August 2009 - Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce

Canadian Chamber Supports Efforts to Fight
Protectionism
At its June Board meeting in Edmonton, the Board of Directors
of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce expressed its
support for efforts by the federal, provincial and territorial
governments to pursue bilateral discussions with the United
States to ensure that companies from both countries can bid
on government procurement contracts.
The ‘Buy American’ provisions in the U.S. stimulus package
have shut out Canadian companies from $280 billion worth
of state- and municipal-level government procurement opportunities
in the U.S. More disturbing still, is that similar
rules are being included in other pieces of legislation before
the U.S. Congress.
“The joint efforts by the federal, provincial and territorial
governments are a first step to securing Canadian companies’
access to the U.S. market now and in the future. We
need to move urgently at the highest level to reach agreement
between Canada and the United States,” said Perrin
Beatty, the Canadian Chamber’s President and CEO.
Despite the understandable calls to retaliate against U.S.
protectionism, a trade war between our two countries would
make matters worse. The Canadian Chamber supports a
rules-based procurement deal with the U.S. to prevent that
possibility.
“Everyone loses in a trade war, but it’s the taxpayers who
lose most by being forced to pay higher prices or accept
inferior products. We need to keep our borders open and
make sure taxpayers in both countries get the very best
value for every dollar,” noted Beatty.
the canadian chamber of commerce
la chambre de commerce du canada
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Releases Report
on Canada’s Digital Economy
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce released a report in
June urging the Government to treat information and communications
technology (ICT) as a core pillar of Canada’s
future economic success.
Mapping the Future of the Digital Economy: Key to Canada’s
Economic Success benchmark’s Canada’s progress to
date on ICT and e-commerce adoption and provides concrete
recommendations for government to stimulate the
knowledge-based economy.
“This report is designed to be a jumping off point for
legislators and government officials to use as they develop
their strategy for putting Canada back on top in ICT and
e-commerce adoption,” Canadian Chamber President and
CEO Perrin Beatty said. One of the key recommendations
in the report is for the government to create a National ICT
Strategy.
Without proper investment and dedication to ICT, innovation
and protecting intellectual property rights, Canada’s
productivity will be limited and other nations will continue
to surpass us as a destination for both domestic and international
business investment.
CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Canada-U.S. Border Amendments
The Honourable Janet Napolitano, United States Secretary of
Homeland Security, and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Canadian
Minister of Public Safety, released a joint-statement
recognizing the unique Canada-U.S. partnership. They agreed
to meet twice a year to monitor progress made at the border
based on the following goals:
• Managing risk while facilitating the movement of legitimate
goods and people,
• Enhancing each government’s ability to assist one another
in times of emergency, and
• Leveraging resources to explore models for joint or shared
border facilities, equipment, and technology, as well as
cross-designation of personnel.
The Canadian Chamber is pleased to see both governments
making the security and efficiency of the Canada-U.S. border
a priority. Through its work with the Canadian and U.S. governments
and business organizations in both countries, the
Canadian Chamber has been pushing for more benefits for
trusted shippers and travelers. It is important that our border
inspectors focus their limited resources on unknown trade
and travel, making the border easier to cross for those people
and businesses that have already been security checked and
certified low-risk.
A Canada-U.S. Framework has been put in place for the
Movement of Goods and People Across the Border During
and Following an Emergency.
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