How employee ownership can help secure Canadian sovereignty
With Canada’s sovereignty at stake, we must invest in every approach to keeping Canadian businesses in Canadian hands. If we match the U.K.'s success in incentivizing employee-ownership conversion, we would see 300 Canadian companies sold to their workers each year. SCP Chair Jon Shell and Employee Ownership Canada CEO Michael Ras explain how very few policies promise as powerful an outcome.
March 23, 2025In the media,Never 51Alternative ownership,Local economies,Employee Ownership Canada (EOC),Never 51
Canada’s economic vulnerabilities show why it must invest in the wealth of local communities
For Canada to build a more resilient economy, we must secure local assets, democratize the economy and ensure wealth circulates within communities rather than being extracted by distant, corporate interests. In The Conversation, SCP Fellow Audrey Jamal and Heather M. Hachigian write that a promising solution lies in community wealth building.
March 21, 2025In the media,Never 51Local economies,Community Finance,Never 51
Canada needs a new civil defence corps | The Tyee
If Canada were to build a civil defence program on the scale of those in Sweden or Finland, the numbers would be game-changing. As MASS LBP principal Peter MacLeod lays out in The Tyee, Canadians must be prepared to defend our sovereignty and citizens have roles to play.
March 5, 2025In the media,Never 51What we’re exploring,Never 51
Trump’s tariff threats expose Canada’s internal monopoly problem | Policy Options
Trump’s tariff threats have opened the door for economic thinking that pushes Canada way past business as usual. In Policy Options, Executive Director of the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project Keldon Bester argues that, from airlines to banks, fixing Canada’s competition problem starts with smarter domestic reforms.
The strength within: Some economists say we can’t count on fair and open trade with the U.S. anymore. Is it time for Canada to look inward instead? | Toronto Star
When U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to launch a full-blown trade war with its closest ally, many Canadians felt as if their best friend had suddenly turned around and stabbed them in the back. The Star spoke with economists, academics and other experts, including SCP CEO Matthew Mendelsohn, about how the country should best navigate this new era of Trump's isolationism, and found there are realistic steps we can take to reduce our dependence on the States.
February 8, 2025In the media,Never 51Local economies,Economic policy,Never 51
Inside the corporate battle over your pet’s health | The Fifth Estate
SCP Fellow Rachel Wasserman speaks with CBC's Steven D'Souza as part of an investigation into the skyrocketing cost of owning a pet. The documentary reveals how independent vet clinics are being gobbled up by multinational corporations and private equity for profit.
January 24, 2025Video,In the mediaLocal economies,Small business,Regulating private equity
The Alternative Exit podcast: Championing Employee Ownership Trusts to revolutionize wealth distribution
SCP Chair Jon Shell sits down with Andy Farquharson on The Alternative Exit Podcast to explore the transformative potential of employee ownership. Jon recounts how he advocated for Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) in Canada to address wealth inequality and business succession. He talks advantages of EOTs, from preserving a company’s legacy to fostering economic resilience in the workforce and reshaping both business culture and wealth distribution.
January 23, 2025Video,Podcast,In the mediaAlternative ownership,Changing narratives,Wealth inequality,Employee Ownership Canada (EOC)
Why small businesses need rent control
Rising rents are pushing mom-and-pop shops off Canada's streets. In Canadian Business, Aaron Binder and SCP Fellow Liliana Locke (née Camacho) from the Better Way Alliance argue new commercial tenant protections are the answer.
January 16, 2025Blog,In the mediaLocal economies,Small business
At the corner of Main Street and Purpose: Rethinking small businesses by rethinking who owns them
Is alternative ownership the future of business in Canada? Shane Gibson from Future of Good reports on how converting to a non-profit, establishing an Employee Ownership Trust, or becoming a co-operative can help a small business become more sustainable, ensure job security and retain wealth within the community.
October 18, 2024In the mediaAlternative ownership,Local economies,Employee Ownership Canada (EOC),Small business
Employee ownership trusts explainer | Toronto Sun
SCP Chair Jon Shell in the Toronto Sun on what Employee Ownership Trusts mean for business owners, the community and the broader economy
October 9, 2024In the mediaAlternative ownership,Employee Ownership Canada (EOC)