I wholeheartedly agree with Tony.  Everyone needs to remember that businesses ship less goods because their customers are ordering less. Why is that?
The answers start there.
I believe the issues that need to be discussed are productivity and innovation.
Because the day you fall behind in either is the day your customer finds another supplier.
Is government a factor in all that... for sure.
But so is geography, entrepreneurial ambition , work ethic,  etc.
If the business leaders in small medium manufacturing start thinking " its all the politicians' fault "( name your boogie man Lib Con NDP)  we really are doomed.