TEAM CANADA TAKEAWAYS — The PM opened his Canada-U.S. Economic Summit at Toronto's Evergreen Brick Works on Friday with a call to action for the approximately 200 Canadian political and business leaders in the room. "We are in a moment that we have to meet for Canadians,” Trudeau said. Playbook asked three business leaders in the room about their action items from the invite-only shindig. Here are some of their replies — shared before Trump’s very latest threats: GOLDY HYDER
President and chief executive officer of the Business Council of Canada Top of my to-do list: “Make our case with more Americans. That’s why I’ll be back in Washington this week to meet with U.S. officials. Yes, we need to get our own house in order — including streamlining regulations, dropping internal tariffs, investing in innovation and embracing our energy abundance. But we also need to ensure Americans recognize the benefits of working with us in a strong, integrated North America.” What’s keeping me up at night: “I worry we will lose the momentum and the drive to make the big, tough, yet essential changes our economy needs to survive and thrive into the future. We cannot let this moment pass us by. Now is the time for all of us to take action in the national interest.” ARLENE DICKINSON
Managing general partner at District Ventures Capital Top of my to-do list: We need several things to happen simultaneously: prioritizing energy and our natural resources, removing internal trade barriers, and diversifying our trade partners. The immediate course of action is green-lighting the permits and capital to get our energy to market — north, east, and west — without hesitation or delay. The removal of interprovincial trade barriers ASAP, providing incentives for procuring from Canadian businesses and mandating government to do so, deepening other nation trade relationships, and ensuring there’s a strong plan for Canadians and small businesses to be supported through the economic turbulence of uncertainty. All these are urgent and can and must happen concurrently. We have the resources the world needs, but we are good at tying ourselves in bureaucratic and politically motivated knots while other countries move forward with their agendas. We need to streamline approvals, build infrastructure, and ensure our energy and natural resources get to markets and benefit Canadians and Indigenous people. The elimination of interprovincial trade barriers will immediately help strengthen our economy, open up opportunities for businesses across the country, and save Canadians money. Trade disputes and tariffs are already creating challenges that won’t be solved overnight. But whether tariffs come or not, we have to use this moment to take immediate steps to protect Canada from the threat of any nation ever having economic control over us. Anything we do has to ensure businesses and workers aren’t left behind. What’s keeping me up at night: I don’t just worry — I lie awake at night feeling the urgency of this time we’re in and thinking about what I can do to help. We are at a crossroads, and we have to act with urgency. I’m an entrepreneur so I have a propensity to action while of course being prudent. The world is shifting, and Canada needs to step up — economically, strategically, and as a nation that values democracy and independence. But, before we can do that, we need everyone to come together which I believe is happening. I think about my grandkids and the country they’ll inherit. I think about Canadians who simply want peace, freedom, and opportunity. We have to take action now or we will risk losing what makes this country great. Worry isn’t a strong enough word and the feeling of it won’t help. Only action will. MASSIMO BERGAMINI
Executive director, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada Top of my to-do list: “With one in five Canadian households facing food insecurity, and food bank visits up by 90 percent since 2019, Trump's threat of economic carpet bombing should inspire all governments in Canada to apply a food lens to all policies and initiatives. This would elevate food security to a national priority.” What’s keeping me up at night: “Every key initiative of government should be tested by this simple question: Will this policy enhance or reduce the quantity, quality and diversity of domestic food production?" | 
