Diane Francis

Who Owns Canada Now:
Old Money, New Money and The Future of Canadian Business

This book profiles dozens of Canada's billionaires and is about how Canadian business, the Canadian economy and Canadian entrepreneurs have mastered the challenges of globalization, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the threat of Quebec seceding from Canada, U.S. protectionist threats, recessions and the depression then explosion in commodity prices. "Who Owns Canada Now" analyzes the democratization of ownership in Canada from a country in 1986 owned by a few dozen rich families and conglomerates to hundreds of wealthy Canadian families, gigantic pension or mutual funds and millions of Canadian investors.

The book also looks ahead to challenges such as deindustrialization of Eastern Canada, the dominance of Western Canada headed by Alberta's oil sands and the region's vast resource wealth, the demise of Canada's coddled industries which will be overtaken by foreign competition and the need for significant tax reform such as the elimination of corporation income taxes and the plugging of offshore loopholes enjoyed by some wealthy Canadians.

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PART ONE – The change in Canadian business since 1986

A New Canada
A New Slate
A New World
Change is the Constant

PART TWO – CANADA'S 75 richest

Canada: Real Estate Fortunes
Marcel Adams
David Azrieli
Rudy Bratty
Jack Daniels
Fred DeGasperis
Carlo Fidani
The Greenbergs
The Ghermezians
The Laljis and Mangaljis
The Muzzos
The Reichmanns
Rai Sahi

Canada: Retail Fortunes
Martha Billes
Jean Coutu
George Cohon
Ron Joyce
Daryl Katz
Brandt Louie
The Sobeys
The Westons

Canada: Agri-Business Fortunes
Ken Field
Wallace McCain
The Richardsons
Lino Saputo Sr.

Canada: Forestry Fortunes
The Ketchams
Allan and John Thorlakson

Canada: Energy Fortunes
J.C. Anderson
Murray Edwards and Al Markin
The Mannixes
Clay Riddell
The Southerns

Canada: Mining Fortunes
Robert Friedland
Norman Keevil Jr.
Rob McEwen
Peter Munk
Seymour Schulich

Canada: Pharmaceutical Fortunes
Leslie Dan
Eugene Melnyk
Barry Sherman

Canada: Technology Fortunes
Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis
K.Y. Ho
Sir Terence Matthews
Robert Miller
Charles Sirois

Canada: Entertainment, Media Fortunes
The Aspers
Calvin Ayre
Guy Laliberte
John MacBain
Allan Slaight
The Thomsons

Canada: Cable TV Fortunes
Ted Rogers
J.R. Shaw

Canada: Money Manager Fortunes
Ray Chang
Ned Goodman
Hal Jackman
Stephen Jarislowsky
Michael Lee-Chin

Canada: Industrialists
The Batas
The Bombardiers
The Samuels
Alex Shnaider
Frank Stronach

Canada: Conglomerate Fortunes
Charles Bronfman
Jack Cockwell and Brookfield Asset Management
Michael DeGroote
Paul Desmarais Sr.
Paul Hill
The Irvings
The Jodreys
Jimmy Pattison
Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman

Canada: Investor Fortunes
Joseph Burnett
Alvin Libin
Isadore Sharp
Larry Tanenbaum

PART THREE – THE FUTURE

These Rich Are Different
Who Follows in their Footsteps?
The Challenges Ahead
Inappropriate Attitudes
The Taxation Threat
Is Canada For Sale?
Crystal-ball Gazing: Future Thoughts
Ten Global Business Trends
Will There Be A Canada in 2028?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS