September 11, 2026



The Honourable Mélanie Joly, MP
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Government of Canada

RE: Strengthening federal support for businesses affected by Canada-U.S. trade disruption

Dear Minister Joly,

On behalf of Canada’s provincial and territorial chambers of commerce, we are writing regarding the significant and growing economic impacts of ongoing Canada-U.S. trade disruption on businesses, workers, and communities across the country.

Together, our organizations represent 600 local chambers of commerce and 200,000 businesses in every region of Canada. We hear directly from employers, exporters, manufacturers, and community leaders who are navigating U.S. tariffs, Canadian countermeasures, supply chain disruption, and persistent uncertainty. Their message is clear: businesses need timely relief, practical guidance, and a coordinated path forward.

We appreciate your leadership on the federal government’s recent tariff relief measures and recognize the important role of regional development agencies in supporting affected businesses — both in mitigating the impact of U.S. tariffs and repositioning their businesses for resilience and growth.

As these programs evolve, we see a clear opportunity to strengthen their reach, responsiveness, and impact through closer collaboration between regional development agencies and chambers in each province and region.

Chambers are uniquely positioned to help government identify emerging pressures, gather real-time regional and sectoral intelligence, and ensure support measures reflect on-the-ground business realities. Recent discussions across our network have reinforced the urgent need for clear information, practical support, and stronger two-way channels between government and the business community.

To strengthen the federal response and improve outcomes for affected businesses, we recommend that the Government of Canada:

• Establish an advisory table that includes chambers of commerce from every region, focused on tariff impacts, business conditions, and mitigation measures;
• Task Regional Development Agencies with engaging provincial chambers in the design, promotion, delivery and evaluation of business support programs related to tariffs, trade disruption and diversification; and
• Leverage chambers as trusted partners to share timely information with employers and provide real-time regional and sector-specific business intelligence to government.