Minister Ng concludes successful meeting with provincial and territorial trade ministers

October 13, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, today hosted provincial and territorial ministers responsible for international trade for a virtual meeting. They discussed how working together to strengthen and diversify international trade relationships will accelerate Canada’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Ng and her provincial and territorial counterparts spoke about the need for open supply chains and a strong, rules-based international trading system that Canadian businesses can rely on. They also noted the importance of advancing the transition to digital trade and e-commerce platforms for businesses of all sizes across the country.

Minister Ng underscored the importance of collaboration among all levels of government to help Canadian businesses of all sizes—in particular small businesses—explore new opportunities in international markets and access the full benefits of trade.

She highlighted Canada’s inclusive trade strategy that aims to help and encourage everyone—including women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, young people, and LGBTQ2 entrepreneurs—to grow their businesses and reach new markets.

Minister Ng and her counterparts will continue working together as one Team Canada to support businesses and all Canadians as they continue to face challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quotes

“It was great to bring together my provincial and territorial counterparts for a wide-ranging discussion on how we can harness international trade to build a more prosperous Canada. Supporting our exporters and promoting Canada as a destination for international investment will be critical to our economic recovery—as will our continuing work to protect the health and safety of Canadians.”

- Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

Quick facts

In Canada, nearly two thirds of the national economy and millions of good Canadian jobs depend on international trade and investment.
In the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Trade Commissioner Service continues to help Canadian businesses grow globally by connecting them with its funding and support programs, international opportunities, and network of trade commissioners in more than 160 cities worldwide.
The Government of Canada has also implemented various support programs for enterprises of all sizes to help them overcome the current challenges. This support is made available through various entities, such as Export Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada.
As of December 2019, there were 1.31 million employer businesses in Canada, of which 1.29 million (98%) were small, 23,027 (1.8%) were medium sized, and 2,984 (0.2%) were large.

Associated links

Contacts

Youmy Han
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade
343-551-0246
[email protected]

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
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