A Recap of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Hill Day

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Hill Day, held on April 15 and 16 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, once again provided a platform for business leaders from diverse sectors across Canada to come together and directly engage with parliamentarians and government officials on pressing policy issues impacting Canadian businesses.

With an impressive lineup of distinguished speakers and engaging sessions, as well as several advocacy meetings, this year’s Hill Day emphasized the critical role of strategic investments and innovative thinking in shaping Canada’s future.

Day 1 Highlights:

A Breakfast With the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs of Canada

The day started with a captivating keynote address from Minister Dominic LeBlanc. His remarks centred on the delicate balance between transparency and security in addressing foreign conflicts. He outlined strategies aimed at enhancing intelligence flow and safeguarding critical infrastructure — crucial elements in maintaining national security.

Additionally, Minister LeBlanc announced the launch of the new Canadian Internal Trade Data and Information Hub (CITH), a resource that promises to significantly benefit businesses across Canada. This initiative was a direct response to our longstanding call for reliable and timely data on internal trade and labour mobility.

A Lunch With the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada

During the luncheon session, Minister Champagne provided valuable insights into the post-pandemic landscape and articulated the government’s strategy for economic growth and affordability, emphasizing the need for a pro-growth approach to enhance Canada’s global competitiveness. His remarks underscored the government’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to investment, thereby driving economic growth and ensuring prosperity for all Canadians.

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Prime Minister Trudeau’s address provided some insight into Budget 2024 ahead of its release and underscored the importance of intergenerational opportunity. He emphasized Canada’s role as a global leader, particularly in the realms of innovation, artificial intelligence, clean energy and technology. His remarks resonated strongly, emphasizing the critical role that proactive engagement plays in shaping a brighter future for Canada and the world. You can watch his address here.

Kristen Hillman, Ambassador of Canada to the United States

Ambassador Kirsten Hillman’s remarks emphasized the significance of Canada-U.S. relations, particularly with the upcoming negotiations related to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Her insights explored strategies to enhance economic and national security, highlighting the critical role of strong partnerships and collaboration between the two countries.

Jasraj Singh Hallan, M.P., Conservative Shadow Minister for Finance and Middle Class Prosperity

Day 1 concluded with an address from MP Jasraj Singh Hallan, who shared the Conservative Party’s vision for economic growth across Canada. He emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility, less taxes, and regulatory reforms to ensure a more competitive business environment and make life more affordable for Canadians.

Day 2 Highlights:

The Pundits Panel

Day two kicked off with a lively panel discussion featuring political thought leaders Kate Harrison, Kathleen Monk and Tyler Meredith. Moderated by the Canadian Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations, Matthew Holmes, the panel provided a comprehensive overview of the current political climate, key policy issues facing Canadian businesses and insights into the upcoming federal elections.

Closing the Event With the Honourable James Moore

The Honourable James Moore concluded the event with engaging insights into the political landscape, Canada-U.S. relations, economic challenges and the vital relationship between business and government.

Advocacy Meetings

Structured around specific themes, the meetings delved into crucial aspects of the economy such as international policy and trade, reliable supply chains, environmental and natural resources, an innovative economy, industry competitiveness and building stronger communities. These discussions not only identified the primary challenges and opportunities within each sector but also underscored the importance of collaboration between government and businesses.

In total, we held 34 meetings, engaging with notable figures including Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Senator Colin Deacon, Minister Anita Anand, and MP George Chahal, Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. These meetings were complemented by engagements with representatives from 10 different government departments, which highlighted the importance of collaboration and partnership between government bodies and businesses to address challenges and seize opportunities in various sectors.

International Policy and Trade

The International Policy & Trade group met with Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, Senator Peter Boehm, MP Randy Hoback, and others from Global Affairs Canada and the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Reliable Supply Chains

The Reliable Supply Chains group met with the Head of Transport Canada’s National Supply Chain Office Robert Dick, and others from Canada Border Services Agency and the Privy Council Office.

Environment and Natural Resources

The Environment and Natural Resources group met with Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada Michael Vandergrift, MP George Chahal, Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment & Climate Change Canada, John Moffet, and others from the Net-Zero Advisory Body and the Canadian Climate Institute.

Innovative Economy

The Innovative Economy group met with Senator Colin Deacon, MP Brian Masse, and others from Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

Industry Competitiveness

The Industry Competitiveness group met with Minister Anita Anand, and others from the Privy Council Office, Treasury Board Secretariat, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED).

Stronger Communities

The Stronger Communities group met with Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Paul Thompson, MP Tracy Gray, and others from the Office of the Minister of Employment, Office of the Minister of Families, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).