>In Canada it's laissez faire (hands off) for a lot of critical infrastructure (communications, highways, insurance), but full on subsidies and support for non-

>In Canada it's laissez faire (hands off) for a lot of critical infrastructure (communications, highways, insurance), but full on subsidies and support for non-essential things like entertainment This is incorrect. Canadian telecommunications and insurance industries are very protectionist of the entrenched companies. It's hardly "hands off" -- they're intensely regulated and protected by government. Subsidies can take more forms than just cash. I'm not sure what the comment about highways is referring to but as those are provincially regulated I'm guessing it's specific to wherever your experience is.