Thank you for that good question. It is one that I think other jurisdictions have asked. I think the answer to your question is yes, and from a public policy perspective there seems to be a recognition that there is, for lack of a better way of putting it, a market failure of sorts. Businesses are not investing in and using technology as much as is deemed necessary for stimulating innovation and productivity.
My recollection is that the Information Technology Association of Canada undertook a study on this question a couple of years back. My recollection is that to the extent that other jurisdictions were using incentives, or some form of public support for this, it was done in a way that enabled flexibility. In other words, it basically gave the company the ability to define its strategy and to put in the technology, business processes, software, etc., that would help it accomplish its innovation objectives.
Whether it's a matter of vouchers, whether it's a matter of making support available through IRAP, whether it's available through the Business Development Bank of Canada, any of those means could be effective. I think the primary issue at hand is flexibility, a focus on a company's innovation outcomes and strategy, and making sure that the support is flexible enough to help the company achieve those outcomes, which may involve hardware, software, or services.