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Above: Inside the Seymour Schulich Building
Canada’s business elite have some strong feelings on policy issues in the run-up to the federal election, according to a survey of Canada’s most senior executives sponsored by York’s Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC).
Here are some of the findings of the 2004 Business Pulse Survey of Corporate Canada, which surveyed more than 500 corporate executives:
- 93 per cent feel Canada needs to work at better relations with the US government;
- 86 per cent are in favour of a truly open border with no tariffs or trade restrictions;
- 70 per cent of the respondents felt Canada’s corporate tax impedes industry’s competitiveness in the global market;
- 72 per cent are concerned about replacing aging employees with experienced workers and managers;
- Most executives agreed with the suggestion that Canada should do more to attract educated and skilled immigrants.
The survey was conducted by TNS Canadian Facts for SEEC, the executive education arm of the Schulich School of Business.
"The information collected in this survey provides an invaluable overview of current and prospective business trends in Canada’s leading corporations," said Alan Middleton (right), executive director of SEEC. "The data are a powerful tool that help us better understand what Canadian business leaders are doing differently to grow their organizations."
The survey, first launched in 2003, was conducted among executives from a comprehensive list of the largest public and private companies in Canada and includes chairmen, presidents and chief executive officers. The key attitudes surveyed included:
- Perceived threats to the future of Canadian business
- Barometers of Canadian economic health
- Attitudes toward corporate governance, ethics and Canada-US relations
The complete 2004 Business Pulse survey results were released Tuesday, June 22, during a media conference held at York’s Executive Learning Centre, located in the Schulich School of Business. The 2004 Business Pulse was presented by Michael Ennamorato, senior vice-president of TNS Canadian Facts. Click here to view the entire survey.
