THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce will continue to urge all elected members on Parliament Hill to focus on strengthening the Canadian economy, chamber president Charla Robinson told Newswatch.
She said that Canadian businesses are experiencing difficulties right now, but she feels the Liberal and Conservative parties can tone down the “bickering and political gamesmanship” to build a strong economy.
“That's going to require all parties to work together and push back against some of the challenges we're seeing from the U.S. to make sure that Canada doesn't not only suffer but can actually come out ahead,” said Robinson.
“Based on some of the challenges that we're going through, let's have this be an impetus towards growth and opportunity and really seize this moment regardless of party. Keeping that focus will be important.”
Locally, she said, having both Thunder Bay MPs from the Liberal party is a positive because “it's always good to have members of parliament that are part of the government, the government that's making decisions and actually has the power to move things forward.”
From a business perspective, Robinson said the chamber is looking forward to how the next few weeks unfold as the House comes together and forms cabinet.
Before the election, the Chamber sent out a list of recommendations to each of the local candidates which highlighted several key priorities that would boost the Northern Ontario economy.
Robinson said the chamber will continue to have conversations on subjects such as immigration and labour needs regionally, streamlining mining regulations, and removing provincial trade barriers.
“Even though it is a minority government, it really does seem like all parties that have been re-elected or elected are focused on how do we make the Canadian economy as strong as it can be, so that is a positive,” said Robinson.
“There are some clear areas where both parties that hold a large number of seats in the House have that same focus. They really want to help to grow the Canadian economy and to provide new opportunities for Canada to help to offset whatever may happen in the, you know, the continuing challenges that we're having with the U.S.”
