Thank you for your letter of July 5, 2010 to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce regarding our position on Bill C-311, The Climate Change Accountability Act.

We are disappointed that the Sierra Club would misrepresent our position on this Bill, indicating that we believe “developing the fossil fuel industry is the best way to fight climate change” and that the “Canadian Chamber of Commerce does not welcome real action on reducing emissions”. This is not true. Since 2005, the Canadian Chamber has called for a sustainable energy strategy for Canada that will respect the environment, provide secure and affordable energy and support the standard of living of Canadian families. This includes meeting our energy demand through the sustainable development of all energy sources, including non-fossil renewable energy and fuels. If you would like to read our discussion paper in this regard, released last October, it is available here.

Ottawa, July 13, 2010: Today, Canada’s largest business association released the second in a series of reports calling for ways that the energy sector can bolster Canadian prosperity.

Energy is Canada’s strategic advantage and encouraging the development of the energy sector and its entire value chain will leverage its vast resource base, providing even greater benefits for all Canadians-more jobs, more investment and more tax revenues that can be used to pay for Canadian social programs and other government priorities. A long-range, inclusive Canadian Sustainable Energy Strategy would allow the energy sector to develop sustainable industries-including chemical manufacturing, carbon capture and storage, resource upgrading, advanced nuclear manufacturing and the manufacturing of energy production parts and equipment-farther up the value chain.

Growing our energy value chain will continue to be one of Canada’s best opportunities for a competitive advantage in the global economy. The oil sands provide a textbook case on how adding value to raw material has provided many thousands of jobs-and added royalties and tax revenues-for the benefit of all Canadians.

Click here to download the report.

An Open Letter to the Premiers of the Provinces and Territories of Canada

Ottawa, July 6, 2010: In a special report released today, the voice of Canadian business is calling for stronger economic ties with China.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s report, Canada-China: Building a strong economic partnership, asks whether we, in politics, business and society at large, have maximized the Canada-China economic partnership. China is due to become the world’s second largest economy this year, with markets representing 1.3 billion increasingly sophisticated consumers and deep pools of capital.

“Our extensive research and discussions with our members and Canadian thought leaders convince us that now is the time for both governments and the business community to reinforce efforts to realize the economic potential of Canada-China ties,” states Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber.