Column, web site ignore Canada’s advancements

03/01/2006

Dear Small Times:

After reading Patti Glaza’s column, “Oh Canada! Sing your praises for your nanotech successes” (Small Times Magazine, January/February 2006) I came away disappointed. I met with Ms. Glaza on her recent tour of Canadian nanotech companies. In fact, we spent an hour and half together over a private lunch arranged a month in advance by a Canadian trade organization.

I arranged my air travel for this meeting, representing our company, the province, and to ensure that Small Times would have a clear understanding of what Canada’s “rising nano stars are doing to promote their success.” Indeed, to gain this understanding is why Small Times attended this event in the first place. So, you can imagine my surprise when I read the assertion that Canada is doing nothing to promote its nanotech success, especially when Small Times just attended an event to promote that very subject!

So what’s happening here? After reviewing the Small Times Web site, I discovered that since 2001, Small Times posted, or reported on, a total of three press releases issued by Micromem Technologies. But since 2004, Micromem has issued over 25 press releases - all sent to Small Times as well as other media outlets.

I believe that the press has a responsibility to report the news. My conclusion is that Small Times is either ignoring that responsibility, or doing a very poor job of it.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Kuper

Micromem Technologies

Toronto, Ontario