Expanding our horizons: Investing in our trade infrastructure and relationships

Canadians are soon heading to the polls. In a five-part special edition of Pulse on Policy, we’re keeping you informed of the top priorities for business throughout the campaign. Each week, we will highlight a key theme from Inflection Point, our plan for a competitive, productive and prosperous Canada.

This week, we’re diving into how we invest in our trade infrastructure and relationships, domestically and internationally.

Canada’s economy relies on trade. From the food on our shelves to the oil and gas that powers our economy to the goods our businesses export, we depend on reliable supply chains and strong trade relationships to keep our country moving.

Yet geopolitical instability, ongoing supply chain disruptions and uncertainty in our trading relationship with the United States threaten our ability to grow and compete. More than ever, we need to expand our trade infrastructure and diversify our markets. This means investing in roads, rail, ports and pipelines; strengthening global trade relationships; eliminating costly interprovincial trade barriers; and supporting the small businesses that drive Canadian exports.

The cost of inaction is clear: Canada has fallen from 10th to 26th globally in supply chain reliability — and from 6th to 32nd in transportation infrastructure. These declines don’t just impact trade — they increase costs for businesses, delay projects, drive up prices for Canadians and impair our reputation as a reliable trading partner. Businesses and Canadians are feeling it, too: there’s been a 168% increase in businesses that expect supply chains to worsen year over year.

Additionally, more than 70% of businesses are concerned about U.S. policy affecting trade, and 72% of Canadians believe we must reduce our reliance on a single market. They’re calling for stronger infrastructure and more diverse trade relationships.

To strengthen Canada’s trade future, we must invest in infrastructure, diversify markets and improve internal trade.

Five key recommendations for a more resilient trade economy

• Reduce internal trade barriers and address trade irritants for international trade partners.
• Invest in trade capacity and infrastructure, including roads, ports, pipelines, rail, manufacturing, domestic refining, AI data centres, critical minerals and more.
• Create a national industrial strategy to drive a cohesive and coordinated approach to growth.
• Support small and medium-sized exporters with tools to navigate foreign markets and reduce non-tariff barriers.
• Diversify international trade by expanding access to European, Asian and South American markets, and defending Canada’s interests ahead of the 2026 CUSMA review.

A competitive trade environment is about more than just exports or roads or railways — it’s about unlocking growth, improving productivity and strengthening Canada’s position in a rapidly changing global economy.

About Inflection Point

Inflection Point is a plan for a competitive, productive and prosperous Canada. On behalf of our business community, we share 82 evidence-based public policy recommendations, across five pillars, backed and supported by both our business community and Canadians. Through extensive consultation with our membership, the business community and Canadians through roundtables, surveys and national opinion polling, the recommendations are for all political parties, elected officials and civil servants to consider how both the business community and governments have integral role in working together to address the challenges facing Canada.

Share your voice

The tariff situation is ongoing, complex and rapidly changing. The Calgary Chamber is actively advocating to all levels of government to support you through this uncertain time. To inform our advocacy, we have developed a 1-minute survey to better understand how tariffs are impacting your business.