Firms look for clarity on ‘tweaks’
However, the joint statement from Trudeau and Trump after Monday’s meeting suggests vaguely that both leaders might be envisaging an open border when it comes to government infrastructure.
“Given our shared focus on infrastructure investments, we will encourage opportunities for companies in both countries to create jobs through those investments,” the statement reads.
Beatty said the uncertainty has created a “chilling effect” among his members, who have been telling him that they want to know the rules of the game before they make any multimillion-dollar investments in Canada.
Some of those fears have eased, he noted. “I think that people, as of today, have confidence that the relationship is fundamentally sound.”
But Beatty expects firms to seek more clarity. “Again, I think everybody recognizes that there are contentious issues that we have to deal with between the two countries and it won’t always be easy.”
Rona Ambrose, the Conservative interim leader, said Monday that the Liberals must make domestic changes to remain competitive.
Trump, she pointed out, has vowed to reduce energy costs, lower corporate and personal taxes and loosen regulations in the U.S.
Ambrose accused the Liberals of introducing policies that have raised costs for Canadians — from a carbon tax, to an income-tax hike for top earners, to higher payroll costs for employers through the expanded Canada Pension Plan.
“We need to reassess the fact that we are leading this country down an uncompetitive path,” Ambrose told reporters in Ottawa.
“We have to reassess what we’re doing up here, and you know, as a lot of people have said, recalibrate and think about what impact this is going to have on us and our ability to create jobs.”
When it comes to “tweaking” NAFTA, she warned that Trudeau must protect a target of U.S. officials in the past: Canada’s protectionist, supplymanaged dairy sector.