October 31, 2014, Ottawa,
Ont. – Leaders of the Canadian equipment industry convened at the nation’s
capital on Oct. 30 for Associated Equipment Distributors’ (AED) inaugural
Ottawa Briefing.
October 31, 2014, Ottawa,
Ont. – Leaders of the Canadian equipment industry convened at the nation’s
capital on Oct. 30 for Associated Equipment Distributors’ (AED) inaugural
Ottawa Briefing.
The meeting featured
remarks by Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister,
panels on infrastructure, energy, tax, and workforce policy, a discussion about
provincial road construction programs, and a preview of the 2015 Canadian
federal elections.
“One of AED’s most
important responsibilities is to make sure distributors understand how they’re
affected by government policy and to make lawmakers understand how their
decisions affect our industry,” said Brian McGuire, AED’s president and CEO.
“You won’t find a better example of that work than what’s happening right here,
right now in Ottawa. We’re planting seeds on Parliament Hill that will bear
fruit across the country for years to come.”
The conference reflects
the continuing evolution of AED’s Canadian public policy program and a
commitment by the association to raise the industry’s visibility in Canada. The
association is ramping up its activities in Ottawa at a critical time, as
lawmakers are laying the groundwork for the new federal budget and devising
party election platforms.
AED’s Canadian
priorities include the continued implementation of the $53 billion New Building
Canada Plan, which promises to generate more than $3.4 billion in equipment
market activity nationwide; policies to build Canada’s skilled technical
workforce; tax reform to create a more favorable capital investment climate;
and regulatory policy to ensure the continued strength of Canada’s energy and
mining sectors. The association is also leading efforts in Washington, D.C., to
approve the Keystone XL pipeline and build the new Detroit-Windsor bridge,
issues that impact distributors on both sides of the border.
Considering
both the opportunities and tests facing Canadian industry, it is essential for
equipment distributors to be engaged in Ottawa, advised Christian A. Klein,
AED’s vice president of government affairs. “We’re working hard to get our
members a seat at the table in Ottawa, to ensure their voices are heard and
that their issues are at the forefront,” Klein said. “We’re thrilled that so
many dealers rose to the challenge, joined us in Ottawa, and helped make this
meeting such a success.”
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