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Results: 1 - 15 of 127
Agop Evereklian
View Agop Evereklian Profile
Agop Evereklian
2021-06-21 16:30
Thank you, Madam Chair, Mr. Vice-President, Madame la vice-présidente, honourable members of the committee and ladies and gentlemen.
My notes will be in French, but I will be more than happy to take the questions in both official languages in the QP session.
Thank you for the invitation to appear this afternoon before this standing committee as it considers one of the most important issues ensuring the future of our country and the economic development of our regions. It is with great humility that I've accepted this honour to come and share with you, in a personal capacity, my vision of the future on what I believe should be a priority for our public decision-makers to ensure the socio-economic sustainability of our regions. My vision is based on a new approach that would consist of attracting new immigrants in a category, succession of existing businesses, that is all new but not, in itself, a new concept.
As a young immigrant myself who arrived in Canada 45 years ago this year, I have been privileged to live, grow and thrive in one of the best countries in the world after fleeing civil war. In recognition of this second chance that life has given me and in gratitude to my host society, I joined the public service at a young age. I've had the honour and privilege of serving under three Canadian prime ministers from 1993 to 2010, including two immigration ministers as their chief of staff. That experience, coupled with my professional background in the private sector and my recent role as executive vice-president of the Centre de transfert d'entreprise du Québec, CTEQ, have allowed me to see first-hand the strengths and gaps of our Canadian economic immigration programs.
I'm appearing before the honourable committee today to submit an idea based on established facts and to propose an innovative solution to an issue that is of great concern to our society, especially our remote regions, in terms of our country's economic development. I'd like to talk to you about business succession as a new economic vector to attract future Canadian immigrants to our regions so they can contribute directly to the economic development of these regions and to the underlying entrepreneurial communities. Therefore, we must review our immigration programs to promote SME succession via acquisition by immigrants, as well as integrate and help those immigrants to settle in our regions.
As you've already seen these next few points in my summary brief, I will simply name them for you. I'd like to look into the demographic context in Canada, Japan's experience that could serve as an example for Canada, the context of the pandemic and its impact and, of course, I'd like to make a recommendation to you: through this committee, the Government of Canada should implement a new visa program, the entrepreneurial acquisition visa, to encourage business succession and the integration of entrepreneur immigrants in our regions. This visa program could be managed jointly by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and an organization whose mission and activities are similar to those of the CTEQ. I therefore humbly propose to the government, with the support of the CTEQ, a concrete solution to promote economic immigration so that investors can come and settle in Canada, live here and contribute in a concrete and direct way, unlike some who do so only to obtain a Canadian passport.
It's therefore essential that our immigration strategies refer to public policy and initiatives that support business succession, and it's all to ensure that we can maintain and develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Canada's regions, as is already being done in Quebec.
Implementing a program like the entrepreneurial acquisition visa would make the succession market more fluid and increase the number of qualified takers, given the growing challenge of our aging population, which also affects the business community. What's more, the entrepreneurial acquisition visa will appeal to many skilled immigrants and encourage them to set up shop in one of Canada's regions and, in doing so, contribute to our economic development.
Thank you for your attention. I sincerely appreciate the invitation, and I remain at your service to work with your committee.
Tareq Hadhad
View Tareq Hadhad Profile
Tareq Hadhad
2021-06-21 17:14
Thank you, Madam Chair, vice-chairs and honourable members of the committee, for having me here. Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day.
I've been looking forward to my presentation in front of the committee for many reasons. You all are doing amazing jobs from your places to appreciate diversity and strengthen our country by living up to the values of compassion and empowerment for newcomers every day. My family and I came to Canada a few years ago after losing everything to the war in Syria. We have been in love with this country that restored our faith in humanity and our hope that what we lost can be rebuilt with the fortitude of the power and resiliency that's in each and every one of us.
Newcomers bring great skills and experiences with them. They are here to contribute and give back to their communities that they now call home. With other countries closing their doors and their borders, Canada is leading the world in attracting newcomers, and it's no surprise that Canada has been ranked the best country in the world this year.
Nova Scotia, for example, is a big part of that. It has done so much to help newcomers. In my area alone, I have met people from 35 countries who have started businesses here. On the other hand, we all know that immigrants are motivated to translate their skills and experiences into an opportunity for a life here. Entrepreneurship is only one way that immigrants give back to their new home, each by their unique remarkable and amazing values and culture they bring. They celebrate the true meaning of being Canadians.
As a newcomer family ourselves, we are bringing our values and our message. It's not just about business. By starting in our own town of Antigonish, which is home to 4,300 residents, we wanted to take advantage of the international stage to share this message.
Just a few years ago, we started a journey in Antigonish with Peace by Chocolate. There is something unique and special about small towns in Nova Scotia, like all the beautiful provinces in this country. We have believed since the beginning that our success story is not alone: There are thousands of Canadian success stories that should be shared around the world.
In Nova Scotia, people travel for job opportunities, going out west and to other places. We started Peace by Chocolate in 2016, a few months after arriving in Canada, because we believed that we came to Canada not to take jobs—we came to Canada to create them. We are now hiring tens of people—tens of people, Madam Chair—in distribution, development, production and many other departments and specialties.
We are so honoured at the same time to launch our Peace on Earth Society, where we donate proceeds to the Canadian Mental Health Association, indigenous communities and many other organizations whose work is very well rooted in our society. The people of Antigonish have done an amazing job and have been a great support to us.
The examples of rural municipalities doing amazing work to support newcomers are countless. For example, we did not know how to apply to governments or start our business or network with neighbouring provinces, but everyone helped us to succeed much faster.
While I'm really honoured to share our successful and amazing journey with you, it's so important to mention that no one is born to emigrate. We are all born to live in our homeland, but after losing everything to the war in Syria, our family had refugee status for a few years and realized that Canada is the land of freedom, human rights and opportunity. In her communities, immigrants find opportunities for a better life, no matter how big or small the place they live in, and they can help build our communities together.
The most noble values for each newcomer I meet are peace and kindness. We suffered violence, persecution and devastating circumstances until we reached this country. It was not an easy journey. We lost everything, but we are here because we need peace, and peace is the main foundation for life for everybody. Without that, we have no work, we have no business, we have no school and we have no family.
In the end, Canadian communities continue to bring hope to hundreds of thousands of immigrants who come here looking to rebuild their lives with passion, peace, determination and persistence, and they give back immensely to make Canada the great country that it is today and every day.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you.
View Jasraj Singh Hallan Profile
CPC (AB)
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all of our very, very patient witnesses.
I would like to start with Mr. Evereklian.
I want to acknowledge and thank you for your service. I thought I heard you say that you served as chief of staff to two ministers, which I think that's amazing.
I really like the idea that you proposed. I have seen this immigrant entrepreneurship program for people to take over businesses. In the home-building industry where the people wanted to retire, their kids didn't want to take over the business, so they were kind of stuck. Some of these businesses were doing well.
I've also noticed that when immigrants come, they may come here with newer ideas, better ideas on how to improve the businesses and create more jobs. I really appreciate that proposal that you put forward .
My first question to you is, why should this new program be implemented? What is the difference between what we already have now and what you're proposing?
Agop Evereklian
View Agop Evereklian Profile
Agop Evereklian
2021-06-21 17:25
Thank you for the question.
There's a question that we all are familiar with, and that's the aging of our population. This situation is no different within the business community. A recent study demonstrated that out of 200,000 entrepreneurs, almost a third of them are over 55 years of age. They are already planning, if not already in the process, to transfer their businesses—all categories included.
Why is this? It's very simple. Previously in Canada, we had investor programs. These programs mainly gave opportunities to foreign nationals to invest in Canada for a number of years, and then at the end of the five-year period pick up their investment alongside their returns, and, as a token of appreciation, a Canadian passport. Then, they would leave.
What I'm proposing here, in all humbleness, is a program that will make sure that these new investor category immigrants will not come here just for the passport. They'll come here to settle and not only contribute from the day they come in, but also sustain and keep in place businesses, jobs, and moreover bring their know-how, knowledge and contribution to the regions.
The small and medium-sized business category is a very vibrant one. You all know that 80% of businesses are within that category. If we can come with a recommendation where we could give certain priority to this category of investor immigrants, not only would it help us to reshape the Canadian immigration policy and programs with this economic category, but also it will directly contribute to the regions.
Please let me say that when I propose this motion or idea, this project, it is not to the detriment of any of the other categories of our immigration policies. We need humanitarian, family reunion and refugee programs. This is in parallel to all of those existing programs. It is not to the detriment of existing programs. In reality, it is an addition.
I hope that my answer was clear, sir.
View Jasraj Singh Hallan Profile
CPC (AB)
Thank you so much, Mr. Evereklian.
As a follow-up, I think this would address a very important concept, especially a problem in Alberta, and from what we're hearing, in other parts of the country, even in Ontario and Quebec, and that is, how do we retain people in rural areas? As you know, even when people are retiring, that's workforce that we're losing in the rural areas.
How do you see this program you're talking about being implemented, and how do you make sure that it serves a purpose successfully when it's implemented?
Agop Evereklian
View Agop Evereklian Profile
Agop Evereklian
2021-06-21 17:28
Thank you for the supplementary question, Mr. Vice-Chair, Madam Chair.
What I'm proposing is actually not a new idea. This is a proven business model that has been working and functioning in Quebec since 2015.
It all depends on how we coordinate this operation. This is not simply issuing visas for immigrant entrepreneurs to come in and settle. There's an existing entity in Quebec, which was put in place by the Quebec government in 2015, and this organization is a non-profit organization called
CTEQ, which stands for Centre de transfert d'entreprise du Québec.
Basically what they do is business matchmaking. From the initial source country all the way to the destination of the rural region in Canada, in Quebec, what they do is actually identify the investor. They identify the company that needs to be transferred, and all along the course of the operation, they do coordination. The people are certified before they come. The matchmaking is done. The financial aspects.... Everything has been studied prior to their arrival. What we need is a similar entity in Canada.
There should be a “CTEC”, which would stand for Centre de transfert d'entreprise du Canada.
This could be done along the line with existing organizations like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, community shares and the BDC. We don't need to reinvent a new entity; we can integrate this successful business model into any existing federal organization.
View Christine Normandin Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I will also take the time to thank the witnesses for being so patient and staying with us. We are grateful to them.
Mr. Agop, I have a first question for you about the entrepreneurial acquisition program that you were suggesting. What would you think of the idea of awarding extra points for acquiring a business in the regions?
Agop Evereklian
View Agop Evereklian Profile
Agop Evereklian
2021-06-21 17:37
Thank you for your question.
Yes, that could be a very good idea. I would like to add that most investor immigrants favour the regions because they find the quality of life is better and the chances of success are greater, because they face less competition and have many more opportunities.
So yes, I welcome that suggestion, Ms. Normandin.
Paul McLauchlin
View Paul McLauchlin Profile
Paul McLauchlin
2021-06-07 15:44
Good afternoon. Thank you, Chair, and thank you to the committee.
It's great to come from rural Alberta to talk about what I think is this critically important conversation today. Alberta is a province of immigrants. Rural Alberta is a province of immigrants. At the same time, it is our belief that all rural folks are rural folks.
I had a fantastic conversation with a gentleman from Pakistan, who was marvelling about rural Alberta. He said, “I have to get back to the spaces. I'm living in downtown Montreal, and I need to get back to the spaces again.” I think that's what we need to talk about. At the same time, what comes with that is a need for supports.
The fact is, Alberta right now is moving forward and is coming out with an immigration strategy, and we have talked to the provincial minister related to that, Mr. Copping. Two things coming out of that program are a rural renewal immigration stream, which is really looking at pilots for municipalities to get on board to see if we can bring in immigrant investment, and immigrant workers as well, and encouraging new residents to settle in certain areas.
The key message to rural Alberta is that we are alive and well; we're moving quite quickly. What comes with that is some depopulation, and we have some demographic conversations that come with this, so this conversation is critically important to us.
What I'm excited about, though, is the rural entrepreneur stream that's being pushed by the provincial government. The rural entrepreneur stream is really about encouraging growing businesses in rural Alberta and having a conversation with rural Albertans whereby you can actually look for the opportunities to be found within rural Alberta. Making those connections between local businesses, whether they're existing businesses or new businesses that have been created, is a fantastic opportunity. We have many businesses in rural Alberta, mom-and-pop operations or bigger businesses, and immigrant investment and entrepreneurial investment in those can really be favourable to rural Alberta.
We ultimately have a lot of programs in place for those supports, and that's the big conversation. Obviously rural Alberta has a different culture from some of the urban areas, so it's about ensuring that those supports are in place. That's a key message about what can be done to make people successful in rural Alberta
We are diverse and forward-thinking as rural Albertans, and one of the really big conversations is tied to the fact that we're looking at ways to diversify our economy, and our communities as well. Rural Albertan municipalities are home to 18% of the four million people who live in Alberta. However, we contribute to 24% of the GDP of the province of Alberta. Rural Albertans punch above our weight, and bringing immigrants into that opportunity and ensuring that we can leverage that is very important to us as well.
Really, the sustainability of rural Alberta is tied to attracting that qualified workforce, to providing community services and making sure they have programs in place to retain those workers, those families, those people who want to move to rural Alberta as well. Those community services are really linked to that rural economic and community development conversation. The funding for services makes municipalities as attractive as possible, and as surprising as it is, we need to look at rural schools, family and community support services and policing.
Interestingly, the conversation around immigration is tied to broadband. We have digital poverty in some parts of rural Alberta, so bridging that gap for broadband will allow the immigrants to move to rural Alberta and pursue opportunities there. This is essential to rural community building, which involves immigration, entrepreneurs and attracting a workforce as well.
I can talk quite a bit about specific Alberta programs, but I'm getting close to my five minutes here.
I thank you for the opportunity to speak today and will gladly answer any questions that are brought up by the chair or members. Thank you.
View Jasraj Singh Hallan Profile
CPC (AB)
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses for being here today.
I'll start my round of questioning with Mr. McLauchlin. I'm a fellow Albertan living in Calgary. I came here as an immigrant and a small business owner, so I really connect with a lot of stuff you were saying.
When it comes to some of the entrepreneurship programs that you said Alberta is introducing, in what sectors do you see most of those jobs coming in?
Paul McLauchlin
View Paul McLauchlin Profile
Paul McLauchlin
2021-06-07 16:00
If there's one thing COVID has taught us, it's the importance of food security. At the same time, however, we are price takers not price givers, and you as a business person understand the realm that Alberta is in.
We are looking for value-added agriculture that is global in nature, so processing of lentils and all of the other protein alternatives, and at the same time value-adding to our whole agricultural sector.
There are fantastic immigrant folks who have experience in that. They can bring that knowledge to rural Alberta. That should really be the focus for rural Alberta, the value-added agriculture, and the brilliance of the entrepreneurs who can bring knowledge to that business and those opportunities, not just at the local national scale but at the global scale as well.
Hopefully, that answers your question, sir.
Dany Bonapace
View Dany Bonapace Profile
Dany Bonapace
2021-05-27 11:05
Good morning.
I will be speaking French since it's my first language, but I do understand well if you have questions in English.
Good morning, my name is Dany Bonapace. I am a real estate developer who has had a good deal of success in his career, both here, in Canada, and internationally. I am worried about our children's future, given the major challenges caused by climate change and the fact that time is not on our side. In my case, it has become increasingly difficult to rationalize the situation and to continue to prosper in my industry knowing that so many sustainability issues exist. My reasoning was quite simple: we are few who must act for many, for all the people around the world who cannot act because they are fighting for their survival every day, as well as for those who do not want to act.
As a developer who has acquired money and experience over his 30–year career, I told myself that the most logical thing to do was work on large–scope business projects. That led me to carry out a first artificial intelligence project in building energy efficiency, a high–priority niche, considering the inefficiency of the global housing stock in that area.
I am not not talking about technology as much as the fact that it took me, in my opinion, a long time [technical difficulties] to create artificial intelligence. I feel that I won't be the only entrepreneur in Canada or on the planet who will tell themselves that we must participate in the war effort against climate change and who will have the means and the experience to do so. However, if we let all entrepreneurs work in isolation and take as much time as me to successfully carry out an initial project, we will never manage to accomplish what we need to do within the required time frames.
That is what has led me to recommend to the government strategies to foster the integration of those new players, who will go from their industry to energy [technical difficulties]. Those are things that can be quite simple for the government. For example, it is just a matter of explaining, as the orchestra conductor, the global decarbonization roadmap, the priorities and places where those entrepreneurs can invest their time and their money more quickly. A real estate developer should [technical difficulties] renewable. That is easier for them than to carry out an artificial intelligence project, as the same business structures are used and the same steps go into carrying out a renewable energy project.
Therefore, at the outset, accelerating the entrepreneur's involvement has an important impact. It is also a matter of promoting networking. I was not a multinational or Ontario Hydro. It took me forever to find an energy efficiency consultant who would accept me and would understand [technical difficulties], while it should take a day. The same goes for networking. Networks can be created among developers to integrate the market that is already taken up by large players. Large players need small players to achieve their goals, just as mining companies need beginners to build their company.
I will give you one last high-priority example. It is important for governments to close the gap between capital markets and developers. There is still a gap that is slowing down entrepreneurs' and developers' involvement in this industry. These are things that are both complex and simple, but capital must be made more accessible and less expensive for promoters. Perhaps it would be enough to guarantee [technical difficulties] the perception of credit and risk creates a problem.
In closing, we all have a role to play—individuals and entrepreneurs, governments and financial institutions. What I think is certain is that governments are the link that will help us all accelerate our transition and achieve our objectives. That would also give entrepreneurs an opportunity to sell their products and their services internationally to make our nation prosper.
Thank you.
Natasha Hope Morano
View Natasha Hope Morano Profile
Natasha Hope Morano
2021-05-25 16:27
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is Natasha Morano, and I am an entrepreneur. I am honoured to be here today representing Startup Canada as the corporate and government affairs director.
Since 2012, Startup Canada’s programs have been a gateway to every stage of the business cycle, from ideation to inception to growth.
Startup Canada enables connections, education, promotion and advocacy. We are accessible to 3.5 million entrepreneurs across the country with 30 active communities from coast to coast to coast. To tell the story of every entrepreneur in five minutes is of course an impossibility. The differences amongst them are countless. What ties them together is that each takes the reins of their own financial destiny. Many may have started through passion. Many more have been thrust into entrepreneurship through necessity, and many, unfortunately, have been left behind.
Entrepreneurs are the pistons of the engine that creates jobs, growth, and resilience. They are an essential piece of our country’s economic recovery, and they rely on trusted authorities, experts and qualified enablers of simplification.
The infusion of funds that budget 2021 offers will provide equitable access to support. It is an enormous step in reinvigorating an inclusive economy. Startup Canada is looking forward to the road ahead and the role that we can play in paving it. It is our goal to help ensure that there is no redundancy in the rollout of these programs and that the support offered in budget 2021 gets into the hands of the entrepreneurs who so desperately need it in a quick and efficient manner.
Entrepreneurs are the critical pistons in our nation’s economy and in our recovery efforts through this pandemic, and they need a reliable ignition system. They need access to trusted organizations that know their pain points and develop programs in response to their needs. The Government of Canada should look to partner with like-minded organizations that are equally charged by powering up entrepreneurs and that understand their needs.
The government’s investment of over $100 million to support inclusive entrepreneurial growth is designed to provide new funding for national organizations to lift up diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country through financing, mentorship and advisory services. This design is an absolute mirror of Startup Canada's own mandate, so it is welcomed.
The pandemic has displaced many Canadians and numerous industries. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business estimates that 239,000 businesses are at risk of closing because of the pandemic. This situation must be curbed. COVID-19 has claimed a disproportionate number of jobs held by women. Women account for 37% of self-employed Canadians. Budget 2021 proposes to provide up to $146.9 million to strengthen the women entrepreneurship strategy. This is a good first step in supporting women entrepreneurs, but there needs to be more.
There is an urgency among entrepreneurs to digitize quickly, to move from storefront to e-commerce, from neighbourhood-based to cross-country, and from operating locally to exporting products and services abroad. The government's commitment to help entrepreneurs magnify the scope of their markets and increase the supply of well-paying jobs is welcomed.
Startup Canada is pleased to see that the government recognizes the importance of investing in programs that support businesses and entrepreneurs to be globally competitive. However, businesses start at different rates with different ultimate goals. There needs to be more early-stage support for entrepreneurs who are not globally minded but who have become entrepreneurs out of necessity and are not the “unicorns” of tomorrow. They require simple, easy-to-use tools and advisory support as they try to make a living for their family.
Startup Canada looks to simplify the process for the Government of Canada to roll out programs while also ensuring that entrepreneurs have limited barriers to program entry. We need to make the journey of being an entrepreneur much easier. We need to consolidate and shepherd entrepreneurs through all of the available support that exists across the Canadian ecosystem from incubators to accelerators to public and private sector support and beyond.
Entrepreneurs, more than ever, do not have the time to research what is available to them, particularly as these supports are revised or changed daily. Let’s save them the time so that they can work on their businesses and support the Canadian economy as a whole.
Everything budget 2021 sets out to do as pertains to support for entrepreneurs is what we do on a daily basis. There is no better time to invest in Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. While there are numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs in budget 2021, there remains a gap in support for early-stage entrepreneurs who have that entrepreneurial spirit running through their veins. There is no safety net to capture them if they fall. These are the entrepreneurs who remain left behind and who require support. They are asking for the foundational support to ensure they are equipped with sound advice and the advisory assistance they need to start their businesses on solid ground and consequently create jobs.
Mr. Chair, Startup Canada is grateful for the opportunity to work with the government to throttle the economy fuelled by budget 2021.
Thank you.
View Sean Fraser Profile
Lib. (NS)
View Sean Fraser Profile
2021-05-25 17:26
Thank you, Chair.
My first question is for our guest from Startup Canada. Thank you very much for being here. I really appreciate your testimony.
You mentioned during your remarks that we need to not focus exclusively on the next billion-dollar valuation, the so-called unicorn, when we're focusing on start-up cultures. Rather than those home runs—if you'll allow me a baseball analogy—we should focus on the base hits, those people who are starting businesses because they need to and so that they can find work in their own community.
You discussed in some specificity the importance of advisory services. I've seen certain services on the ground, whether it's through CBDCs or through the community futures program, financing programs that are fully funded by the federal government but also paired with those advisory services. Lo and behold—and this will be no surprise to you—those clients who have that kind of advisory service tied to their financing have a much higher degree of success in the first few years, as compared to that of other businesses.
My question to you is how we can design a federal program that actually plugs those entrepreneurs in communities right across Canada into the kinds of advisory services that are going to help them succeed. Is it by rolling them into the CBDC programs that already exist? Is it through something new, or is there some different policy that I've not thought of that you can coach us towards here?
Natasha Hope Morano
View Natasha Hope Morano Profile
Natasha Hope Morano
2021-05-25 17:27
Exactly.
I think it's a bit of a hybrid approach, to be honest with you. What really sets Startup Canada apart from other organizations and what's really given us our reputation throughout the years is that we work in collaboration. We work in collaboration with support organizations such as BDC. We're part of the key networks although we're not an incubator and accelerator. We're the only non-incubator and accelerator that's part of that network, but most importantly we work with entrepreneurs. Our programs are created in direct response to the demands of entrepreneurs and what they are looking for, what they're requesting, what they need.
In my presentation, I was very clear in indicating that we are here and we are offering our support to the Government of Canada. We have the active base through our entrepreneurship network and we would love to be able to work in conjunction and in partnership with government while bringing in the entrepreneurial voice to make sure that these programs are created in a way that will benefit the end-user rather than just having what an organization might think is the best methodology to support entrepreneurs. A long-winded reply to your question is that it involves a hybrid model including consultations and collaboration, and that's what really sets Startup Canada apart from other organizations.
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