While the Canadian government has just adopted the Canadian Economy Unit Actwe have a historic opportunity to mobilize collectively to strengthen our economic autonomy, improve our productivity and build the future on our own bases. This law aims to eliminate internal barriers from trade and mobility of the workforce. But beyond words and intentions, it is the concrete gestures that count, it is the people who make projects succeed.
I deeply believe in our ability to take action. And our history is the best proof.
In the middle of the Second World War, in September 1941, Canada – still little industrialized – made an ambitious decision: locally producing Lancaster planes to support the allies. A year later, a new state -owned company is created, Victory Aircraft Ltd., and in just 18 months, the first Canadian Lancaster, the Ruhr Express, leaves the mounting chain. We produced one plane a day, 430 in total. And that, with a workforce that went from 3,300 to 9,500 people, 25 % of whom were women, a spectacular advance in 1943. We were mobilized, oriented towards a common goal, with a real sense of urgency.
Today, our emergency is different, but just as real. It is called energy sovereignty, food security, strategic autonomy. No longer depend only on our neighbors. Retain wealth here. Plan in the long term. And act.
It is time for our governments, our entrepreneurs, our unions, our producers and our institutions to speak the same language: that of Act: Action. Collaboration. Transformation.
Create sustainable value
I speak here as an entrepreneur who has helped build a Quebec company, Lassonde industries, which is radiating today in North America. I know what it costs to transform a vision into reality. And I know what it reports, collectively, when you think like owners. A Quebec company keeps its profits here, its R and D, its qualified jobs, its head office. This is how we create sustainable value for Canadians.
Photo Robert Skinner, Archives La Presse
The president of Industries Lassonde, Jean Gattuso
The agrifood sector is the perfect example. Canada exports soy, canola, wheat. But too few processed products. Meanwhile, the Netherlands, with a population of only 17 million inhabitants, are the second agrifood exporters in the world. For what ? Because they were able to create an ecosystem consistent with its stakeholders: governments, farmers, processors, retailers, investors. Even better: they founded a business bank devoted to this sector, Rabobank.
We also have know-how, intelligence, creativity, will. What we need now is a trigger, an alignment, a shared objective. Yes, you need strong laws, but above all you need daring gestures.
As Lester B. Pearson said in 1967: “We are still a young country, still in the training stage. Our national condition still has enough flexibility to allow us to do what we want from our nation. No other country is in better position than Canada to move forward. »»
This message still resonates today. Quebec and Canada are in a position of strength, as long as we choose to take advantage of it together.
We are capable of great things. Let’s act.
