Experts: World Intellectual Property Day | April 26

The World Intellectual Property Day shines a light on the critical role of small and medium-sized enterprises in the economy and how they can use intellectual property (IP) rights to build stronger, more competitive, and resilient businesses. (World International Property Organization)

Here are some experts from McGill University that can provide comment on this issue:

Experts: Ex-cop guilty of murder and manslaughter in death of George Floyd

A former Minneapolis police officer was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man's neck in a case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S. (CTV News)

Expert: Quebec court upholds most of province’s secularism law

Quebec’s secularism law is largely legal, a Superior Court judge ruled on Tuesday, April 20, even as he acknowledged it violates the rights of Muslim women and has cruel and dehumanizing consequences for those who wear religious symbols. Justice Marc-André Blanchard upheld the bulk of the religious symbols law, while striking down clauses pertaining to English-language school boards and a ban on members of the provincial legislature wearing face coverings.

Experts: Earth Day | April 22

Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April, will again see more than 1 billion people participating in activities around the world to draw attention to the urgency of the climate crisis and environmental degradation and the need for immediate action. Many important environmental events have happened on Earth Day since its inception in 1970, including the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016. The theme for this year – the second Earth Day Live digital event - is: Restore our Earth.

Experts: Federal Budget 2021

The federal government unveiled its spending plans to manage the remainder of the COVID-19 crisis and chart an economic course in a post-pandemic Canada. The Liberals’ first budget in two years outlined the government’s plans for a national child-care system, including what strings will be attached to any spending. There were also measures to boost the supply of affordable housing and money aimed at greening the economy as the Liberals look to chart a path for promises on climate change.

Expert: Proposed extension of RAMQ to undocumented children criticized

Bill 83, which aims to extend Quebec health insurance coverage (RAMQ) to children born here to migrant parents who have a precarious status, does not pass the test, according to several organizations that care for the rights of young children.

Expert: Supreme Court’s carbon tax decision

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled the federal Liberal government's carbon pricing regime is constitutional — a major decision that allows Ottawa to push ahead with its ambitious plan to ensure every province and territory has a price on carbon to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Expert: Canada ranks 15th in latest World Happiness Report

While happiness may have felt far off as the COVID-19 pandemic raged across the globe, the latest World Happiness Report (WHR) has ranked Canadians in 15th place, slipping down from the 10th position the previous year. The report is released annually by a team of independent researchers and weighs six variables: income, freedom, trust in government, healthy life expectancy, social support, and generosity.

Expert: Rogers and Shaw merge in $26 billion transaction

Rogers Communications Inc. has struck a deal to acquire Shaw Communications Inc., a takeover that will reshape the country’s telecom landscape provided it receives regulatory approval. The purchase of the Calgary-based telecommunications company would give Rogers a bigger national footprint with deeper access to the West and a national wireline network, according to analysts assessing the transaction, while Rogers itself touted the potential for $1 billion in synergies.

Experts: International Women's Day | March 8

This year, the theme for the International Women’s Day, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain. Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence; a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all.

Experts: Mars 2020’s Perseverance landing in Jezero Crater

NASA’s science rover Perseverance, the most advanced astrobiology laboratory ever sent to another world, streaked through the Martian atmosphere on Thursday, February 18 and landed safely on the floor of a vast crater, its first stop on a search for traces of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet. (National Post)

Expert: Millions of Texans are still without power as winter storms continue

A rare deep freeze in Texas that raised demand for power forced the U.S. state's electric grid operator on Monday to impose rotating blackouts that left nearly three million customers without electricity. The cold snap sweeping Texas reached the northern part of neighboring Mexico as well, where authorities said 4.7 million users lost power early on Monday, February 15. (CBC News)

Experts: Federal government approves Air Canada purchase of Transat A.T. Inc.

The federal government has approved Air Canada's purchase of competing airline Transat A.T. Inc. under a series of strict terms and conditions the government says "are in the interest of Canadians." A statement released by the transport minister's office said the impact of COVID-19 was a key factor in the final decision to approve the purchase. (CBC News)

Experts: Black History Month | February 2021

During Black History Month, Canadians celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous nation it is today. (Government of Canada)

Here are some experts from McGill University that can provide comment on this issue:

Expert: Military forces stages coup in Myanmar

Myanmar’s military staged a coup Monday and detained senior politicians including state counsellor and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi — a sharp reversal of the significant, if uneven, progress toward democracy the Southeast Asian nation has made following five decades of military rule. (