At our Manitoba Chambers of Commerce MBiz Breakfast this week, Canadian Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Candace Laing echoed our call to reduce trade barriers between provinces, drop red tape and cut taxes to allow businesses to better diversify and compete globally – along with calling for Parliament to reconvene in Ottawa.
Laing was the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce’s keynote speaker at the event focused on Canada-U.S. economic relations – a topic made even more timely given the U.S. President’s plan to implement 25% tariffs on imports of Canadian goods, which was granted a 30-day reprieve Monday. Addressing a packed room of more than 200 business leaders and chamber representatives from around the province on Wednesday, Laing said the Canadian Government needs to be all-in on working with the business community to get through the U.S.-Canada trade relations crisis.
“We cannot wait six to eight more weeks to get to the critical work of protecting Canadian jobs, families and our sovereignty. This is why today, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is calling on the government to reconvene parliament and calling all parties to get back to get back to work on behalf of all Canadians in this moment,” she told the rapt crowd to instant applause. “We need to send this strong message to President Trump – and the world – that we will rise to this occasion, and we will be a unified Canada. Tariffs tomorrow instead of tariffs today still leave businesses, workers and families in the lurch, and $3.6 billion in trade every day hangs in the balance.”
The February 5 MBiz Breakfast at the Fairmont Winnipeg was our first for 2025, with Laing’s address setting a positive tone through her message of unity and acting now. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce released portions of her speech as part of a release calling for an “All-In Canada Plan” shortly after the breakfast that expanded on the priorities she identified. Read the release here.
Staying Optimistic
Laing ended her keynote with a message of optimism.
“I think Canada should be thriving,” she said, explaining that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and the chamber network across Canada, can work together to rally Canadians and continue to work alongside local chambers, businesses and government to protect the livelihoods of businesses and communities that rely on the strength and stability of our economy and Canada’s valuable trade relationships.
“We must bring Canadians along with us on this journey to help them understand what we have as Canada, where we should be winning, how we should be winning, and why… There is nothing short of transformation that is needed. But I don’t entertain anything incremental about this moment and what we do next: it is time to go all in, shift our paradigms, and make sure we’re playing to win, not playing not to lose.”
We thank Candace Laing for joining us for this MBiz Breakfast and sharing her insightful and inspiring words.
Get updates and resources on our new online Trade Portal
As the future of our trade relationship with the U.S. becomes increasingly uncertain, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is here for our members and the business community to help you navigate what it all means. We’ve launched a new Trade Portal, your one-stop shop to find updates, tools and resources about tariffs and more.
We also want to hear directly from you – the business community. How would tariffs impact your business? What are your biggest concerns? What support would you like to see? Share your experiences and we’ll take your stories, concerns and ideas directly to the Premier’s U.S. Trade Council.
Thank You to Our Partners
Thank you to our MBiz Breakfast sponsors, Miller Environmental Corp. and World Trade Centre Winnipeg, as well as our series supporters 6P Marketing, CPHR Manitoba, Travel Manitoba, Manitoba Egg Farmers, and our exclusive media partner, the Winnipeg Free Press. We could not host these events without your support.
Join Us for the Next MBiz Breakfast of Champions
Don’t miss our next MBiz Breakfast – the second in our Breakfast of Champions series – an event that promises to inspire, inform, and connect Manitoba’s business community. Join us on March 20 to hear from our keynote John Bockstael, Chairman of Bockstael Construction, a visionary leader in Manitoba’s construction industry who has spent nearly five decades not just building structures, but creating opportunities, helping shape the industry through innovation, advocacy, and a relentless commitment to progress.
This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from Manitoba Champion while and networking with fellow business leaders and government officials.
