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

As the biggest and most important businesses constituency in the country, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and its network across the country issued a resounding call to action in the wake of proposed changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program, and plans to increase EI premiums by the maximum allowed under federal legislation. Our voice was heard loudly.

The Canadian Chamber wrote to Minister Flaherty to express its deep concern over reports that the government may be called upon to permit the maximum allowable increase to Employment Insurance (EI) premiums - 15 cents/$100 for employees and 21 cents/$100 for employers - to come into effect in January 2011 after a two-year freeze. Such an increase would have significant negative implications for the 420 chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Canada that are members of the Canadian Chamber network and for the 192,000 businesses they represent.

Ottawa, August 23, 2010: Mr. John A. Manzoni, president and chief executive officer, Talisman Energy Inc., will be this year’s recipient of the Canadian International Executive of the Year Award presented by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s largest business association, on November 25 in Calgary.

“Energy is one of Canada’s greatest assets, and our Canadian energy companies are important ambassadors,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “Under the leadership of John Manzoni, Talisman is certainly a foremost ambassador not only for the energy sector, but for Canadian business.”

Ottawa, August 10, 2010: Today, Canada’s largest business association released a report calling for businesses to act quickly to grab a share of the global market before we get left behind.

According to the report, entitled Canadian Businesses Go Global For Growth, projections suggest the global economic balance of power will continue to transition toward developing countries, and their share of global trade will increase further. These trends present new challenges and opportunities.

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.