February 11, 2022
Canadian businesses have suffered under the strain of constant disruptions over the last two years. The challenges they have had to overcome have included COVID-19, extreme weather events, increasing inflationary pressures, labour shortages and supply chain disruptions. Now achieving a successful recovery is threatened by the ongoing blockades of the critical infrastructure that enables the livelihoods and well-being of all Canadians.
The harm is both immediate and severe. Each hour that these blockades continue does more serious damage to our economy and to our society. Manufacturers that depend on just-in-time delivery have been forced to cancel shifts for thousands of workers, shipments of livestock and of fresh produce face serious delays or waste that threaten food security, and deliveries of products that are greatly needed by Canadian families are being cancelled. These curtailments will only grow in scope and impact if the blockades continue.
Allowing these illegal closures to continue will also have serious economic and reputational consequences for the years ahead. The blockades not only strike against the rule of law that protects our rights and freedoms, but also undermine Canada’s international reputation. We are already hearing calls to move investment, contracts, and production from Canada because of our inability to guarantee timely delivery to international customers.
Canadians expect our elected representatives at all levels of government and from all political parties to set aside partisanship and jurisdictional squabbling to bring this issue to a quick resolution.
Our organizations call upon our elected representatives to expeditiously take the following actions.
– Deliver a strong and unified commitment from the Prime Minister, Premiers, Opposition Party Leaders, and Mayors that the rule of law will be upheld.
– Urgently enact measures to protect critical infrastructure to ensure further closures do not take place elsewhere in the country in the days ahead.
– Seek immediate injunctive measures through the courts to assert a clear message that lawlessness will not be tolerated.
– Ensure law enforcement agencies have all the necessary political support and appropriate tools needed to restore public order and remove any physical blockades that are not dismantled voluntarily.
Along with the vast majority of Canadians, Canada’s business community looks to you to restore the rule of law and to bring a successful end to these illegal actions that are damaging our economy and the well-being of our citizens. As order is re-established, we pledge to do our best to restore the jobs, products and services so greatly needed by our fellow citizens.
1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce
Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
Guelph Chamber of Commerce
Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce
Alberta Chambers of Commerce
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada
Animal Nutrition Association of Canada
Heating Refrigeration Air Conditioning Institute of Canada
Associated Equipment Distributors
Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce
Association of Canadian Port Authorities
Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Industrial Minerals Association – North America
Association québécoise de l’industrie du cannabis
Innovative Medicines Canada
Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
Institute of Canadian Agencies
Beer Canada
Junto Business Solutions Inc.
Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce
Kenora & District Chamber of Commerce
Brampton Board of Trade
Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce
Brampton Board of Trade
La Chambre de commerce de l’Ouest-de-l’Île de Montréal
Brandon Chamber of Commerce
Leamington District Chamber of Commerce
Business Council of Manitoba
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
Lindsay + District Chamber of Commerce
Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce
London Chamber of Commerce
Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums
Lunenburg Board of Trade
Canada-U.S. Business Association
Madoc & District Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters
Meaford Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Association of MoldMakers / AutomTe Canada
Meaford Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Association of Recycling Industries
Medtech Canada
Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
Milton Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
Mining Association of Canada
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Mississauga Board of Trade
Canadian Construction Association
Morinville & District Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Mount Pearl Paradise Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers
Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Food Exporters Association
North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Franchise Association
NWT Chamber of Commerce
Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association Ltd
Oakville Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Meat Council
Orillia District Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Pet Connection
Ottawa Board of Trade
Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association
Peachland Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Rental Association
Port aux Basques and Area Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Society of Customs Brokers
Port Colborne-Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Steel Producers Association
Pulse Canada
Canadian Sugar Institute
Quinte West Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Toy Association
Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada
Canola Council of Canada
Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce
Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Responsible Distribution Canada
Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce
Retail Council of Canada
Chaleur Chamber of Commerce
RGA
Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant
Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce Niagara Falls, Canada
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows
Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce
Chambre de Commerce et d’industrie de Sherbrooke
Shipping Federation of Canada
Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce
Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce
Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
South Stormont Chamber of Commerce
Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce
South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce
Conception Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce
Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce
St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce
CropLife Canada
Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce
Danby Appliances
Supply Chain Canada
Downtown Fredericton Inc.
Surrey Board of Trade
East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce
Switft Current & District Chamber of Commerce
East Hants and Districts Chamber of Commerce
The Business Council of Canada
Eastern PEI Chamber of Commerce
The Canadian American Border Trade Alliance
Electro-Federation Canada
The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitain Montreal
Federally Regulated Employers – Transportation and Communications
The Fort Saskatchewan & District Chamber of Commerce
Fertilizer Canada
The Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce
Flamborough Chamber of Commerce
The Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce
Food Health & Consumer Products of Canada.
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
Food Producers of Canada
Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce
Forest Products Association of Canada
Titan Tek Inc.
Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce
Toronto Region Board of Trade
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce
Freight Management Association
Trident Pump Inc
Frontier Duty Free Association
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce
Vermilion & District Chamber of Commerce
Georgina Chamber of Commerce
Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce
Global Automakers of Canada
Welland/Pelham Chamber of Commerce
Grain Growers of Canada
West Nipissing Chamber of Commerce
Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce
Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition
Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce
Western Retail Lumber Association
Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce
Whitby Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Whitchurch-Stouffville Chamber of Commerce
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
WindsorEssex Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce
Wine Growers Canada
Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
Woodstock District Chamber of Commerce
Yarmouth & Area Chamber of Commerce
