Global
Young, growing companies with potential to become medium-sized more important to economy than small businesses
By David Crane Feb. 11, 2019
They are on a growth trajectory. If we want middle-class jobs then the focus must be on growth companies, not small businesses just because they are small.
Small Business Minister Mary Ng once again declared that small businesses 'are the backbone of our nation’s economy,' but small businesses, while important, are not the backbone of the economy, no matter how many times politicians say they are, says David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
TORONTO—How often have you heard a politician proclaim that small businesses are the backbone of the economy? Probably often, because in each of our political parties there is a small-business fetish. Just last month, in a visit to Halifax, Small Business Minister Mary Ng once again declared that small businesses “are the backbone of our nation’s economy.”
Related Stories
Explore, analyze, understand
Spinning History: A Witness to Harper’s Canada and 21st Century choices
An unvarnished look at the Harper years and what lies ahead for Canadians
Get the book
An unvarnished look at the Harper years and what lies ahead for Canadians
Get the book
CanCon Contributions & Quotas In a Digital Age
As part of Heritage Canada’s review of Canadian content in a digital age, various parties are proposing changes to how digital services are regulated and taxed.
Get the book
As part of Heritage Canada’s review of Canadian content in a digital age, various parties are proposing changes to how digital services are regulated and taxed.
Get the book
2018 Guide to Lobbyist Gifting Rules
The 2018 Guide to Lobbyist Gifting Rules is the essential resource for your work on federal issues.
Get the book
The 2018 Guide to Lobbyist Gifting Rules is the essential resource for your work on federal issues.
Get the book
Related Policy Briefings
Agriculture Policy Briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Environment
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Energy: Carbon Pricing Policy Briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
More in News
Federal Conservatives say green technology, not taxes key to meeting Paris targets
To encourage more investment in green technology, the plan also pitches a $340-million 'green patent credit' aimed at prodding companies to spend more on research and develop their products for market.Canada’s Mali extension shortens medevac gap, but questions remain over when replacements will arrive
The Canadian government's commitment to peacekeeping weakened following the removal of Stéphane Dion as foreign affairs minister, says former adviser Jocelyn Coulon.Phoenix replacement vendors say they’re ready for the challenge of competing pay systems
‘All we ever wanted out of this was a working pay system, and if it's working pay system(s), we’re OK with that, too,’ says PIPSC president Debi Daviau.Journalists inherit ‘institutional blindspots’ that cloud coverage of race in politics, says media expert
When confronted with their biases, Prof. Tolley says journalists she interviewed for her research tried to explain away differences in their framing of a candidate’s electability.‘Embarrassing,’ ‘bullying’ social media posts prompt some Senators to push for policies governing how Senators, staff use the platforms
‘Harassment is harassment and it must be recognized and we must tackle it,’ says Sen. Tony Dean.
Early third-party advertising ‘unintended consequence’ of fixed election dates, says minister
Democratic institutions critic calls period prior to pre-writ ‘open season,’ with both politicians and academics saying they expect more political advertising during sporting events. Trudeau lays out case for re-election in Trans Mountain speech
The prime minister said construction on the pipeline is scheduled to begin this summer. He was less clear about whether more pipelines will be needed, or how the government will recover the cost of the Trans Mountain.Liberals getting ‘homework’ done on new NAFTA before passage in U.S. and Mexico, but NDP say bill being rushed
The House of Commons International Trade Committee will have a pre-study on June 18 to hear from between 12 and 15 witnesses in preparation for the possibility that the committee will review Bill C-100 in the summer. If he wants to win, Scheer needs to build his own brand, separate from Ford’s and Kenney’s, say political analysts
The risk for Andrew Scheer is that the Liberals will try to connect Doug Ford to Andrew Scheer and then try to connect that to hidden agenda, that’s not flattering to Andrew Scheer and the Conservatives,’ says Nik Nanos.Trending Stories
