Canadian Chamber releases business platform ahead of federal election

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has launched its election policy website, Vote Prosperity, to highlight the needs of Canadian businesses to all parties in the upcoming federal election.

Every day, the businesses that drive our economy are making hard decisions about how to preserve jobs or create new ones, whether to invest here or abroad and how to respond to competition that grows more intense by the day. The decisions they make determine the future of our communities and our country. Without a thriving business sector, Canada’s economic growth suffers, our prosperity declines and our governments lack the resources to build roads, hospitals and schools and provide social services. In short, for Canada to succeed, our businesses must also be successful.

An open letter formally challenged all party leaders and caucuses to embrace all seven priorities and 45 recommendations outlined in the document.

“We have published an open letter to all of Canada’s federal party leaders, challenging them to give our 200,000 business owners what they must have: a fighting chance to compete and grow. Canada’s businesses have every right to expect a level playing field with the countries they compete against. We call on all party leaders to build their business policy proposals around the Vote Prosperity checklist, which outlines what Canada’s job creators themselves have identified as mission critical,” said the Hon. Perrin Beatty, PC, OC, President & CEO, CCC.

The Vote Prosperity website focuses on a small number of big issues that are crippling the ability of Canadian businesses to compete, grow, and innovate.  While our economy faces many headwinds that are out of our control, there is much we can, and should, do.

Some of the solutions outlined by the Canadian Chamber include:

• A regulatory system that works for everyone, including business;
• A tax system that is fair, efficient and modern; 
• Greater access to new markets around the world, and the breaking down of domestic trade barriers;
• Helping SMEs in a way that’s meaningful to them so that they can grow and succeed at home and abroad;
• Helping Canada seize the power of the digital age, while also investing in more traditional trade-enabling infrastructure;
• Helping grow a 21st century workforce with the skills, education and training required to prosper; and
• An affordable approach to filling the gaps in pharmacare without disrupting today’s employment provided plans.

“Without a thriving business sector, Canada’s economic growth suffers, our prosperity declines, and our governments can't afford roads, hospitals, and schools. When business succeeds, Canada succeeds. Our businesses needs the next government to be a forward-looking partner that helps them build a stronger and more innovative Canada for all,” added Beatty.

The platform was developed in partnership with Canada’s provincial and territorial chambers of commerce. The entire network of 450 chambers of commerce, including your Peterborough Chamber, will be working together throughout the election period to keep our nation’s political leaders focused on taking bold steps to protect and strengthen Canada’s competitive position.

The Canadian Chamber is strictly apolitical, and its policy analysis should never be taken as partisan or endorsement. The Canadian Chamber bases its analysis solely upon whether a policy aligns with the Canadian Chamber’s existing platform.

As the Chamber Network, we will be taking action by writing letters to candidates and providing direct links to voter information and locations.

Follow the discussion on social media through #VoteProsperity

Learn More About Vote Prosperity