John Lester – Size shouldn’t matter for R&D business subsidies
Published in the Financial Post
After two rounds of consultations, Finance Canada is considering reforms to its scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) program. The review takes place against the backdrop of distressingly poor productivity performance and worries about the amount and effectiveness of R&D performed in Canada and the incentives for innovative startups to commercialize and scale-up their operations.
These concerns exist even though the federal government spent almost $11 billion last year to support innovation. Innovative firms get support to: hire skilled workers, perform R&D, commercialize inventions and scale-up their operations.
The program review should recognize where…
John Lester – Size shouldn’t matter for R&D business subsidies
Published in the Financial Post
After two rounds of consultations, Finance Canada is considering reforms to its scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) program. The review takes place against the backdrop of distressingly poor productivity performance and worries about the amount and effectiveness of R&D performed in Canada and the incentives for innovative startups to commercialize and scale-up their operations.
These concerns exist even though the federal government spent almost $11 billion last year to support innovation. Innovative firms get support to: hire skilled workers, perform R&D, commercialize inventions and scale-up their operations.
The program review should recognize where…
Dan Ciuriak – Industrial Policy Lessons from a Dairy Pot Calling Canada’s Kettle Black
From: Dan Ciuriak To: Canadian Trade Watchers Date: July 3, 2024 Re: Industrial Policy Lessons from a Dairy Pot Calling Canada’s Kettle Black Industrial policy is very much in vogue these days as major economies battle to dominate the key battlegrounds of artificial intelligence and the supporting technological infrastructure of data and computer chip manufacturing; biotechnology; and green-tech manufacturing. […] Smart, Runge – Risk Aversion is Hampering our Industrial Offset Policy
From: Ken Smart and Tim RungeTo: Canadian Productivity WatchersDate: June 28, 2024Re: Risk Aversion is Hampering our Industrial Offset PolicyThe peace dividend enjoyed since the end of the Cold War has been suspended – though Canada appears to struggle with this emerging truth. Conflicts that many considered unthinkable, and threats previously dismissed as products of an overactive imagination […] DeLand, Gilmour – Canada Needs More Major Project Investment: Here Are Some Ideas
To: Canadian major project watchers From: Charles DeLand and Brad Gilmour Date: April 16, 2024 Re: Canada Needs More Major Project Investment: Here Are Some Ideas It has not been easy for Canadian companies to plan and complete major projects in Canada recently. Hydroelectric dams, pipelines, mines, rail hubs, and port expansions and others are […]Webcast – Empty Seats: How Labour Shortages are Impacting SMEs
The other immigration problem: Too much talent is leaving Canada – Globe and Mail
Surging immigration numbers are top-of-mind for Canadians. But as we reconsider targets for newcomers and address pain points such as housing, we also need to pay attention to talent retention.
Tens of thousands of people leave Canada every year, many of them talented and entrepreneurial people we will miss. Importantly, a significant fraction are themselves immigrants, which may mean we are missing an opportunity to boost Canada’s long-term growth and prosperity.
A recent study by Statistics Canada, using a data set that combines detailed immigration department data with a Canada Revenue Agency database, highlights the significant phenomenon of emigration among immigrants in Canada. The overall…
John Lester – Consultations on a Cost-Neutral Modernization of SR&ED (Part 1)
From: John Lester To: Finance Canada Officials Date: February 6, 2024 Re: Consultations on a Cost-Neutral Modernization of SR&ED (Part 1) Finance Canada announced last week the start of consultations on a cost-neutral modernization and improvement of its scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax incentive program, and on the suitability of creating a patent box […]Peter Hall – Near-shoring and SMEs: Benefits and costs
From: Peter Hall To: International trade watchers Date: January 12, 2024 Re: Near-shoring and SMEs: Benefits and costs Business investment is being rocked by a new movement. Proof is pouring in that near-shoring is taking the world by storm. That is, as far as we can tell at this point. This wave is so new that it’s going to […]Daniel Schwanen — Preparing Ontario SMEs for the supply chains of the future: Part 1
To: Canadians concerned about small business growth amidst reconfiguration of supply chains From: Daniel Schwanen Re: Preparing Ontario SMEs for supply chains of the future – getting the big picture right Date: December 22, 2023 While supply chain challenges of the pandemic era and its immediate aftermath seem to have abated at the global level, […]Daniel Schwanen — Preparing Ontario SMEs for supply chains of the future: Part 2
To: Canadians concerned about small business growth amidst reconfiguration of supply chains From: Daniel Schwanen Re: Preparing Ontario SMEs for supply chains of the future – getting the big picture right – II Date: December 22, 2023 My previous Intelligence Memo focused on the overarching importance for Ontario’s economy of being home to firms that […]Business investment ‘awful’ in Canada – Financial Post
William Robson, CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, talks with Financial Post’s Larysa Harapyn about how capital per worker has been falling for the first time since the 1930s and what it means to the economy.