In Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, a stark division exists between the Capitol’s opulence and the struggling districts, vividly portraying a world rife with both economic and political disparities. This metaphor is a cautionary tale for Canada, where a growing economic divide between urban and rural areas precipitates deep rifts. In the past decade, Canada’s largest metropolitanContinue reading “Canada’s urban-rural economic divide is a threat to our country”
Author Archives: scottstirrett
Instead of starting a new business, why not buy an existing one?
Facing a tidal wave of retirements, many Canadian small businesses risk vanishing unless a new generation of entrepreneurs steps up to carry their legacy forward. Research by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) found that 76 per cent of small-business owners are planning to exit their businesses over the next decade, marking a potentialContinue reading “Instead of starting a new business, why not buy an existing one?”
Follow your passion is bad advice that wastes your time, energy and skills
Young Canadians were sold a lie. They were told by their parents, teachers and luminaries like Steve Jobs that if you follow what you love, everything else will work out. In two surveys published earlier this year – each surveying hundreds of students at American universities – researchers from The University of Washington found that “follow yourContinue reading “Follow your passion is bad advice that wastes your time, energy and skills”
Canada’s economic future is in jeopardy because we lack an entrepreneurial culture
The famed management consultant Peter Drucker once said that “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” While this saying originated in the corporate world, it also influences the fate of countries. An entrepreneurial culture, which encourages people to identify and act upon opportunities to create value for others, is essential to improving a country’s quality of life.Continue reading “Canada’s economic future is in jeopardy because we lack an entrepreneurial culture”
In an era of extreme heat, cooling should be required in Canadian homes
Canadians are dying from extreme heat. A British Columbia coroner’s panel found there were 619 heat-related deaths during the 2021 B.C. heat dome, with 98 per cent of the victims dying indoors, mostly in homes with inadequate cooling systems. Many more Canadians will die from extreme heat if action is not taken to protect the most vulnerable.Continue reading “In an era of extreme heat, cooling should be required in Canadian homes”
Teaching debate skills will strengthen democracy
Increasing political and ideological polarization poses a significant threat to Canadian democracy and society. From climate change to a looming global recession, Canada faces immense challenges, which require thoughtful and nuanced discussions. Too often issues of national importance devolve into shouting matches and personal attacks. Young Canadians need to be taught how to have healthyContinue reading “Teaching debate skills will strengthen democracy”
International students deserve to be treated as more than just a revenue stream
Canada should be the global leader in international education. Millions of people around the world want to study in Canada because of our leading educational institutions, social stability, and high quality of life. The number of international students living in Canada has surged over the past decade, to 621,000 in 2021 from 239,000 in 2011.Continue reading “International students deserve to be treated as more than just a revenue stream”
Art and Artist Entrepreneurship in Canada’s Future Economy
Canada’s artists are appreciated around the world. From renowned visual artists, such as Kent Monkman, Emily Carr, and Tom Thomson, to famous pop musicians, such as Drake, Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd, Canadian creativity is celebrated around the world. At the same time, Canadian artists are much more likely than the average Canadian worker toContinue reading “Art and Artist Entrepreneurship in Canada’s Future Economy”
The world needs more compassion, not empathy
It is a truth universally acknowledged: Everyone needs to be more empathetic. Prominent leaders extol the benefits of empathy, with former U.S. president Barack Obama saying, “When you choose to broaden your ambit of concern and empathize with the plight of others, whether they are close friends or distant strangers – it becomes harder not toContinue reading “The world needs more compassion, not empathy”
Canada’s ballooning mortgage debts could put a dangerous dent in entrepreneurship
Canada is a world leader in real estate price inflation. Since 2000, Canada’s housing prices increased in real terms by 168 per cent, compared with price growth of 55 per cent in the United States. Canada’s national housing agency predicts that home prices could surge by a further 14 per cent over the next year. Canadians are spending soContinue reading “Canada’s ballooning mortgage debts could put a dangerous dent in entrepreneurship”
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