University of Guelph Prof. Ryan Gibson was invited to share his expertise on economic growth and Canada’s competitiveness before the House of Commons finance committee Oct. 3.

The committee is studying the pre-budget consultations and how the federal government might support and encourage Canadian businesses to grow the economy.

Gibson, a professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development and president of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, will speak on how the budget bill could be used to strengthen local economic development in rural and northern communities. He will talk about the need for the government to invest in modernizing small and medium-sized enterprises, to support programs and to create specific development services for hybrid business models such as social enterprises.

Gibson examines how rural communities sustain themselves in the new global economy. He studies rural development strategies, regional planning policy, governance, immigration and mobility, wealth and philanthropy, and public policy.

He has served as an expert witness to the Canadian Senate on economics of rural infrastructure and consulted with the governments of Scotland and Sweden on rural policy.