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Let’s talk about quiet leaving. For the past few years, #Quebec innovators have been voicing concerns about the government’s French language laws. They understand the value of Francophone culture and protecting the language, but the requirements under Bill 96 put Quebec companies at a competitive disadvantage. Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs has been working with members of the Quebec ecosystem to advocate for better policies, but frankly, we haven’t seen much movement from the Quebec government. And over the past while, I’ve been hearing about companies quietly shifting their workforce out of Quebec because they don’t see a way to grow there. I appreciate Martin Patriquin identifying this issue and writing about it for The Logic. I visit Quebec often (I’ll be there later this month!), and I talk to entrepreneurs about the local innovation ecosystem. These are passionate Quebeckers who want to drive economic growth and create wealth for Quebec society. But when economic conditions make it impossible to compete, they feel they have no choice but to shift their growth to other parts of Canada or even to other countries. And frankly, this is a lesson that goes beyond even the issue of language policy. You’ve probably seen founders expressing concern about Canada being an unfavourable place to grow in the wake of capital gains tax changes. I don’t expect many innovators to pack up and leave tomorrow, but we need to be aware of the risk of quiet leaving. It doesn’t happen dramatically, but if governments don’t prioritize innovation and prosperity, our brightest minds can simply drift away. The issue at hand isn’t just about language policy; it’s about creating an environment where innovation thrives. Quebec’s Bill 96 (now Law 14) is a glaring example, but the sentiment is echoed nationwide with capital gains tax changes. Founders aren't making grand exits yet, but the risk of a slow brain drain is real. Without a supportive framework, our best talent will gradually find opportunities elsewhere. It’s time for governments to wake up and prioritize policies that foster innovation and economic growth. We can’t afford to let our brightest minds quietly slip away. Via The Logic by Martin Partiquin: As Bill 96 takes effect, Quebec businesses begin ‘quiet leaving: https://lnkd.in/gu_eKYJJ cc'ing Jean-Francois Harvey

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An agenda for Canada …to avoid a CAD reaching 65-67 cents US. Earlier this week, I gave an interview to Brian Crombie following one of my post released last week! Indeed, I have discussed a potential "roadmap" to present to Trudeau Government aimed at safeguarding Canadians and strengthening the Canadian economy in the wake of Donald Trump’s election. Given this new « game changer » South of the border, I reiterate that our federal government need to be strategic and adopt a game plan in a preemptive manner (including revisiting current restrictive fiscal anchors) in order to prevent a 10% unilateral tariff on our exports and a loonie reaching possibly 65-67 cents! Questions: -Could we invest much more money on military spending and infrastructure (particularly in Arctic area) to comply to the NATO Target (2% of GDP) before 2032? -Could we take this opportunity to make a huge « reset » on a wealth creation agenda with a credible plan to stimulate innovation and encourage entrepreneurship ( scrap the new Capital gains inclusion rate not ratified yet by a parliament bill) in order to reverse the current declining GDP per capita? -Could we spend more money on Climate adaptation by helping cities and local government than just fight climate change since the impact of our actions on global warming is minimal (less than 1,5% of GHE globally). Do not give up necessarily on the first one but do more on the second one! -Could we invest more on public infrastructure like a new High speed train from Toronto to Quebec City? Maybe, some of our large public pension funds could be interested to invest in such project depending of financial parameters! -With an annual deficit of 6-7% of GDP in US side, should we keep our current fiscal anchor of 1% of GDP? Food for thought #cdnecon #cdnpoli #economy #leadership #innovation #competitiveness

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🇨🇦 Canada needs to organize for victory; the world isn’t waiting for us to catch up! The global economy is in overdrive, and how Canada responds now will shape our prosperity and security for decades to come. From navigating shifting trade dynamics to hitting NATO’s defence spending targets, the challenges are clear. But so is the opportunity: resilience starts at home. At Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs we’ve been on the front lines, working with scale-ups, policymakers, and industry leaders to craft solutions that put Canadian innovation first. Investing in homegrown tech isn’t just smart; it’s essential for building economic strength and securing our future. Don’t just watch the story unfold - BE A PART OF IT! Our newsletter delivers insights, strategies, and opportunities to shape Canada’s next chapter. Whether you’re an innovator, policymaker, or a champion for change, this is an avenue to participate in the 21st century. Organizing for victory starts here: sign-up information for the newsletter in the comments section 👇 👇 👇 I look forward to seeing you at our next CCI event!

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Canada has such massive potential if we actually worked, traded, and dealt with each other as a nation - imagine being able to compete globally with that kind of mindset. But we have massive barriers to trade and labour mobility. The New West Partnership was an attempt to take a smaller group of provinces and chip away at those barriers that make it harder for us to do business with each other. It has proven successful and now is the time to grow it - perhaps one day it becomes what should be a national framework for interprovincial trade and mobility. The Business Council of Alberta supports growing the Partnership to include Ontario. Thanks to my national and provincial colleagues for their leadership on this, and to Goldy for your leadership on this. Let's get this done, and make it easier for companies across Canada to be successful, growing and competitive. All Canadians will become richer when we break down these barriers. #cdnpoli

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Canada seems to be sleepwalking towards another Quebec referendum. Last time, in 1995, the so-called Federalists in Ottawa and Quebec City inexplicably argued that the province of Quebec was indivisible. They argued Quebec provincial borders were protected by International Law. That is false. The international borders of USA, Mexico and Canada are the only ones protected by international Law and the three countries enjoy territorial Integrity in North America. The rest of the provincial or state borders are constitutional/administrative arrangements inside those 3 countries. The Federalists refused to tell Quebecers the truth in 1995. A poll showed that when Quebecers are told the province of Quebec is divisible there is a 15% swing back to the No side. That vote could have had 65% of voters voting No. In 1995 the Federalists in Ottawa and Quebec City had a double agenda. Their first priority and strategy was to keep Quebec in Canada and if that didn't work they would take all of the Quebec provincial territory/regions out of Canada. Even the regions that voted No. Like Montreal and Northern Quebec.

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In this month’s Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs newsletter, I talked about the capital gains tax hike. When Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered her budget on April 16, I am confident that she didn't expect the kind of response we've seen from the Canadian tech sector. The government expected a quick political win from hiking capital gains taxes and delivering an overly simplistic 'soak the rich' justification. Instead, the government got an open letter signed by more than 2,000 CEOs, investors, executives, and tech employees, calling for the government to take a different path. Since then, CCI has been spreading this message on TV, podcasts, and in print and delivered it in a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister days after the budget was released. Canada needs a serious growth agenda, driven by innovative Canadian technology companies and policies in line with the 21st-century economy. We are at a point where the Bank of Canada says we need to break the glass and declare an emergency over our productivity crisis. The thing is, we can't tax our way out of Canada's productivity crisis. More importantly, Canada can't go down a path that discourages a highly mobile population of in-demand skilled workers from contributing to Canada's homegrown tech sector.  CCI has been clear and forceful in our message to the government that they need to reverse this tax hike and build a path to prosperity focused on economic growth and building Canada up. At CCI, we believe that governments should be the wind at the backs of our innovators, not the wind in their faces. Globally, the most robust innovation economies feature governments that eliminate growth barriers for their domestic companies, aligning their success with national prosperity. In Canada, we believe our innovators deserve the same support. We are committed to making this vision a reality. I hope you'll join me on Friday at 1 p.m. ET at CCI's Tech Sector Pulse Check to unpack these ideas further. We'll chat with Stephany Lapierre, CEO of TealBook, Daniel Eberhard, CEO of KOHO, and Rebecca Kacaba, CEO of DealMaker. Register here to join the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gHbCNXwK

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🌟 Happy New Year! 🌟 Who says Canadian politics is boring? As we step into 2025, the political landscape continues to evolve in significant ways. With the recent resignation of Prime Minister Trudeau, and as we approach the inauguration of Donald Trump and the looming possibility of 25% tariffs on Canadian exports, businesses and policymakers alike are facing a pivotal moment. The upcoming review of CUSMA/USMCA (formerly NAFTA) in 2026 further underscores the importance of preparation and strategic foresight. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to stay informed, proactive and ready to navigate the complexities ahead. If you have any questions or need support navigating these developments, I am always happy to connect and provide insights. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and productive 2025! #TradePolicy #CUSMA #USMCA #USCanadaRelations #NAFTA #GovernmentRelations #cdnpoli #uspoli

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Canada’s soldiers, sailors and aviators answer one of the highest calls in service of our country and we are grateful for their work. When veterans choose to re-enter civilian life, we want to empower them to secure a rewarding, high-demand career with great opportunities. A one-time grant to the Helmets to Hardhats Skilled Pathway program will support service members who wish to pursue apprenticeship education and a career in one of Alberta’s designated trades. The Helmets to Hardhats Skilled Pathway program offers safety certification, personal safety equipment, supervisory training and employment referrals for service members who do not have existing training, certification, or backgrounds in the trades, and prepares participants for entry-level roles and supervisory positions. After completing the one-year Skilled Pathway Program, each participant will become a member of a local Alberta trade union, going on to become an apprentice in one of Alberta’s skilled trades. This investment supports veterans, their families and our economy by creating pathways to new careers and helping address labour needs in the province.

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Immigration targets revised downward: Congrats Minister Miller for having finally listened Montreal& Bay Street Economists ( le francais disponible sur un post distinct) The Trudeau government, which aimed to welcome close to 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025 and 2026, will considerably lower its targets. Here are the new annual permanent immigration targets which would be announced on Thursday and which would represent a drop of 21% compared to the initial target of 2025-2026: 2025: target of 395,000 2026: target of 380,000 2027: target of 365,000 My reaction: With the pressures observed on rents price and provincial public services linked to the spectacular rise of non-permanent residents, it became obvious that the initial targets on permanent immigration no longer held up! There is no doubt that the meeting held last month between Chief economists and Minister Marc Miller was decisive in bringing about this downward revision of the permanent immigration targets established by his predecessor! Reason: we must take into account the reception capacity of the country and that this capacity is different depending on the provinces and territories! Although immigration is a source of wealth creation over the long-run for our country (nearly 25% of foreign born citizens), it had become obvious that the unbridled increase in other aspects of our immigration policy (foreign students , asylum seekers and especially temporary workers). Temporary resident numbers are currently equivalent to 7.3% of the Canadian population, a high of some 60 years! On that file, congrats to Stefane Marion, Chief economist with National Bank, for having the first to explain the « population trap » that Canada is facing. In closing, here is my exchange with Minister Miller during his visit to the Senate on October 8th. My question: “In order to depoliticize the issue of immigration, it is expected that our immigrants contribute in the long term to the creation of wealth, we all agree on that, but in the short term, all of this creates challenges. What would you think of creating a committee of experts composed of demographers, sociologists and economists to advise you on setting targets? » Minister Miller’s answer: “Absolutely, I’m not against it at all. I have a lot of information, ideas and contributions — which I value — that have been given to me by people who are not part of government. I wouldn't be against it. I would first like to achieve some success with the distribution program that we have put in place before doing so. However, off the top of my head, it seems like a good idea. We currently do this informally. I would agree to make the process more formal, with the participation of the provinces and their commitment to participate in good faith. I would agree, but we need the good faith of the provinces. » Sénat du Canada Chambre des communes du Canada #immigration The Hill Times The Globe and Mail Financial Post #cdnpoli #cdnecon

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🔔 Heads up, #Ottawa! Just two days left to RSVP for the First Ottawa Innovator Network of Canada (Inc.) Town Hall on June 6th. The government's detrimental Capital Gains Tax will be discussed, but we're setting the stage to get Ottawa's tech ecosystem back on track and drive prosperity for the nation. For too long, we've sidelined our own talent in favour of foreign solutions. Ottawa, with its strategic role in procurement and economic development, must lead the nation's 21st-century economy. It's time for our policies and institutions to put Canadians at the forefront, building the next wave of innovative companies. Join us for a no-nonsense Town Hall on Ottawa's role as a tech hub and its impact on Canada's economy. 🗓️ Date: Tuesday, June 6 at 5:00 PM 📍 Location: The Collaboration Centre, 150 Elgin St, Downtown Ottawa 🎟 RSVP Here: https://lnkd.in/g8JhqDGi What’s on the Agenda? Community: Pierce Ujjainwalla (Knak), Margo Crawford, MBA, ICD.D (Business Sherpa Group), Thomas Park (BDC & Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA)), Alexandre L. (Rain Technologies Inc.), and Laura Dhillon Kane (Bloomberg). Networking before and after the panel discussion: Mix with industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, and government influencers. Limited Space: So RSVP now to secure your spot. The Canadian economy has its challenges, but there are massive opportunities ahead. Let's come together and organize for a better future. See you there! cc'ing: Yasir Naqvi 🇨🇦, Anita Vandenbeld, Jenna Sudds, Marie-France Lalonde, Mark Sutcliffe, François-Philippe Champagne, Pierre Poilievre, Anita Indira Anand, Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, Randy Boissonnault, Jean-Yves Duclos #Innovation #Tech #Networking #CanadaTech #FutureForward

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Facts and insights from today’s unprecedented political events. Happy to chat about implications for your organization as the political dust settles. https://lnkd.in/eFFTcmkT

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Looking for a Sunday read? Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs Director of Policy and Research Laurent Carbonneau has written something SMART: it's a real triple word score. The Innovation Game: What Scrabble Can Teach Us About Prosperity in Canada. It's time to shift our perspective on how we grow innovation and economic development in Canada. For those counting: SMART on a triple word score is 21 points. Well done, Laurent! https://lnkd.in/gH8qMxjZ

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As they say in Quebec, hold on to your tuques! Trump is back in power. In my final column for Les Affaires, the French-language business publication, I warn of the perils emerging from this week's U.S. election. Trump’s remarkable victory comes with a list of expansive and frightening policy proposals. He wants to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours and impose tariffs on all imports into the US. And with the GOP likely to control the U.S. Congress and a Supreme Court already stacked with right-wing judges, Trump will have the tools he needs to push ahead. But will he actually go ahead with these measures? Impossible to say. Trump has never been interested in policy details. He’s a showman who loves grand statements that capture headlines and attract the support of voters. “Build a Wall,” was his cry in 2016. The fact that only a small part of the wall was ever built never mattered to Trump. The message was what mattered. He called NAFTA “the worst trade deal ever made,” only to negotiate a new agreement in 2020 that was simply a modernized version of the original deal. Would the same thing happen now with Trump’s proposed tariffs on all foreign imports, including from Canada? Would Trump make a grand announcement, only to scale back his ambitions later? It would be dangerous to assume that history will repeat itself, because Trump’s second term will be very different. For one thing, there’s the scale of his victory this week, including a clear win in the popular vote. In 2016, many of Trump's advisers were conservative but hardly radical, including men like Rex Tillerson, former CEO of ExxonMobil and Steve Mnuchin, a former banker. His first term was marked by factional fighting and personnel turnover that often enveloped the White House in chaos. This time, Trump is taking a more disciplined approach to staffing the 100s of positions that change after every presidential election. Howard Lutnick, co-chair of the transition team, has vowed that anyone appointee will be chosen for “their fidelity and loyalty” to Trump. And instead of bankers, Trump is turning for advice to characters like Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr. Yet Trump still has a short attention span and tires easily of ideas and the people around him. Will he start mass deportations, find it's too messy and shut the process down, declaring victory? Will the same happen with tariffs. I have no idea. In the end, we’re looking at a period of great uncertainty in the world’s most important economy, where nothing can be taken for granted. Hold on. There’s plenty of turbulence ahead.

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"The world doesn't need more Canada."   This probably isn’t a message you’ve heard much at business conferences, but it needs to be said. Only by addressing the structural forces in our economy can we generate future opportunity and prosperity. We can’t be smug and complacent. Canada must earn our prosperity, and if we aren’t making smart choices and working hard to be great, the rest of the world will move on; in fact, it already has.   The capital gains proposal in the Federal Government's Budget is just a symptom of a much larger structural problem in our economy. We must organize and come together to build policies and frameworks that will nurture an ecosystem to build companies and create jobs of the future if we are to safeguard opportunity and prosperity for all.   A BIG thank you to the folks at NACO Canada for giving me an opportunity on your stage to talk seriously about Canada's economic future.   Thank you to Anne Gaviola for leading the fireside chat and to the audience for staying with me as we tackled the challenges facing our country in these increasingly difficult times. To the entire NACO —Claudio Rojas, Calvin Henderson, CFA, Chantalle Freeborough, Richard Cerezo, Safina Allidina and Marielle Voksepp — what a fantastic event! I know how challenging it can be to put on a dynamic, well-attended day of thought-provoking content.    Canada needs a visionary industrial policy to compete in the 21st century to sustain the social programs we value deeply, such as universal healthcare and education.   Watch my full talk here: https://lnkd.in/gGAQ8FB4 #NACO2024 #SkunkAtTheGardenParty

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What a great OpEd. Want a recipe for how procurement can help to catalyze innovation in Canada? Dan Ciuriak and Laurent Carbonneau outline several key elements here. Please have a read…

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"Since 2015, the number of temporary foreign residents in Canada has nearly quadrupled, to 2.7 million. Whether through what I’ll call the Tim Hortons Immigration Stream – which allowed employers to hire an unlimited number of “temporary” workers for permanent jobs – or through the Tuition-for-Residence Stream – pay $10,000 for a certificate from the Strip-Mall College of Management and get the right to cross the border – the system built new superhighways into Canada. The number of visas on offer was effectively unlimited. The notion that Canada was vetting anyone went out the window. Bye-bye walls. Previous governments devoted so much effort to the walls because they understood that, once someone crosses the border, the tools for compelling their departure are limited. That includes foreign students and temporary workers no longer eligible to live and work here, refugee claimants adjudged to be not genuine refugees, and even tourists who decided to never go home. The Liberals are under pressure from left-wing groups to offer many of them citizenship. But doing so would set a precedent, and open a Pandora’s Box of consequences. It would encourage aspiring immigrants who do not qualify for the limited number of permanent residency spots to simply ignore the expiry of their work or student visas and remain in the country, pending amnesty. Ditto failed refugee claimants. Ditto people who overstay a tourist visa. It would reinforce the growing impression, which student and worker recruiters around the world are selling, that crossing the Canadian border, by whatever means, is a smooth road to Canadian citizenship. But for the Trudeau government, the most compelling reason to tread carefully in this area may be political. Canadian citizenship as a reward for flouting immigration law is going to tick off a lot of Canadians. I suspect the most hardboiled and unapologetic will be those people who queued up, followed the rules and entered during daylight hours: immigrants."

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Alberta’s government recognizes the importance of our aviation industry to our province’s economy and is committed to addressing the workforce shortage of aviation professionals. We have recently committed $900,000 to Elevate Aviation to invest in a state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Aviation Maintenance Training System, set to transform aviation training across the province. This state-of-the-art system uses immersive virtual reality technology to create lifelike training environments, enabling trainees to practice and perfect their skills in a risk-free setting. This dynamic approach will accelerate learning and give graduates the experience they need to be industry-ready from day one. Investing in innovative training solutions like virtual reality is integral to Alberta’s strategy for economic growth, ensuring a steady stream of skilled professionals and maintaining the province’s competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving industry. The Workforce Strategies Grant funding Elevate Aviation’s system aims to broaden access to high-quality aviation training, including for women, and rural and Indigenous communities.

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Is the Canadian Senate playing its role of a “sober second thought” as envisioned by Canada’s first prime minister, John A. MacDonald? The answer seems definitely YES according to my colleague Senator, Andrew Cardozo! ( le Français disponible dans une publication distincte) Here are few extracts from his opinion published earlier this week in the Hill Times! “During the last four years of the Harper government, the Senate amended a total of one bill that was introduced by the government in the House of Commons, a rate—less than one per cent—that has been the norm since Confederation. In recent years, that figure has gone as high 40 to 50 per cent. And if you think this means the unelected Senate is getting too activist, here’s the good news: the elected House tends to accept most of the amendments that we send back to them. (Just to clarify, when the Senate makes any amendments to a bill passed by the House, it needs to go back to the Commons for their approval, so that at the end of the process, both Chambers pass an identical bill.).” Here are what I would call the “Indicators of Senators’ Independence”—how we are independent, and how our role differs from partisan appointees of the olden days. As independent Senators, we do not caucus with any party in the House. No party leader tells us how to vote. Government ministers and MPs and members of the opposition, along with a million other lobbyists, may seek to influence our vote, but they have no hold over us, and this is a central point to the new reform of the Senate. “No party tells us what to say or not to say. No party puts us on committees or takes us off committees when they don’t like our behaviour—a common practice in the partisan House. No party writes our speeches or our questions. We do not co-ordinate questions or voting with anyone in government or in the House, nor with each other.” Well said Senator Cardozo! Sénat du Canada Chambre des communes du Canada The Globe and Mail National Post, Inc. CBC/Radio-Canada #cdnpoli

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YES!! Still sharp and fiesty at 91 years old. Well said Mr. Chretien. "....But we also have to play offence. Let’s tell Mr. Trump that we too have border issues with the United States. Canada has tough gun control legislation, but illegal guns are pouring in from the U.S. We need to tell him that we expect the United States to act to reduce the number of guns crossing into Canada. "We also want to protect the Arctic. But the United States refuses to recognize the Northwest Passage, insisting that it is an international waterway, even though it flows through the Canadian Arctic as Canadian waters. We need the United States to recognize the Northwest Passage as being Canadian waters. "We also need to reduce Canada’s vulnerability in the first place. We need to be stronger. There are more trade barriers between provinces than between Canada and the United States. Let’s launch a national project to get rid of those barriers! And let’s strengthen the ties that bind this vast nation together through projects such as real national energy grid. "We also have to understand that Mr. Trump isn’t just threatening us; he’s also targeting a growing list of other countries, as well as the European Union itself, and he is just getting started. Canada should quickly convene a meeting of the leaders of Denmark, Panama, Mexico, as well as with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to formulate a plan for fighting back these threats."

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