I know the cost of living is now a standard excuse for everything unfortunate in Canada, but I have an untypical view on this topic:
Canadians strike me as a very undemanding nation. I mean, they are ready to go through whatever inconvenience a big corp may force them into, and still be fine about it. To Canadians, it's just the way things are, inevitable evil. At the same time, an entrepreneur frequently starts by targeting a market niche and offering better quality or better service or a novel way of doing things. However, a market niche assumes that there are consumers with a niche demand. But if consumers are undemanding and are OK with keeping paying for something subpar, this leaves us with not so many market niches and thus opportunities.
At the same time, doing business is great in Canada. The tax system is simple (just 3 taxes). Reduced tax rates for small businesses. Registering a business can be done online for a small fee. The banks are OK. Abundance of decent business-related services - accountants, designers, etc. It's relatively easy to sell to the government. Finding a good lawyer is a tough problem, though. But I suspect it's a problem everywhere.
I totally agree with the “undemanding Canadians” view…so true! I moved here 12 years ago from Dubai and the demands/standards of business and service are way lower here. Pros are that it’s laid back and chill, cons are that we are unlikely to lead and innovate because we are satisfied with the status quo
The vibe I get too often in Canada is services (public and private) exist to employ workers, not to provide services, and it's pervasive. As as service consumer you are expected to enthusiastically go along with this cost on your existence, and the scary thing is most people do. This leads to the problem that no matter how much money you would throw at getting something done you will only be able to get what someone else wants to do, regardless of what you are paying for.
They are also undemanding of their government, having reelected the same government many years in a row now. The whole undemanding culture is pointing them to a direction of uniformity, which I guess would equate to more monopolies and less innovation and entrepreneurship.
Left or right, the Canadian government serves business not individuals and it shows everywhere. There is only ONE independent ISP left in Ontario and they have recently been talking to law firms who specialize in the sale of businesses. That leaves Bell, Rogers and Cogeco as the only way you can get a home phone, cell phone or internet connection. Most places you have only one option for your electrical and natural gas provider!
Canada is just 3 monopolies in a trench coat and there is nothing we can do about it.
I mean, if the government wants to buy something from you they do it relatively easily. You don't have to persuade them for months and years as frequently expected in enterprise sales. They just request a quota (RFQ), send a PO, and then pay the invoice. No elaborate RFPs or endless bidding processes.
Of course, it's not always like that. But in my experience such simplified purchases were sufficiently frequent to (pleasantly) surprise me.
Canadians strike me as a very undemanding nation. I mean, they are ready to go through whatever inconvenience a big corp may force them into, and still be fine about it. To Canadians, it's just the way things are, inevitable evil. At the same time, an entrepreneur frequently starts by targeting a market niche and offering better quality or better service or a novel way of doing things. However, a market niche assumes that there are consumers with a niche demand. But if consumers are undemanding and are OK with keeping paying for something subpar, this leaves us with not so many market niches and thus opportunities.
At the same time, doing business is great in Canada. The tax system is simple (just 3 taxes). Reduced tax rates for small businesses. Registering a business can be done online for a small fee. The banks are OK. Abundance of decent business-related services - accountants, designers, etc. It's relatively easy to sell to the government. Finding a good lawyer is a tough problem, though. But I suspect it's a problem everywhere.
PS. I run a technology company based in Canada.