Harold Innis

A new 800-page book, titled "Extraction Empire" and edited by Pierre Belanger, triggers ruminations on staples and extraction.

The famous Canadian historian was deeply touched by the First World War and it affected his career and philosophy for the rest of his life.

In her new book, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin studies the development of investigative journalism and progressive politics in the U.S., faciliated by the availability of cheap paper from Canada.

The staples story is a cautionary tale Canadians ignore at their peril. As presented by Mel Watkins, the staples model of economic development is central to understanding questions of public policy.

In this installment of the staple theory series, Daniel Drache considers whether the so-called "Northern model" of development can survive this latest incarnation of staples dominance.

Hugh Grant argues that the historical roots of the staples theory enunciated by Watkins go back a little further than just Harold Innis. Learn here about the initial contributions of W.A. Mackintosh.

There is an intersection between the "staples trap" and a new, more ominous "carbon trap," that must be addressed centrally in modern policy responses to the challenge of staples dependence.

Watkins' staple theory of economic growth showed how Canada had found a way out of its own staples dependence, emerging as a developed country despite its initial reliance on the export of staples.

At Halifax's Pier 21, once the gateway for emigrants and refugees entering Canada, I sat down with Thomas Mulcair, leader of the federal NDP, to talk energy, environment, economy and electoral reform.