The 2012 federal budget presents a plan for long-term economic growth that builds on Canada’s economic fiscal advantages. The five themes laid by the government—innovation, investment, education, skills and communities—include a number of measures from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s 10-point national plan to regain Canada’s competitive edge in the global economy.

The Canadian Chamber urged the government to focus on where Canada needs to be five or 10 years from now, even if it means taking tough decisions now. The government has acted on many of the key elements of the Canadian Chamber’s Top 10 program for restoring Canada’s competitiveness.

The Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness: What Did the Budget Deliver?

Addressing Canada’s skills crisis
Returning Canadians to work
Improving the tax system
Making regulations work
Attracting international investment
Stimulating research and development and bringing it to market
Using technology to make Canada competitive
Providing the financing businesses need to grow
Building 21st century infrastructure

New York State has recently backed away from its plan to unilaterally impose stringent ballast water standards for ships transiting New York waters. These rules would have required ships to treat their ballast water to a degree 100 times greater than current International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. Furthermore, any vessels built after January 1, 2012 would have needed the ability to treat their ballast water to a level 1,000 times greater than IMO standards.

On Feb. 4, 2011 President Obama and Prime Minister Harper made a joint declaration to improve border efficiency and regulatory cooperation. The announcement made on Dec. 7, 2011 is the first step in realizing this goal. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been a vocal advocate of greater regulatory cooperation and border efficiency with the United States. This partnership will strengthen the economic and physical security of both countries and facilitate the flow of legitimate people and goods across the border.

On October 7, 2011 in Regina, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, Gerry Ritz, announced the end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s (CWB) monopoly on the sale of wheat and barley. For the first time since World War II, Western farmers will be legally permitted to sell their wheat and barley to any buyer they choose. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in calling upon the federal government to allow farmers to sell their products openly, including by ending the CWB monopoly.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and its members called on the government to focus on three areas in 2011. The government heard the voice of Canadian business and aligned its budget with the Canadian Chamber’s call for action:

• Transition from stimulus to private sector-led recovery.
• Lay out a credible plan to return to balanced budgets within five years.
• Commit to a tax and regulatory environment that will attract investments and create jobs.