Western Canada’s economy is doing relatively well. This prosperity is not only good for the West, but for Canada as a whole. But the West can’t rest on its laurels. Like the athletes training for the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver, western Canada needs to be at the top of its game if it is to continue to compete successfully in the international economic arena, especially as its competitors step up their games. If we are not successful, our standard of living will fall.
Good public policy--whether in the area of transportation, post-secondary education, internal trade, research and development, environmental standards, agriculture, taxation, international relations, or any number of other areas affected by the actions (or inaction) of governments—is critical to facilitating the efforts of individuals and businesses to keep the western Canadian economy internationally competitive.
The Going For Gold Project will work towards helping western Canada achieve this gold medal economic performance. Running from May 1, 2007, to March 31, 2010, the Going For Gold Project will examine the West's economic standings and make recommendations for its future through a series of research papers by key economic thinkers, public opinion and expert surveys and stakeholder consultations.
Through the Going For Gold Project, the Canada West Foundation will help ensure that in the international economic competition, the West and all of Canada will have a place on the podium.
Going For Gold Research Papers
The 2008 Looking West Survey
- Hot Topics: Western Canadian Attitudes Toward Climate Change
- A Confident Time: Current Economic Perceptions of Western Canadians
- Strategic Investments: Western Canadian Attitudes About Government and the Economy
- A Trading Region: Western Canadian Attitudes About Trade
- Moving Forward: Western Canadian Attitudes About Mobility and Human Capital
- Competitive Mindset: Are Western Canadians Ready to “Go for Gold?”
Other Going For Gold Papers
Core funding for the Going For Gold Project is provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada, and the Provinces of British Columbia (Economic Development), Alberta (Employment, Immigration and Industry), Saskatchewan (Enterprise and Innovation), and Manitoba (Competitiveness, Training and Trade).