Government of Canada

About: Government of Canada is a government organization based out in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Monetary policy & Productivity. The organization has 796 authors who have published 886 publications receiving 21366 citations. The organization is also known as: federal government of Canada & Her Majesty's Government.

Estimates of mass absorption cross sections of black carbon for filter-basedabsorption photometers in the Arctic

Abstract: . Long-term measurements of black carbon (BC) are warranted for investigating changes in its emission, transport, and deposition. However, depending on instrumentation, parameters related to BC such as aerosol absorption coefficient (babs) have been measured instead. Most ground-based measurements of babs in the Arctic have been made by filter-based absorption photometers, including multi-angle absorption photometers (MAAP), particle soot absorption photometers (PSAP), continuous light absorption photometer (CLAP), and Aethalometers. The measured babs can be converted to atmospheric mass concentrations of BC (MBC) by assuming the value of the mass absorption cross section (MAC = babs/MBC). However, the accuracy of conversion of babs to MBC has not been adequately assessed. Here, we introduce a systematic method for deriving MAC values from babs measured by these instruments and independently measured MBC. In this method, MBC was measured with a filter-based absorption photometer with a heated inlet (COSMOS). COSMOS-derived MBC (MBC (COSMOS)) is traceable to a rigorously calibrated single particle soot photometer (SP2) and the absolute accuracy of MBC (COSMOS) has been demonstrated previously to be about 15 % in Asia and the Arctic. The necessary conditions for application of this method are a high correlation of the measured babs with independently measured MBC, and long-term stability of the correlation slope, which represents the MAC. In general, babs – MBC (COSMOS) correlations were high (r2 = 0.84–0.96 for hourly data) at Fukue in Japan, Barrow in Alaska, Ny-Alesund in Svalbard, Pallastunturi in Finland, and Alert in Canada, and stable up to for 10 years. We successfully estimated MAC values (11.0–15.2 m2 g−1 at a wavelength of 550 nm) for these instruments and these MAC values can be used to obtain error-constrained estimates of MBC from babs measured at these sites even in the past, when COSMOS measurements were not made. Because the absolute values of MBC in these Arctic sites estimated by this method are consistent with each other, they are applicable to study spatial and temporal variation of MBC and to evaluate performance of numerical model calculations.

Econometric Issues in Hedonic Price Indices: The Case of Internet Service Providers

Abstract: Researchers in hedonic studies frequently encounter the problems of the choice of functional forms, the use of pooled regression using time dummies versus period to period regression, and the unit of measurement of the product. This paper examines these issues through the study of Internet service providers in Canada from 1993 to 2000. A series of tests are employed to evaluate the best procedure. We find that the commonly used log-linear equation with period to period regression and hourly rate charged gives a robust result compared with the more flexible translog function. The quality-adjusted price index declines at about 15 percent per year.

Growing Teeth: International Law and Indigenous Sustainable Development - The Case of Negotiated Agreements

Abstract: The interest that governments, indigenous groups and multinational corporations share in property and natural resources has often had devastating impacts on indigenous communities in North and South America. These communities have experienced dispossession dating back to the time the two continents were first colonized by Europeans. But in Canada domestic law respecting aboriginal rights places many aboriginal communities in a better position to ensure that a convergence of interest in property and natural resources works more in their favour than it has in the past. This law creates some incentives and establishes some structure for the negotiation of agreements that allow aboriginal groups to benefit from natural resource development projects on their traditional lands. Although negotiated arrangements are not a perfect approach to the resolution of conflicts arising from the use of traditional lands and resources, and are not even realistic or available options for all indigenous communities, they nevertheless bear review. It is informative to consider whether negotiated agreements can be used by indigenous groups living in the countries of Latin America. Indeed, various kinds of agreements are already sometimes negotiated between natural resource companies and governments in these countries that are supportive of local community interests. More often than not, however, indigenous concerns are not adequately addressed, or ignored altogether. A sound legal regime can place indigenous groups themselves in a position to engage in negotiations in their own right so that they can try to ensure that any agreements reached are fair and responsive to their interests. An important question to ask is: does the success of negotiations depend on the leverage that aboriginal groups have under Canadian law? Certainly, the capacity of indigenous groups in Latin America to "force" companies to negotiate with them about economic benefits will depend to a large extent on the applicable domestic law of the countries in which they live. A review of such law is well beyond the scope of this paper. However, emerging international legal principles respecting the rights of indigenous peoples may also be a useful source for arguments justifying the application of tools in Latin America that link natural resource development to economic benefits for affected indigenous peoples. Further, these emerging principles may assist governments in their efforts to understand and to fulfil legal obligations they may have towards indigenous peoples under their domestic legal systems. This paper begins with an outline of how and why negotiations are used in Canada to address issues respecting the utilization of the traditional lands and resources of aboriginal groups. Developments in the international law that is applicable in the regional Inter-American system respecting indigenous communal property are then examined to determine whether there is a rationale reinforced by international law for negotiated agreements. Negotiated agreements, when reinforced by legal principles defining and upholding the rights of indigenous peoples, can be a useful tool in efforts to resolve conflicts that arise in relation to natural resource extraction projects on traditional lands, and in efforts to promote sustainable development.

Rethinking Military Professionalism: Considering Culture and Gender

Abstract: Theories of military professionalism have not been developed to account for aspects of gender and diversity, such as the underlying socio-cultural aspects of the dominant male-oriented warrior framework, cross-cultural applications, civil-military and international relations, and how leadership and socialization play a role in member conduct and shaping military identity. Based on this gap, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exploratory team and subsequent research task group (RTG) was established to examine military professionalism. The following chapter provides an overview of the reasons for establishing the RTG, the goals of the panel in considering gender and diversity in the conceptualization of military professionalism, and a summary of what can be expected in this edited book.