I’ve recently returned from trips to the U.S. and Asia which have erased any doubts I may have had that Canada’s businesses are operating in a environment that is more complex than ever. Firms are managing in the simultaneous contexts of the uncertainty of the European economic climate, the reality that we cannot tie our fortunes to those of the U.S. to the extent we have in the past and the rising challenge posed by an Asian economic juggernaut. We are in a fight for our economic future against the most innovative competitors we will ever face. Unless we can up our game and improve our competitiveness, it is a fight we may lose for ourselves and future generations.

This year, the Canadian Chamber will put much of its energy into a campaign to improve Canada’s ability to compete and win in the global marketplace. We’ll be presenting the top barriers to our competitiveness and calling for all to fight jointly to overcome them.

Businesses and consumers need to know that our leaders have a plan to manage the serious economic challenges we face. And while getting our economic house in order is extremely important, our leaders must also ensure businesses have the tools they need to take on - and beat - the competition from all points on the globe that intensifies every day.

-Perrin