Sent via email
June 8, 2021
Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
90 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, P.C., M.P.
Minister of National Revenue
7th Floor, 555 Mackenzie Avenue
Ottawa Ontario, K1A 0L5
Dear Ministers:
Thank you for your ongoing efforts to support Canadians and the business community as we all navigate the pandemic. There is finally light at the end of the tunnel and we must redouble our efforts to ensure Canadians are fully vaccinated as fast as possible.
Our member businesses of all sizes have been working to encourage vaccinations among their staff and communities. Significant headway has been made to increase vaccine confidence across Canada. This is a credit to all involved, including the Government of Canada.
Many businesses have been able to offer paid time off to employees to receive their vaccinations. However, we can do more. Businesses, particularly SMEs, have been hard-hit over the past 15 months. To help businesses that want to do the right thing and provide their teams with paid leave to be vaccinated, government can facilitate businesses providing time off to employees, particularly hourly wage staff. This initiative should be coordinated with temporary paid sick programs which some jurisdictions already have in place.
We call on the federal government to support up to three hours of paid leave for vaccination by allowing employers to reduce a fixed amount per employee off their payroll remittances to the Canada Revenue Agency.
We are now at a point in this crisis where businesses are beginning to reopen, while simultaneously the vast majority of Canadians still need to receive their second vaccine dose. It is absolutely critical to ensure Canadians are able to receive second doses, without placing yet another financial burden upon the business community. By helping employers with this remittance measure, it would provide a tangible tool for businesses to encourage their employees to be vaccinated.
We look forward to our continued conversations and collaborations. By continuing to work together, we can navigate to the end of this crisis faster.
Sincerely,
Hon. Perrin Beatty, PC, OC
President & CEO
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Sheri Somerville
CEO
Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Murray Sigler
Interim CEO
Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Jim Facette
CEO
Canada’s Accredited Zoos Association
Ms. Susan Powel
President & CEO
Canadian Food Exporters Association
Ms. Sherry McNeil
President & CEO
Canadian Franchise Association
Mr. Bruce Rodgers
Executive Director
Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association
Ms. Kathleen Yurchesyn
CEO
Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Bruce Burrows
President & CEO
Chamber of Marine Commerce
Mr. Jeffrey Sundquist
President & CEO
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Michael Graydon
CEO
Food, Health & Consumer Products
Mrs. Karen Cross
CEO
Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Colleen Clark
CEO
Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce
Mr. John Wishart
CEO
Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Mishka Balsom
CEO
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Jason Aebig
CEO
Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Bridgitte Anderson
President & CEO
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Mr. Bruce Williams
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerc
Ms. Pamela Fralick
President
Innovative Medicines Canada
Mr. Dan Rogers
Executive Director
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Graham Henderson
CEO
London Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Scott McCammon
President & CEO
Milton Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Rocco Rossi
President & CEO
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Rick More
CEO
Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce
Mr. David Duplisea
CEO
Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Steve McLellan
CEO
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Rory Ring
CEO
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Todd Banks
Executive Director
Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce
Mrs. Anita Huberman
CEO
Surrey Board of Trade
Ms. Angela Mondou
President and CEO
TECHNATION Canada
Ms. Keitha Robson
Chief Administrative Officer
Timmins Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Beth Potter
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Mr. Rakesh Naidu
President & CEO
Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Loren Remillard
President & CEO
Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce