On December 9, 2025, Pascal Chan, Vice President of Strategic Policy & Supply Chains at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities to highlight why reliable supply chains are essential to Canada’s trading economy. He addressed the growing impact of labour disruptions on businesses and workers and called for reforms to the Canada Labour Code to protect critical trade infrastructure, boost productivity, and preserve Canada’s credibility as a global trading partner.

The opening remarks are available below.

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On January 30, the Canadian Chamber submitted our recommendations for the HUMA study on the definition of “work” and the use of section 107 in the Canada Labour Code.

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    My name is Pascal Chan. I’m the Vice-President, Strategic Policy and Supply Chains, at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which is Canada’s largest and most activated business network, representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade across the country, as well as 200,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors and all areas of the country, working to create the conditions for our collective success. 

    I’d like to start by thanking the members of the committee for taking on this important study and for inviting me to appear today. 

At the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, we spend a considerable amount of time talking about economic growth, productivity and Canada’s competitiveness in the global economy. 

That begins with who we are, and we are a trading nation. According to the World Bank, trade accounts for two-thirds of Canada’s GDP, and so reliable supply chains are non-negotiable. 

With that said, the list of challenges that impact our supply chains yet sitting outside our control continues to grow: the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events such as wildfires and floods, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea, and a historic drought in the Panama Canal. The next obstacle is surely just around the corner. 

Here at home, you’d be forgiven for thinking we must be doing everything in our power to protect our ability to trade, but you’d be mistaken. Our Business Data Lab’s analysis of Employment and Social Development Canada data revealed that in 2023, we lost the most working days to labour disruption since 1986. 

Last year, the Canadian rail network ground to a halt, and then later, our largest east and west coast ports shut down simultaneously. Looking back a couple of years, you can add in Vancouver grain terminals, the St. Lawrence Seaway, two major airlines and the B.C. ports, again, along with an overwhelming strike mandate for Canadian border services agents. 

When it’s all said and done, it really feels like we’ve outright progressed to flaunting how little we care about ensuring businesses can keep the lights on and cut the paycheques that Canadian workers use to provide for their families. This hasn’t gone unnoticed. Canadians are concerned. 

A recent survey conducted by Nanos Research revealed that Canadians are 11 times more likely to say that the federal government is doing too little when it comes to ensuring labour stability and the reliability of our nation’s critical supply chain, while the majority of respondents are also concerned about the impact of labour disputes on the affordability and availability of goods. 

Additionally, Statistics Canada’s Canadian Survey on Business Conditions revealed that in Q2, exporters, usually among the most optimistic businesses, were trailing other firms, with that advantage completely eroded. The drop reflects supply chain disruptions, tariff anxieties, higher costs, and softening demand. 

The Bank of Canada has raised the pressing need to increase productivity, noting in its assessment that our nation has trade agreements granting us better access to global markets than any country in the world. Along with that access comes opportunity, and the world increasingly needs what Canada can provide. We have the resources to meet the world’s demand for food and energy security, but we risk squandering that opportunity if we don’t act with urgency. 

Looking at where we are today, free flowing trade with the United States is no longer a given. The  Prime Minister  has stated his objective of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade. 

While speeding up our ability to build trade-enabling infrastructure projects is critical, so is convincing our international trading partners that we can, quite literally, deliver the goods. 

Trade is built on trust; if Canadian companies cannot get their goods to market, we risk losing those markets while compromising efforts to diversify our trading relationships. 

The government should amend the Canada Labour Code to provide new dispute resolution tools for all federally regulated trade infrastructure, as well as establishing the authority for the federal cabinet to act when collective bargaining fails. 

Thank you again for having me here today and for your efforts to build a prosperous nation for all Canadians. 

    I look forward to answering your questions. 

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Hill Day, held on December 1 and 2 in Ottawa, once again brought together business leaders, local chambers, and associations from across the country for two days of focused engagement with parliamentarians and senior officials.

With a full roster of distinguished speakers, insightful panels, and targeted advocacy meetings, this year’s Hill Day underscored a central theme: Canada’s competitiveness is at a critical turning point. Strategic investments, regulatory modernization, and stronger alignment across government and industry will determine whether Canada can keep pace in a rapidly evolving global economy.

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Day 1 Highlights:

Lunch with the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc

A Conversation with Ambassador Kirsten Hillman

The Pundits Panel

A Hill Day tradition, this year’s pundits panel featured Fred De Lorey (North Star Public Affairs), Garry Keller (StrategyCorp), Melanie Richer (Earnscliffe Strategies) and Tyler Meredith (Meredith Boessenkool Policy Advisors). Moderated by Matthew Holmes, Executive Vice-President, International and Chief of Public Policy, the panel offered candid insights into the political climate, Budget 2025, and the issues businesses should be preparing for in the year ahead.

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Day 2 Highlights:

Fireside Chat with Jason Kenney

Former Alberta Premier and Senior Advisor at BMO and Bennett Jones, Jason Kenney, provided a frank and forward-looking assessment of Canada’s competitiveness challenges. He spoke to the global competition for capital, the urgency of regulatory modernization, and the strategic importance of natural resources, LNG, and critical minerals in Canada’s economic future.

Advocacy Meetings

Structured around eight key themes, advocacy meetings explored crucial dimensions of Canada’s economy—including international policy and trade, supply chains, energy and natural resources, innovation, industry competitiveness, life sciences, talent and immigration, and agriculture and agri-food.

Across every discussion, the message was clear: Canada must move faster—on permitting, digital infrastructure, innovation, and building the conditions that attract investment.

In total, the Chamber held 39 meetings, engaging with leaders including Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald, Senator Duncan Wilson, MP Karim Bardeesy (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry), and MP Ryan Williams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance). Members also met with officials from 12 government departments, underscoring the importance of cross-government collaboration.

Below is a snapshot of each stream.

Agriculture & Agri-Food

The Agriculture & Agri-Food group met with Minister Heath MacDonald, Deputy Minister Lawrence Hanson, and senior officials across Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Energy & Natural Resources

The Energy & Natural Resources group met with Michael Vandergrift (Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada), Samir Kassam (Deputy Chief of Staff & Director of Policy to the Minister of Energy & Natural Resources), John Casola (Chief Investment Officer, Canada Infrastructure Bank), and senior officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Industry Competitiveness

The Industry Competitiveness group met with Deputy Ministers from Finance and ISED, MP Ryan Williams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance), Aaron Wudrick (Director of Policy to the Leader of the Official Opposition), MP Raquel Dancho (Shadow Minister for Industry), senior Privy Council Office officials, and senior political staff from the Prime Minister’s Office, Office of the Minister of Industry, and Treasury Board.

Innovative Economy

The Innovative Economy group met with Deputy Minister and G7 Sherpa Cynthia Termorshuizen, Deputy Minister of Public Safety Tricia Geddes, The Chief of Canadian Security Establishment Caroline Xavier, MP Taleeb Noormohamed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation), MP Ben Lobb (Shadow Minister for Digital Government and Artificial Intelligence), and senior Chief Information Officials from Treasury Board.

International Policy & Trade

The International Policy & Trade group met with Miro Froelich (Director of Policy to Minister LeBlanc), Nasser Haider and Galen Richardson, Senator Peter Boehm, Associate ADM Martin Moen, senior officials at Global Affairs Canada, and geopolitical advisors.

Life Sciences

The Life Sciences group met with Ritu Banerjee (Interim Head, Health Emergency Readiness Canada), Deputy Minister of Health Greg Orencsak, MP Karim Bardeesy (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry), senior officials at Health Canada, and political staff from the Office of the Minister of Health and the President of the Treasury Board.

Reliable Supply Chains

The Reliable Supply Chains group met with Arun Thangaraj (Deputy Minister of Transport), Erin O’Gorman (President of the Canada Border Services Agency – CBSA), Senator Duncan Wilson, and senior Transport Canada and CBSA officials.

Talent & Immigration

The Talent & Immigration group met with Dr. Harpreet Kochhar (Deputy Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), Nancy Healey (Commissioner of Employers, MP Garnett Genuis (Conservative Party of Canada Shadow Minister for Employment) and Leslie Church (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Jobs and Families and Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth), senior officials at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and senior political staff from the Office of the Minister of Jobs and Families.

Hill Day: A Continued Commitment to Canada’s Economic Future

Hill Day remains one of the Canadian Chamber’s most anticipated events of the year — and a vital platform for meaningful, solutions-focused dialogue between Canada’s private and public sectors.

The insights gathered over these two days will directly shape our advocacy in 2025 and beyond, helping build a more competitive, productive, and prosperous Canada.

Thank you to our sponsors for making Hill Day 2025 possible

Thank You to Our Excellence Members

On December 9, 2025, our Senior Director of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Bryan Detchou, and Senior Director of Manufacturing and Value Chains, Alex Greco, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance to provide the business community’s perspective on Budget 2025.

They emphasized that the Budget makes meaningful progress in strengthening Canada’s strategic economic and industrial capacity — from critical minerals and clean energy to advances in AI, defence, and LNG’s role in global energy security. They also stressed the need to improve regulatory efficiency, accelerate project development, and ensure Canada is positioned to compete globally.

What matters next is implementation — and doing it quickly. To capture global opportunities and reinforce Canada’s economic security, governments must move with speed, coordination, and urgency.

The full remarks and appearance can be viewed below.

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Mr. Chair and Honourable Senators,

Merci de nous avoir donné l’occasion de comparaître au nom de la Chambre de commerce du Canada, qui représente plus de 400 chambres de commerce et conseils d’affaires, ainsi que plus de 200 000 entreprises dans toutes les régions et tous les secteurs.

With 567 days between Budgets 2024 and 2025, this year’s Budget was highly anticipated. While framed by government as a historic and transformational document, we offer a more measured view: it takes meaningful steps in the right direction and lays a solid foundation for further progress.

For brevity, we will highlight two areas where the Budget advances Canada’s economic agenda, before turning to what is needed next.

Premièrement, le Budget de 2025 renforce la capacité économique et industrielle stratégique du Canada.
Il reconnaît l’importance d’accroître le rôle du Canada en tant que superpuissance énergétique et des ressources naturelles. Nous appuyons les investissements dans les minéraux critiques, l’énergie propre, l’intelligence artificielle, les ressources naturelles et la défense, des secteurs essentiels à la compétitivité à long terme ainsi qu’à la sécurité économique et nationale.

Initiatives such as sovereign AI compute capacity, the Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund, increased defence spending, and recognition of LNG’s important export role and decarbonization potential are all constructive.

Pour traduire ces engagements en résultats, le Canada doit moderniser les approvisionnements, accélérer l’adoption de l’IA et améliorer de façon significative la rapidité et la prévisibilité du développement de projets. Des échéanciers plus clairs, une coordination fédérale-provinciale renforcée et une fonction publique plus agile sont essentiels. La modernisation réglementaire doit également s’appliquer à tous les projets — grands et petits, désignés d’intérêt « national » ou non — avec des normes de service transparentes et une approche claire : un projet, une seule évaluation.

Second, the Budget advances Canada’s productivity, investment, and innovation agenda.

The Productivity Super Deduction is a meaningful tool to encourage investment in productivity-enhancing capital. Improvements to SR&ED, reduced administrative burden and improved refundability for smaller, research-intensive firms, are similarly positive. Added clarity on capital-gains taxation also supports better business planning and investment certainty.

Together, these measures are progress, though further modernization, particularly to support commercialization and scale-up, and to make both the Productivity Super Deduction and the Accelerated Investment Incentive permanent, will be critical.

We also welcome the amendment to the greenwashing provision in the Competition Act, which brings greater alignment with international practice and reduces unintended consequences for responsible companies.

Je cède maintenant la parole à mon collègue, Alex Greco, directeur principal, Fabrication et chaînes de valeur, qui présentera les prochaines étapes nécessaires.

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Looking ahead, Canada now needs a long-term productivity, investment, and trade strategy to build on this Budget.

In response to U.S. industrial policy and the One Big Beautiful Bill, Canada should prioritize predictability, stability, and tax competitiveness — modernizing capital cost allowances and simplifying the system rather than layering on boutique measures.

Regulatory reform remains urgent: legislated competitiveness mandates, clearer service standards, predictable impact assessments, and stronger federal-provincial coordination are essential. Canada also needs a public service culture focused on timeliness, collaboration, and practical problem-solving.

On trade, Canada must strengthen North American competitiveness ahead of the 2026 CUSMA review by reducing non-tariff barriers, improving border efficiency, modernizing conformity assessments, and coordinating energy and critical-mineral supply chains. Ensuring SMEs can participate fully in continental trade will be key.

Senators, ultimately, the real test for Budget 2025 will be implementation—an area where Canada has struggled and cannot afford to fall behind again.

Timely execution of funding programs, regulatory reforms, and strategic initiatives will determine whether this Budget translates into higher productivity, stronger investment, and greater economic security.

Global competition is accelerating, and Canada does not have the luxury of time.

A whole-of-government approach, supported by a modern, delivery-focused public service, is essential. If implemented with urgency, Budget 2025 can position Canada for long-term success. If not, we risk falling further behind at a moment when Canada cannot afford to come up short. We look forward to working with Parliament, government, and partners across Canada to help deliver that future.

Thank you for your time today. We look forward to the questions and discussion

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Liam MacDonald, Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the Standing Committee on Science and Research.

Representing more than 400 chambers, boards of trade, and over 200,000 businesses, he delivered a clear message: Canada must strengthen its R&D ecosystem to stay competitive.

MacDonald pointed to Canada’s lagging R&D investment, accelerated U.S. policy action, and the growing connection between innovation, economic resilience, and national sovereignty. He called for sharper tax competitiveness, modernized R&D and IP incentives, and a workforce aligned with emerging innovation needs. His remarks underscored the urgency for bold, coordinated action to drive private-sector innovation and secure Canada’s long-term growth.

The full appearance and remarks can be viewed below.

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Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of more than 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, and over 200,000 businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions across Canada.

Research and development is foundational to modern economies. Strong R&D ecosystems drive innovation, enable new technologies, improve existing ones, enhance productivity, and strengthen competitiveness across entire value chains. The benefits extend far beyond individual firms: R&D generates knowledge spillovers, fuels long-term growth, and supports the creation of high-quality jobs.

Yet Canada’s economy is at a crossroads. Global competitors — particularly the United States — are rapidly expanding incentives to spur business investment, R&D, and technology adoption. At the same time, geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain pressures, and shifting global markets are reshaping the environment in which Canadian companies operate. Innovation leadership is increasingly tied not only to economic performance, but to national resilience and sovereignty.

However, Canada continues to lag international peers in R&D spending. In 2023, Canada spent 1.8% of its GDP on R&D, placing second-last in the G7 and below nearly two thirds of OECD countries, who spent an average of 2.7% of GDP on R&D. Persistent underinvestment constrains productivity, innovation, and long-term growth — challenges already reflected in OECD projections showing Canada’s GDP growth averaging about 1% in the years ahead.

This competitiveness challenge is sharpened by recent U.S. policy developments. The U.S. has repeatedly moved with speed and scale — first through the Inflation Reduction Act and most recently through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extended full expensing for machinery, equipment, and R&D.

Canada’s slow response to past U.S. reforms contributed to a prolonged stagnation in non-residential business investment — which remains below 2014 levels. To avoid falling further behind, bold, coordinated federal action is needed to strengthen tax competitiveness, drive private-sector R&D, accelerate technology adoption, and position Canada for long-term economic resilience.

Budget 2025 introduces several positive measures such as early changes to the Scientific Research and Experimental Design (SR&ED) incentive, funding for talent attraction, sovereign public AI compute infrastructure, and enhanced venture and growth capital. These are welcome steps. However, the competitiveness gap facing Canadian businesses remains substantial, especially relative to recent U.S. innovation incentives. To close this gap, the Canadian Chamber recommends action in three priority areas:

First: Strengthening Canada’s tax competitiveness by offering a productivity and investment tax credit, modelled on Ontario’s enhanced 15% credit and the Atlantic Investment Tax Credit, to support new buildings, machinery, equipment, and software. We also recommend permanently extending the Accelerated Investment Incentive to allow full and immediate expensing of machinery and equipment. Permanence would give businesses long-term certainty to anchor production, innovation, and R&D in Canada.

Second: Modernizing Canada’s R&D, commercialization, and intellectual property incentives by accelerating long-overdue SR&ED reforms, implementing a pre-approval process, expanding eligibility to commercialization and digital innovation, and indexing expenditure limits to inflation. We also recommend implementing a national patent box regime that provides a preferential tax rate on income derived from IP developed and commercialized here at home — a proven tool in jurisdictions such as the U.K., Belgium, and France.

Third: Building the workforce Canada needs to support R&D growth and technology adoption by conducting a national needs assessment to align training with labour market demand, and ensuring fast, predictable foreign credential recognition for in-demand occupations.

We thank the committee for undertaking this timely and important study. Strengthening private-sector R&D is essential to Canada’s long-term competitiveness, productivity, and economic security. I look forward to your questions and to continuing the discussion.

On October 7, 2025, our Chief of Public Policy Matthew Holmes and Principal Economist Andrew DiCapua appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance to discuss Canada’s current financial and economic outlook.

They emphasized the need for bold action to boost growth, productivity, and resilience, highlighting priorities such as removing internal trade barriers, expanding trade infrastructure, modernizing tax and regulatory systems, and tackling skills shortages. While recent U.S. tariffs and declining exports have put pressure on the economy, moderating inflation and stable forecasts suggest Canada may avoid a recession.

Their message was clear: to secure long-term prosperity, Canada must strengthen its competitiveness and act decisively to build a more resilient economy.

Full video and remarks are available below.

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Transcript

Honourable Senators, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on Canada’s current financial and economic standing.

I am joined by my colleague, Andrew DiCapua, Principal Economist.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most activated business network — representing roughly 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 business of all sizes, sectors and regions of the country.

Even before recent international trade shifts, Canada’s economic position was weak. Which is why, in February, the Canadian Chamber called for the government to come alongside businesses in what we call our All-In Canada Plan that would not only minimize tariff damage but chart a more prosperous path.

The plan addresses three critical challenges requiring immediate action.

First, economic growth. We’ve been relying on U.S. trade for years to cover up gaps in our own domestic economy. That has to stop. It’s time to dismantle our internal trade barriers to achieve free trade in Canada and claim the estimated 4% GDP gain that we’re leaving on the table.

Going beyond our borders, we need to look at building on already established trade deals and relationships in the Indo-Pacific, Mexico, European Union and the United Kingdom. But as a trading nation, Canadian businesses need efficient channels to get goods to markets overseas. This requires urgently expanding our roads, rail, airports, and port infrastructure. Further, we cannot allow the repeated shutdown of critical operations to prevent the flow of goods and services and damage Canada’s reputation as a reliable trade partner. When we jeopardize supply chains, they take a long time to return.

And while we commend the government on Bill C-5’s swift passage, we remain concerned that a two-track system could emerge that blesses some projects even as others remain stalled. Every project needs to face reasonable, transparent and predictable processes.

Second, global competitiveness. Canada’s appeal as a place to do business is declining. We need a regulatory and tax environment that attracts domestic and international investment, helps businesses grow and encourages new businesses to launch. While tariffs are today’s concern, it will be the structural changes to U.S. tax and regulatory regimes that will truly challenge Canada’s long-term competitiveness.

Third, addressing Canada’s skills gaps. This year alone, the talent shortage cost our economy $2.6 billion, according to the Conference Board of Canada. We need both a national workforce strategy that invests in upskilling and reskilling workers, with a focus on those vulnerable to automation and AI, and a strategic immigration system that respects the needs and constraints of provinces, territories, communities, employers and employees.

Canada cannot achieve economic security without bold action on these three fronts.

I will now turn things over to my colleague.

Thank you, Matthew, and honourable Senators, for the opportunity to appear today. I’ll offer brief remarks on current economic conditions.

Canada’s economy is at a crossroads. We have navigated uncertainty before, but this moment presents another opportunity to shape our path for future growth and prosperity.

Trade remains foundational to that prosperity. Our trade relationship with the United States alone supports nearly three million Canadian jobs. The recent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods represent one of the largest external shocks since the 2008 financial crisis, excluding the pandemic.

The data reflects this pressure. In Q2 2025, export volumes fell 7.5%. Investment in machinery and equipment declined 9.4%, as uncertainty clouds business decision-making. The labour market is loosening: we’ve seen moderate job losses in recent months, the unemployment rate has risen to 7.1%, and trade-exposed sectors have shed roughly 80,000 jobs since January.

For 2025, we expect real GDP growth of about 1%. The Bank of Canada’s July Monetary Policy Report anticipates similar growth for the rest of 2025, with private-sector economist consensus even more pessimistic, expecting roughly 0.5% growth for Q3/Q4. The Chamber’s nowcast expects 1.5% growth in Q3, suggesting the worst is behind us and that Canada is likely to avoid a recession.

On a positive note, inflation has been within the Bank’s target range for 20 consecutive months, allowing interest rates to move lower and provide some support. Households have remained resilient, though early signs suggest this momentum may fade.

Still, the trade shock has left a structural mark, putting the economy on a permanently lower trajectory. As my colleague outlined, strengthening competitiveness, accelerating productivity, and accelerating diversity—in people and markets—will be crucial.

Canada is vulnerable to these external shocks; building resilience against them is essential.

The fiscal response faces some constraints. Balancing prudence with growth will be a challenge. The Parliamentary Budget Officer’s September outlook projects a federal deficit of about $70 billion in 2025. This alongside rapidly increasing debt service costs will make fiscal anchors harder to achieve.

Finally, the scarring effects from recent U.S. actions have yet to be fully realized. We must act with urgency and ambition to revive growth, bolster resilience, and set an optimistic course for long-term prosperity.

Thank you. Merci.

On June 16, our Vice President of Government Relations, David Pierce, and Senior Director of Natural Resources, Environment & Sustainability, Bryan Detchou, appeared before the Senate Committee of the Whole to provide remarks on Bill C-5, The One Canadian Economy Act. 

They highlighted the urgent need to reduce internal trade barriers and accelerate the development of critical infrastructure across Canada, and underscored how C-5 aligns with the Chamber’s “All-In” plan. They also reiterated Canada’s role in ensuring energy security, supporting Indigenous partnerships, and restoring investor confidence through regulatory reform.

The full appearance and remarks can be accessed below.

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Senate Committee of the Whole

Remarks – An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act | Short title: One Canadian Economy Act

Monday, June 16, 2025, Panel 2, 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
David R. Pierce & Bryan N. Detchou
Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Honourable Senators,

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on C5, Canada’s new legislation aimed at reducing internal trade barriers and building critical projects of national interest.

I am joined by Bryan Detchou, who specializes in energy, resource, and environmental policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

At the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, we represent our immediate members, and the Chamber Network with some 400 partner Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across our country. Together, we represent almost 200,000 members.

We applaud the Prime Minister and Government of Canada for moving so quickly and methodically on introducing C5. This legislation aims to address internal trade barriers and to begin a conversation about building critical national infrastructure.

This legislation is to address internal trade and infrastructure, but it truly is a response to one of the most important economic shocks of our generation. We really do now live in a different economic world, faced with increased risk on Canadian businesses and families.

Before I go into that, however, I’d like to draw your attention to February 4^th, 2025 when our CEO Candace Laing announced the Canadian Chamber’s All-In plan. That plan featured 4 pillars – building critical resource infrastructure, reducing red tape and internal trade barriers, lowering taxes and opening new markets for our goods and resources.

Fast forward to today, C5 responds to many of the issues we flagged last winter. I would be pleased to speak more about these measures during the question-and-answer period of our discussion today.

Now, Let’s talk energy security.

Global energy demand is projected to rise by nearly 50% by 2050. Canada and its G7 partners must prepare their systems now—ensuring affordability, reliability, and resilience. With geopolitical instability and fragile supply chains, energy policy has become a central issue of both economic strategy and national security.

At the Canadian Chamber’s Business 7 (B7) Summit in May, business leaders affirmed what many already know: Canada has a pivotal role to play in shaping global energy and clean economic growth. This is a generational opportunity—but seizing it requires bold, coordinated, and immediate action.

Unfortunately, Canada has lost momentum in recent decades. I ask you – today, could Canada have built the TransCanada Pipeline? What about the hydroelectric dams in Quebec. How about the TransCanada highway? 

Today, large-scale energy and infrastructure projects are routinely delayed by regulatory gridlock, rising costs, and political indecision. The consequences are real: weakened investor confidence, stalled productivity, and capital flowing to more agile jurisdictions.

An “all-of-the-above” energy approach is essential. Leveraging our comparative strengths in conventional energy will allow us to drive clean investments, increase self-sufficiency, and deliver for Canadians and our global partners.

We are encouraged by Bill C-5 and its potential to improve Canada’s ability to deliver major projects. There are provisions in this Bill that could still be clarified or improved, and we hope to address them during the question period.

For now, we ask Senators to consider the following recommendations—not only for this Bill but also for future legislation that will come before this House, be reviewed by your committees, or be introduced by your colleagues in this Chamber.

1. While Bill C-5 appropriately focuses on projects of national interest, Canada needs a regulatory system that works efficiently for all major infrastructure. Without broader reform, we risk a two-tiered process where some projects are fast-tracked while others remain bogged down under the Impact Assessment Act.
2. Urgency cannot come at the expense of Indigenous rights, environmental considerations, or provincial jurisdiction. A credible framework must be grounded in trust and legal certainty. Undermining these principles risks delays, opposition, and legal challenges that defeat the very goal of faster project delivery.
3. Approvals are only part of the challenge.  To truly unlock progress, government must also tackle the old and new cumulative regulatory burden facing major energy and resource developments in parallel with reforming the approval process. The greenwashing provisions to the Competition Act (Bill C-59)  and the Oil & Gas Emissions Cap are just two many examples. 
4. Senators, let this be Canada’s moment to rise—to seize our full potential and reaffirm our place as a global energy leader, securing a brighter, more prosperous future for all Canadians.

Thank you.

On December 3, 2024, Jessica Brandon-Jepp, Senior Director of Fiscal & Financial Services Policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance regarding their study of Bill C-78, An Act respecting temporary cost of living relief (affordability).

In her remarks, Brandon-Jepp noted that while the GST pause, scheduled from December 14 to February 15, was introduced rapidly, it did not address the underlying causes of Canada’s affordability crisis.

The recording and full remarks are available below.

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Mister Chair and Honourable Members,

It’s a pleasure to appear before you on behalf of 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, and more than 200,000 businesses of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy, and from every part of the country. 

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce recognizes that Canadians are not feeling optimistic about our economy and affordability of the goods and services they need most.  Although this GST pause was announced quickly without consultation, the affordability crisis did not happen overnight, and the fix won’t either. The root causes of Canada’s affordability challenges cannot be fixed with impulsive half-measures or temporary relief implemented with less than a month’s notice.

While the announcement of a GST holiday from December 14 through February 15 is problematic for several reasons, it is also representative of a concerning approach to tax policy writ large:

The tax system is the foundation of our society – of late, government has been using tax policy as a means to implement their political agenda, with seeming disregard to the long-term horizon and certainty required for businesses and Canadians to make adjustments to their affairs. Canadians and businesses are still reeling from trying to respond to the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate and a new digital services tax, which will increase costs for businesses and consumers alike and potentially result in trade retaliation from our largest trading partner.

While CRA has issued guidance quickly on the GST holiday, the implementation of this pause remains burdensome.  Businesses are forced to scramble to adjust to these changes with less than a month’s notice, only to change them back two months later. And CRA will continue to be forced to divert resources away from providing guidance on other tax changes such as the proposed increase to the capital gains inclusion rate.

Instead of supporting businesses across the economy, the GST pause picks winners and losers with a specific, and seemingly random, basket of products.  While there is no doubt that some businesses will experience a temporary benefit from this measure, others will suffer greatly from the challenges involved in updating their point-of-sale systems to address the complex eligibility criteria for products. Similarly, while some consumers will see a small and temporary tax relief, others will receive little benefit due to their family composition or spending habits.

Despite many businesses not benefitting from the GST pause, the challenges are rippling through Canada’s supply chains. We’ve heard from manufacturers concerned about the creation of an artificial and unusual spike in demand for things Canadians have come to rely on like diapers, potentially leading to shortages.  The GST pause doesn’t help, if Canadians can’t find and purchase the goods they rely on.

The Minister has remarked that Canadians should feel positively about our economy because inflation is back down to two percent. Although inflation is beginning to settle, Canadians and businesses are still dealing with the cumulative impacts of the past few years of rising inflation. It’s important to note that inflation has not reversed. It is simply continuing to grow at a slower pace. Canadians remain significantly poorer than before. 

All of this comes at a precarious time, with a falling Canadian dollar and tensions with our largest trading partner at the fore.  While Canada’s economy grew 1% on an annualized basis in the third quarter, this was still less than the Bank of Canada’s expectations. Canada’s economy continues to underperform our peers and potential.  Real GDP per capita fell for the 6^th consecutive quarter!

Complex economic indicators cannot change what Canadians are experiencing on the ground: an inability to make ends meet. While businesses certainly have a role to play in ensuring affordability for Canadians, they cannot address the root causes of the challenges Canadians are facing alone.

What we’re still missing to help address our long-term economic challenges, is a clear plan to revive our economy for all Canadians — one that empowers new businesses to launch, helps existing ones grow and create jobs, ensures major projects get built, and keeps supply chains running smoothly without constant disruptions and rising costs. It’s time to move away from tax-and-spend policies and red tape that drive up the cost of goods and services, to move towards an economy that creates opportunities for Canadians.  The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s recent pre-budget submission outlines concrete policy actions the government can take to turn a functioning economy from a “vibe” to a reality.

I would be pleased to answer your questions.

On October 1, 2024, key leaders from across the healthcare sector gathered in Ottawa to discuss the importance of health data interoperability and its role in delivering connected care to Canadians. Through insightful presentations and panel discussions, participants examined how data-driven innovations can transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes.

Here are the key takeaways:

Transitioning to Preventive Healthcare

The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, opened the event by addressing the need for a shift from crisis-based to preventive healthcare in Canada. He highlighted that 70% of chronic diseases are preventable, making early intervention critical to reducing the healthcare burden. He underscored the importance of focusing on public engagement in preventive care, noting that better health outcomes are possible when issues are managed proactively, rather than reactively.

Minister Holland emphasized the value of patient access to their health records, which empowers individuals and leads to more informed discussions with healthcare providers. He concluded with a call to action, urging stakeholders to support initiatives like the Connected Care for Canadians Act (Bill C-72), which aims to break down silos in health data management.

Lessons from International Models: Finland’s FINDATA

Saara Malkamäki, Programme Manager at the University of Basel’s Innovation Office, presented insights from Finland’s health data infrastructure. A key component of Finland’s success is FINDATA, the national data authority that collects and processes social and health data from a range of sources. Malkamäki emphasized the role of public-private cooperation in achieving 100% coverage of electronic medical records.

One of the standout aspects of FINDATA is the high level of public trust in data usage, which stems from Finland’s strong welfare state model. Trust is critical for enabling broad participation in medical research and health initiatives. Finland’s experience illustrates the potential for Canada to strengthen its own health data governance by focusing on building public confidence and adopting interoperable systems that facilitate cross-sector collaboration.

Achieving Health Data Interoperability: A Shared Priority

A key theme throughout the event was the urgent need for interoperability in healthcare data. Experts from both public and private sectors, including Michael Green of Canada Health Infoway and Brigitte Nolet of Roche Canada, discussed the challenges of connecting fragmented health systems across the country. They highlighted the importance of common technical and data standards to facilitate the seamless exchange of patient information and secondary use of health data.

Participants agreed that patient-centered care is essential, and providing patients with access to their own health data is a critical step toward empowering individuals to take an active role in managing their health. This approach requires not only technological advancements but also thoughtful policies that balance innovation with patient privacy and security.

Leveraging AI for Health System Transformation

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare was another focus of the event. Panelists, including Luk Arbuckle from IQVIA and Christine Sham from Ontario’s Ministry of Health, emphasized the transformative role AI can play in diagnostics, administrative efficiency, and personalized patient care. However, they also discussed the need for ethical governance of AI technologies. The risks associated with AI misuse are significant, but so are the risks of not utilizing it to address systemic inefficiencies. AI must be applied thoughtfully, with clear ethical guidelines to ensure it enhances patient outcomes while maintaining trust.

The Role of Public-Private Partnerships

Several discussions throughout the day touched on the critical role of public-private partnerships in advancing health data initiatives. Panelists pointed to successful collaborations, such as New Brunswick’s My Health NB and Ontario’s partnerships with private vendors, as examples of how such cooperation can lead to innovation and improved healthcare delivery. These partnerships allow the public sector to focus on patient outcomes while the private sector manages the technological and operational challenges of system integration.

Overcoming Challenges to Connected Care

Despite progress, there are still significant barriers to achieving connected care across Canada. Data fragmentation remains a challenge, with provincial boundaries often hindering the flow of information between systems. The event highlighted the need to implement the
Pan-Canadian Health Data Charter to standardize data sharing and ensure consistency across jurisdictions.

Additionally, investment in computational infrastructure is necessary to support the growing use of AI and digital solutions in healthcare. Speakers called for a balanced approach to regulation and innovation, advocating for policies that protect patients without stifling technological advancements.

Building Trust and Public Engagement

Trust emerged as a recurring theme. Both panelists and audience members emphasized the importance of building public trust in health data sharing. Participants agreed that engaging patients in conversations about the benefits of data-driven healthcare—and ensuring that they have access to their own health information—is crucial for fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.

As healthcare leaders continue to push for greater health data interoperability, they also recognized the need for improving digital literacy and communication strategies to better explain the safeguards in place to protect patient data.

Moving Forward: Collective Action for Connected Care

The event underscored the need for collective action in advancing health data interoperability. Whether through government policy, AI integration, or public-private partnerships, collaboration will be key to transforming Canada’s healthcare system. With initiatives like Bill C-72 and the development of a Pan-Canadian Health Data Charter, there is clear momentum toward a more connected, patient-centered model of care.

As we look ahead, it is essential that all stakeholders—government, healthcare providers, industry leaders, and patients—work together to create a better health data ecosystem that supports innovation and improves health outcomes for all Canadians.

Thank You to Our Event Sponsors

On October 2, 2024, our Senior Vice President and General Manager of Quebec, Kathy Megyery, and Director of Policy and Government Relations, Liam MacDonald, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to express our concerns with Bill C-64, the Pharmacare Act. 

The Canadian Chamber supports the goal of achieving universal prescription drug coverage in Canada, but a single-payer, public system is not the right way to get there. 

Only a small minority of Canadians currently lack access to prescription drug coverage. It would be far more pragmatic and fiscally responsible to target a plan at those who need it, as the government did with dental care, instead of completely overhauling a system that is largely well functioning. 

The Minister of Health has stated that Canadians will not lose their existing coverage under the federal plan. However, this is not reflected in the language of the bill. We hope that the bill will be amended to address this critical lack of clarity and ensure that 27 million Canadians with existing workplace drug insurance benefits do not lose their coverage.  

The full remarks and session recording can be accessed below.

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Ms. Chair and honorable senators, on behalf of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, we thank you for this invitation to discuss Bill C-64. Why is this bill important for the Chamber of Commerce and its 220,000 members from businesses of all sectors and sizes across Canada?

It is common for businesses to provide their employees with a benefits package. While these employer-sponsored benefits plans are not mandatory, about 80% of businesses offer a benefits package to attract and retain employees.

Thus, benefits programs, including drug coverage, are not only essential for attracting talent. They also represent a significant investment in the health and productivity of employees. Absenteeism or poor performance due to health issues is a major concern for employers and has a negative impact on the competitiveness of businesses.

With that preamble, allow us to share some comments and concerns.

First, the chamber firmly believes that all Canadians should have equitable access to prescription drug coverage. To best understand what is required to achieve this, let us begin by scoping the problem. The Conference Board of Canada found that 97% of the population is eligible for prescription drug coverage. The number of people not eligible for a public plan and not enrolled in a private plan is under one million people.

Further, 3.8 million Canadians are eligible, but not enrolled in a private or public plan, as a result of lack of awareness of the programs or unaffordable out-of-pocket costs. That is the problem we need to solve in order to ensure that Canadians who are not insured or not properly insured have access to the medications they need with a pragmatic and fiscally responsible solution.

A universal single-payer system is neither.

Let’s look at the cost. For the first phase to cover contraceptives and diabetes medication and devices, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, or PBO, set the cost at $5.7 billion over five years. The PBO assumes that workplace benefit plan coverage would not be impacted by Bill C-64. That is not what the bill states. If that were the case, the cost of Bill C-64 would be offset dramatically, but still rising to almost $1.9 billion over five years. This brings us to the issue of pragmatism. There is no need to completely undo a system that provides a majority of Canadians with the coverage they need and appreciate. A single-payer, universal pharmacare would actually leave most Canadians worse off. Currently, the majority of Canadians are covered through their employers. These Canadians have access to medicines in half the time as those on public plans and to three times more new innovative drugs approved by Health Canada.

In 2023, Ottawa announced the Canadian Dental Care Plan, stating that the plan is not intended to replace existing dental benefits offered through employer-sponsored programs but rather to fill existing gaps in coverage.

The Minister of Health, Mark Holland, has stated that the federal pharmacare program would not jeopardize Canadians’ private coverage, but the bill repeatedly references a national, universal, single-payer system.

This bill should be amended to ensure pharmacare targets those Canadians who do not have the coverage they require, just as the government did with the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Such a targeted model would be more pragmatic, financially sustainable and better respect provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

Thank you.

What is Employer-Paid Virtual Health Care and Why Is It Important for Canadians?

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Employer-paid virtual care, provided as part of an employee benefit plan, allows Canadians to access medical consultations and treatments remotely, typically through online platforms, phone or video calls. These services are intended to complement existing public health services as well as offer support to the millions of Canadians without regular access to a medical professional.

Employer-paid virtual care supports 10 million Canadians’ access to healthcare, reduces the strain on our overburdened medical system and saves public funds.

The Issue

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In 2023, Ottawa announced its intention to produce an Interpretation Letter on the Canada Health Act to rightly close certain loopholes that have led to Canadians being charged out-of-pocket for medically necessary services. The letter is expected to be released soon.

However, unless a clear exemption is provided, employers will no longer be able to offer virtual care through their workplace benefit plans. This will force millions of Canadians into already overburdened ERs and walk-in clinics for the treatment of common ailments that could have been addressed remotely.

The Facts

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Canadians do not pay for these services out of their pocket – they are covered by the employer.

• Through secure videoconferencing platforms, employees and their family members have unlimited access to virtual care without having to pay for consultations.
• These services are intended to complement existing public health services and offer support to the millions of Canadians without regular access to a medical professional.
• Approximately 10 million people in Canada currently have access to virtual care platforms through an employer-funded health benefits plan.

Employer-paid virtual care adds capacity to and reduces the strain on our health system.

• Over 50% of people using some virtual care providers do not have access to a family doctor. Without this service, these Canadians would have to relay almost solely on walk-in clinics and the ER. 
• Providers offering virtual care do so in addition to their work in the public system and often outside of traditional family practice hours. This means virtual care services add capacity to our health system – at no cost to patients or governments. 

Employer-paid virtual care saves governments money.

• By preventing unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations, virtual care saves governments an estimated $52 per consultation, according to a 2022 AppEco Study.

People value their employer benefits – governments should not be eroding them. 

• Nearly 90% of Canadians believe their workplace health benefits are a positive example of employer support for healthcare. 
• At a time when Canadians face significant economic pressure, employer benefit plans help make life more affordable. In fact, 84% of Canadians say workplace plans have helped them with the cost of living. 
• Eroding these benefits would also negatively affect businesses, employers and employees by decreasing workforce productivity and increasing healthcare costs for individuals and employee absenteeism rates. 

What’s Next

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The government should focus on the core issue: Canadians paying out of pocket for necessary medical services. This can be done while still allowing employers to offer virtual care benefits at no extra cost to patients.

Any communications around the provision of virtual care in the public system should explicitly state that employer-funded virtual care is permitted.