CEOs and business leaders embrace almost all Conservatives’ programs for the economy, especially on Canada-U.S. border issues, but are divided on loans to new Canadians for skills development.

The CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS business panel are divided about the potential sale of the TSX with the edge going to a sale to the Canadian bank-controlled Maple Group over a merger/sale involving the London Stock Exchange.

Among concerns that should guide regulators’ considerations, panelists placed slightly more emphasis on protecting a “national champion” than in protecting competition.

Respondents were asked to score their agreement with a wide range of opinions about the risks and benefits associated with TSX sale to the Maple Group or the London Stock Exchange. By far the strongest concern is expressed about the risk to Canadian interests if a combined TMX-LSE were sold subsequently to, for example, an Asian conglomerate.

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.

View / Download complete poll in PDF