Can Canada Meet the Moment? Jim Balsillie Doesn't Hold Back
About this episode
Jim Balsillie discusses Canada's innovation challenges and the impact of public policy on the economy.
Canada has no shortage of breakthrough ideas. The problem, Jim Balsillie argues, is that too many of them create jobs, wealth and prosperity somewhere else. He even describes Canada as a "global philanthropist"—a country that invents world-changing technologies but lets the economic benefits accrue elsewhere. As Canada prepares to host the Prime Minister's first-ever Canada Investment Summit this September, we're kicking off our special summer series, Can Canada Meet the Moment? , with one of the country's most influential voices on innovation. Hosted by Paige Ellis, the first episode features Jim Balsillie, Retired Chairman and co-CEO of Research In Motion (BlackBerry) and Co-Founder & Chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators. Balsillie argues Canada's biggest challenge isn't innovation—it's public policy. Drawing on his experience building BlackBerry into one of the world's most successful technology companies, Balsillie explains why Canada continues to lose startups, talent and intellectual property to the United States, why he believes government policy has put "wind in the face" of Canadian entrepreneurs, and what must change if Canada wants to compete in AI, advanced…
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