July 5, 2023
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A3
Sent via email
Dear Prime Minister:
On behalf of the Canadian business community, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the labour dispute at Canada's West Coast ports.
As associations, local chambers of commerce and boards of trade, whose members employ millions of Canadians, we are calling on the Government to reconvene Parliament and pass back-to-work legislation, immediately.
The shutdown of our ports will fuel inflation, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and damage the Canadian economy. It will severely reduce the ability of our exporting industries to move their products to market, making it much more difficult to secure the global contracts that drive investment and employ Canadians.
Approximately 25 percent of our total traded goods flow through the ports in Western Canada. They are Canada's largest gateway, handling over $800 million worth of cargo, from agri-foods and potash to critical minerals, forestry, construction materials and household necessities, every single day. As a result of Canada's heavy reliance on trade, the smooth delivery of goods is in the national public interest making the impact of this dispute far more profound than that of most other more isolated labour disruptions.
To position Canada as a reliable trading partner that is competitive in the global economy, businesses must be able to reliably and efficiently get goods to and from market. Canadians expect our elected officials to ensure that this labour dispute is resolved quickly.
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Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Alberta Chambers of Commerce
Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce (Manitoba)
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Barriere & Area Chamber of Commerce
BC Chamber of Commerce
BC Chamber of Shipping
BC Council of Forest Industries
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
Brampton Board of Trade
British Columbia Construction Association
British Columbia Trucking Association
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Burnaby Board of Trade
Business Council of Canada
Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters
Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Construction Association
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Canadian Food Exporters Association
Canadian Home Builders' Association
Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
Canadian Meat Council
Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Canadian Society of Customs Brokers
Canadian Sugar Institute
Canadian Toy Association
Canadian Trucking Alliance
Canola Council of Canada
Cap-Acadie Chamber of Commerce
CCSPA
Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant
Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce
Clarenville Area Chamber of Commerce
Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce
Cochrane Board of Trade
Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce
Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce
Delta Chamber of Commerce
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Electro-Federation Canada
Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ)
Fertilizer Canada
FETCO
Food Producers of Canada
Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada
Freight Management Association of Canada
Global Automakers of Canada
Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Greater Vernon Chamber
Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
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Independent Contractors and Businesses Association
Innovative Medicines Canada
Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce
Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
King Chamber of Commerce
Leamington District Chamber of Commerce
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
Life Sciences BC
London Chamber of Commerce
Madoc & District Chamber of Commerce
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce
Mining Association of Canada
Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce
Mississauga Board of Trade
Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce
New Car Dealers Association of BC
North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce
Northern Regional Construction Association
Oakville Chamber of Commerce
Ottawa Board of Trade
Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce
Parkland Chamber of Commerce
Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce
Perth & District Chamber of Commerce
Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce
Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce
Prince George Chamber of Commerce
Railway Association of Canada
Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada
Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce
Responsible Distribution Canada
Restaurants Canada
Retail Council of Canada
Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce
Rocky Mountain House & District Chamber Of Commerce
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Saskatchewan Mining Association
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce
Shipping Federation of Canada
Smithers District Chamber of Commerce
South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce
Southern Interior Construction Association
St. Albert and District Chamber Of Commerce
St. Andrews Chamber of Commerce
Surrey Board of Trade
Sylvan Lake Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton
Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce
Toronto Region Board of Trade
Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce
Vancouver Island Construction Association
Vancouver Regional Construction Association
Vermilion & District Chamber of Commerce
Western Canadian Shippers' Coalition
Western Retail Lumber Association
Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
Woodstock Chamber of Commerce
Yarmouth & Area Chamber of Commerce
Yorkton Chamber of Commerce
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About the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade:
Since its inception in 1887, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has been recognized as Western Canada's leading business association, engaging our members to inform public policy at all levels of government and empowering them to succeed and prosper in the global economy. With a Membership whose employees comprise one-third of B.C.'s workforce, we are the largest business association between Victoria and Toronto. We leverage this collective strength, facilitating networking opportunities, and providing professional development through unique programs. In addition, we operate one of the largest events platforms in the country, providing a stage for national and international thought leaders to enlighten B.C.'s business leaders.
Media Enquiries:
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
604-640-5450 || media@boardoftrade.com