Canada is currently undergoing the biggest wave of business succession in the country’s history. At the same time, Canada is facing a sharp decline in business formation and entrepreneurship. Without intervention, these twin trends are poised to weaken the vibrancy of Canada’s economy and damage local economies for the indefinite future.
Social Capital Partners and Venture for Canada made a joint submission to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED) as part of its work to finalize its mandated 5-year review of the Canadian Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP).
We recommend that the CSBFP should be amended to allow for increased Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA). ETA is a model whereby existing or aspiring entrepreneurs purchase and grow existing small businesses, rather than build them from scratch. This approach plays an important role in facilitating a transition to a new generation of entrepreneurs, keeping wealth in Canadian communities and unleashing local, private sector innovation.
Share with a friend
Related reading
🏦 The banks can’t do everything
A new report by SCP Policy Manager Michelle Arnold, Built to Exclude: Why Canada's enterprises need a different kind of financing.
May 20, 2026NewsletterAlternative ownership,Employee Ownership Canada (EOC)
May 20, 2026
Private equity, the productive economy and pensions | Rachel Wasserman on The Millennial Moron
SCP Fellow Rachel Wasserman joins the The Millennial Moron Podcast to explain how private equity works, why returns in private markets are not as good as they seem and how you can push your pension fund to invest in the productive economy.
May 20, 2026Video,Podcast,Economic policyRegulating private equity,In the media
May 20, 2026
Economic Sovereignty
These metrics tell a complex story about ownership of Canada's economic assets, and serve as key indicators of our progress toward greater economic sovereignty.
May 16, 2026Economic Trendseconomic sovereignty
May 16, 2026



