Falling behind : Answering the wake-up call : what can be done to improve Canada's productivity performance? : report of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The Honourable Senator Grafstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Banks: That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce be authorized to examine and report on issues dealing with productivity, in particular the rate of productivity in Canada and in relation to our major trading partners (especially the United States); the extent to which the rate of productivity is limi [...] The plan, which should be fully implemented by 30 June 2006 with the exception of the proposed tax changes, should contain the following elements: • changes to the corporate tax system, including a reduction in the general corporate tax rate, the immediate elimination of the federal capital tax, and an alignment of capital cost allowance rates that is at least consistent with the useful life of as [...] In the current study, the Committee’s Order of Reference authorized us to examine and report on: ________________________________________________________________________ Productivity 1 BANKING, TRADE AND COMMERCE ▪ issues dealing with productivity, in particular the rate of productivity growth in Canada and in relation to our major trading partners (especially the United States); ▪ the extent to w [...] This report summarizes the main themes and proposals identified by the participants, and presents our conclusions as to appropriate public policy initiatives that we hope will better focus the attention of governments, businesses and employees on the measures needed to maximize Canada’s productivity performance and enhance international competitiveness for the benefit of all Canadians and Canadian [...] In turn, the quality of the inputs depends on such factors as the education levels of employees, incentives and disincentives to work in the labour market, the ability and willingness of employees to move to other workplaces and to other regions, risk-taking behaviour, entrepreneurial activity and managerial capacity.