Canadian Chamber of Commerce News

The following items are a direct RSS feed from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce website.

• Temporary Foreign Worker Changes Penalise Canadian Businesses
  

  Ottawa - Monday April 29, 2013 - Changes announced today by the government to the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program will add costs, delays and red tape for Canadian businesses.

  Most companies using temporary foreign workers are small businesses that can’t afford to wait to find the appropriate workers and don’t have many options for training. Nor can they pay much higher wages to persuade Canadians to relocate.

  The Temporary Foreign Workers Program is often the only way for small businesses to find the people they need. While they would much rather employ Canadians, or permanent immigrants, these businesses often have no choice but to look to temporary foreign workers to take jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.

  
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• Speech - Investments to leverage our resource endowment
  

  Click here to download the speaking notes for the Hon. Perrin Beatty as presented to the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association.

  
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• The Canadian Chamber and Grant Thornton LLP announce new business award for private companies
  

  OTTAWA / Today, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Grant Thornton LLP announced the launch of the Private Business Growth Award, which seeks to recognize Canadian privately-held businesses that are successful at creating growth beyond their top or bottom line.

  “Privately-held businesses are key players in the Canadian economy, and for truly dynamic companies, growth is at the top of their agendas,” says Bill Brushett, National Leader, Clients and Services, Grant Thornton LLP. “While some companies simply chase top or bottom-line growth, those that are committed to achieving long-term success must look strategically across all core aspects of their business and grow them in harmony in order to fully achieve their objectives. Real growth is about getting better at what you do year over year. This kind of holistic growth creates value beyond the top or bottom line.”

  
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• Speech - Opportunities for a Brighter Future: Three Choices on North American Prosperity
  

  Click here to download the speaking notes for the Hon. Perrin Beatty as presented to the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

  
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• Syncrude President and CEO to chair the Canadian Chamber’s new Human Resources Policy Committee
  

  Ottawa, April 10,2013 - Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Scott Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Syncrude Canada Ltd., will Chair the new Human Resources Policy Committee of the Canadian Chamber.

  “There is hardly a more urgent issue for Canadian business than skills and human resources,” said Mr. Beatty. “The Canadian Chamber has been front and centre on the skills shortages that are threatening Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness. By lending his name and talents to our new committee, Mr. Sullivan brings significant credibility to our efforts to confront this issue.”

  
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• Speech - The World Needs to Know: Canada can lead on responsible energy
  

  Click here to download the speaking notes for the Hon. Perrin Beatty as presented to the Palm Beach Strategic Forum.

  
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• Federal Budget 2013: Tackling Canada’s Deficient Strategies for Trade Success in New Markets
  

  The issue

  Our members cite Canada’s reliance upon the United States for trade as one of the greatest barriers to their future prosperity. We called on the federal government to tackle this barrier, as well as nine others that make up our list of the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness. We urged the government to diversify its trade relationships and develop strategies to expand Canada’s access to new markets, particularly in Asia, Africa and South America. The government responded by laying out a plan of action in its 2013 budget.

  
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• Federal Budget 2013: Tackling Canada’s Skills Shortages
  

  The issue

  Our members cite skill shortages as the greatest barrier to their future prosperity. We called on the federal government to tackle this barrier, as well as nine others that make up our list of the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness. We urged the government to work with business to upgrade the skills of the existing labour force, match the skills acquired by Canadians with the skills needed by employers and better employ underutilized segments of the population, such as Aboriginal peoples, youth, the disabled and recent immigrants. We also pressed the government to ensure its immigration policy is aligned with local labour markets and employers’ needs. The government responded by laying out a plan of action in its 2013 budget.

  
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• Federal Budget 2013: Tackling Canada’s Inadequate Public Infrastructure Planning
  

  The issue

  Our members cite Canada’s aging public infrastructure as one of the greatest barriers to their future prosperity. We called on the federal government to tackle this barrier, as well as nine others that make up our list of the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness. We urged the government to initiate a national infrastructure investment plan that includes new funding models, increased private-sector involvement, and takes into account the wide range of challenges and opportunities in communities across Canada. The government responded by laying out a plan of action in its 2013 budget.

  
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• The Chamber reacts to the 2013 Budget
  

  Our Director of Public Relations, Emilie Potvin, comments the 2013 budget on CPAC Television. (Skip to 38:17)

  

  
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