Podcast: Laurel Broten on Luring Foreign Investment to Canada
This week, Don and David talk with Laurel Broten, the CEO of Invest in Canada, about the importance of foreign direct investment to the Canadian economy.
According to Statistics Canada, last year Canadian companies had just under $2 trillion invested in other countries, and the total value of all foreign investment in Canada amounted to $1.3 trillion. Broten says foreign companies operating in Canada support 2.5 million jobs, or 13 per cent of total employment across the country.
Her, Don, and David’s conversation covers a wide variety of topics, including why should we want foreign companies to invest here and which industries are attracting investment from outside Canada.
Broten also tackles the thorny issue of government-provided corporate incentives to lure investment here instead of other countries. She provides a fascinating overview of Invest in Canada and its plan to attract high-quality companies to invest in strategic industries all across the country.
The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.
Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.