Tackling Canada’s Supply Chain Critical to Economic Recovery

(Toronto – January 31, 2022) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement in reaction to the federal Supply Chain Summit:

“From the grocery store and trucking industry to their pocketbooks, Ontarians are experiencing the very real consequences of global supply chain disruptions first-hand.

“While amplified by the public health crisis, and ensuing labour shortages, decades of underinvestment and public policy choices have led to fragile supply chains across a range of sectors and products in Canada, threatening economic, national security and business competitiveness. For example, our supply chain issues predate the bilateral border requirement for truckers to be vaccinated. There are many factors at play that require government attention, including a pre-existing shortage of 20,000 truckers.

“This week, we will release our sixth annual Ontario Economic Report and it puts a spotlight on the domino effect of structural issues impacting both businesses and consumers, particularly our supply chains. Jobs are going unfilled, demand is outpacing capacity, and these issues are driving up prices for consumers and uncertainty for businesses.

“We are pleased that the federal government has organized today’s Summit and urge them to turn these discussions into meaningful action to strengthen domestic supply chain resilience.”

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information, please contact:
Alissa Reid
Coordinator, Public Affairs
alissareid@occ.ca| Mobile: (705) 205-1434