Over the past ten years, Canadian manufacturers have been able to boost employment, increase production and subsequently grow exports. This growth has been possible because manufacturers built more specialized and value added products and also because the Canadian and international markets experienced high growth. Small firms have been more successful than their larger counterparts; a trend that is prevalent even in very competitive sectors like clothing. Despite a strong hit in European imports, the world imports as a whole have not suffered a lot due to the growth in emerging economies.

Questions:

1. Where do you foresee Canada in terms of manufacturing in the next ten years?
2. In which Canadian manufacturing sectors, do you think we will we see the highest growth?
3. In terms of the world economy, do you think the emerging economies would take over North America and Europe?
4. Would you agree that the US growth in manufacturing sector is short-lived? Why?

SOURCE: Bertrand Marotte, “Canadian manufacturing makes gains despite headwinds”, The Globe and Mail (Retrievable online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/features/at-the-bell/canadian-manufacturing-makes-gains-despite-headwinds/article2318806/