Authors: Dr. Loleen Berdahl & Brett Gartner

Public policy can be vital to facilitating or impeding economic competitiveness. The Canada West Foundation’s Going For Gold Project is examining the public policy options that will help western Canada “Bring home the economic gold medal of long term economic prosperity.” As part of this project, the Looking West Survey 2008 asked 4,000 western Canadians their opinion on a variety of economic policy issues. The results provide a public opinion context for the policy options that will be debated in the years ahead.

The report brings together economic theory regarding the public policy options that promote and impede economic competitiveness, current economic data relevant to these policy topics, and related public opinion data from the Looking West 2008 Survey. In doing so, we juxtapose theory, current realities and public sentiment, identifying areas of congruence and divergence. We also consider which types of individuals are most likely to be the main supporters and opponents of particular policy options, and where relevant, we comment on some of the political challenges of particular policy options.

Readers interested in additional analysis of the Looking West 2008 Survey are invited to review the following reports:

Moving Forward: Western Canadian Attitudes About Mobility and Human Capital
A Trading Region: Western Canadian Attitudes About Trade
Strategic Investments: Western Canadian Attitudes About Government and the Economy
A Confident Time: Current Economic Perceptions of Western Canadians
Hot Topics: Western Canadian Attitudes Toward Climate Change
These reports are available free of charge through www.cwf.ca.

This report comes at a time when Canadians are pre-occupied with a serious economic slowdown. At a time of heightened concern over short-term economic prospects, it can be difficult to shift our perspective to the long-term. As troubling as the current situation may be, we cannot afford to lose focus. Canadians have successfully faced turbulent times in the past and the current slowdown shall pass. Getting the policy environment right today will help Canada remain strong in the face of new challenges that will undoubtedly emerge down the road.