The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canada’s Opportunities and Barriers for Success
May 12, 2011Toronto, Ontario
Chris GrayDirector, Innovation Policy
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Our Members– Corporate Members– 420 Chambers– Associations
• Representing businesses of every size, from every sector and every region in Canada
• Mandate = Canadian Competitiveness
• Priority Files• Canadian IP Council
2011Federal Election
• Majority government should make lobbying more stable for four years.
• Harper’s mandate will develop over the next few months.
• Responsibility to deliver for business.
• “Orange Crush” in Quebec.• Chamber calling for a pro-growth
strategy. • Government will set cabinet posts
in the coming days, most likely return to work on May 30th or June 6th – Throne Speech, Budget.
CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY
Canada’s Business Game Plan
• Canada is an economic leader among the G8 nations.
• Decent growth due to global demand for commodities and better than expected expansion in United States.
• More than 300,000 jobs added to the Canadian economy in the last twelve months.
• With the loonie trading at or above par for the balance of 2011, Canadian businesses will be under more pressure to improve productivity to compete.
• Corporate tax reductions.
Conference Board of Canada Report
• Still lagging in productivity and living standards, loonie’s rise has helped somewhat.
• Canada continues to invest less in machinery and equipment than other major industrialized nations.
• Remain at the back of the pack on labour productivity, a key economic challenge for Canada.
• Income gap between Canada-U.S. has narrowed, but it and productivity gap forecast to grow again.
• Lagging investment ranks Canada 12th out of 17 countries.
Intellectual Property in Canada
• Effective criminal and civil enforcement requires policy and legislation.
• In 2007, two Parliamentary Committees (Industry and Public Safety) issued unanimous reports that called on the government to take action.
• Canada continues to lag in digital business innovation and investors are unwilling to embrace new business models built on a shaky IPR legal framework.
• Launched the Canadian IP Council in 2008.
Canada & IP
11th Most Innovative Economy
$29 CDN billion R&D funding in 2010
In 2007, Canadian culture and creative sector estimated at $84.6 billion
$1 million jobs in the culture and creative sector
IP for Innovation and Economic Growth
• Over 15,000 people are directly employment by the more than 50 research-based pharmaceutical companies in Canada. These companies contribute an annual $4 billion to the Canadian economy.
• In the Kitchener-Waterloo region, 400 high-tech companies (whose strengths are in software, microelectronics and telecommunications) generate revenues of $4.6 billion annually and employ 15,000 people.
• In BC, approximately 6,000 companies, active in the information and communications technologies sector, generate revenues of $9 billion and employ about 46,000 people.
IP for Innovation and Economic Growth
• International Chamber report – February 2011IPR:– benefit the economy; – promotes innovation;– helps firms monetize their
innovations and grow; and– helps SMEs grow.
• IP represents 4-11% of
GDP in G8 countries
R & D panel – CCC priority issues
• Government has a definite role to play, but businesses must also continue to evolve their business models with a greater focus on innovation.
• Government programs, like the Science Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program, are key to the early success for many Canadian companies.
• Venture capital is also a key element.• Ownership of intellectual property is of principal
importance to a successful business/post-secondary partnership. There should be one model that is used across the board.
• Adoption of smart technologies.
Economic Impact of IP theft in Canada
$30 billion
Barriers to Increasing Competitiveness
• Weak intellectual property rights laws• Inter-provincial trade barriers• Lack of start-up capital• Immigration policies• Lack of skilled workers
CCC’s Economic Edge Conference
• What can government do to better position Canada for future growth in ICT e-business adoption?
• How can we work together to better make the link between technology companies and venture capital?
• Can universities and colleges finally come up with one good model for the commercialization of research? Bridging the gap between universities/business/incubators.
• What conclusions will come from the government’s federal review of R&D in Canada?
• Is Canada a leader or laggard in green/smart innovation?
The Path Forward for Canada
Competitive business agenda
Encourage growth and
innovation for businesses of all
sizes
Promote Canada’s
advantages