Maclean’s Top 10 Essays on How to Fix Canada

Could spongifying our cities be a solution to climate change–induced flooding? Would a four-day workweek cure burnout and improve productivity? And how about grape anti-freeze to save B.C.’s wine crops? These are just some of the surprising, often brilliant solutions to the country’s biggest problems, proposed by Canada’s top scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, authors and professors. Here, our top 10 big ideas of 2024.

NO. 10

Investing in “Sponge Cities” Can Mitigate the Toll of Climate Change

Serious flooding is in our future—here’s one way we can take it on

Usman T. Khan

NO. 9

How to Fix Canada’s Traffic Problem

Canadians are stuck in gridlock. Congestion tolls would get things moving.

by reece martin

NO. 8

The Case For the Four-Day Workweek

Canada is facing a national productivity crisis. One counterintuitive solution? Give workers more time off.

By Joe O’Connor

NO. 7

The Case For Refugee Reception Centres

Asylum seekers are arriving in Canada in record numbers, sleeping in shelters, churches and sometimes on the street. Reception centres are a more humane approach. 

BY LOLY RICO

NO. 6

Online Dating is Out. Real-Life Romance is In.

Apps have gamified meeting and mating. Canadians should log off to find love.

BY TREENA ORCHARD

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NO. 5

Neurochips Will Fix Our Brains

I invented the world’s first brain chip. It can cure epilepsy, dementia, chronic pain and addiction—if Canada is ready to invest.

Naweed Syed

NO. 4

How Open Banking Can Fix Canada’s Financial Security Issue

Canada’s risk-averse banking system is full of potential dangers for customers. A simple security update would change everything. 

Alexander Vronces

NO. 3

How to Rescue Canada’s Wine Supply

Extreme weather is killing Canada’s grapes. A new Saskatchewan-made spray could save the day.

BY SUE ABRAMS

NO. 2

Capture Carbon From the Air

Companies need to stop their emissions from polluting the skies. Direct air capture can help absorb what’s already up there.

BY PHIL DE LUNA

NO. 1

Pay Family Doctors Differently

B.C. rolled out the Longitudinal Family Physician payment model and gained 700 new family doctors

Renee Fernandez