Making strategic assets available to pension funds would encourage more domestic investment
Canadian pension funds have a mandate to deliver steady pension payments to millions of plan members, writes Professor Sebastien Betermier in Benefits Canada. But that鈥檚 easier said than done, and the most cost-efficient way to deliver is by investing in a globally diversified portfolio tilted toward strategic assets.
US expansion plans head south for Quebec鈥檚 Autobus Lion
In 2023, the Quebec electric vehicle maker Autobus Lion opened a $150 million truck manufacturing facility in Illinois, but its expansion into the United States has not gone according to plan. Much of its 900,000 square foot facility sits empty, and the company is sub-leasing the space. Now, the company is on the brink of bankruptcy and working with investors to determine if it can be salvaged.
鈥榃elcome tax鈥� helps Quebec cities generate their own revenue
In 2022, Quebec鈥檚 so-called 鈥榳elcome tax鈥� generated more than $1.4 billion for municipalities, with Montreal alone pulling in more than $410 million. Though it sounds like a penalty for new arrivals, its name is actually derived from former Quebec cabinet member Jean Bienvenue, who tabled the bill proposing the tax; Bienvenue鈥檚 surname translates into English as 鈥榳elcome鈥�.
MIPC 2024: Students tackle global finance challenges with innovation and leadership
The McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) 2024 was held in November and drew a record 99 teams from 47 universities across 17 countries, cementing its reputation as a premier global finance competition. This year鈥檚 focus on building inclusive retirement systems for gig workers and those facing income uncertainty sparked innovative solutions from participants. A standout addition was the inaugural Women in Buy-Side Panel, addressing gender disparities in finance.
Exploring ethics in aviation: Highlights from the 2nd annual Business Ethics Conference
The Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE) hosted its second annual Business Ethics Conference on November 15 at McGill, focusing on "Ethics in the Aviation Industry." Over 80 attendees participated in panels exploring sustainability, accessibility, and social responsibility.
Crypto ETFs: Mitigating fraud risk through regulated institutions
Cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) allow investors to hold a variety of cryptocurrencies in a single investment product. While all of Canada鈥檚 Big Six banks now include some crypto ETFs in their portfolios, these investments represent only a small fraction of their holdings. A major advantage of ETFs is their ability to offer protection from market volatility. However, given the speculative nature of crypto means it can still be extremely volatile, even within an ETF structure.
Healthy snacks make good business sense
A 2022 study by researchers at McGill Desautels revealed that when shoppers were offered a promotion that gave them a choice between a healthy snack and a pastry with their coffee, sales of healthy snacks increased by more than 1000%.
IMHL grad Colleen Timm named to leadership position at 香蕉视频 Health Centre
Colleen Timm (MSc鈥�97, IMHL'21) has been appointed to a four-year term as Associate President and Executive Director of the 香蕉视频 Health Centre. The graduate of McGill鈥檚 International Master鈥檚 in Health Leadership program has worked at MUHC for more than 23 years, first as a speech-language pathologist and most recently as Director of multidisciplinary services.
For many restaurant diners, GST Holiday won鈥檛 amount to much
With inflation pinching household budgets, the Government of Canada has introduced a temporary two-month GST holiday on select goods and services.. While restaurant meals are included, diners are unlikely to notice much of a difference, says Yu Ma, Associate Professor of Marketing at McGill Desautels. On a $20 restaurant tab, the 5% GST amounts to only one dollar.
Donald Trump鈥檚 counterparts learned best practices during his first term
Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian steel before and also lifted them. And then imposed them again. The on-again, off-again tariff truce cycle has played out in multiple industries, and Canada can expect more incendiary rhetoric on trade in a second Trump term, writes Professor Vivek Astvansh in The Conversation Canada. So how should Canada engage with Trump鈥檚 theatrical approach to politics?
Anna Kim earns ONE Early Career Teaching Award
Anna Kim has been recognized with a Organizations and the Natural Environment (ONE) Early Career Teaching Award 2024. The Associate Professor of Management was recognized for her dedication to sustainability and innovative approach to teaching.
GCPA Guest Lecturer Jason Binette-Adams receives the 2024 GCPA Dedication Award
Congratulations to Jason Binette-Adams (BCom 鈥�19, GCPA '20) on receiving the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting Dedication Award.
Innovative citation metrics seek to address shortcomings of traditional measures
Counting citations is an important way that a scholar鈥檚 academic influence is measured, but not all citations are created equal. Sometimes, widely-cited researchers don鈥檛 have much influence beyond their own narrow academic niche. New platforms like OpenAlex and Scite adjust for this type of difference and seek to provide a more balanced picture of influence across disciplines鈥攁s well as whether a citation is supporting, challenging or simply mentioning the original work.
Paul H茅bert named president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Dr. Paul H茅bert (IMHL鈥�20) has been appointed to a 5-year term as president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the federal organization that funds health research. A clinical scientist at the Bruyere Health Institute, practicing palliative care physician and professor at the University of Ottawa鈥檚 faculty of medicine, H茅bert is a graduate of the International Masters for Leadership, a cohort-based graduate management degree for health professionals.
To avoid reproducing existing biases, AI should be built with an EDI lens
Integrating an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lens into artificial intelligence systems is no longer a luxury or optional, writes McGill Desautels Faculty Lecturer Simon Blanchette in The Conversation Canada. Without it, AI risks reinforcing existing biases.
