People who have lost their mothers know how profoundly painful and life-changing that loss is. Many immigrants and refugees experience that loss through separation from their mothers in the process of migration. Some mothers migrate before their children, and some children before their mothers. Whatever the process, that separation has a devastating impact on mothers and children.

For Canada to become an active participant in the global low carbon economy there are several key things Canada needs to do. With ideas like these Canada can access the budding clean energy economy and not get left sucking on a tailpipe.

Right now, except when you go to the ballot box, the only time you're in touch with government is when you're complaining about something. You never just call to say, "Hey my garbage pick up is always on time and my bins are always upright. And I appreciate that." It's almost never a positive exchange of appreciation, and it's light-years away from being playful. I think the TEDx audience will be receptive to thinking about how something super-serious and formal can be playful.

Statistics Canada has been hit by another round of cuts. These reductions have been masked under the compelling veil of "efficiency." But how might Canada expect to meet the policy challenges of the future when we no longer have the ability to understand where we are today? Evidence-based policy-making requires just that -- evidence -- standard, reliable metrics whose quantification and legitimacy is widely agreed upon.