Canada's Supercluster's are Failing but Chris Sky is Succeeding: The October 8th, 2020 Age of Ingenuity

Those of us who are firmly convinced that the Trudeau government is responding appropriately to the pandemic by shoveling tons of taxpayer dollars into a giant budgetary money pit might want to note recent reports out of Ottawa on Canada’s Innovation Supercluster Initiative.

In 2018, it was billed as a “generational opportunity” to build Canadian innovation by shoveling tons of taxpayer dollars into a different, slightly smaller money pit. But it’s failing at both innovation and job creation and we’re going to take a look at that.

We also have a timely interview with Chris Sky, the creator of "Mothers Against Distancing," the organizer of Private on Demand (POD) Education and one of the organizers of the giant freedom rally planned for Dundas Square in Toronto on October 17th.

Sky is a strong advocate for small business, which he considers to be the very best way to maintain existing and create new jobs. As noted in the December 19th, 2019 update to the Government of Canada website focused on Key Small Business Statistics, small business generates almost 70% of existing jobs in Canada and is a key driver of both job growth and innovation.

Sky and his wife were also the first charged under the federal Quarantine Act. The event was described by Sky in the October 7th, 2020 Activist post article, "It Begins: Canada’s First Arrest Under THE QUARANTINE ACT Sets The Stage For Aussie Like Tyranny," although we're hoping that the title of that piece is mostly hyperbole.

Sources cited during this episode include the following:

• The October 4th, 2020 Ontario Liberties YouTube post, "Chris "Sky" Saccoccia gives a passionate speech at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto Oct 3, 2020." 

• The October 6th, 2020 Betakit post, “Supercluster Funding $74Mln behind schedule.”

• The January 2nd, 2019 Aprimo post, "Make the most of your “use it or lose it” budget."

• The April 2nd, 2020 The Atlantic post "Don’t Believe the COVID-19 Models. That’s not what they’re for."

• The September 9th, 2020 Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) post, "Declining COVID-19 Case Fatality Rates across all ages: analysis of German data." 

• The October 7th, 2002 Globe and Mail post, "Doug Ford needs better pandemic advice. First stop: Get better advisers." 

• The October 6th, 2020 Canadian Manufacturing post, “Liberals’ ‘supercluster’ program falling short of promised jobs, economic growth.”

• The October 6th, 2020 The Logic post, “Ottawa’s superclusters unlikely to hit goals for job creation, GDP growth: Budget watchdog.”

• The January 27th 2020 Government of Canada website profiling Canada’s New Superclusters. Retrieved October 6th, 2020.

Citations for the Chris Sky interview:

• The September 13th, 2020 Irish Times post, “Thousands attend anti-mask protest in Dublin.” 

• The September 20th, 2020 Global News post, “Addressing anti-mask protests poses a challenge for leaders, experts say.”

• The August 31st, 2020 CTV News post, “'Inevitable' second wave could force Toronto back into lockdown, officials warn.”

• The September 25th, 2020 CBC News post, “Experts call for lockdown measures now to deal with COVID-19 surge.”

• The July 15th, 2020 BBC News post, “Coronavirus: Ireland puts brakes on easing lockdown amid 'real concern'.”

• The September 21st, 2020 BBC News post, “Coronavirus restrictions are extended across NI.”

• The May 12th, 2020 BBC News post, “Coronavirus: The five stages of NI's plan to ease lockdown.”

• The October 5th, 2020 I Am Expat post, “Fewer people likely to follow coronavirus measures, Dutch survey reveals.”

• The August 4th, 2020 Live and Let’s Fly post, “Dutch Government Rejects Face Masks, Warns They May Even Be Harmful.”

• The June 10th, 2020 Axios post, “Scientists Caught Between Pandemic and Protests.”

• The May 1st, 2020 Grandin Media post, “No easy path to re-opening churches as pandemic restrictions are eased.”

• The BacktoWork Go-Fund-Me page.  Retrieved October 7th, 2020.

• The April 17th, 2020 Wards Lawyers post, “CKL Business – Can’t Pay Rent? Inflexible Landlord? Our Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping your Rented Space and Paying Your Commercial Rent (Or Deferring It). Protecting Your Business To Move Forward.”

• Freedom March protest poster c/o The Line. Retrieved October 7th, 2020.

• The August 4th, 2020 CBC News post, “Physical distancing, mask-wearing could be in place for 2-3 years even with vaccine, Tam warns.”

• The October 6th, 2020 Flare post, “Everything You Need to Know About the Benefits Replacing CERB.”

• The October 7th, 2020 Global News post, “Canadian businesses struggling with debt as 2nd coronavirus wave looms: study.”

• The September 24th, 2020 China Daily post, “Masks, distancing seen needed post-vaccine.”

• The September 23rd, 2020 PBS News post, “Fauci: Even after a COVID-19 vaccine, masks and social distance still vital.”

• The September 15th, 2020 CBC News post, “Waterloo region's mask bylaw to be extended to May 2021.”

• The May 19th, 2020  Fortune post, “Walmart’s online sales surge during the pandemic, bolstering its place as a strong No. 2 to Amazon.” 

"Age of Ingenuity" tracks Canada's "idea ecosystem," the organizations, agencies and individuals attempting to turn innovative Canadian ideas, concepts and business plans into priceless, world class "unicorns," able to revolutionize our culture, anchor our industries and create our jobs.

Connect with us on Facebook, Gab, LinkedIn, Minds, Pinterest, Steemit and Twitter. Follow the stories we're tracking on the Canadian Innovation News and Upcoming Events Scoop-It feeds.

Age of Ingenuity Credits

Producer and Host - Chuck Black

Host and Contributor - Al Calder

Music: Freesound House Flow by Jaturo and Scream by DigitalDominic. Both licenced under a Creative Commons 0 Licence.

The Age of Ingenuity is created using ZOOM, Open Shot Video Editor, Gimp, various laptops and cell phones, plus lots and lots of coffee.

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