I think the Canadian research system in universities is performing well. I'm not sure that going on the nine months out of 12 system that is done in the States in some cases would give.... In the nine months you would work in industry, which would be good, you could find.... But the funding system has to be changed totally. What's happening in the States in this case is that the NSF is funding salaries of professors. In Canada we'd have to raise the NSERC funding by a lot to go to this system.
I've done it myself. I've spun off a company, started it, and spent three years full time, almost five, doing this. There are not that many professors who are ready to do this. Even if you go on a 9-12 system, I don't think you would get a lot. I think it's a cultural thing.