Sandip Lalli speaks to over one thousand business leaders at this years Small Business Week Expo.
lower taxes, remove red tape, keep government spending in check and make sure Calgary remains a great place to do business. In 2019, ahead of a big election year provincially and federally, we intend to double down on commerce and double down on advocacy by focusing on our five key policy areas: (1) building a competitive operating environment, (2) improving trade and access to markets, (3) supporting innovation, (4) reducing costs of government policy, and (5) advancing workforce and productivity. But first, let’s look back at what the major policy issues were in 2018. •Trade with the United States The business community faced significant uncertainty with the renegotiation of NAFTA, and the introduction by the U.S. of steel and aluminum tariffs. The resolution of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is good news for Canadian businesses and provides much-needed certainty. Unfortunately, the agreement did not result in the removal of the steel and aluminum tariffs, which continue to impact businesses. The Chamber continues to advocate that tariffs of any form are not good for business. The Calgary Chamber provided updates to the business community throughout the negotiations along with hosting a webinar with trade experts and a submission to the federal
government detailing how we believed Canada should respond to the U.S. tariffs. • Tax Competitiveness With the $1.5 trillion Tax Cuts and Jobs Act implemented in the U.S., Canada’s business competitiveness is at risk. In advance of the November 21 federal economic update, the Calgary Chamber provided four recommendations to Minister Morneau on how the federal government can improve business competitiveness in Canada: (1) reduce the corporate income tax rate, (2) introduce full expensing for new investments in machinery and equipment, (3) address broad business issues including lagging productivity and regulatory inefficiency, and (4) increase market access and incentivise technological innovation. •Bill C-69 The current uncertainty around building major energy projects in Canada is resulting in a chill on foreign investment, international companies divesting from Canada and a business