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Just this week, the Times Higher Education group released their rankings of university reputations.

These results are based on a survey of thousands of professors worldwide.

McGill and the University of British Columbia slipped to 31st from 25th place. Toronto held steady at 16th. And here, let me share the warning from Phil Baty, the editor of the rankings and a veteran observer of universities worldwide. Mr Baty said that the decline was a direct result of Canada’s “highly egalitarian approach”. He said that Canada was refusing to focus its resources on a select number of top research universities strategically so that they could truly compete. He put it precisely: “Countries around the world are picking winners and investing heavily in them, so they are coming up the ranks while Canada is slipping.”

The Montreal Gazette paraphrased Baty’s final warning as follows: “The risk… is that Canada could end up with many mid-ranked institutions, but lack the big flagship institutions that drive investment, research and development and the economy.”

Phil Baty’s concise formulation did miss what for me is the most important asset of all — and the asset that will be devalued the most if the Zombies win. I am referring, of course, to young talent.

The resources that matter most aren’t in the ground or off shore. The resources that will win the day for Canada are the inquiring, agile, and creative minds of the next generation.

And here I continue to believe that, given the right education and opportunities, with a full suite of institutions with different missions, including research universities that can compete on the global stage, the next generation of Canadians will make great discoveries, develop transformative technologies, imagine more successful societies, ask hard questions, and lead with verve and vision.

I also have faith that, in the years ahead, if we make the right choices, the Zombies will disappear – and our young people will secure a bright future for this great country.