All media requests should be directed to Émilie Potvin, Director, Public Affairs, epotvin@chamber.ca, (613) 238-4000 ext. 231 or
(613) 797-1860.

The Hon. Perrin Beatty to the National Cross-Sector Forum.

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Canada is a country of vast resource wealth, ingenuity and know-how. As President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, I am delighted every day to learn of a new product, patent, invention, or innovation. Sadly, I am also reminded every day of the significant gap that remains between our commercial aspirations and the capital required to nurture and fuel those aspirations.

To be sure, Canada has many great sources of investment, from our large pension funds to gutsy risk capital boutiques. However, just as any investor must diversify his or her investments, so must these institutions. To cite but one example, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has announced investments in real estate in London and New York, and in toll highways in Australia. Just as Canadian capital must find returns all over the globe, so do strategic buyers all over the globe find opportunities in Canada.

The Hon. Perrin Beatty to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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The issue
In February 2009, the Liberal party introduced Bill C-300: An Act Respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil, or Gas in Developing Countries. Contained in this bill were a series of proposed punitive measures if a Canadian-owned oil, gas, or mining company was judged to be behaving in a manner inconsistent with yet-to-be-defined guidelines.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and its network across the country mobilized to lobby against Bill C-300 as the proposed legislation would institutionalize a process for launching sensational-and unproven-accusations against Canadian extractive companies, alleging they are engaged in the most repugnant of activities in developing countries. Bill C-300 would also establish an unnecessary and duplicate process for dealing with complaints against Canadian mining, oil, and gas companies, which must already abide by internationally-recognized corporate social responsibility guidelines. Our voice was heard loudly.

Yesterday, a majority of 153 MPs voted to defeat Bill C-386 An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers). This means that bills addressing this issue will be ruled as inadmissible during this Parliament. This is good news for Canada’s federally-regulated critical infrastructure providers, including railways, airlines, airports, telecommunications providers, trucking companies, ports and banks. It is also good news for those businesses depending upon them to keep their operations running and Canadians who use electronic banking, automated teller and retail debit card services; rely upon communications in hospitals and police services, airlines, passenger rail; and live in communities with limited or no road access.