Canadians are Ready to Build
Build Canada has spent the last several months giving Canadian builders a platform to present their ideas to build a richer, stronger, and freer country. Last week we tested how Canadians feel about some of these proposals and the results are in: a clear majority of Canadians support bold solutions for more prosperous country.
From coast to coast, Canadians want fast, decisive action to grow the economy, modernize our institutions, and secure our sovereignty. To do this means prioritizing long-term economic growth, making it easier for builders to build, and not being afraid of bold policy ideas.
Canadians’ Priority is Long-term Economic Growth
Economic growth isn’t just an abstract goal. Our memos have focused on ideas to meaningfully grow our GDP per capita because it’s the single most important driver of a better quality of life. Growth leads to higher wages, better jobs, new companies with better services, and more resources for healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The majority of Canadians understand this and agree that growth must be our priority.
When asked directly, 63% support and 25% oppose “investments that build Canada through long-term economic growth, even if it means reduced spending on social programs in the short-term”. When asked as a choice, 70% prefer “building the country through long-term economic growth” versus 23% who prefer “investing into social programs”.
Canadians Want to Make it Easier to Build
To achieve this economic growth we need a private sector that is free to build world-class businesses and a government that is efficient and effective.
Ease of doing business and government competence aren’t uniquely Canadian issues but we do face unique challenges.
Our survey found that a majority of Canadians are concerned that it’s becoming harder to grow a business in Canada due to regulatory complexity. Among those who own a business, this number goes up to 86%, including 40% who are very concerned. Eight-in-ten agree that removing outdated regulations is key to enabling business growth and competitiveness in Canada
And there is widespread support for improving productivity and efficiency. Enthusiasm for improving productivity increases with age, from 72% of 18-to-34 year olds who agree with the sentiment, up to 91% of seniors. Further, eight-in-ten support a government spending cut of up to 25% if essential services and service quality are maintained. Seniors are the most supportive of this idea (87%).
Canadians are Ready for Bold Policy Ideas
Build Canada has shared several ideas on how to tackle these problems. We’ve released nearly 30 bold policy ideas aimed at growing the economy. Our survey shows support for these ideas, even in the face of trade-offs. We share some key insights below, and you can see more comprehensive results here.
Fast-track Energy Projects
Energy is the single most important engine of economic growth. Whether through oil and gas or world-class nuclear technologies, Canada has the natural and intellectual resources to lead. But leadership requires speed and decisiveness. It means updating our systems to unlock our nation's energy wealth. And it means eliminating the barriers to bringing new projects online.
Canadians agree: they want to see action. 71% of Canadians support faster approval for major energy export projects. Support is highest in Alberta (78%) and the Prairies (76%). In Quebec more than three times as many people support than oppose this (67% / 20%).
Remove Interprovincial Trade Barriers
Today, we often have more barriers to trade between provinces and territories than with foreign countries. Removing these is estimated to boost Canada's GDP by 4-7%.
83% of Canadians support the elimination of trade barriers across all regions. Of all the policy ideas presented to respondents, this is the one they most wanted to see enacted.
Standardize Health Data
Today, patients and medical professionals have to navigate an antiquated system of faxes, phone calls, and misplaced records just to get a picture of their basic health situation. It’s time to fix this.
A clear majority (82%) of Canadians support creating a national health data system that would require all healthcare providers to adopt standardized digital health records that can be securely shared. To put this system in place may have real costs both in digital infrastructure and in incentivizing provinces. But, even if this “require[d] a large federal investment”, 71% of Canadians still support.
Modernize the Canadian Military
A strong military is an essential step to securing a country’s sovereignty. But, over the last several decades we have let investment in the Canadian military languish. If we want to continue to protect Canadians, defend our sovereignty, and respond quickly to threats then we need to modernize our armed forces, equipment and defence technology. Canadians support these efforts.
Canadians believe that this is important and it is time to do something about it. Three quarters say that we should increase military spending with a focus on modernization. And this support is true for all Canadians – including women (71% support) and young adults (63%).
Conclusion
Both the Liberals and the Conservatives have now released their full, costed platforms. These platforms contain major promises and pledges that speak to many of the themes contained in our Build Canada memos: housing, energy independence, internal free trade, public service reform, and more. Canadians support these ideas and want them to be even bolder still. They want to see decisive change to supercharge our businesses, create a more productive government, and realize our economic potential.
Canadians could not be more clear. They are ready for progress. Ready to grow. Ready to build Canada.
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