I agree, sir, that we have a structural problem in our ability to nurture companies beyond the start-up phase through to the medium and larger size of firm, which is so important in order to reach export markets, invest in innovation, and so on. I think the ease of foreign takeovers—especially of the smaller firm, which now under these regulations is under a billion dollars, and that is quite a significant firm—is one of the factors in why Canada has a dearth of globally oriented, successful, medium-sized exporters.
On May 23rd, 2013. See this statement in context.