Research publications

Organ transplantation surgery has saved countless lives since its advent in the 1950s. As the techniques and technologies used in transplantation medicine improve, positive outcomes for donors and recipients are increasing. Demand for this treatment, however, far exceeds organ availability. The desperate need for organ transplantation surgeries has given rise to a lucrative, transnational criminal enterprise that enables organ seekers to purchase organs from donors. This enterprise, commonly referred to as organ trafficking, is a global phenomenon. This HillStudy provides an overview of organ trafficking and the Canadian perspective on this illicit activity. It identifies key terms, lays out some of the main issues, and summarizes actions taken by Canada and the international community to combat organ trafficking.

Aquaculture production has seen important increases over the past 40 years, both in Canada and worldwide. British Columbia leads Canada’s finfish production (principally salmon), while Prince Edward Island leads the country’s shellfish production (principally mussels). In 2023, 145,985 tonnes of seafood were produced by Canada’s aquaculture sector, valued at more than $1.2 billion, contributing to the local economies of many small and coastal communities. The regulatory framework of Canada’s aquaculture industry is shared between the federal and provincial governments. Further complicating matters is the fact that certain regulatory responsibilities can vary by province. In addition to recent regulatory reforms, a federal Aquaculture Act has been proposed to help clarify the division of powers and to simplify the regulatory regime both for industry and the public. While draft provisions have been shared publicly by the Government of Canada, no new federal Act has been tabled in Parliament. In addition to regulatory uncertainty, Canada’s aquaculture industry also continues to face challenges, including concern over environmental impacts, negative public perceptions and global competition. However, many opportunities, such as emerging technologies, increased Indigenous participation and industry transparency, are key issues for stakeholders. Aquaculture has been part of Canada’s economy for decades and environmentally sound aquaculture could contribute to the further development of Canada’s sustainable ocean economy, also called the “blue” economy.

Opioid-related harms have reached crisis proportions in many countries, including Canada. This HillStudy offers an introduction to selected health aspects of the opioid crisis in Canada. It includes some key statistics, considerations related to the impact of the crisis on different groups of people, and information about recent federal initiatives and activities in the Parliament of Canada intended to address the crisis.

Diabetes is a result of the body’s inability to properly metabolize sugar. Type 1 diabetes relates to insufficient or no insulin production, while type 2 diabetes relates to the body’s inability to respond to insulin and its reduced ability to produce it. There is no cure for diabetes, and if not well-managed, it can have serious short-and long-term health implications. This paper describes diabetes, summarizes the history of insulin’s discovery, explores the impact of the disease in Canada, examines some of the risk factors for developing diabetes and discusses parliamentary and federal government activities with respect to diabetes.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many legislatures around the world to adopt or expand their use of digital technologies in order to continue exercising their core functions of legislating, studying issues of public policy, scrutinizing governments and representing constituents. In the face of physical distancing requirements and lockdowns, the Parliament of Canada introduced information and communication technology (ICT) – such as Zoom and, in the House of Commons, a new e-voting app –to expand its capacity to hold remote and hybrid chamber and committee meetings. Senators and members of Parliament had to adapt quickly to participating in Parliament remotely and to engaging with each other, and with citizens and stakeholders, in an increasingly digital environment. This HillStudy examines the experiences of Canadian senators, members of Parliament, and parliamentary staff with digital parliament during the pandemic. It places this experience in wider context of that of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff in other countries and jurisdictions – especially those that adapted ICT to fit similar Westminster traditions and procedures in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, among others. It also highlights recent research by academics, the Samara Centre and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the possible effects of digital parliaments on core parliamentary functions.

New government initiatives are announced through different sources, including the Speech from the Throne, the federal budget, international agreements, federal–provincial-territorial agreements, ministerial mandate letters and ministerial proposals. However, before a new initiative receives funding, approvals from Cabinet, the Treasury Board and Parliament are needed. This paper describes these approvals along with the role of the central agencies involved in this process – the Privy Council Office, the Department of Finance Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat – and the role of Parliament. A budget initiative is selected as an example; the allocation of funds for this initiative is followed in the estimates, and actual spending is followed in the Public Accounts of Canada.

Canada’s tourism industry is an important contributor to Canadian economic growth. This industry – which comprises hospitality and travel services to and from Canada – is a multi-billion-dollar business that employs hundreds of thousands of Canadians and is supported by all levels of government. This HillStudy provides information about Canada’s tourism industry, travel patterns of visitors to and from Canada, the importance of the United States (U.S.) to Canada’s tourism economy and the role of the federal government.

The trucking sector is one of the most important pillars of transportation in the supply chain. Thanks to Canada’s extensive road network, trucks are the primary mode of transport used to ship goods across the country. The trucking sector is also the key mechanism for trade with the United States – Canada’s number one trading partner. However, the lack of harmonized regulations, both among the provinces and between the countries, hinders the flow of trade. In addition, the sector faces many challenges in responding to the growing demand, and the driver shortage is currently a major cause for concern. Initiatives aimed at diversifying the trucking sector, for example, by supporting under-represented groups and encouraging them to join the profession, could help fill vacancies. Without counting the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time where climate change has generated global concerns, the trucking sector is also being asked to reduce its environmental footprint, which presumably will require shifting to more environmentally friendly heavy vehicles.

This HillStudy explores why space is a strategic concern and how it can affect stability between and among states. It begins with an overview of the space age that emerged during the Cold War, followed by an examination of the shifts in strategic perceptions that occurred in the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to discussing the trends of crowding and competition, the paper describes how the space domain has become more contested, including through the pursuit of what are known as “counterspace” capabilities (i.e., things that can interfere with, damage or destroy space objects, the platforms on which they rely and the connection between the two). It then examines the legal framework and certain diplomatic initiatives relevant to space security and s.tability, and the complexities they involve. The final section of this HillStudy is focused on Canada’s international and defence policy in relation to space

In June 2020, in response to the evolving international security environment and questions about its relevance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched the NATO 2030 initiative. The COVID-19 pandemic, the growing prevalence of disinformation, Russia’s military activities, the rise of China, and growing threats to democracy and human rights were among the trends prompting NATO to initiate this strategic reflection. Designed to strengthen NATO and its capacity to adapt quickly to emerging security challenges, the initiative is now progressing in the context of Russia’s most recent invasion of Ukraine, which NATO has characterized as “the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades.”