That after decades of rising living standards, you no longer feel secure enough about your own future to believe that you can pass on the gains you have made to your children and grandchildren. As we have listened to your hopes and ideas, we have also heard about your concern that our country's best days are behind us. Over the past six months, we have had the privilege of talking to Canadians from all walks of life. We have heard these themes consistently since June, when we launched our consultations with Canadians on how to foster innovation for a better Canada. Jobs and prosperity will go to the countries that succeed in those three areas.

We are competing with countries around the world for the most talented people, the newest technologies, and the fastest-growing companies. Let's be clear about what's at stake: Canada is in a global innovation race. We need a comprehensive approach to create jobs and invest in the services that make our lives better-at the very moment that other countries are doing more and moving faster to spur innovation. For decades, the progress we made from innovations gave middle-class families steadily rising living standards: better health, better jobs, better opportunities for their children.īut now, Canada stands at a defining moment. That's the basis of the innovation economy that we live in. Innovation starts with the creativity and ingenuity of people-specifically, people who are properly prepared to apply their brainpower in search of new solutions. Insulin-a Canadian innovation-has not only saved the lives of millions of people worldwide with diabetes it has also allowed the vast majority of people living with diabetes to enjoy a better quality of life and longer life expectancy. Innovation can save lives as well as improve them. And they can give existing industries a new lease on life by making them more productive and efficient. Innovations can create entirely new jobs, markets and industries that never existed before. Any idea can be transformed into a simple solution that results in new products or services.

Innovation isn't always based on technology. Engaging Canadians on six interrelated areasĪt its most basic, innovation is about making things better in ways that benefit everyone.Talking to Canadians: The engagement leaders.Canadian strengths and leading indicators.Technologies giving rise to a new Industrial Age.Global forces shaping a new context and accelerating change.Defining challenges and where Canada stands.Innovation for a Better Canada: What We Heardįrom: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canadaĭownload Innovation for a Better Canada: What We Heard PDF (2,340 KB) Table of contents Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

How can innovation affect ways of life