VassB

who have we become

I’m procurement pilled

What does it mean to be a genuinely Canadian company?

If we're going to try to Buy Canadian, we should have a real definition. Today we're putting out a draft version, to get some feedback.

How does this look to you?

👀

I’ll hope to meet you IRL!

TVO Today Live: Can Canada Regain its Digital Sovereignty? For this edition of TVO Today Live, Steve Paikin asks: have we done enough to secure our nation's digital independence?

TVO Today Live: Can Canada Regain its Digital Sovereignty? We’re taping a show in Waterloo about this on Feb. 27. Hope to see you there. www.eventbrite.ca/e/tvo-today-...

Recoding the system: how to counter the Big Tech Lobby Playbook - SOMO Taking power back from Big Tech corporate giants means disrupting their global lobby playbook, which is vital to begin resetting the system.

Big Tech’s lobby playbook has allowed it to shape laws in its favour.

Taking power back won't be easy; the antidote must be dynamic and creative.

In our recent series, we suggest 8 counter-strategies to disrupt its playbook:
www.somo.nl/recoding-the...

🆕 Market-Shaping States

The latest working paper by IIPP Director @mazzucatom.bsky.social and Co-Deputy Director @rainerkattel.bsky.social proposes a new theory of public sector capacities and capabilities, reframing the state as capable of shaping futures.

✍️ Read more here: buff.ly/olOcFlX

... based on internationally recognized methodology standards and the ability for third parties to bring cases directly to the Competition Tribunal for greenwashing complaints."

Here's where Canada went: "Budget 2025: the government proposes to amend the Competition Act to update the greenwashing provisions by removing the requirement for businesses to substantiate their environmental benefit claims...

This was fun to work on with Denise! I learned a lot, and lots of supplementary material that I enjoyed collecting got killed during the review. Thank you to the CSA Group for engaging us on the research.

Hey @uwaterloo.ca and @wilfridlaurieruni.bsky.social people, we're coming to town! Still a few free tickets for a discussion with @spaikin.bsky.social, @vassb.bsky.social, ThinkOn's Craig McLellan and @mozzilla.bsky.social's Mark Surman Friday night at CIGI:

Say Goodbye to the Undersea Cable That Made the Global Internet Possible History was unmade last year, as engineers began the massive project of ripping the first-ever transoceanic fiber-optic cable from the ocean floor. Just don’t mention sharks.

I’ve been waiting for this undersea cable epic from @janeruffino.bsky.social to drop

Great piece

Dual use technology is the idea that important innovations have both military and civilian applications.

But it only works if Canada captures the value.

As we implement our Defence Industrial Strategy, will Canada secure the returns?

app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-v...

AI’s Biggest Builders Are Now Its Biggest Lobbyists OpenAI and Anthropic spent more on lobbying in 2025 than ever. They’re pushing for friendly treatment amid tensions—at least for Anthropic—with the Trump administration.

OpenAI and Anthropic spent more on lobbying in 2025 than ever. My latest for @forbes.com is a breakdown of what the big #AI model makers lobbied on last year and why:

www.forbes.com/sites/phoebe...

You will never convince me this should be legal

Canadian Car Visits To U.S. Fall 27% In January—As Trump Slump Hits One-Year Milestone Unlike most travel boycotts, which tend to fizzle over time, Canadians show no sign of relenting on a national movement that cost the U.S. $4.5 billion in 2025.

Unlike most travel boycotts, which tend to fizzle over time, Canadians show no sign of relenting on a national movement that cost the U.S. $4.5 billion in 2025.

How Jet Engines Are Powering Data Centers Companies are converting aircraft engines to land-based natural gas turbines for power generation in the AI boom.

"In the battle for AI dominance, every engine of the economy is getting recruited into the fight—including jet engines."

Opinion | There’s a Better Way to Stop Price Gouging Zohran Mamdani has a chance to show how to tackle the problem.

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

“If a grocery-delivery app can tell that you must have Skippy peanut butter, why not raise the price just for you?” Tim Wu writes in a guest essay about price gouging. “Companies increasingly know exactly when they have pricing power and how best to exploit it.”

This Is What American Fascism Looks Like | The Walrus From assassinating its own citizens to egging on Alberta separatists, the US has changed in ways Ottawa still refuses to confront

"For all the talk of 'elbows up,' [Canada's] federal government continues to avoid openly labelling US administration overreach as imperialist or authoritarian, even when it threatens Canadian sovereignty and democracy." thewalrus.ca/canada-is-be... via @stewartprest.ca

My worst habit is that I love doing our work so much - it’s engrossing, challenging, energizing - that I forget to properly share it and then race ahead to the next thing. Big space to colour in on what counts as “Canadian” and smart ways to capture, protect IP.

“Competition is good, and when markets work, they are the best form of it. But when they fail, we shouldn’t pretend otherwise.”

The Chinese EV debate in Canada reflects the discussion re: Huawei a decade ago. Main difference now is that then we could rely on the US as a trading partner. Now both it & China are seeking to undermine our automotive industry. So while the debate is similar, the calculus has changed dramatically.

I’m not done this yet but if I finish in a reasonable time period I’d be down for a coffee book chat if you are

In-Car Subscriptions Give Buyers The Ick And Automakers Don't Get Why - Jalopnik In-car subscriptions give buyers the ick because they already have too many subscriptions and are now being forced to pay extra for standard features.

“In addition to rising prices, the public has grown weary of monthly charges, the increasing number of features becoming paywalled, and privacy concerns surrounding collected data.”

Was easy! I should have flagged it for you

Dominic LeBlanc to lead giant Canadian trade delegation to Mexico Future of continental trade uncertain as USMCA set for review this year

A look at Canada’s trade mission to Mexico, which start tomorrow. It seems to be a serious effort to lay groundwork for greater exports there, not a bunch of pre-arranged announcements as we’ve seen on some trade missions past. We’ll see what comes of it. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

What makes a company “Canadian”? Address, ownership, or control?

Our latest newsletter unpacks the messy definitions in law and why it’s time for a stronger standard.

Read it here: canadianshieldinstitute.ca/latest-updat...

cDox | Google Docs Alternative Hosted in Canada - No AI Training A private Google Docs style editor hosted in Canada. Your writing is never used for AI training or data extraction. Free, secure, and yours.

@vassb.bsky.social Id love for you to check out the project I am working on that is looking to be a small part in helping this issue out.

cdox.ca