Canada cannot even claim Slack as a success story. Though founded in BC, Slack had to move to Bay Area. Last year, it went to become one of the largest acquisition ($27.7 billion) in the world. Canada could have more Slacks and Shopifys if they can ditch its low skilled PGDM programs that Canada wants the world to believe they are high skilled programs. I have never seen so many poor or low rated schools in an country making so many low skilled work force. Canada needs more Universities not colleges. Canada can call them in a fancy way but PGDM colleges are just another Community colleges that are found in US. Don't forget, the role of STEM immigrants in building today's US tech world is huge. Canada can still do it.There is one more global brand .. Shopify .. although the stock price has tumbled a lot and they are doing very badly that they rescinded offers on even internships. But it does have global presence and has customers all over the world. Australia is dependent on China in the same way Canada is dependent on US.
Canada's economy and thinking is a little too closed and rigid for a developed country. It kind of helps and inhibits it at the same time. Their policies have helped them to have their home grown brands to exist - for example banks like TD, BMO, CIBC and Rogers etc. If the policies were open Chase or other US banks would have killed the market. Tim Hortons is able to sustain even with Starbucks. But since they get things easier here the companies have no will power or ability to dominate in markets outside of Canada.
Australia is secluded from rest of the world but Canada has an advantage of having access to US markets. But challenge is the companies don't have the open mindset and work culture needed to make a name in US. Unfortunately, from what I have seen they are not even trying to diversify economy to be in a better shape 10-15 years down the line. The work needs to start today to see results in future.
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