By Sandi Krasowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Source: The Chronicle-Journal
Northwestern Ontario should speed up the extraction of Canada’s resources that are in demand globally.
This was the key point from David Pierce, the vice-president of government relations for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, during his talk at the Prosperity Northwest conference last Wednesday. Pierce shared valuable insights at the event in Thunder Bay regarding how trade, tariffs, and global competition are influencing Canada’s standing and their effects on Northwestern Ontario’s economy.
“It’s optimism for the Northern Ontario economy,” he stated. “We’ve got so many resources up here that the world needs for feeding the (artificial intelligence) boom and the tech revolution that’s upon us.”
He mentioned that it’s crucial to harvest these resources responsibly by collaborating with First Nations and local communities because these products will enhance North American security and bolster Canada’s national security.
“Trade and tariffs have both created new opportunities and posed challenges for Canadian businesses and the resource sector,” he noted.
“While we’re still facing some crises, Northwestern Ontario is in a much better position now than it was a year ago to withstand upcoming challenges and even take advantage of new opportunities in the U. S. and beyond.”
As Canada aims to boost its independence and sovereignty, timing is essential. Although there’s an urgent need for resources right now, infrastructure such as roads and power lines still needs to be developed.
And this process takes time.
“The Ring of Fire was discovered in the 2000s, yet we’ve been discussing a road there since then,” Pierce said.
“The positive aspect of last year is that everyone has begun to understand how necessary it is to make progress. The time for discussions is now; we need to get moving forward and create jobs.”
He emphasized there are jobs available for building roads and infrastructure, along with long-term job creation tied to harvesting those resources.
“We have to do it, and this is a potential boom opportunity for Northern Ontario,” he explained.
The geopolitical landscape along with U. S.-Canada relations are under pressure; Pierce pointed out that U. S. President Donald Trump holds significant influence.
“The Canada-U. S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) trade deal between our countries benefits both sides economically. Companies can thrive by utilizing it,” he remarked.
“We’re able to generate jobs and economic growth on both sides thanks to it; there has been tremendous growth since its renewal in 2019.”
Meanwhile, he observed that policy makers, politicians, and business leaders in Northwestern Ontario seem aligned with economic growth as their focus.
“For the first time in several years, we truly have a chance to concentrate on what businesses require to succeed against competition,” Pierce said. “A year-and-a-half ago, competing with American companies seemed distant. Now we’re competing not only against Americans but worldwide as our companies diversify.”
Additonally , he mentioned these companies can no longer be held back by excessive regulations they’ve faced over many years; changes likely coming will improve overall economic conditions.
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Pierce also noted how “it’s great” seeing Prime Minister Mark Carney advocate for trade agreements.
“We’ve got a stack of trade deals at Global Affairs just sitting unused,” Pierce stated.
“In reality , businesses aren’t aware they can engage overseas through some of these agreements. Once these deals get signed , how do we educate businesses about using them effectively? This will ultimately help grow employment opportunities within Canada. That’s our biggest challenge when expanding.”
Tim Davidson has more than 30 years of experience in radio news. He is based in Kenora and covers stories in northwestern Ontario. Contact Tim at davidson. tim@radioabl. ca. View all postsSource link
