The Business Council of Canada is calling on federal lawmakers to move quickly on policy reforms following the recent Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, which brought together the Prime Minister, provincial premiers and business leaders to promote Canada as a destination for international investment.
In a newsletter published this month, Business Council of Canada President and CEO Goldy Hyder said the summit generated significant enthusiasm, noting he had told CBC News that the current moment feels like an exciting time to be Canadian. Hyder said the event allowed the country to highlight its economic strengths to investors from around the world, with a consistent message from attendees that Canada represents a strong investment opportunity.
According to the newsletter, increased investment is expected to translate into more jobs and greater capital inflows, which in turn could support improved social programs, upgraded infrastructure, and expanded economic opportunity.
MPs Face Pressure to Act on Reforms
With Members of Parliament set to return to Ottawa, the Business Council said lawmakers now face the task of converting the summit’s ambitions into concrete legislative action. The organization pointed to the need for follow-through on proposed reforms covering major project approvals, trade and transportation systems, and labour relations — changes it says are necessary to attract the kind of capital infrastructure investment discussed at the summit.
The Business Council noted it had already outlined the rationale for these legislative changes in a submission delivered to the federal government over the summer.
Strengthening Canada Project and Budget Recommendations
The newsletter also referenced the Business Council’s Strengthening Canada Project, launched this spring to explore how the public and private sectors can collaborate more effectively in the country’s interest. As part of that initiative, the organization recently wrapped up a series of national roundtables involving business leaders, academics, public-sector policy experts and economists, focused on how Canada can strengthen its economy and institutions amid a more uncertain global environment. The project was created in response to factors including geopolitical uncertainty, evolving trade relationships, heightened international competition for investment and talent, and a growing emphasis by governments worldwide on economic resilience.
Separately, as the federal government prepares its 2026 budget, the Business Council has submitted pre-budget recommendations centered on productivity, investment, competitiveness and long-term economic growth. The organization said it favors an investment-led growth strategy that expands Canada’s economic capacity while maintaining fiscal credibility.
One of the Business Council’s key recommendations — extending 100% accelerated capital cost recovery across capital-intensive sectors — was announced during the investment summit, according to the newsletter. The Business Council said it welcomed the move as a step consistent with its policy proposals.
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