Liberal MP Karina Gould says she’d like to add a million new entrepreneurs to the country by making it easier for them to access funding.
Gould is one of five Liberals running to replace Justin Trudeau as party leader and prime minister.
The federal representative for the metro Toronto riding of Burlington, speaking Tuesday to media at Edmonton tech and software firm Output, said “expanding government-backed loan guarantees” of up to $1 million would be key to increasing entrepreneur access to capital.
“We have to make sure that there is an environment in which they can grow their business and keep their business here in Canada,” said Gould, who stepped down as Liberal House leader to join the party leadership race last month.
“That means access to capital. It means the right kind of tax system that incentivizes businesses to be built and to grow here at home.”
Gould said as prime minister, she would create a national program to train and mentor entrepreneurs who want to acquire businesses, “reduce bureaucratic friction” for small- and medium-sized businesses by speeding up “ownership transfer processes,” and create an immigration stream for “entrepreneurial talent.”
“If you’re a newcomer to Canada, or you want to immigrate to Canada, and you are committed to acquiring and scaling a business in Canada, we should fast track your application,” she said.
“It’s the way that we are able to grow our economy and create more good jobs.”
Gould said she would also reverse the federal capital gains tax increase introduced last year.
Liberals will choose Trudeau’s successor on March 9 from the field of Gould, former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, and former MPs Frank Baylis and Ruby Dhalla.
Gould, the MP for Burlington who stepped down as Liberal House leader to join the race last month, is one of five candidates in the running.
A Leger poll published this week showed Carney with a wide lead with the support of 68 per cent of Liberal supporters, followed by Freeland with 14 per cent and Gould at three per cent.
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Brandon Lynch and The Canadian Press
