Lynn Johannson, Advisor, Sustainability and ESG
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Lynn Johannson, President of E2 Management Corporation and Catalyst for THE Collaboration
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Tech Leaders Launch Build Canada for Innovation Policy Reform
Launch | Feb 5, 2025
Image from Build Canada's website
Top Tech Entrepreneurs Launch Build Canada to Push for Smarter Policies and Strengthen Canada's Economy
As Canada faces a tense period of trade disputes and tariffs from the U.S. and with growing concerns over competitiveness, productivity, investment and innovation, leading Canadian tech entrepreneurs have launched a new initiative called 'Build Canada', a public platform to push forward policy solution ideas to strengthen Canada's economy. Waiting for government is no longer an option. Build Canada aims to provide concrete, actionable policy recommendations to help the the country remain globally competitive and adapt to economic challenges.
About Build Canada
Build Canada is a public platform that releases weekly policy proposals that offer actionable ideas and practical solutions that government officials and policymakers can use to address Canada’s most pressing economic challenges such as exporting to new markets, encouraging investment via smarter policies, strengthen innovation but supporting entrepreneurs and nurturing a culture that celebrates ambition and success.
See: Tariff Trade War Hits Canada – What’s Happening
Build Canada is led by experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to help Canada thrive:
- Ben Parry – Co-founder of Carbon Neutral Club
- Daniel Debow – Former Shopify executive
- Lucy Hargreaves – Public policy expert
- Melody Kuo – Business strategist
And backed by some of Canada’s top tech leaders:
- Tobi Lütke (CEO of Shopify)
- Michael Katchen (CEO of Wealthsimple)
- Ivan Zhang (CTO of Cohere)
- Andrew Graham (CEO of Borrowell)
- Daniel Eberhard (CEO of KOHO Financial)
And many more as the initiative grows...
Policy Proposals from Build Canada
The group has already published four policy proposals called 'memos', each addressing an economic or social issue:
1. A Great Nation Celebrates Its Achievements and Its Builders—So Should Canada
Encourages Canadians to take more pride in their country by recognizing and celebrating achievements in business, technology, and innovation.
- Update cultural programs to share inspiring stories of Canadian success.
- Change how funding is provided to better support entrepreneurs and creative professionals.
- Recognize business leaders who are driving Canada’s growth and making a positive impact.
The goal is to create a culture where innovation, ambition, and success are celebrated, inspiring more Canadians to build and contribute to the country’s future.
2. Build Here, Not There: Winning the Transportation Race
This proposal suggests having one set of national rules for transportation that would be managed by Transport Canada, making it easier for new technology to be approved and used across the country. Now, businesses face different rules in each province and city, which makes it harder to launch innovations like electric vehicles, self-driving cars, and drones. A single, national system would speed up approvals and help Canada become a global leader in transportation technology.
3. Great People, Greater Canada: A Talent-First Immigration Strategy
This proposal suggests changing Canada’s immigration system to focus more on bringing in highly skilled workers who can help grow the economy. The goal is to attract the best talent and business leaders to help Canada stay competitive and drive innovation. It recommends:
- Speed up visas for top graduates from the world’s best universities and Canada’s leading science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and healthcare programs.
- Limit humanitarian immigration to 5% of the total intake to keep a balanced approach.
- Expand the start-up visa program so entrepreneurs who create jobs in Canada can get immediate residency.
4. Unlock Health Records, Save Canadian Lives
This proposal suggests fixing Canada’s disconnected health record system to make healthcare more connected, convenient, and better and more efficient for everyone, recommending:
- Create a single digital health record so patient information is easily shared between hospitals and clinics.
- Give Canadians more control over their own medical data so it's easier to switch doctors or get specialized care.
- Help doctors access full medical histories quickly in a cost effective manner to ensure better, faster treatment.
What About the Canadian SHIELD Institute?
Build Canada is launching alongside another major policy initiative recently announced, The Canadian SHIELD Institute, founded with a $10 million donation from Jim Balsillie, co-founder of the Council of Canadian Innovators, focused on:
See: How to Build Canada’s Competitiveness Amidst the Rise of an Intangibles Economy and Greater Geopolitical Complexity
- Economic sovereignty – making Canada more competitive and self-sufficient
- National security – ensuring Canada is not overly dependent on foreign technology and investments
- Tax policy reforms – creating smarter economic policies to drive innovation and growth
Outlook
As Canada navigates economic uncertainty, shifting trade relationships, and increasing global competition, waiting for government action is no longer enough. Build Canada is just getting started with more entrepreneurs and business leaders joining the initiative. Help strengthen Canada's economy, one policy at a time.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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