Canadian Chamber’s New Council Responds to Strain on Canada’s Supply Chains

[OTTAWA] — [May 23, 2024] — The Canadian Chamber of Commerce recently launched its newest council in response to a long-term vulnerability in the Canadian economy. The Supply Chains Council represents a collaborative national forum of 16 organizations spanning various sectors, industries and populations working together to protect our supply chains.

The past few years have demonstrated that Canada’s supply chains are only as strong as their weakest link; and as Canada faces another summer of labour disruption, it’s more critical than ever that our supply chains are strengthened.

With trade accounting for more than two thirds of Canada’s GDP, our ability to get goods to and from market determines whether we will be competitive in the global economy. And for the sake of our standard of living and the prosperity of all Canadians, Canada needs to stay competitive. We know the economic damage last year’s West Coast port strike had. Anything that shuts down trade prevents us from serving our customers here and abroad. Now is not the time to put further strain on a system that is under pressure.

Pascal Chan, Council Lead and Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure & Construction at the Canadian Chamber

Members of the Canadian Chamber’s Supply Chains Council will take a leadership role in ensuring Canada has resilient, reliable and efficient supply chains. The Council will undertake targeted advocacy and build relationships with senior government officials to foster trust, create dialogue, and offer perspectives on strengthening Canada’s supply chains to ensure products move, prices are stable and Canada’s reputation as reliable place to do business is enhanced.

As the world increasingly needs what Canada can provide, it’s critical that Canadian businesses are able to reliably get their goods to market. We have an opportunity and obligation to meet the world’s demand for food and energy security, but we risk squandering that opportunity if we don’t act with urgency on this issue.

Pascal Chan, Council Lead and Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure & Construction at the Canadian Chamber

During its mandate, the Council will actively advocate for:

• Strategic, long-term investment in Canada’s trade infrastructure. Domestic and international trade corridors should solidify supply chains to establish Canada as a reliable business partner.
• Reducing preventable threats to supply chains. Government should consider providing new tools to resolve labour disputes in sectors that are essential to Canada’s supply chains.
• Accelerating a regulatory modernization agenda. An economic and competitive lens for federal regulators would encourage manageable regulations that support economic growth and our global competitiveness.

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — The Future of Business Success
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most activated business network — representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 business of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country — working to create the conditions for our collective success. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success. From working with government on economy-friendly policy to providing services that inform commerce and enable trade, we give each of our members more of what they need to succeed: insight into markets, competitors and trends, influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success and impact on business and economic performance.

Contact
Karl Oczkowski
Senior Director, Corporate Communications and PR
613.238.4000 (2231)
koczkowski@chamber.ca