Business Leaders Urge Ottawa to Speed Up Economic Agenda Amid Trade Tensions

A recent KPMG survey reveals business leaders are eager for Ottawa to deliver on its economic agenda quickly, despite ongoing trade tensions with the US. According to the report, half of respondents want the federal government to remove red tape and fast-track a new West Coast oil pipeline, while 47% say Ottawa should accelerate major project spending.

Forty-three percent of businesses surveyed believe tax reforms could help lift the economy, but many are taking a measured approach in response to US tariffs. Lachlan Wolfers, national leader at KPMG Law, noted that business leaders want Ottawa to stay focused on actions within Canada's control to build economic resilience.

The survey also found nearly seven in 10 respondents want Canada to be a tough negotiator and use its leverage in trade negotiations with the US. However, one-third of businesses say they plan to expand to new markets within the next year, while a quarter are already exporting or exploring exports to non-US markets.

The European Union, UK, and Mexico were identified as key non-US markets where business owners increased their trade over the past year.