On November 10, the Calgary Chamber welcomed the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, for a fireside chat with Calgary Chamber President & CEO, Deborah Yedlin. The discussion offered insights into the 2025 Budget and its role in strengthening both the Canadian and Albertan economies.
Minister Champagne began by acknowledging the rapidly changing global landscape – marked by shifting tariffs, emerging technologies and geopolitical tensions. Emphasizing Canada’s strong fiscal position, he noted that this budget aims to safeguard the country against these external uncertainties, ensuring that today’s uncertainty does not become tomorrow’s certainty.
At the same time, the Minister underscored the importance of addressing long-standing domestic challenges such as productivity and competitiveness. He emphasized that the Budget is designed to incentivize private investment and channel it into sectors across the economy, including energy, manufacturing, critical minerals and technology.
Touching on Alberta’s energy sector, Minister Champagne acknowledged the need for greater regulatory predictability and stability. He recognized the evolving perspectives on energy corridors and the growing urgency of ensuring Alberta’s energy products can reach global markets efficiently and responsibly.
Throughout the conversation, Minister Champagne highlighted several key priorities embedded within the 2025 Budget, including:
- Expanding export markets for Canadian businesses, leveraging Canada’s reputation as a predictable and stable trading partner.
- Strengthening domestic procurement through the government’s Buy Canadian Strategy.
- Scaling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and supporting technology adoption.
- Driving productivity through private sector investment.
- Advancing Canada’s defense strategy as a catalyst for job creation and international partnerships.
- Prioritizing Indigenous collaboration, including the federal government’s commitment to protect essential programs and co-develop initiatives with Indigenous communities.
We extend thanks to our sponsors: Presenting Sponsor Cenovus, Thanking Sponsor Pathways Alliance, Supporting Sponsors Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Imperial Oil and National Bank.
