Canada's Ownership Crisis: A Wake-Up Call from Jon Shell

Jon Shell, chair of Social Capital Partners and executive director of the Gloves Off podcast, believes that Canada is struggling with ownership. 'Who owns the economy matters,' he says, citing three waves reducing ownership by those with Canadian incentives: foreign direct investment, private equity, and the acquisition of promising technology companies by American competitors.

Shell advocates for policies leading to broader ownership, such as employee ownership, which keeps companies Canadian-owned and increases worker wealth. He also suggests making it easier for Canadians to buy companies from retiring business owners during a wave of succession over the next decade.

In response to the #ElbowsUp moment sparked by Donald Trump's presidency, Shell emphasizes reducing reliance on American technology and forming alliances with middle power peers. He cites efforts in Europe to move away from American tech platforms, such as social media restrictions and switching off Microsoft Office, as steps towards digital sovereignty.