www.chamber.ca http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins Latest entries from: Policy Wins Beyond the Borders Announcement http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/beyond-the-borders-announcement 14:45:08Z 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.

]]> News - Policy Wins 2011-12-07T14:45:08+00:00 Canadian Wheat Board Reform http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/canadian-wheat-board-reform 15:00:22Z 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.

]]> News - Policy Wins 2011-10-11T15:00:22+00:00 Federal Budget Aligns with Canadian Chamber’s Call for Action http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/federal-budget-aligns-with-canadian-chambers-call-for-action 13:16:10Z 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.
]]> News - Policy Wins 2011-03-23T13:16:10+00:00 A New Vision for Canada-U.S. Relations http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/a-new-vision-for-canada-u.s.-relations 14:16:18Z On February 4, 2011 President Obama and Prime Minister Harper made a joint declaration to establish a new long-term partnership between Canada and the U.S. This partnership will strengthen the economic and physical security of both countries and facilitated the flow of legitimate people and goods across the border.

The issue

Improving the efficiency of the border
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has called upon the Canadian and U.S. governments to improve the efficiency of the Canada-U.S. border. Since 9/11, the costs of doing business across the border have grown thanks to the growing layers of regulations, infrastructure constraints, regulatory complexity and uncertain wait times.

Reducing non-tariff barriers to trade
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has advocated for regulatory alignment between Canada and the U.S., indicating that greater regulatory cooperation would foster economic growth, improve the competiveness of both economies and fuel job creation. 

]]> News - Policy Wins 2011-02-10T14:16:18+00:00 MPs give Canada’s extractive sector companies a vote of confidence http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/mps-give-canadas-extractive-sector-companies-a-vote-of-confidence 17:28:22Z 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.

]]> News - Policy Wins 2010-10-29T17:28:22+00:00 Replacement workers legislation off the table for this Parliament http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/replacement-workers-legislation-off-the-table-for-this-parliament 18:02:12Z 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.

]]> News - Policy Wins 2010-10-21T18:02:12+00:00 Employment Insurance: A double win for the Canadian Chamber! http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/ei-a-double-win-for-the-canadian-chamber 18:36:13Z 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.

]]> News - Policy Wins 2010-09-30T18:36:13+00:00 Canada-Columbia FTA http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/canada-columbia-fta 21:18:23Z On June 21, 2010, Bill C-2 (An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia) passed Third Reading in the Senate and was given Royal Assent. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in calling upon government to conclude FTAs that further open doors to markets and new opportunities for Canadian business.

]]> News - Policy Wins 2010-06-28T21:18:23+00:00 Bill C-310 has been defeated http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/bill-c-310-has-been-defeated 13:16:04Z Private members Bill C-310: An Act to Provide Certain Rights to Air Passengers was first introduced by James Maloway (NDP-Manitoba) in 2009. The bill’s enactment would have placed obligations on air carriers to provide compensation and other assistance to passengers in certain cases involving flight cancelations or delays.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been an active voice opposing the adoption of bill C-310 and is pleased that the bill has been defeated.

]]> News - Policy Wins 2010-05-26T13:16:04+00:00 Identity Theft http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/policy-wins/C156/identity-theft 13:07:17Z Bill S-4: An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (identity theft and related misconduct) was introduced in June 2009.

At the 2008 Canadian Chamber Annual General Meeting, chambers from across the country passed a resolution entitled “Preventing and Effectively Punishing Identity Theft” which was put forward by the Surrey Board of Trade. In January 2010, bill S-4 came into force.

We are pleased that the government responded to this policy resolution to deal with the crime of identity theft and that this legislation is now in place.

 

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