Businesses leaders ask Trudeau to recall Parliament

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More than 100 Canadian business leaders have signed a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking him to recall Parliament to deal with Canada’s trade issues with the United States.

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“We are in a period of turmoil and uncertainty,” said the letter released on Tuesday and signed by 115 business leaders across a variety of industries. “We need a strong, empowered, legitimate, and robust government, supported by a sitting and functioning Parliament, to deal with these very grave, complex and delicate matters.”

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Parliament has been prorogued since Trudeau announced he would step down as prime minister in January. It is scheduled to re-open on March 24, following the selection of a new Liberal Party leader on March 9.

The letter outlines serious economic consequences posed by the 25-per-cent tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order to impose a 25 per-cent tariff on all Canadian goods and a 10 per-cent tariff on Canadian energy. In response, Trudeau promised 25 per-cent retaliatory tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods. A 30-day pause on the tariffs was secured on Feb. 3, after Trudeau promised to direct more resources to the Canada-U.S. border.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh have both requested Parliament be recalled to pass legislation pertaining to Canada’s border and a potential bailout package that may be needed for businesses and workers, should a trade war take place. On Tuesday, the business leaders added to that chorus.

“If the U.S. tariffs are (again) imposed, the people of Canada will suffer dire economic and other consequences,” the letter said. “The Canadian Parliament is the law-making authority for our country and the federal institution with the power to make laws, to raise taxes, and to authorize government spending.”

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The letter was facilitated by Shahir Guindi, chair emeritus at law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP., John Ruffolo, founder of Maverix Private Equity and Chris Arsenault, president and chief executive at Inovia Capital.

“This is not the result of a viral outreach, this is just calling business people we know across the country, and they all said we agree and signed,” said Guindi. “These leaders that signed this, think it’s very dangerous and maybe even inappropriate that we’re engaging in such high-stakes conversations and such potentially generationally impactful decisions without the backing of Parliament.”

Included among the signatories are Daniel Daviau, chairman of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.; Louis Têtu, chief executive of Coveo Solutions Inc.; Joanna Griffiths, founder and chief executive at Knix; Sarah Segal, chief executive at DAVIDsTEA; Jonathan Ferrari, chief executive at Goodfood Market Corp.; and Max Lytvyn, founder of Grammarly, Inc.

On Feb. 1, during the announcement of retaliatory tariffs, Trudeau was asked why he would not recall Parliament to deal with what was viewed at the time as an imminent trade war with the U.S.

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“We have the tools to be able to support Canadians through this challenging time as it stands,” Trudeau said.

Guindi said the political fortunes of one party should not take precedent over what is in the best interests of the country.

“We just have to get on with it,” said Guindi. “Political parties are important, but the country is more important than any one particular party. Our elected individuals are important, but the whole of the country is more important than any one individual.”

• Email: jgowling@postmedia.com

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