20202020 ProposedProposed PPolicyolicy ResolutionsResolutions OctoberOctober 266 - 227,7, 2020 | OnlineOnline EventEvent Proposed Resolutions 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING This booklet contains policy resolutions that will be discussed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, presented virtually, on October 26-27. They were developed by our affiliated community chambers of commerce and boards of trade and by the national and international policy committees and working groups of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This year, 61 resolutions had been received. Prior to their acceptance for debate at the AGM, the proposals were screened by the Policy Resolution Screening Committee, comprised of representatives from chambers of commerce, boards of trade and the board of directors. The Policy Resolution Screening Committee is mandated to ensure that all resolutions presented on the floor for discussion by delegates to the annual policy conference are: relevant to Canadian business and within federal jurisdiction and of national significance; current, timely and requiring action; complete, detailed and supported by factual information; and do not align one sector, industry or region of Canada against another. It is important to note that the proposed resolutions are for debate only. During the policy session at the AGM, resolutions will be discussed and debated with accredited voting delegates being asked to approve, defeat or refer the resolution to the Board of Directors for further study. Policy resolutions do not become official positions of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce unless, and until, they have been approved by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at the AGM after which the resolutions will become part of the Canadian Chamber’s advocacy program for the next three years. In addition to policies approved at the AGM, the Canadian Chamber responds to issues as they develop and the Board of Directors may approve other policies during the course of the year. The resolutions contained in this book are also available on the CCC website at www.chamber.ca. To expedite policy discussions at the AGM, please forward any proposed amendment(s) by October 16, 2020 to: Rebecca Derry Telephone: (613) 238-4000 ext. 2248 Email: [email protected] Facsimile: (613) 238-7643 During the AGM, amendments are to be emailed to [email protected]. The Canadian Chamber continues to take steps to hold a “green” AGM and limit the use of paper. As part of this initiative, the Chamber will not be printing hard copies and sending them to accredited delegates. The book is on our web site www.chamber.ca where it can be consulted and downloaded or printed. Thank you for your understanding and support in this regard. PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED DURING THE POLICY DEBATE Delegates will be provided with login information to the Slido (sli.do) app for voting during the resolutions debate. Each delegate will be issued a unique login for their chamber of commerce, board of trade or proxy, prior to the AGM. Prior to debating the 2020 proposed resolutions, a motion will be presented to place the entire policy book on the (virtual) floor, preventing the need for a motion to adopt each resolution as it comes up. Another motion will be presented to limit discussion to the title and recommendations only, with discussion of, or changes to, the background section. Should there be a substantive or factual error in the preamble, please send the recommended change to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce ([email protected]) no later than October 16, 2020. Canadian Chamber staff have the authority and the responsibility to modify the preamble based on the input received and to ensure it is accurate and aligned with the recommendations. Resolution debate: 1. The discussion of each resolution will open with the moderator naming the resolution. The representative of the sponsoring organization (submitting chamber/board of trade or policy committee), is entitled to make a brief comment (approximately 30 seconds) to amplify or clarify their resolution. The sponsor’s representative should be ready to address the resolution when called upon by the moderator. If the relevant Canadian Chamber policy committee disagrees with the proposed resolution, the committee representative will be available to comment briefly, before the resolution is opened for discussion by all delegates. 2. Everyone is allowed to participate in the debate (discussion), but only accredited voting delegates have the right to move or second motions, amendments, other motions or to vote. 3. When participating in the debate, attendees must signal to the moderator their intent to speak. This will be done through the virtual presentation technology. 4. When called upon by the moderator, please identify yourself and your organization before you begin your remarks. 5. Due to limited time for policy debates, we encourage all delegates to keep their commentary concise and speak to the resolution at hand. 6. You are responsible to make your voting decisions in accordance with your beliefs about what is in the best interests of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce policy platform. Delegates have three possible courses of action for each resolution: a. To adopt it - with or without amendments - thus making it official Canadian Chamber policy. b. To defeat it; or c. To refer it to the Board of Directors for further study. While this third option precludes the item from becoming official policy at the time of the AGM, it does permit the Board to act upon it. 7. As mentioned, voting will take place through a separate web application. That technology will provide you with a confirmation of your vote. Results will be displayed on through that application, following the close of voting, and will show the number of votes for and against, as well as how many votes were cast and it will indicate the success or failure of the vote. 8. While the policy debate is governed by Robert’s Rules of Order (newly revised), it is the Canadian Chamber’s policy to require two-thirds of the votes to pass any motion or amendment. Finance & Taxation .................................................................................................................. 1 1. Rebuilding the Economy - Reinvigorating Investment Attraction Policy in Canada .................. 1 2. Increase the GST/HST New Housing Rebate to Encourage New Housing Construction in Canada's Territories ....................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Grow the Gas Tax Fund to Address Municipal Budgetary Shortfalls after Covid-19 .................... 7 4. Competitiveness for Canada’s Gateway .......................................................................................... 10 5. Land Trust Initiative .................................................................................................................................. 14 6. Streamline Size of Government ............................................................................................................ 17 7. Simplifying and Modernizing the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 8. Child Care Credits For Small and Medium Size Businesses .............................................................. 23 9. Increase the Small Business Deduction ............................................................................................... 25 10. Time for a New Pension Paradigm ..................................................................................................... 27 Transport & Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 32 11. Keeping Ports Connected ................................................................................................................... 32 12. Aging Canadian Icebreakers ............................................................................................................. 35 13. Supporting Regional Aerospace Gateways through Enhanced Customs & Immigration (CBSA & US CBP) Services .......................................................................................................................... 37 14. Expanded Infrastructure Development for National Economic Recovery ............................... 38 15. Get Trade Business Moving Again ..................................................................................................... 40 16. Port and Major Airport Share Capitalization .................................................................................... 44 17. Transport Canada Civil Aviation: Addressing the Need to Speed up STCS & TSOS ................ 47 18. Submission Regarding the Amendment and Protection of the Canadian Trucking Industry 50 19. Protecting Canada’s Arctic Interests - Canada’s Losing Battle .................................................. 52 20. The Cure to Congestion – The Need for Reliable Transportation Funding ................................. 54 Industry & Digital Economy ................................................................................................... 56 21. Create a National Strategy to Safeguard Canada’s Pandemic-related Supply Chains ....... 56 22. Building National Prosperity through a New Industrial and Advanced Manufacturing Strategy