A “fully integrated supply chain of microchips” akin to the 1965 Auto Pact would pave the way for more Canadian plants being built, Canada’s Semiconductor Council managing director Paul Slaby told The Logic on the sidelines of the Conférence de Montréal on Tuesday. Slaby said a pact would reduce the country’s reliance on Taiwan, where the vast majority of chips are made. (The Logic)

Talking point: The pact would be an expansion of the chip manufacturing and development corridor between Bromont, Que., and Albany, N.Y., which Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne has touted. Slaby called Canada’s $250-million commitment to build out domestic production facilities “embarrassingly small,” and said the Liberal government is “beaten up” and distracted by the looming election. “They need to spend money on housing projects and get elected,” he said. While Treasury Board President Anita Anand might demur with Slaby’s hot take, she nonetheless seemed to agree with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre this week on the issue of red tape: namely, that Canadian businesses are drowning in the stuff.