Canada

Advocacy in Canada

As the equipment industry’s leading voice in Ottawa, the Association advocates for policy issues important to AED’s Canadian membership. Canadian dealers receive a monthly newsletter, the Canadian Policy Update, and AED frequently engages policymakers on tax and trade policies, infrastructure investment and workforce development issues.

AED TOP ISSUES

• Protecting Canada’s Trade Relationships: 
  • The trade relationship between Canada and the United States has proven to be one of the most successful economic partnerships in history and AED will continue to advocate for a free and fairtrade relationship that puts our members first. In Washington, AED is advocating to stop the tariffs and bring both countries to an early negotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), ensuring our Canadian members have a voice on Capitol Hill. In Ottawa, AED is focused on advocating against retaliatory tariffs that will harm Canada’s ability to build a competitive economy. AED is also working to reduce interprovincial trade barriers between Canadian provinces to support free and fair-trade from coast to coast across Canada.
• Introducing Growth Through Tax Policy:
  • Tax policy that incentivizes capital investment is a necessary component to ensure sustained economic growth and job creation. The United States is once again poised to enact 100 percent bonus depreciation for new and used equipment purchases, placing Canadians at a significant competitive disadvantage. Full and immediate expensing (accelerated depreciation) allows companies to increase cash flow, which is used to further invest in business operations (more machinery, expanding operations, hiring employees, etc.) and encourage purchasing the newest, most environmentally friendly equipment. AED urges the government to recommit to full and immediate expensing and expand the policy to allow the maximum amount of depreciation in the first year of purchase.
• Addressing the Skilled Labor Shortage:
  • The Canadian equipment industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers, particularly service technicians. The labour shortage encumbers the ability of AED members to service customers, hindering growth, delaying the completion of infrastructure projects and jeopardizing the ability of farmers to cultivate their land and harvest efficiently. While the federal government has made targeted investments in apprenticeships, more must be done to encourage all Canadians to consider careers in the skilled trades. The government must also pursue policies to ensure better collaboration between post-secondary institutions and employers and incentivize individuals to enter the skilled trades. Lastly, the immigration system must be reformed to allow for more skilled trade workers to enter Canada to fill current job openings.
• Rebuilding Canada’s Infrastructure:
  • Canada needs a long-term approach to investing in infrastructure to improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of services that Canadians use every day and significantly contributes to the country’s economic prosperity, job creation and international competitiveness. AED strongly supports the federal government’s Investing in Canada plan which provides $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years. However, the Investing in Canada plan is scheduled to end in the coming years. During a time of significant economic uncertainty around Canada’s trade relationship with the United States, AED believes that it is incredibly important to continue to support funding to infrastructure programs that create secure jobs for Canadians across the country. Particular attention should be paid to trade infrastructure, which will allow goods and products to be transported more efficiently. Furthermore, the federal government must improve coordination between provincial and municipal governments to more efficiently deliver funding and implement a more streamlined process to speed up the start of projects.
• Providing Regulatory Relief for Equipment Dealers:
  • AED strongly supports efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on job creators and pursue regulatory harmonization with the United States. Policymakers must strike the correct balance between health, safety and environmental regulations and economic growth. AED opposes current “right to repair” proposals, which mandate unfettered access to critical emissions and safety functions, threatening the environment and the well-being of operators, maintenance providers and the public.
• Supporting Canada’s Natural Resource Sectors:
  • Natural resources are necessary to Canada’s international competitiveness and future growth. As the government addresses climate issues, particular attention must be paid to continuing Canada’s economic growth and supporting natural resources development. Furthermore, the federal government must establish a predictable and comprehensive approval process that provides certainty to companies seeking to invest in major projects of all kinds, from pipelines to hydroelectric dams to mines.
• Protecting Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Sectors:
  • Protecting Canada’s agriculture sector and the agri-food supply chain is critical to ensuring Canada’s food sovereignty. As the government looks to expand and protect global trade partnerships, attention must be paid to Canada’s agriculture industries and protecting them from subsidized food products being imported and undercutting domestic competition. Allowing this would put Canadian farmers at a significant disadvantage and undermine Canada’s food sovereignty during a period of global instability and potentially causing delays in equipment repairs and upgrades because of financial strain. Furthermore, the Government of Canada must support farmers by reducing costs and promoting Canadian agriculture abroad, encouraging investments in Canadian farming and the farm equipment industry.

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