complex efforts and resources in carrying out the energy transition at a pace and scale that effectively helps mitigate climate change, such initiative will set us in a deep decarbonization pathway if fully embraced by the world’s largest economies and their SOEs.
The implementation of this initiative would allow NOCs and SOEs in these countries to transform themselves into No-Carbon State-Owned Enterprises that would strive for socially accountable sustainable growth, higher economic value and effective contributions in the global fight against climate change. This paper analyzes these issues and advances a proposal for the Group of the world’s 20 major economies (G20).
Northern and Arctic Security and Sovereignty: Challenges and Opportunities for a Northern Corridor
Authors: Lackenbauer P. Whitney , Koch Katharina
Published: August 2024

Key Messages

Key issues related to Canada’s security and defence agenda, which involve critical and essential infrastructure development, must be considered in the development and implementation of a Canadian Northern Corridor (CNC).

Canada’s northern and Arctic security and defence agenda is related to several key policy domains that are relevant from a CNC perspective. These include infrastructure development, climate change, Indigenous sovereignty and natural resource development.

A CNC will gain international attention and be internationally recognized as a strategy for Canada to assert its sovereignty over its Arctic territory, including the internationally disputed Northwest Passage.

The CNC advocates for the inclusion and participation of Indigenous communities. Thus, Indigenous Peoples will also carry a significant role in the monitoring and surveillance of accessibility within and to the North, improved through enhanced infrastructure development.

Canada’s investments in Arctic defence infrastructure are modest comparedto those of its Russian and American neighbours. A CNC, potentially adding strategically important infrastructure in the Canadian North, will directly tie into the discourse of Arctic security and power relations.

In addition to natural disasters, the Canadian North is at significant risk of human-made disasters that pose serious prospective challenges for northerners and for federal and territorial governments. The CNC will likely foster the development of surveillance and monitoring assets.

The CNC rights-of-way could trigger security concerns regarding the impactof foreign investment as a security threat, especially if natural resource development is coupled with the development of strategic transportation hubs, such as ports along the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

CNC transportation infrastructure would also become a part of Canada’s defence strategy as it forms a potential key asset in the defence and safeguarding of Canada’s northern and Arctic regions.

Future research should identify the role of dual-use infrastructure (infrastructure that satisfies both military and civilian purposes) in the CNC context and also examine to what extent security and defence stakeholders should be involved in the CNC’s planning and implementation.
THE U.K. APPLIES TO JOIN THE CPTPP: WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CANADA?
Authors: Stephens Hugh
Published: August 2024

The U.K’s request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could be a tremendous boon for this bloc. The CPTPP has 11 members at present, including Canada. However, four members — Peru, Chile, Malaysia and Brunei — have yet to complete the ratification process. The U.K.’s potential accession could lead the CPTPP to develop further in response to renewed interest from present and prospective members. 
Canada and the U.K. have already been discussing interim trading arrangements in the form of the Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA), which replaces existing rules designed when the U.K. was still a member of the European Union. Both countries have committed to reaching a new, permanent bilateral agreement by 2024. If the U.K. joins the CPTPP, Canada will thus end up negotiating two trade agreements with the same country at the same time. 
Canada is unlikely to win additional access to the U.K. market beyond what it enjoys through the TCA. At the same time, Canada is unlikely to grant the U.K. 
 
additional access to protected sectors through the CPTPP. But this doesn’t mean that Canada has nothing to gain from the U.K. joining the CPTPP. 
The addition of a substantial economy like the U.K. to the CPTPP could prompt the four foot-dragging members to complete ratification. Without that, they will have no say in the negotiations over the U.K.’s accession or the outcome. The U.K.’s experience could also encourage non-members like South Korea and Taiwan to take the plunge and apply to join the pact. 
The United States was an original member of the CPTPP’s precursor, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but pulled out during the Trump administration. The U.K’s entry may not be enough to convince the new government to change course and so far, the Biden administration has not signalled that accession is a priority. 
Still, the U.K.’s admission has the potential to expand the trading bloc and Canada should make the most of this. It does require the careful adjustment of any potential Canadian concessions granted as part of the CPTPP accession negotiations against the need for leverage in future bilateral trade negotiations with the U.K. But this balancing act shouldn’t prevent Canada from supporting the U.K.’s request to join the CPTPP. The opportunities and rewards over the long term are too substantial for any other decision.
2020 TAX COMPETITIVENESS REPORT: CANADA’S INVESTMENT CHALLENGE
Authors: Mintz Jack , Bazel Philip
Published: August 2024

Canada is already at a disadvantage with lagging growth and productivity even before the massive economic destruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic hit, Canada’s corporate tax system was already becoming uncompetitive in attracting highly profitable investments relative to other developed countries. Canada’s general corporate tax rate, averaging 26.1 per cent, is within spitting distance of the highest rates inthe OECD. While some industries may benefit from special preferences, the corporate tax has become increasingly inefficient and complex with targeted measures, and in some cases impeding the allocation of capital to growth industries like communications and services.
This was having a serious effect on Canada’s economic health before COVID-19. Business investment in Canada has lagged that of many countries since 2015, well before the pandemic. Productivity has been weak and wages for workers have been depressed, particularly for unskilled labour.
Additionally, the corporate tax system currently distorts the allocation of capital in the economy, favouring some sectors over others. In fact, some of the sectors least-favoured by the tax system — including retail and tourism, which face an eight-point tax disadvantage compared to the government- favoured manufacturing sector — are the very ones that had the roughest time during the pandemic and face a more difficult road to recovery.

If Canada is going to “build back better,” as some politicians claim to want, it will need investors willing to build things. That will require governments focusing on policies that stimulate economic growth, including tax reform.
While it is politically popular for some parties to push for higher corporate tax rates, that won’t solve our investment problem. Some limited benefit can be realized by reducing tax rates and broadening the corporate base elsewhere but Canada’s unwieldy corporate income tax has become too serious for those measures to sufficiently address the problem. A broader approach to corporate tax reform will be required to ensure that Canada is able to recover to good economic health after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The role of hydrogen in decarbonizing Alberta’s electricity system
Authors: Shaffer Blake , Bataille Chris
Published: August 2024

This paper explores the role that hydrogen can play in helping Alberta decarbonize its electricity system. Alberta has an abundance of natural gas resources that can be converted to hydrogen fuel and further used to generate electricity either through a turbine or through a fuel cell. Since Alberta has a significant portion of its current electricity needs supplied by combustion and steam turbines, such turbines can be repurposed to use hydrogen fuels and therefore reduce the amount of stranded assets as the province moves towards lower emissions in the electricity industry. Using hydrogen in the electricity industry can also complement a higher percentage of variable renewable energy resources, like wind and solar, by absorbing excess generation via electrolysis and providing much needed reliability as a peaking product. The carbon price and associated carbon policy in Alberta appears to be a key driver incentivizing hydrogen use in the electricity industry. Our model comparing the marginal costs of natural gas versus hydrogen for electricity production concludes that with the current carbon policy in Alberta and a rising carbon price to $170 per tonne CO2e in 2030, hydrogen has the potential to compete with natural gas as a dominant, "on-demand" power source.
THE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE OF WOMEN WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
Authors: Kneebone Ronald
Published: August 2024

This month’s Social Policy Trends revisits an issue we first examined in November 2017, namely, possible reasons for provincial differences in the labour force participation rates of women with young children and an employed spouse. In that earlier discussion we highlighted data showing that one possible explanation for that participation rate being higher in Quebec than other provinces was the availability of relatively inexpensive childcare. We showed that after 1997, the labour force participation rate of women with young children and an employed spouse increased in Quebec significantly more than in other provinces. The timing of the increase coinciding with the introduction of less expensive childcare was seen as strongly suggestive of the benefits of such a program.
Research has confirmed that connection.
Five Policy Recommendations for the Canadian Federal Government to Accelerate the Growth and Impact of Digital Health
Authors: Jamieson Trevor
Published: August 2024

Digital health has become an increasingly essential component of a high-performing health system. Changes to health care delivery during COVID-19 highlighted the need to enable digital health and modernize health information systems. Canada needs a national approach to digital health to enable our health care system to operate effectively in the 21stcentury. The current siloed approach limits the ability of patients to benefit from digital health and of health institutions to integrate digital tools. A unified approach to digital health will enable Canada to offer a health care system commensurate with the expectations of all Canadians.
 
This paper details five policy positions to promote this unified, digital health infrastructure in Canada.

Patient Data Access is Essential: Patients should own their own data. They must be given access to their data upon request in a computable format, without charge or delay.
Data Movement and Data Sharing is Imperative: Digital data sharing is both a key component of digital health and a crucial enabler of digital health, but it is currently poorly supported. Canada must develop a uniform data interoperability strategy aligned with international standards.
Digital Health is Care: The provision of digital health is now embedded in our health care delivery. Canada must formalize the inclusion of digital health as an essential element of our public health system.
Digital Health must be Inclusive: All Canadians are entitled to an equal opportunity to participate in digital health.
A Federal Approach is Critical: We need a national, collaborative approach to solve the innovation drag caused by our approaches to evaluation, procurement, and privacy/security. Our current siloed approach disadvantages the Canadian health care system, the Canadian population, and Canadian industry.

 
We suggest tangible next steps that leverage data to improve care, promote digital health care for those who need it most, and help Canada become a world leader in digital health innovation that directly benefits Canadian residents and grows our digital health industry.
Innovation in the U.S. Health Care System’s Organization and Delivery
Authors: DiStefano Michael , Kang So-Yeon , Socal Mariana , Anderson Gerard
Published: August 2024

Over the past decades, the U.S. has attempted a wide array of innovations in the areas of health care organization and delivery. Canadian policy makers may be interested in some of the successes and failures in the United States health care system. This briefing summarizes recent trends in six areas: fiscal federalism, expanding benefits, payment reform, virtual and digital health, supply chain reforms and healthcare workforce.
The federal government allocates money to the states based on per capita income in that state to support state health care programs such as the Medicaid program and Children’s Health Insurance Program. Additional fiscal transfers are also used to incentivize states to provide other services. Benefit expansion currently focuses on expanding Medicare to include hearing care, broadening the benefits covered by Medicare Advantage (managed care plans) plans, and using Medicaid waiver programs to expand eligibility and benefits for low-income individuals. Alternative Payment Models and expanding Medicare Advantage are transforming the system from fee-for-service toward a value-based system. Accelerated use of digital and virtual care is being promoted by waiving restrictions on coverage of telehealth services for acute and chronic conditions and primary care. Shortages of health care inputs, especially pharmaceuticals, were a chronic problem exacerbated by COVID-19. In response, onshoring of pharmaceutical production and expanding drug shortage surveillance and transparency in the drug supply chain is starting. Finally, the federal government has established research centers to track the number of primary care doctors and improve the distribution of physicians in the most disadvantaged areas.
A North American Carbon Exchange
Authors: McFadyen Dan , Beltran Leonardo , Moore Michal
Published: August 2024

Mexico, the United States and Canada are three of the world’s most productive, diverse and interdependent economies in the world. In terms of energy systems, however, the three countries are incompletely interconnected and integrated in terms of infrastructure, reserves, operations and standards. This imposes costs, performance and security risks that affect GDP, labour and financial markets that could be mitigated through closer co-operative energy systems planning and interdependence.
Future energy challenges facing the three countries, individually and collectively, are formidable. These include rising costs and increasing relative scarcity of both domestic and imported energy supplies, as well as environmental externalities associated with energy production and consumption. The three nations collectively possess a wide range of hydrocarbon reserves, underused non-renewable and renewable energy resources and untapped production and utilization technologies necessary for meeting future energy needs and mitigating the increasing impacts of climate change.
Some co-operation is emerging between nations, such as the commitments from all three countries under the UN Climate Accord. Signed and announced in 2021, the commitments include 2030 targets on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050. While the adoption of global and sectoral carbon reduction goals by all three jurisdictions is positive, these commitments, supported by a tri-national carbon trading exchange, would incentivize
the greater integration of North America’s energy markets through increased use of the lower carbon energy resources and technologies available in each jurisdiction.
The result can be a more resilient energy sector, capable of meeting future demands for transportation, industry, heating and lighting loads that displace historically conventional energy supplies with renewable generation and alternatives that can support a future decarbonized region and world economy.
Canadian Immigration Policy and the Russo-Ukraine War
Authors: Falconer Robert
Published: August 2024

Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Yet, Canada has only received a small number of Ukrainian refugees compared to other countries, despite citizens’ overwhelming willingness to receive them. Canadian immigration policies are the issue and need to be revised to allow faster and easier access for Ukrainians.
While the federal government has launched a program to fast-track Ukrainian refugees, Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), statistics show that it isn’t enough. Under CUAET, visas and temporary residency permits are expedited for Ukrainians and their families. While the number of applications is increasing, the program’s number
of approvals is slowing.
That Canadian visa policies are the cause of the comparatively low number of Ukrainian arrivals is supported by empirical evidence from Ireland and the United Kingdom. Both countries are similar in ways that attract displaced Ukrainians, but only Ireland lifted its visa requirements in response to the war; the U.K. has maintained a Canada-like visa process. As a result, approximately 13 times the number of Ukrainian refugees per capita arrived in Ireland than in the U.K. during the first two months of the invasion. The visa requirements in Canada have, in a similar way, stymied the arrival of Ukrainian refugees.
There are several options that could be implemented to increase the flow of Ukrainian refugees to Canada. The first, visa-free travel, is already in place in Ireland and has proven very successful, allowing an additional estimated 23,000 arrivals above what might have been expected under pre-war Irish visa policies. The second is a visa-on-arrival system. Security checks are done at the port-of-entry and a visa can be issued onsite. The third option is a hybrid of CUAET and options 1 or 2 — allow visa-free travel or a visa-on-arrival program for Ukrainians with proper documentation while those without documentation go through CUAET. This will speed up the CUAET process since documented refugees will not be part of the list anymore.
National security concerns are one of the reasons for Canada’s more strict immigration policies. However, research shows that foreign agents are less likely to infiltrate strong, stable countries through refugee streams. As well, refugees tend to be targets of espionage themselves and can be a valuable source of intelligence. Canada could invest more in counterespionage to help identify high-risk entries and mitigate the small risk of infiltration.
Approximately 80 per cent of Canadians are willing for this country to receive Ukrainian refugees. The chance of refugee-related espionage is minuscule while the impact of Canada’s humanitarianism is huge. The federal government needs to consider this trade-off and amend immigration policies for Ukrainian war refugees.