Business groups are calling for new federal Liberal Leader Steph-ane Dion to offer more details on his economic policies.

Across the country, business leaders say Dion has been clear on environmental policy but murkier on matters such as fiscal policy, immigration, the nation-wide skilled labour shortage and Canada-U.S. relations.

"We've got a good idea of what he means by sustainable," says Perrin Beatty, president of the Ottawa-based Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME.) "What we need to know is what he means by development."

Dion has experience as both a constitutional affairs and environment minister, but business leaders say they are waiting to see whether he can make effective decisions that span other ministries - especially with a spring election becoming more likely.

Stephane Dion

Nancy Hughes-Anthony, president and CEO of the Ottawa-based Canadian Chamber of Commerce, says nobody doubts Dion's desire to build a sustainable economy. But, she asks, how do you achieve that goal?

"We don't have his economic vision as a counterpoint, or a complement, to his environment vision," she says.

The chamber has written to Dion and requested a meeting to discuss its priorities, which include fiscal policy, investment and immigration policy.

Hughes-Anthony says the chamber can't see how Canada can meet its Kyoto targets without destroying the Canadian economy. And she questions how much his environmental policy will cost taxpayers and how it can keep Canada globally competitive. "I don't think we've seen the full picture yet out of Mr. Dion," she says.

Bernard Courtois, president and CEO of the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC), says Dion's platform goes well beyond the environment and he has also expressed himself "much more clearly" on key issues than other leaders.

"As an association, it's a little awkward to pick one candidate over another," says Courtois.

"But on the other hand, when we see something that is positive, it's a responsibility for us to say it," says Courtois.

"As a candidate (for the leadership of the federal Liberals), he had a program to address Canada's place in a modern economy, to address the opportunities and challenges we face and the technological opportunities they create.

"This leads back to when he was environment minister and had taken what he repeatedly said is the right strategy - which is to look at our major national challenges and not just see them as problems, but to see them as opportunities, in particular, technological opportunities."

The CME's Beatty says despite his years in Parliament, Dion is still a relatively fresh face on the political scene.

"People are very much aware of his positions on the constitution and environmental issues, but on economic and other social-policy issues, he's still fairly much a clean slate at this point."

Beatty, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, says the CME wants Dion and other political leaders to put economic issues high on the agenda and have a "coherent, strategic" approach to ensure that Canada's industrial base is preserved in any economic development strategy.

The high Canadian dollar, increased competition from low-wage countries and fast-paced technological changes are all putting severe pressure on the Canadian industrial base, he adds. "It's important for us to ensure that we have our house in order in terms of the tax, regulatory and other structure in Canada to ensure that we're competitive."

Dion must also state his approach on developing infrastructure and trade policy, including the World Trade Organization and bilateral and regional relationships, Beatty says.

Environmental groups have repeatedly called for incentives to help develop new technologies, so that they can be manufactured inside rather than outside Canada.

Beatty says Dion can curb greenhouse-gas emissions, create new business opportunities and help Canada remain globally competitive by providing incentives such as accelerated depreciation values on new equipment, so that older equipment can be replaced with more modern devices.

"What we need to do is find a technological solution for these environmental problems," he says.

Dion can set the agenda to a great extent because the Opposition holds the majority on parliamentary committees, adds Beatty.

ITAC's Courtois also lauds Dion for offering solutions on research and development tax credits, skills training and other issues. And the ITAC boss defends Dion's perceived lack of clarity on some areas.

"Remember, when you're in Opposition and you're no longer in government, you don't have the whole machinery of government to develop proposals on everything," says Courtois. "As he gets into an election campaign, I guess he'll develop things further, but we think he's shown the capacity to address a range of issues."

In Western Canada, business leaders have even more questions about Dion. In many cases, their first question is: Who is this guy?

"He's not somebody who's well known in the Canadian business community - and certainly not in Western Canada," says Jock Finlayson, executive vice-president for the Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC).

"In terms of his policy approach, I read a couple of his papers that were put out during the campaign. A lot of it is pretty general."

Like Beatty, Finlayson says Dion has to take control of his party and offer a clearer sense of direction. The BCBC wants to see more emphasis on the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the future of Canada - "and certainly Western Canada."

Greg Stringham, vice-president of policy for the Calgary-based Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), believes Dion can balance the environment with economic issues.

The group also wants him to help reduce red tape.

"The biggest challenge for us right now is the regulatory process on the environmental front - all of the uncertainty that's created there, the number of different jurisdictions that are involved," says Stringham.

(Monte Stewart can be reached at monte@businessedge.ca)