Canadian Chamber of Commerce leads Day of Support for Trans Mountain Pipeline

OTTAWA, May 23, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, business, Indigenous and labour leaders from across Canada joined the Canadian Chamber President and CEO Hon. Perrin Beatty in demonstrating to government that they have the support required to ensure the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Expansion project gets built.

"This is an issue that goes beyond politics and party lines ? it speaks to our ability, as a country, to get large-scale infrastructure projects built, once they have been approved through a rigorous evaluation process," said the Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "That's why we've gathered such a diverse group of provincial and territorial chamber presidents, association heads, corporate leaders, union representatives and Indigenous leaders here today, to tell government that they have our support in getting this project built."

The 35-person delegation will attend a series of meetings on Parliament Hill, including with Minister of Finance Bill Morneau, Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer, the Independent Senators Group and the Steel Caucus to talk about how this project will benefit communities and create jobs.

This $7.4 Billion project is the solution to allow one of Canada's most valuable natural resources to reach international markets and allow companies to get a fair price for their product. The Trans Mountain Expansion will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity across Canada. The taxes and other revenues it generates will help to fund our roads, hospitals and schools. 

"Our goal is to ensure MPs and Senators are aware of the growing cross-country support for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion. This project is not only vital for the business community, but also for the Canadian economy as a whole. To sustain a competitive economy, the federal government must remove roadblocks that limit exports and destroy jobs," said Mr. Beatty.

As Kinder Morgan's May 31 deadline draws near, we urge Parliamentarians to work with the provinces to reach a consensus and use the appropriate legislative, legal and financial steps to ensure that the Trans Mountain Expansion project gets built. Not doing so would continue to cost Canadians over $40 million a day in lost revenue, but it would also send a damaging message to both domestic and foreign investors. The Canadian Chamber will support government efforts to ensure the Trans Mountain Expansion project is completed.

--

Participants

• Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Tyler Madigan, Vice-President, Mainline Pipelines, Aecon Construction Group Inc.
• Ken Kobly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Chambers of Commerce
• Tom McDonald, President, Aseniwuche Winewak Nation of Canada, Alberta
• Sheri Somerville, President and CEO, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
• Val Litwin, President and CEO, BC Chamber of Commerce
• Chris Sankey, President, Blackfish Environmental and Ex-Councillor of the Lax Kw'a Laams Band, British Columbia
• Zoe Addington, Director of Policy, Research and Government Relations, Calgary Chamber
• Donald Arseneault, Manager of Government Relations, Canada's Building Trades Union
• Tim McMillan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Shannon Joseph, Vice-President of Federal Government Relations, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Huw Williams, Public Affairs, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
• Joe Galimberti, President and CEO, Canadian Steel Producers Association
• Chief Bernice Martial, Chief, Cold Lake First Nations, Alberta
• Robert McKinstry, Specialist Business Research, CP Rail
• Bob Schutzman, Director, Environmental Affairs, Evraz Inc. Canada
• Conrad Winkler, President and CEO, Evraz Inc. NA
• Brad Forster, Vice-President and GM (Regina), Evraz Inc. NA
• Pierre-Yves Boivin, Vice-président, Stratégie et Affaires économiques, Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec
• Chief Ron Kreutzer, Chief, Fort McMurray First Nation No. 468
• Brad Callihoo, CEO, Christina River Enterprises, Fort McMurray First Nation No. 468, Alberta
• Darla Lindberg, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Saskatoon Chamber
• Corinne Chisholm, Husky Energy Inc.
• Travis Davies, Senior Advisor Government Relations, Husky Energy Inc.
• Chuck Davidson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
• Chief Harley Chingee, Chief, McLeod Lake First Nation, BC
• Audrey Poitras, President, Metis Nation of Alberta
• David Chartrand, Vice-President, Métis National Council and President of the Manitoba Métis Federation
• Gary LaPlante, Oil and Gas Industry Liaison , Moosomin First Nation, Saskatchewan
• Ashley Challinor, Director of Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
• Michael Aherne, Consulting Principal, Responsive Strategies, Pipeline Contractors Association of Canada
• Clayton Veresh, Board Chair, Saskatchewn Chamber of Commerce
• Greg Moccasin, Business Development Oil and Gas Liaison, Saulteaux First Nation, Saskatchewan

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the vital connection between business and the federal government. It helps shape public policy and decision-making to the benefit of businesses, communities and families across Canada with a network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy and in all regions. News and information are available at Chamber.ca or follow us on Twitter @CdnChamberofCom.

SOURCE Canadian Chamber of Commerce