Peter Lougheed was a conservative with close links to corporate Canada, but he recognized that governments have a role to play in building a strong economy.
In response to a record trade deficit in manufactured end products a Globe and Mail business columnist wrote, “it indicates a failure on the part of federal policymakers to prevent a relative deterioration of the Canadian manufacturing industry.”
According to the report of the World Economic Forum released last week, Canada is seen as less competitive because of lack of support for research and development and post-secondary education. Lack of government support for innovation through procurement, declining university enrolment rates and low levels of workplace training were all seen as problems.
