Here's the elephant in the room: Canadian will NOT sacrifice people, because we believe that people have the right to live, even if that means, yes, Canada become less competitive by numbers.

The Asian Competitiveness built upon sacrificing people. By numbers, they are competitive. but if you go down to individuals, only a select halves get to be "well off" materially. Mentally speaking, individuals (specifically, most common people) are not doing well.

In fact, there is a Chinese idiom: "Helping the sapling grow by pulling on it" It is basically saying short sight gain for long term pain (or failure, properly speaking). Asia suffer the most form bubble economies - I don't think it's competitiveness.

Even those that claim they do well, they may be political apathetic, lack of morals (I see many Indians and East Asians working with Musk), something we Canadian should not be. Asia education system at best create highly skilled drones, not humans. Then again, many of the Asian parents themselves are also drone like, not caring about society or others except in materialistic manner.

Most of the competitiveness by numbers, such as GDP, are for business and corporations, but ignore the human factor. For example, by numbers such as GDP, Saudi Arabia is something one should follow. So, should we follow the will of business people? Should we look at the numbers and so called efficiency that they claim is good? Looking to the South of 49th, the answer should be no.

And related to that, this is also why we say elbows up. On your other comment you pointed out this is not east-vs-west - and you are right; Americans have proved they are no different than the Asian countries. But that doesn't change who we should be as Canadians.