 Harold Adams Innis ( / ˈɪnɪs / ; November 5 , 1894 – November 8 , 1952 ) was a Canadian professor of political economy at the University of Toronto and the author of seminal works on media , communication theory , and Canadian economic history . Despite his dense and difficult prose , Innis was one of Canada 's most original thinkers . He helped develop the staples thesis , which holds that Canada 's culture , political history , and economy have been decisively influenced by the exploitation and export of a series of " staples " such as fur , fishing , lumber , wheat , mined metals , and coal . The staple thesis dominated economic history in Canada 1930s @-@ 1960s , and is still used by some . 
 Harold Adams Innis ( / ˈɪnɪs / ; November 5 , 1894 – November 8 , 1952 ) was a Canadian professor of political economy at the University of Toronto and the author of seminal works on media , communication theory , and Canadian economic history . Despite his dense and difficult prose , Innis was one of Canada <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>most original thinkers . He helped develop the staples thesis , which <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>holds</mark></a> that Canada <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>culture , political history , and economy <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>have</mark></a> been decisively influenced by the exploitation and export of a series of " staples " such as fur , fishing , lumber , wheat , mined metals , and coal . The staple thesis<a href='been_done' title='5'><mark></mark></a> dominated economic history in Canada 1930s @-@ 1960s , and is still used by some . 
Harold Adams Innis ( / ˈɪnɪs / ; November 5 , 1894 – November 8 , 1952 ) was a Canadian professor of political economy at da University of Toronto and tdaauthor of seminal works on media , communication theory , and Canadian economic history . Despite his dense and difficult prose , Innis was one of Canada  most original thinkers . He helped develop the staples thesis , which hold that Canada  culture , political history , and economy done been decisively influenced by the exploitation and export of a series of " staples " such as fur , fishing , lumber , wheat , mined metals , and coal . The staple thesis been dominated economic history in Canada 1930s @-@ 1960s , and is still used by some .