Improve Canadian competitiveness, create jobs and generate economic growth.

What success looks like

Trade and investment boosts Canadian economic growth.

Government's narrative on progress

Canadian goods and services exports reached $176.6 billion in Q4 2018, up 5.1% compared to Q4 2017. The unemployment rate was 5.8% as of March 2019 (seasonally adjusted), unchanged from the same month a year earlier. There were 18.9 million Canadians employed as of March 2019 (seasonally adjusted), up nearly 331,500 from the same month a year earlier. GDP in Q4 2018 increased 0.4% (annualized) over the previous quarter. The government launched a new Innovation and Skills Plan, an ambitious agenda to make Canada a centre of innovation, create well-paying, middle class jobs, and help more Canadians adapt to the changing economy. This plan will expand opportunities for skills training, drive investments in six high-growth sectors of the Canadian economy, and make it easier for businesses and innovators to access the support they need. Budget 2018 provides funding for programs such as the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) program and the Business Women in Trade; creates the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise; and allocates resources to develop bilateral relations with China and promote trade between Canada, China and Asia. With the $50 million of investment over five years announced in June 2018, the government will help Canadian companies to be more competitive by diversifying their markets, and working in partnership with business associations. This will include new "export readiness" grants through programs such as CanExport and Global Opportunities for Associations among others. The government continues to take concrete steps to improve Canadian competitiveness and generate long-term economic growth. In the 2018 Fall Economic Statement, the government announced $17 million in new funding over the next five years to expand the successful Canadian Technology Accelerator in global technology hubs, such as Delhi, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. This funding will provide Canadian technology firms with support, connections, and guidance in-market.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.