Finance committee  We've requested two adjustments to what has been said. We have requested to the Prime Minister that there does need to be a fairness in regard to the carve-out, that it should be across the board and looking at all heating. Again, we have reiterated our comments as well that there does need to be a system in place for Manitoba businesses to be able to also benefit from the rebates from the carbon tax.

Finance committee  There is no process for that in Manitoba.

Finance committee  I would agree with you, Mr. Blaikie. I think we've heard from the finance minister, as well as the small business minister. This issue was raised most recently at our Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting in Calgary. We recognize the government is looking to get its fiscal house in order in terms of reducing spending and we fully applaud that.

Finance committee  This is a challenge. Chambers of commerce across Canada and various other organizations have all sounded the warning bell on this. We appreciate that the government was open to an extension, but that extension of potentially three weeks is not going to be sufficient for a lot of these businesses to go find investment or loans from banks.

Finance committee  I would provide the same sort of commentary. We're not necessarily opposed to the carbon tax. We're opposed to the way it's being used. The reality in Manitoba—and I think Mr. Strain touched on this as well—is that for businesses that are paying it, there's no incentive to reduce it as well, so that's where we'd prefer to see federal government dollars being used, to help these businesses and industries that are carbon emitters to reduce it without additional costs to them.

Finance committee  One of the biggest challenges that we've found over the course of the last number of years.... We've undertaken a process to help SMEs specifically understand what they can do in terms of climate change, but the challenge a lot of small businesses have is that they don't know where to get started.

Finance committee  I have no idea.

Finance committee  Yes. I think the majority of the public doesn't really understand what those barriers are, and I think having a registry will help to shine a light on those. I think the goal would be to start knocking them off. I think we have better trade relationships with other countries in the EU than we have within our own country.

Finance committee  I think there's no question about that. From a competitive standpoint, we always need to be looking at how we can compete with other jurisdictions.

Finance committee  The bigger issue that we have always had from a Canadian standpoint.... One thing we did here in Manitoba in the past year was a tax review to see where we are competitive, where we have taxes that don't make sense, and how we can make a system that is easily transparent, competitive with other jurisdictions and fair.

Finance committee  The Manitoba chamber does not specifically. On that issue as well, in regard to the carbon tax, our concern is fairness, a level playing field, across Canada. The concern from a Manitoba perspective is that businesses in Manitoba are not getting rebated as a result of that. That is concerning.

Finance committee  Thank you very much for the invitation to address you today. Since 1931, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce has served as the umbrella organization for Manitoba's action-oriented chamber movement. Today, with 64 local chambers of commerce across the province and hundreds of direct corporate members, our network comprises almost 10,000 businesses of all sizes across all sectors.

Finance committee  That's a great question. In regard to productivity, this is not a “government fix everything for business” solution in my mind. The business has a role to play. I think the bigger issue is what we are doing in Canada and in the provincial government about what the regulations are, what the challenges are, and what the red tape is that is before businesses right now.

Finance committee  Thank you very much, Ms. Ashton. This is a file that's obviously very near and dear to the chamber's heart. It's an issue that we've been dealing with. I've been up there on numerous occasions. I appreciate your initial comment about the need for a long-term solution. I think there has been so much uncertainty in northern Manitoba in terms of the potential but also some of the challenges that the communities are dealing with.

Finance committee  I'd be happy to address that. One thing is on even greater awareness. That's one thing that organizations like ours are trying to do, to understand what the workforce challenges are right now in terms of that shortage of workers. We're really encouraging businesses to look at different pools of workers, whether they be new immigrants, aboriginal people, or people with disabilities.