The World as Many Would Like It to Be

The Real World in Which We Live

@jht4x4 John Treleaven

Growing Locally-Succeeding Globally

John Treleaven, BA PhD CITP

Director and Past President

Inconvenient Truth

The world is round.1

Marshall McLuan’s Global Village has been here for many years.2

Inconvenient Truth

Inconvenient Truth

All businesses in this and any other country are located in a city, town or municipality.

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Inconvenient Truth

International Trade Matters to Canada and to all countries.4

Inconvenient Truth

5 Governments cannot create jobs.

Inconvenient Truth

Governments cannot create jobs.

Companies do not create jobs.

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Inconvenient Truth

5 Governments cannot create jobs.

Companies do not create jobs.

Customers create jobs.

Inconvenient Truth

6 There is only one taxpayer.

Inconvenient Truth

6 There is only one taxpayer.

All tax revenues are triggered only by business transactions.

Inconvenient Truth

6 There is only one taxpayer.

All tax revenues are triggered only by business transactions.

Businesses are tax collectors and wealth generators but not tax payers.

The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing.” - Jean Baptiste Colbert

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A Challenge for the Canadian Economy

Municipal policies and administration have the most direct impact on the establishment and growth of all businesses and thus the strength of the Canadian economy but little understanding of the role and reality facing the businesses in the community.

Context

In a $1.8 trillion economy, $1+ trillion is generated by Canada’s success international trade.

$1billion worth of exports creates or sustains 11,000 jobs.

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98.2% of Canadian companies have fewer than 100 employees and 55% have fewer than 5.

There is only room in this G-8 economy for companies which are active internationally or which create value for those who are.

Context

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Context

5 We are the only G-8 country which depends on our business community competing abroad but routinely denies them access to the domestic market.

And

We continue to shield 23% of our GDP from the rigours of the global marketplace.

Challenge for All Chambers of Commerce

To lead the effort to make their communities as BUSINESS FRIENDLY as possible

- taxation policies- regulatory processes- labour market constraints

Possible Approaches

Annual Tour of Industry for Elected Officials

Policy statements on “Business Friendliness.

Show up.

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The Real World in Which We Live

@jht4x4 John Treleaven

Thank YouMerci beaucoupOmedito gozaimasuMuchas GraciasObrigado