During the week that the federal government’s Competition Policy Review Panel, chaired by Red Wilson, submitted its report to Minister of Industry Jim Prentice on Canada’s foreign investment policies, the COMPAS panel of CEO’s and business leaders was asked for its views.

A virtual philosophy of ownership emerged. Panelists believe

• By a huge margin that militarily significant sectors should be protected;
  
  
• By a very large margin that the petroleum sector should be protected and that foreign companies should be treated more generously if their own countries practice reciprocity; and
  
  
• By a large margin that foreign private enterprise should be treated more favourably than foreign state enterprises.
  

The view that ownership policy should be used to encourage democracy elicited weak majority support. Majority support for protecting culture and media was weaker still.

These are the key findings from this past week’s Internet survey of CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS panel. The weekly business survey is undertaken for Canadian Business magazine under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody LLP.