International Trade

Opening remarks

Sure. Good afternoon. My name is Corinne Pohlmann. I’m the executive vice-president for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. I’m joined by my colleague, Michelle, who is the director of trade and marketplace competitiveness. We’d like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to be here today. As many of you may know, CFIB is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization representing more than 100,000 small and medium-sized companies across Canada and across every industry and region of the country. We are here to share a small business perspective on North American trade as we approach the first joint review of CUSMA. The cost of doing business, as you must know, is at an all-time high due to rising taxes, rent, insurance and other operating expenses, as well as increasing regulatory and compliance burdens. The ongoing trade uncertainty between Canada and the U.S. has created another layer of instability. For many small firms, the tariffs have meant higher costs and tighter margins, which is why it's really no surprise that two-thirds of our members believe that Canada should be moving quickly with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement review. Prior to the…

Opening remarks

Thanks, Corinne. While tariffs and direct costs continue to pose significant challenges for small businesses, many are also struggling with non-tariff barriers that limit their ability to trade effectively with the U.S. and Mexico. Barriers such as the complex licensing rules, complex customs procedures, regulatory differences and other administrative requirements often make it difficult for small businesses to fully benefit from CUSMA. There’s a need for better coordination amongst all government departments, agencies and those involved in trade. Businesses often face overlapping requirements, unclear communication and a lack of responsiveness when seeking clarification on cross-border issues. For small firms, even those short delays or a lack of guidance can have major financial consequences. Another challenge lies in the rules of origin and ensuring that products are CUSMA compliant. For many SMEs, determining and proving origin is an extremely technical process that can vary depending on the product's composition and supplier documentation. All of this adds uncertainty for small businesses that are importing components or raw materials before they're exporting that final…

Opening remarks

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd like to thank all the committee members for giving me the opportunity to talk to them about our reality and what we're actually experiencing, day after day, in the softwood lumber industry. My name is David Hamel. I'm the operation manager at Clermond Hamel Ltd., a family business that has been based in Saint-Éphrem-de-Beauce for over 135 years now. My sister France, my brother Nicolas and I are part of the fifth generation to work there. Our story begins in 1890 with my great-great-grandfather, who operated a small sawmill powered by water from the river. Today, we've become a large, modern sawmill producing 150 million board feet of wood per year. One hundred per cent of our wood comes from private forests. We produce wood that can be found in homes, businesses and infrastructure across the country. That represents approximately 4,000 trucks of finished products every year, not including chips, sawdust, shavings and bark, which account for just as much. We employ over 140 people, many of whom have been there for over 30, 40 and even 50 years. They're passionate workers who care deeply about their profession and the region. Around 100 indirect jobs…

Opening remarks

Madam Chair, ladies and gentlemen, dear committee members, thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon. I'm joined by Émile Émond, senior economist at Québec International. As a leading partner of regional economic development agencies, Québec International facilitates and supports business growth and accelerates their success in Quebec, Canada and internationally, all with a focus on sustainability and diversity. As the economic development agency for the Quebec City region, we support businesses in attracting and retaining international workers and students, we prospect for foreign investment and we support technological entrepreneurship, export and marketing, and the development of sectors of strength, all for the benefit of our ecosystem. In 2024, in a context marked by uncertainty and a slowdown in the Quebec economy, our team supported 177 projects and more than 1,800 businesses and organizations, generating $1.34 billion in economic spinoffs in investments in the region, the third consecutive year above the billion-dollar mark. As the regional export promotion organization, or ORPEX, for the national capital region, Québec…