Federal Budget Falls Short for Canada’s Technology Sector

The federal government’s 2018 budget takes some admirable steps toward securing Canada from cyber criminals, but is otherwise a fiscally irresponsible, red-tape happy document that will stifle, rather than encourage, growth in the country’s tech sector. – Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance

CATA CEO John Reid says that the Liberal government has failed to create support for the innovation superclusters they have talked about, and they don’t address the changing circumstances in Canada’s relationship with the U.S.

He has an issue with the 2018 federal budget, which features some big budget items:

• Cybersecurity
• Modernization of federal government’s infrastructure
• Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy

This is is that the budget is ignoring Canada’s tax laws that are not keeping up with legislation in the U.S. As well, the SR&ED program has been reduced by more than $5 billion over the last 9 years.