VIDEO: Council Leader Says Energy, Productivity Are Keys to Competitive Economy

Deborah Wince-Smith, president & CEO of the Council on Competitiveness, spoke to the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) on Monday, and made a television appearance on Alberta Primetime, to discuss a wide range of issues surronding economic competitiveness.

Wince-Smith's keynote address to the EEDC annual meeting, which was covered by the Edmonton Journal, noted that she is optimistic about America's ability to solve its debt challenges but still believes the country has work to do on capital cost structure and regulatory costs.

"One of the things we're finding out (in the clean-energy sector) is that with all these R&D investments in things like next-generation batteries, when startups get to $50 million or $100 million in revenue, as they need to scale up, they're all going to China," Wince-Smith said. "Why aren't they staying in the U.S.?"

Speaking on Alberta Primetime, Wince-Smith explored the importance of worker productivity, calling it the greatest metric of prosperity. She also advised that despite its enormous oil and gas production, Edmonton must begin investing in a broader portfolio of energy sources. Watch the full interview.