Thomas d'Aquino, CM, LL.D’s Post

Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, and the Hon. Lisa Raitt Raitt take a candid look at the state of Canada's relationship with the US and why it is critical for business and government to work together to champion Canada’s economic power. Listen here - https://lnkd.in/ghFEq28v #CanadaUSRelations #GlobalEconomy #GovernmentRelations

The facts speak for themselves! Recently, it's become all too common to depict Canada in a negative light, with some federal political leaders capitalizing on the opportunity to convince us that we're living in a failed state. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. According to US News & World Report, Canada is ranked 3rd globally for economic stability. We continue to attract significant investments and remain one of the safest and most stable countries in which to live and work.

For many years, Atlantic Canada has been defying expectations. Our region is buzzing with new activity thanks to innovations, strong partnerships, a diverse and growing population, and our region’s natural advantages. And the numbers are showing this momentum. Learn more from the Public Policy Forum latest report on Atlantic Canada: https://ow.ly/Ry5950TOEZo #GC https://ow.ly/1Es150TOEZp

Something from me in the The Globe and Mail. Canada has grown complacent. Highly favourable geography and history have allowed us to coast on the hard work and sacrifice of previous generations for decades. The plain luck of occupying a resource-rich land mass next to a prosperous and generally benign (at least to us) superpower has certainly helped, too. And on the world stage, the liberal international order, which Canada had helped create, gave us influence without huge ongoing effort. But the traditional assumptions about Canada’s security, prosperity and social cohesion no longer apply. The world is now both connected and fragmented. We may be nearing a point where proximity to the United States poses as many risks as benefits to us, as Donald Trump starkly reminded us with his threat to impose, on his first day in office, a 25-per-cent tariff on imports from Canada, which would have dire consequences for our economy. Meanwhile, threats to our sovereignty increase as new and newly assertive powers challenge an international order that they do not see as being in their interests and in which they often see Canada as a weak link. That order is now breaking down. Much of our privileged place in the world is gone, even if many Canadians do not realize this. #canpoli #Canada

🛑 Protecting Jobs, Strengthening Partnerships! 🇨🇦🤝🇺🇸 A 25% tariff would hurt workers, businesses, and families on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. That’s why Premier Doug Ford is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to convene an urgent meeting with Canada’s premiers. Ontario is ready to step up as a leader in global energy and critical minerals, supporting North America’s economic and security goals. It’s time to reject protectionism and strengthen the economic partnership between our nations. Together, we can create good jobs, maintain security, and ensure prosperity for future generations. We need a Team Canada approach now more than ever. Let's stand united to protect jobs and grow our economies. 📢 Call to Action: Support Ontario’s leadership for stronger Canada-U.S. ties. Share this message and let’s keep working for a prosperous future! #SimcoeGrey #ONPC #OntarioPCParty #DougFord #BrianSaunderson #OntarioJobs #EconomicPartnership #CanadaUS #TeamCanada

Redefining Merit in Canadian Public Service Maybe it’s time to rethink what it means to have “merit” in Canadian public service. Perhaps the truth is that most Canadians—80%, even—might not meet the so-called "merit" criteria for leadership in public service. But what if that’s not a problem? What if the issue lies not with the people but with how merit is defined? We get it Privy Council Office - you could not care less about the voices of 80% of the population - because you have deemed them lesser - without merit. I am proud to be Canadian - I wish Canada was #proud of its people. Maybe we, as Canadians, need to take a step back and examine who defines merit, why they define it that way, and whether their motivations are genuine, honest, and trustworthy. Are these standards inclusive and reflective of our collective values, or do they serve narrower interests? The very idea of “merit” is being used to gatekeep and reinforce systemic barriers. And if so, does aligning ourselves with this definition truly serve the public good? To be a real public servant in #Canada, perhaps we need to embrace being “#meritless” by these traditional standards. Perhaps true public service isn’t about meeting arbitrary criteria but about embodying #integrity, #empathy, and a #commitment to serving all #Canadians. Let’s challenge ourselves and our institutions to redefine what it means to lead in public service. #Merit should reflect the values of the people, not just the priorities of those in power. Government of Canada Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat | Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor du Canada Public Services and Procurement Canada | Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada Department of National Defence/Ministère de la défense nationale Canada Revenue Agency - Agence du revenu du Canada Canada Border Services Agency | Agence des services frontaliers du Canada

Today is Canada Day. A celebration of the anniversary of Canada’s confederation in 1867. But today, it’s also worth celebrating our country’s enduring democracy, a treasure that, regrettably, too many of us (in Canada and elsewhere) take for granted. We forget that democracy is not just a word, an idea or a political system. It’s also an essential ingredient for healthy, robust capitalism. Capitalism (that benefits all) relies, intrinsically on democracy for its existence. It simply cannot survive without it. A healthy democracy supports capitalism by ensuring a free and open market, boundless individual and corporate opportunity, laws that govern fair practices, and the rights of all to achieve success- regardless of social standing, race, religion, gender or economic class. But democracy is not a right or entitlement. It’s a gift that we have to work to protect, nurture and maintain. And that will require all of us- every individual and every company and every business leader- to be positive, active, participants in a vibrant, open, fair and forward-looking democratic conversation. So, to my fellow Canadians, Happy Canada Day! Here’s to our beautiful country and to the exquisite yet fragile democracy that we’ve been made the custodians of for future generations. May we never lose sight of its immeasurable importance and value in our lives.

Hot Seat at 6:58 am MST 👩🏻💻 Canada has been scrolling through social media reading and sharing opinions about the Liberal Party of Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau, USA President-elect Trump, and the state of our country. It’s a challenge to articulate a message or priorities at the best of times. Here are some thoughts I hoped to expand on: 🇨🇦 Canada is either shocked and confused or happy and hopeful for real change in 2025 🇨🇦 What viable strategies exist - as a reset is necessary 🇨🇦 Rumours are toxic and breed confusion, assumptions, and mixed emotions 🇨🇦 Canadians are facing so many uncertainties: Jobs and the economy, affordable housing, USA tariffs, immigration and border issues, and so much more Now, more than ever, provincial leaders must step up and help Canada navigate uncertainty with strategy. #politicalstrategist #interview #opinion CTV News | Akshay Tandon | Aurora Strategy Global

"Truth and Reconciliation: A Path Forward for Canada" As a proud Canadian, I hold a deep-rooted hope for our nation's future—a future where we unite coast to coast, building a country where people, families, and cultures thrive together. To move forward, we must first heal our collective past. We've all made mistakes and felt the impact of others' missteps. By acknowledging the truth, we create an opportunity for open, shame-free dialogue. This transparency is the first step towards meaningful reconciliation. Our journey towards unity requires both courage to face our history and compassion for one another. It's through this process that we can forge a stronger, more inclusive Canada—one that honors our diverse heritage while building a shared, prosperous future. Let's embrace this path of truth and reconciliation, working together to create the harmonious nation we envision. #CanadianUnity #TruthAndReconciliation #BuildingTogether

"#Productivity is at the heart of any robust economy and is central to the living standards of each of us. It is the human desire to continuously create and improve". Canada's labor productivity has fell for the 4th consecutive quarter back to mid-2017 levels. Lower productivity means lower standards of living. This article piqued my curiosity big time. What are some strategies to keep the most talented and motivated Canadians from leaving the Canadian workforce? How can we achieve economic growth, diversification of economy, and reduction of polarization? How can the private and public sectors join forces towards a noble mandate of rebuilding our Canadian economy, embedding productivity at the core of policymaking? What are the core skills and abilities that are valuable in the workplace? How can post-secondary institutions, private, and public sectors collaboratively invest in upskilling and reskilling? Speaking to Alberta, things look better for us compared to other provinces. Fostering a business-friendly climate, a competitive tax environment, affordable housing, while having the youngest & most educated talent in Canada, and being the fastest-growing tech ecosystem in North America play a key role in keeping Alberta ranked at #14. In fact, #UniversityofAlberta ranks #5 in the world in AI research and #2 in North America. Calgary is also the second most concentrated tech talent market in North America. Edmonton-based, #Amii, is one of Canada’s 3 centres of AI excellence as part of the Pan-Canadian #AI Strategy #economicdevelopment #Alberta #upskilling #reskilling #skillsgaps #tech #Edmonton #Calgary #nanotechnology #nanofabrication #artificialIntelligence #machinelearning #gaming #CIFAR #talentstrategy #growth