Your question is well framed in flagging a context that is still precarious and will give us some bumpiness and some scruffiness going forward.
There are many reasons to think that Canada comes into this period from an advantageous position. We spoke earlier about the economic conditions that are positive, including our natural resources—which are definitely always a strength for Canada—and our vibrant, educated workforce. Our tax levels compare favourably, in many ways, to those of other countries, and our federal debt is lower on a comparative basis than in other G7 countries. Those are all positives that work in Canada's favour.
That said, our business conditions have been concerning for quite a while. Our productivity numbers, our business investment, our research and development and our entrepreneurship numbers have been flat for quite a while, and that has translated similarly into a lack of growth in GDP per capita over an extended time period. That raises concerns as well.
