The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and its members said they expected three things from the government in its Budget: that it would stay the course on the recovery plan; lay out a strategy to return to balanced budgets over the medium-term; and focus on how to make Canada more competitive in the international marketplace. We are delighted the government delivered on all three.

Our members said they wanted the government to commit to an agenda to advance a more innovative and competitive economy. The government did so in the Speech from the Throne. The government also committed to continue to increase and diversify our international trade, fight protectionist measures and promote a more open and integrated global economy. These are also priorities for our members. They look forward to the government’s action plan for a digital economic strategy, further implementation of the Competition Policy Review Panel’s recommendations and offering stronger protection to Canadian companies to protect their intellectual property rights, all of which were highlighted as priorities for the government.The Canadian Chamber’s budget analysis can be viewed here. 

- Perrin

The agreement announced on February 5 between Canada and the United States on ‘Buy American’ provisions represents an important step forward, putting Canadian companies in a better position to benefit from remaining U.S. infrastructure stimulus funding and establishes a mechanism for negotiating further access to U.S. markets. This means we are now in a stronger position compared with our main competitors.

The Canadian Chamber has been doing a great deal of work around Buy American, and while we will continue to push for greater engagement and to counter protectionism with our largest trading partner, we commend both the Canadian and U.S. governments on this productive agreement. In the many media interviews the Canadian Chamber has done over the last 24 hours, our message is that limiting the damage done by the Buy American provisions is a positive step forward.

Another important outcome of this process was the speedy and comprehensive work done by the federal and provincial/territorial governments to get this offer to the U.S. This sets an important precedent for greater co-operation during current and future free trade negotiations. This is a major step forward domestically and will bode well going forward.

- Perrin

On January 20, I participated in the pre-budget consultation in Windsor, ON. This was part of the Department’s consultations in preparation for the March budget, and was chaired by Jeff Watson, MP for Essex. My message was similar to the report I gave the Prime Minister last week - stay the course on the recovery plan, set out a clear strategy for avoiding structural deficits, and focus now on how to be more competitive in the international marketplace.

Also, on January 25, I received a call from the Honourable Rob Moore, the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism and MP for Fundy Royal to open up the lines of communications with the Canadian Chamber. In welcoming him to his new role, I told him that promoting small business is a vital part of our mission and offered that we would be very pleased to assist him in his new role.

- Perrin

Photo: Department of Finance Canada

Parliament may not be sitting, but the work of government continues.

This morning, Prime Minister Harper met with a small group of business people to discuss Canada’s economy and what needs to be done to strengthen the recovery. It was a good, wide-raging discussion that allowed me to raise a number of issues of concern to businesses across Canada.

To try to give the Prime Minister the most current information available, last week we invited members of our Board of Directors and the more than 300 Chambers across Canada to let me know how the economy is performing in their regions and sectors and to share what they have been hearing from members, customers, employees and suppliers. What they told us was extremely useful in providing the Prime Minister with the most current information possible. I will also share what they have told us when I take part in prebudget consultations with Finance Minister Flaherty on Wednesday.

What were some of the themes we heard most often from across Canada? First, we found a strong consensus that the recovery is starting to take hold, but that the turnaround is both fragile and uneven as you move from region to region or from sector to sector. We received a clear message that, while the government should continue with stimulus that is already in the pipeline, it should not add to what has already been promised for the coming year if it means increasing the debt. Second, there is growing concern that we need a concrete plan to eliminate the deficit over a reasonable period and to start paying down the debt incurred during the recession. Chambers recognize that this will be a painful process, but they feel that a plan is badly needed if we want to avoid passing on a crushing debt load to our children.

Some of the other themes that came up from our consultations were that we need to increase out efforts to build and diversity our international trade. Many members commented that the Prime Minister’s recent visits in Asia were an important recognition of how much our prosperity depends on international trade. They also expressed their concerns to us about the need to resolve the Buy American issue and to keep our border with the US open.

We also heard from many Chambers about challenges smaller businesses are facing in attracting investment and obtaining credit. And they expressed their concern about the possibility of increases to Employment Insurance premiums that would add to their cost of doing business and discourage new hiring. Increased payroll taxes would undermine the ability of businesses to compete and would discourage them from creating new jobs.

The government will continue to gather input over the coming weeks between now and when it presents its budget in March. As the voice of Main Street Canada, the Canadian Chamber Network throughout the country will play an important role in this process and do everything we can to promote a strong and prosperous economy. 

-Perrin

PMO photo by Deb Ransom

Like other Canadians, Canada’s business community is deeply saddened by the unfolding tragedy in Haiti. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and wounded, and much of the civil infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and churches, has been destroyed. Even before the earthquake, Haiti was already the poorest country in the hemisphere, and many of its homes and businesses have now been reduced to rubble.

In addition to the excellent work being undertaken by Canadian relief agencies and governments, individual citizens and businesses are looking for ways they can help.

The Canadian Chamber has written to our counterparts at the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie Haïtiano-Canadienne to express our sympathy and our solidarity with Haiti’s business community. We have also been in touch with the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to offer to pass along information about how our members across Canada can help. We’ll let you know of any further advice or requests they may have once they’ve had a chance to assess the situation and determine what needs to be done. For now, however, they stress that the fastest and most effective way to help is by donating money to the relief organizations that have the knowledge and infrastructure to deliver assistance where it’s needed most. A list of those organizations is available on the Department’s web site. For its part, the federal government is earmarking up to $50 million to match Canadians’ donations to charities aiding relief efforts in Haiti.

At this point, the government is giving similar advice to businesses. While they may request contributions of specific goods or services in coming days, right now the fastest way a business can help is by donating to established humanitarian agencies. The information it has prepared for businesses can be found here. The site also provides companies with information regarding how they can advise the Canadian government of resources they have in disaster-stricken areas that could be of assistance, for example heavy equipment.

A number of Canadian businesses had employees in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in the affected area should contact Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada at 1-800-387-3124.

Canada’s Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, is a former citizen of Haiti who knows first-hand of the devastation caused by the earthquake. As she has said, “Now more than ever, it is time for us to show our solidarity with the most vulnerable people in the Americas, our brothers and sisters in Haiti, whose courage is once again being so harshly tested.”

Canadians have always responded to tragedy with compassion and generosity. I know that their response to the disaster in Haiti will be no exception.

- Perrin