, the federal government’s global investment attraction and promotion agency, ties together loose threads from throughout a varied career.
As important as foreign direct investment is to Canada, the federal government has become increasingly wary in recent years of investments from countries seen as political adversaries. The race to build a competitive, homegrown EV battery industry — along with a more sustainable, inclusive economy writ large — is another challenge.
That means we need to approach things a little bit differently, because some of these regions may not be top of mind. That is my mission with my team now: to make sure we are really well-versed on the value propositions across our great country. How do you balance bringing in foreign investment into Canada’s energy transition with concerns about having too much foreign investment in our industry? Is that something you think about?
If a Chinese company were to approach Canada for an investment possibility and it passed all the checks and balances — would Invest In Canada work with them? Back in 2014, you released a report for the Nova Scotia government on driving the province’s economy through tax and regulatory reform. You faced some criticism for wanting to eliminate the tax bracket for high-income earners, as well as refundable tax credits. Do you still think that’s a good way to attract investment in Canada?
A big loss for NS
For the rich again!