Thanks Ben.
I'll nuance it. I don't believe it has to favour. I think we have to be very analytical in the outcomes we want. We want to see a successful business sector for the productivity of our country. Some of the facts we have to get on the record here is that Canada spends some of the highest amounts on investments in R and D from the public sector but has some of the lowest productivity outcomes in the OECD. That's our starting point. Continuing to do that and expecting better results is, by definition, insanity.
The second piece I'll say is that when we look at the economic development work we're doing—another member asked a question about some specific examples, but there are many different ones—we also have to be cognizant that the best form of financing for any company, regardless of what they make, is a purchase order. Take it to any bank, and they'll give you much better financing terms than a government grant, a government tax credit or a zero-interest loan. I think we have to acknowledge that in our analytical constructs here.
What I would say is that, if we assess the success of the programs out there in economic development for technology-intensive businesses, let's consider how we get people in government—who are frankly, as a sector, one of the largest buyers of technology in this country—to actually try Canadian tools and technologies.
Let's also be realistic. Through grants and subsidies we are giving companies money—start-ups, scaling companies, large technology companies—through SR and ED credits. Should we not try to take something back?