• Letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance Canada Re: Carbon Tax Impact on Businesses in Alberta and Atlantic Canada

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    Tuesday, November 21, 2023
    Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance Canada
    Department of Finance Canada
    90 Elgin Street
    Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5
    chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca  
     
    Dear Minister Freeland;
    Subject: Carbon Tax Impact on Businesses in Alberta and Atlantic Canada
    We write to you on behalf of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, representing over 35,500 businesses across our regions. We are deeply concerned about the negative impact the Pan-Canadian Approach to Carbon Pollution Pricing has had, and will continue to have, on job creators and national competitiveness.
    With these concerns in mind, we urge the federal government to expeditiously: 
    1. Return carbon pricing and emission reduction programs to provincial and territorial jurisdiction. Provincial and territorial governments can work with industry leaders to implement and incentivise efficiencies and emissions reduction that is impactful for their unique environmental portfolio.
    2. Apply equal relief measures across all regions and consumers under the current national program. Businesses require stability and predictability to plan and make informed decisions and rely on the federal government’s commitments to strengthen national competitiveness.
    3. Reimburse the estimated $1.6 billion of undistributed dollars collected for the Fuel Charge Proceeds Return Program (FCPRP) to small and medium-sized businesses as intended. These funds have lost purchasing power while idle in a federal account and could be utilized by business to retain workers, expand operations or offset operating expenses.
    We as provincial Chambers of Commerce and our member businesses remain committed to the goal of emitting less carbon. The challenge is the current approach and aggressiveness of emissions reductions targets. The federal government’s inability to meet its own targets is a reasonable indication it is time to explore more effective and impactful measures to address climate change.

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

    Sincerely,
    Atlantic Chamber of Commerce                                                  Alberta Chambers of Commerce
     
     
    Cc:          The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
                   Honourable Steven Guilbeault
                    Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
     

  • Business Truth & Reconciliation Business Truth & Reconciliation

    The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is taking proactive steps to promote reconciliation and respect for Indigenous rights within the corporate sector. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 92, the Chamber urges its members to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a guiding framework. This entails a commitment to meaningful consultation, fostering respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before embarking on economic projects. Moreover, the Chamber advocates for equitable access to employment, training, and educational opportunities for Indigenous communities, ensuring they reap sustainable benefits from economic development initiatives.

     

    Recognizing the importance of education, the Chamber encourages businesses to provide comprehensive training for management and staff on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. Emphasizing intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and anti-racism, these efforts aim to foster a more inclusive and harmonious corporate environment rooted in mutual understanding and respect.

    Learn more click here