Federal Election 2025: The Barrie Chamber’s Business Priorities

The Barrie business community is strong. From navigating lockdowns to pivoting entire business models on the fly. However, even the strongest businesses are running out of steam.

With the second election in as many months, business owners are looking to federal candidates to understand their needs.

They’re not asking for handouts — they’re asking for less red tape, the removal of trade barriers and for the government to enable them without bureaucratic challenges.

We’re urging all parties to recognize what’s really at stake for communities like ours. This isn’t about asking for favours. It’s about working together on real issues and finding the political will to finally do something about them.

Right now, inflation, skilled labour shortages and economic uncertainty are squeezing local businesses at every turn. Entrepreneurs are doing everything they can to adapt, but they can’t do it alone. They need:

• Support for small and medium enterprises who are still carrying pandemic-era debt and facing rising costs. Relief programs can’t come with a maze of red tape.
• Investment in workforce development to help people gain the skills businesses need right now. The talent is here, we just need to connect the dots.
• Support for innovation and modernization, so local companies can stay competitive and thrive, not just survive.

Let’s be clear. These aren’t huge requests. They are practical, actionable steps that would change day-to-day reality for a lot of employers in this city.

Trade is more than numbers on a spreadsheet

Ninety per cent or $677 million of Barrie’s exports head to the U.S. That level of dependency creates risk and businesses here are feeling it.

Businesses need Ottawa to push harder for fair trade agreements, cut through the red tape of interprovincial trade, and accelerate deals that diversify where our goods are going.

They need a level playing field to ensure local importers and exporters aren’t left behind.

Housing is a workforce issue and a barrier to growth

Employers have jobs to fill and colleges are producing skilled graduates. But when people can’t afford to live nearby, businesses are left without the talent they need to grow.

You can’t grow a workforce without places for people to live

That means we desperately need more direct federal investment in affordable housing projects that reflect the needs of cities like Barrie. It also means better collaboration with municipalities to ensure those dollars lead to real, livable results.

Health care affects every workplace

Mental health, addiction and family caregiving aren’t issues confined to hospitals or social workers. They appear at businesses every single day.

Employers are doing their best to respond, but they need proper resources and support to meet these growing demands. These challenges are complex and specific, with real-world repercussions if the help provided isn’t appropriate or effective.

There needs to be targeted federal funding for mental health and addiction services, along with support for front-line workers. The chamber isn’t alone in saying this. Business owners are saying it too, every time they try to hire or support their teams.

Inclusion and equity drive strong economies

When more people have access to opportunity, our whole city benefits. It’s that simple.

Ottawa can move the needle by supporting economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities. They can back programs that help equity-deserving groups to fully participate in the workforce. This is how we build a stronger Barrie, socially and economically.

This isn’t just a wish list — it’s a practical plan

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has generated a federal priorities document, outlining four pillars of needs for Ontario businesses. It closely aligns with the needs of communities like Barrie that are looking for strong leadership in the face of so much uncertainty south of the border.

These are the conversations we’re having with our members, every day.

This is what Barrie’s business community is thinking about. It’s not abstract policy, but the real-world impact on jobs, growth and families.

We hope our federal leaders are listening. Voters will be listening at our Meet The Candidates events, during the campaign and when they go to the ballot box.

We’re not just hoping for change. We’re ready to help make it happen.

 

Paul Markle, Chief Executive Officer
Barrie Chamber of Commerce