(Dick Loek/Toronto Star/Getty)
#13: Jim Balsillie
Innovation Lobbyist
Why he matters: Speaks for the tech sector
Canada’s Richest People rank: #99
Related:
The inside story of how the wheels came off at Research in Motion
The former co-CEO of BlackBerry has kept a low profile since he stepped down in 2012, but he’s re-emerging as the champion of the tech sector. Along with OMERS Ventures CEO John Ruffolo, Jim Balsillie is the architect of a forthcoming tech lobby group. In Balsillie’s view, policymakers aren’t equipped to fully understand how to help the tech industry, and companies in Canada haven’t advocated for their interests. The goal of the lobby group to create conditions for the industry to flourish on a global scale. With Balsillie at the helm, expect to see a much more vocal tech sector.
More of Canada’s Most Powerful Business People:
▲ #12 Jason Kenney
▼ #14 John Tory
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The Top 25 Richest Neighbourhoods in Canada
