Canada is not a true innovation nation, merchandise exports data show

Canada is a derivative economy, dependent on the U.S. for growth, largely in commodities and semi-processed or intermediate products. There are, to be sure, exceptions. But, fundamentally, we are a mid-range supplier economy to the U.S. and free trade with the U.S. hasn’t changed that.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau, pictured on the day of the federal government's budget release, March 22, 2016. The national challenge facing the Trudeau government is how to create innovative businesses, with high-paying jobs, that can profitably produce products, and services, that the rest of the world wants to buy, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Opinion

BY DAVID CRANE

May 9, 2016

TORONTO—Canada, we have a problem. The latest data on merchandise exports reinforces the point that Canada is not a true innovation nation. We have great innovators and entrepreneurs, but this is not translating into great companies that can be great exporters. This is the national challenge faci...

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