Presentation to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association

Methodology  Corporate Connection: Twice-yearly syndicated telephone survey of CEOs and senior executives  Focuses on current corporate and public affairs issues  Fieldwork: Fall 2007 wave: Oct. 18 to Nov. 23, 2007  Survey of 400 senior business executives  Findings accurate to within +/- 5%, 19 times out of 20  Mix of small (50 empl. or less), medium (50-99), and large firms (100+)  Results weighted by size, sector & region to reflect actual distribution of firms across Canada (according to Statistics Canada’s Business Register)

Fall 2007

Position Position (unweighted data) Percentage Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Number of Full-Time Employees Number of Full-Time Employees (unweighted data) Percentage DK/NR = 1% Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Sector Sector (unweighted data) Percentage Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Region Region (unweighted data) Percentage Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Most Important Issue Facing Canada Percentage Q: In your view, what is the most important issue or challenge facing the country at this time? DK/NR= 5% Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Most Important Issue Facing Canada (Over Time) Most Important Issue Facing Canada (Over Time) % choosing issue as most important Percentage *Incl. climate change in fall ‘06, spring ’07, fall ‘07 Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Perception of Canadian Economy Percentage Excellent Very Poor Q. How would you describe Canada’s economy today? Please use a 7-point scale, where ‘1’ means you think it is very poor, and ‘7’ means excellent. Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Economic Outlook Percentage (7-point scale: 7 = excellent, 1 = very poor) DK/NR= 2% or less Q. Looking ahead two to three years, how would you describe the outlook for...? Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Economic Outlook (Over Time) Percentage % offering positive scores (5-7 on 7-point scale) Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Preferred Priorities of Federal Government DK/NR = 1% or less Percentage Q. What priority do you think the Government of Canada should place on each of the following? (7-point scale: 7 = Highest, 1 = Lowest) Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Performance of Federal Government DK/NR = 5% or less (7-point scale: 7 = excellent, 1 = very poor) Percentage Q. How would you rate the performance of the Government of Canada in each of these same areas? Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Preferred Priorities vs. Perceived Performance of Federal Govt. Priority % Performance % Gap +/- Reduce regs./paper burden Managing natural resources Environment Cda’s physical infrastructure Health care Promote business productivity Foreign takeovers Invest in science/technology Positive business environment Taxation Reduce debt Unemployment Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Rating of Overall Government Performance Percentage Excellent Very Poor Q: How would you rate the overall performance of the Government of Canada? Once again, please use a 7-point scale where ‘1’ means very poor and ‘7’ means excellent. Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Rating of Overall Government Performance (Over Time) Percentage Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Preferred Priority Attributed to Labour Market Issues DK/NR = 2% or less Percentage Q. How much of a priority do you think the Government of Canada should place on each of the following? Please use a 7-point scale, where ‘1’ means it should be a low priority and ‘7’ means it should be a high priority. How about…? (7-point scale: 7 = Highest, 1 = Lowest) Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Perceived Performance of Government of Canada on Labour Market Issues DK/NR = 2% or less Percentage Q. Now I’d like to ask you how satisfied you are with the performance of the federal government on these same issues. Again, please use a 7-point scale, where ‘1’ means extremely dissatisfied and 7 means extremely satisfied. How about…? (7-point scale: 7 = Extremely satisfied, 1 = Extremely dissatisfied) Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Priority vs. Performance of Government of Canada on Labour Market Issues (scores of 5-7) Priority % Satisfied % Gap +/- Nationwide acceptance of credentials Address labour shortages Support apprenticeships/skilled trades Ensure skilled workers for employers Ensure post-sec skills match market demands Help immigrant skills acceptance Help Cdns. find good jobs Help underrepresented groups Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Fall 2007

Spring 2007

Priority Government Should Place on Labour Issues Related to Advantage Canada Percentage (7-point scale: 7 = Highest, 1 = Lowest) DK/NR = 1% or less Q: The labour market component of Advantage Canada focuses on three areas – labour quantity, labour quality and labour market efficiency. As an employer, what priority would you like to see placed on government action in each of these three areas? Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Most Important Issue Requiring Attention: Unemployment or Skilled Labour Shortages? Q: Some people think the most important issue requiring attention at this time in terms of the number of workers and jobs in Canada is unemployment. Others say that skills and labour shortages are increasing in some sectors and regions of the country, and that this is the more pressing issue. Which do you think is the more important issue at this time…? DK/NR = 2% or less Spring 2007 Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Perception of Canada’s Competitiveness Vis-à-vis Skilled Workforce Percentage Highly competitive Not at all competitive DK/NR = 2% Q: How would you rate Canada’s competitiveness in terms of the ability of employers to find or develop the skilled workforce they need? Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Percentage Highly competitive Not at all competitive Perception of Canada’s Competitiveness Vis-à-vis Skilled Workforce (Over Time) Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Is Your Company Experiencing Labour Shortage? DK/NR = 1% Percentage No shortage Small shortage Moderate shortage Significant shortage Q: At the present time, would you say your company is experiencing a significant labour shortage, a moderate shortage, a small shortage, or no shortage at all? Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Is Your Company Experiencing Labour Shortage? (Over Time) Percentage No shortage Small shortage Moderate shortage Significant shortage Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Concern About Future Impact of Labour Shortages Percentage Q: Looking ahead 5-10 years or so, are you concerned about the potential impact that labour or skills shortages might have on your business? Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Importance of Advantage Canada Measures to Address Labour Market Issues Percentage DK/NR = 2% or less Q: Advantage Canada, the federal government’s economic plan, identifies a number of measures to address labour market challenges facing the country. I’m going to read you a list of some of these measures. For each one, please tell me how important you think it is… (7-point scale: 7 = Highest, 1 = Lowest) Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Importance of Advantage Canada Measures to Address Labour Market Issues (Cont.) Percentage DK/NR = 2% or less Q: Advantage Canada identifies a number of measures to address labour market challenges facing the country. I’m going to read you a list of some of these measures. For each one, please tell me how important you think it is… Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2007

Fall 2006

Perceived Importance of Factors in Increasing Competitiveness of Canadian Businesses DK/NR = 3% or less (7-point scale: 7 = very important, 1 = not important at all) Percentage Q There are a number of things that could be done to increase Canada’s competitiveness and the competitiveness of Canadian businesses. I’d like to know how important you think each of the following is in terms of increasing competitiveness. Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection – Fall 2006

How Important is it that Regulations & Barriers be Removed …? Percentage DK/NR =Less than 2% … to enable skilled workers who immigrate to Canada to work in their trade or profession … to enable skilled workers trained in Canada to work in their profession anywhere in the country Q There are regulations and other barriers that prevent some skilled workers who immigrated to Canada from working in their trade or profession in Canada [and others] that prevent skilled workers trained in one province from working in other provinces. How important do you think it is that such barriers be removed… Fall 2006 Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection – Fall 2006

Importance of Removing Barriers to Skilled Workers (over time) Percentage % saying that issue is moderately - very important Fall 2006 Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection – Fall 2006

Perceptions of Employment Issues Employers’ investments in employees’ training and skills development Percentage DK/NR = 4% or less Too much Right amount Not enough Better Same Worse (7 = very big 1 = not at all) Fall 2006 Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection – Fall 2006

Perceptions of Employment Issues Ability of employers to hire qualified workers from outside of Canada Percentage DK/NR = 7% or less Too much Right amount Not enough Better Same Worse (7 = very big 1 = not at all) Fall 2006 Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection – Fall 2006

Perceptions of Employment Issues Extent to which post-secondary ed. system meets employers’ needs Percentage DK/NR = 7% or less Too much Right amount Not enough Better Same Worse (7 = very big 1 = not at all) Fall 2006 Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection – Fall 2006

Spring 2006

Challenges for Employers Re: Skilled Workforce Percentage Multiple responses accepted DK/NR = 6% Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2006

Federal Govt. Attention to Skilled Workforce is…? DK/NR = 2% Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2006

Canada’s Ability to Develop Skilled Workforce Over Next 10 Years Will…? DK/NR = 2% Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2006

Sectors Seen as Having Greatest Labour Shortages Percentage DK/NR = 7%; multiple responses accepted Phoenix SPI; Corporate Connection - Spring 2006