Yesterday, Canadians came out to decide who will represent them at home and on the global stage. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce extends its congratulations to Mark Carney on his election as Canada’s Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Carney steps into office at a critical and highly uncertain time for our country and the world. The ongoing trade war with the U.S. has disrupted the global trade order and broken the status quo. Canadians, worried about the price of everything from homes to energy to food, need stability and a clear plan for the future.
Over the past several months, provincial and territorial politicians of all political stripes and business competitors turned collaborators have come together to stand up to the threat posed by the U.S. administration’s reckless tariffs on our goods and resources. It’s time for our federal leaders to do the same. We need Canada’s new prime minister, and all opposition parties, to put aside political differences and protect Canada’s economic security and resilience.
We said it when the election was called and we’ll say it again now because it’s just as true and even more urgent: the livelihoods of Canadians depend on how we navigate this crisis with the U.S., how we address our economic challenges, and how we support Canadian business. Prime Minister Carney and his Cabinet better have the political will and capacity for bold action. We need our federal leaders to hit the ground running.
It’s been too long since we’ve had the political discipline to make economic plans that transcend multiple terms and parties, giving Canadians the certainty they deserve. It’s time to pair our economic strategy with concrete action to not only minimize the short-term damage of these tariffs and trade policies but to chart a more prosperous path long-term. Only a united plan that delivers on the following will get us where we need to be:
Delivering on the promise of free internal trade: An open Canadian market, facilitating unobstructed movement of people, goods and services is the cornerstone of a competitive national economy. With streamlined internal trade, Canadians will enjoy lower prices and increased choice, workers will have greater mobility, and our businesses will have an easier time scaling for success.
Lower taxation and cut business red tape: Canada is in direct competition with the U.S. and other countries for business investment, and we are facing renewed brain drain and capital flight from our key industries. Our response can’t be to try and regulate or tax our industries into being more competitive. We need regulatory and tax systems that promote innovation and competition, bringing businesses to Canada instead of driving them away. Reducing the tax burden on business and families, while also reducing public spending, is the path to prosperity and a competitive economy.
Committing to long-term investment in infrastructure: We undermine our ability to grow our economy when Canadian businesses can’t get their goods to market. After all, we can’t sell what we can’t move. To transport our goods safely and efficiently across our vast country — and to our friends and partners overseas — we must expand our existing infrastructure, only then will we reach our full trading potential.
Building a resilient, future-ready economy in which all Canadians can thrive must be the shared objective of Canada’s business community and our new government.
It is time to go all-in and shift our paradigm. Our next steps cannot be incremental — nothing short of transformational will get us where we need to be. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber Network are ready to work with Prime Minister Carney and the federal government to build a Canada of thriving business opportunity and a better life for all.
Business Truth & Reconciliation