Your conference business day recap
– WCRHCA Stronger Together
Panel: Harnessing Trade to Grow Canada’s Economy
Perrin Beatty, President & CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Mary Van Buren, President & CEO, Canadian Construction Association
Hon. Gary Mar, President & CEO, Canada West Foundation
Greg Orbanski, Chair, Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association
Hon. Brad Wall, former Premier, Province of Saskatchewan
Chris Lorenc, President & CEO, WCR&HCA (moderator)
9:15 am
Feb. 7
Sponsored by C Duncan Construction and Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association
Canada’s competitiveness on the global trade stage is slipping badly, analyses show, with the forecasted growth in its economy in the next 40 years expected to be have the rate seen in the last 40 years.
That gloomy bit of information came in the form of a warning from Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty, in a panel discussion that focused why our country has to focus on its trade productivity and global trade profile.
Beatty said Canada is at an “inflexion point” where we have to decide how we want to meet the new global trade economy – we either lead or we lose, big.
Canada is rich in natural resources and commodities the world is thirsting for – potash and critical minerals, for example – but we need to lay down the infrastructure capable of delivering the goods to market. If we can’t we will lose big: “(Trade) is the fuel that runs the Canadian economy.”
Brad Wall, who served as Premier of Saskatchewan from 2007-2018, said Canada should work to boost trade and bring down barriers that prevent the easy movement of goods and services across provincial borders, as well as set its sights on building the corridors to efficiently ship to the rest of the world.
Wall said it’s important for those from the private sector, such as roadbuilders, to talk to elected officials because they have the market-based, practical experience that must inform such investment decisions.
“There’s a lot of long-term job creators in this room and I don’t think you’re thanked enough by government.”
The two former politicians were joined in their comments by construction industry leaders, Mary Van Buren (CCA) and Greg Orbanski (Chair WCR&HCA), who agreed that there is reason for dismay but also a way forward.
Van Buren noted the CCA was formed in 1919 by the industry players “to build Canada” and today, the industry is still hard at the task of getting political leaders to hear the message about the need for trade infrastructure investment.
Orbanski said he comes to the issue from a very grounded perspective – as a contractor who builds the highways that move the goods and as a farmer who needs those same trade corridors to get his commodities to market. And, he noted, he has been a leader with industry associations for decades, repeating these messages for years in political offices.
Canada used to have infrastructure superior to that of our agriculture competition, but now countries such as those in South America have upped their game on trade corridor investment and “we’re falling behind.”
“I’m a third-generation contractor. I’m hoping my son carries on but it’s tough.”