Chamber Thanks Minister Navdeep Bains for Contributions to Canadian Innovation, Welcomes New Ministers At Critical Time For Businesses

After announcing today that he will be leaving the federal cabinet and not running for re-election, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Minister Navdeep Bains for his years of public service and working alongside Canadian business. We appreciate his many contributions to the realm of innovation, science, and economic development in Canada, and wish him well in his future endeavours.

We also welcome François-Philippe Champagne to the post, as well as Marc Garneau, Jim Carr, and Omar Alghabra to their respective ministerial roles.

It has become increasingly apparent that in order to manage the devastating effects of COVID-19, Canadians, business, and government must work together. We look forward to working with ministers on issues of critical importance in foreign affairs, transport, and economic development including:

• Support for the airline industry and enabling a safe re-start to travel.
• Modernizing Canada’s export permit system to ensure Canadian companies remain competitive and that we achieve wider foreign policy objectives.
• Establishing a new footing for Canada-US relations with the incoming administration to resolve bilateral issues and work together on shared global challenges.
• Accelerating national rollout of broadband Internet to all Canadians and increasing access to reliable, secure and affordable digital connectivity and infrastructure. This will allow Canadians and businesses alike to take full advantage of 5G networks and continue to embrace digital services, such as virtual health care, e-commerce, online education, remote work, and more.

These issues will directly impact the resilience and recovery of Canadian businesses, and the Chamber is eager to continue working with government to chart a path forward. Together we can restore the health of Canadians and our economy, because everyone recovers when business recovers.

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Because Business Matters

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps build the businesses that support our families, our communities and our country. We do this by influencing government policy, by providing essential business services and by connecting businesses to information they can use, to opportunities for growth and to a network of local chambers, businesses, decision-makers and peers from across the country, in every sector of the economy and at all levels of government, as well as internationally. We are unapologetic in our support for business and the vital role it plays in building and sustaining our great nation.

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For more information, please contact:

Emily Walsh
ewalsh@chamber.ca