The federal government has gotten over the “taboo” of helping top-tier companies grow and enter new markets, the industry minister said in an economic policy speech to the Canadian Club in Toronto. She named CGI, CAE, Thomson Reuters and Maple Leaf Foods among her examples of corporations that create jobs at home and abroad, and contribute to Canada’s international soft power. (The Logic)

Talking point: Another taboo Canada’s abandoning is one against economic nationalism; Canada needs to trade, but when the United States is an unpredictable partner, “we need to take care of our own economy and our own workers,” Joly said. One way to do it is using the government’s procurement powers in defence and infrastructure, she said, because she’s learned that companies would rather have government contracts than subsidies. Joly also said to expect new measures in the coming months to attract scientists and researchers to Canada.