Canada has to do better when it comes to being a leading country in business, said Wind Mobile founder Anthony Lacavera at a Canada Strong and Free Network (CSFN) Canadian Optimists panel discussion. .“Why can’t we lead the world in business?” said Lacavera at the Tuesday event. .“There is no reason other than our mindset.” .Lacavera said there are three steps Canada has to take to become a business leader. .The first step Canada has to take is reforming its mindset. Canada has spent the last 75 years exporting products to the United States. .Lacavera said this approach has led to Canada being “the junior partner in the supply chain.” He added this approach can be observed in the automotive industry, as Canada assembles foreign cars but has not come up with its own model. .The second action Canada should take is stop being risk averse. Students need to be taught about entrepreneurship. .He said teachers should tell students entrepreneurial failures are not negative. He argued teachers should call these failures learning experiences. .Lacavera said large companies should invest more in innovation. He said these companies do not invest enough in research and development because of oligopolies. .All of these oligopolies leads to complacency and less spending on innovation. While this approach leads to higher profit margins, he said it has “a long-term very negative impact on the country.” .Rather than have large companies dominate campus recruitment events, the founder said young people should be encouraged to join startups. He said young people should be taught it is better to take risks when they are young. .Lacavera spoke about how Vodafone operates telecommunications in multiple countries. He said he is stunned at how Canadian telecommunications companies are stuck in one country. .These companies are well run, but he said they lack the mindset about exporting what is great about Canada. Their shareholder bases are looking for dividends, and they do not want to risk losing money. .He talked about how Wind expanded choice and forced other telecommunications to invest in research and development. This is why he is trying to buy it back. .“I was restructuring the Canadian telecommunications to make it permanently competitive,” he said. .CSFN president Jamil Jivani thanked Lacavera for his insight. .“I think your challenge that we think bigger, we act bolder, is really central to Canadians being prepared for the challenges in front of us economically,” said Jivani..“I also think that there’s a subtle, humble, but clear patriotism in what you say.” .The first Canadian Optimists event on July 22 saw Ontario Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton say Conservatives need to care about enhancing the job market if they want to be successful. .READ MORE: Ontario labour minister says conservatives have to improve work conditions.“Conservatives are the parties of working class Canadians,” said McNaughton. .“I think our success demonstrated that in Ontario.”
