Islanders flock to Charlottetown Flea Market for affordable finds amid rising costs | SaltWireMuch debate continues to greet the latest statistics indicating Canada’s productivity – measured as economic output generated per hour of work – has continued to decline, dramatically lagging other G7 countries. What began as a rant by pundits, has now shifted to a steady lament.
We need to make investing in Canadian businesses – and investing in our communities – a top priority again.In the last century, Canada invested heavily in major transportation, mass transit, housing, energy generation and distribution, health systems, post-secondary institutions and cultural infrastructure – the underpinnings of an economy able to grow and diversify, and a society able to integrate significant numbers of immigrants each year.
It's time our economic policies prioritized buttressing and building vibrant communities so that money stays in Canada and so that we are investing in Canadian ideas, services and industries.One of our greatest strengths is our small and medium enterprise sector which employs close to 90 per cent of Canada’s labour force working in the private sector. SMEs absorb newcomers, providing a path to economic inclusion, skills development and social integration.
Mary Rowe is with Shorefast, one of Canada’s largest social enterprises that brings together world-class community businesses and initiatives. - Contributed