Statement of Priorities and Accountabilities for the Canadian Commercial Corporation

June 2, 2023

Mr. Douglas Harrison
Chair of the Board of Directors
Canadian Commercial Corporation
700–350 Albert Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0S6

Dear Mr. Harrison:

I am pleased to provide the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) with its 2023 Statement of
Priorities and Accountabilities.

This is a pivotal time for Canada’s economy and approach to trade. Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, fallout from Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the climate crisis, supply chain disruptions and global economic headwinds on the horizon are among the many challenges facing Canadian businesses. In response to these challenges, CCC has delivered important results as part of Canada’s trade support network and foreign policy toolkit. From sourcing critical equipment for Ukraine, to helping Canadian businesses secure nearly $1 billion in sales under the Canada-United States Defence Production Sharing Agreement (DPSA), CCC has delivered for Canadians.

Looking to the year ahead, I expect CCC to focus on: i) delivering results for Canadians; ii) supporting sustainable and responsible growth; and iii) enhancing trade support. This work will advance Canada’s international trade objectives and provide Canadian businesses the opportunity to grow internationally, contributing to our economic prosperity and creating good-paying jobs across the country.

Delivering Results for Canadians

To help Canadian businesses navigate the current global economic environment as well as advance the government’s foreign policy and international trade strategy, I ask that CCC:

• Continue to prioritize delivery of the DPSA as CCC’s key mandate. As part of these efforts, CCC should prioritize growing the number of customers it supports, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and value of contracts it signs, under the DPSA.
• Develop an outreach strategy to promote Canadian suppliers to the U.S. Department of Defense buying commands, including specific consideration of new and innovative technologies such as those in the cyber security sector.
• Carefully manage expectations of clients and buyers during the transaction due diligence process, especially when elements of the transaction, such as financing or export permits, may be outside of CCC’s authorities.
• Continue to facilitate the government’s efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal invasion and to consider the application of government-to-government contracting in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
• Orient activities toward the Indo-Pacific region, consistent with Canada’s Indo-Pacific
  Strategy and considering the needs and priorities of the region.

Supporting Sustainable and Responsible Growth

As Canadians, we hold ourselves to a high standard when engaging in business abroad. Our competitiveness is enhanced through principles of sustainability and responsibility. In continuing to support this vision, I ask that CCC:

• Be risk-conscious in pursuing non-DPSA International Prime Contracting (IPC) business. All international engagement is expected to align with and advance Canada’s foreign policy objectives in sectors that benefit from CCC’s government-to-government approach to trade.
• Ensure non-DPSA business lines operate on a financially self-sustaining basis and are informed by well-grounded revenue and cost projections for the Corporation. Consistent with this approach, CCC should develop prudent and achievable business development targets that recognize the specific applicability of government-to-government contracting.
• Develop a climate change strategy consistent with Canada’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In preparing this strategy, CCC should consider interim 2030 emissions reduction targets for CCC’s support for the most carbon-intensive sectors as well as operational emissions.
• Implement the guidelines for Canada’s International Support for the Clean Energy Transition (Glasgow Statement) to end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector and provide regular updates on progress.
• Operate in a manner consistent with the government’s comprehensive approach to responsible business conduct, including measures related to due diligence and addressing forced labour throughout supply chains. As part of these efforts, provide my office with an update on the implementation of CCC’s RBC Code for Exporters.
• Ensure trade works for all Canadians by engaging and supporting more exporters from underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous and racialized business owners.

Enhancing Trade Support

As the Minister responsible for supporting Canadian businesses from start-up, to scale-up and to expansion abroad, ensuring Canada has a complete suite of tools to support its exporters is a cornerstone of my mandate. Canadian companies succeed internationally when they have a strong network of seamless and high quality services at home. To this end, I ask that CCC:

• Continue its active engagement in the Business, Economic and Trade Resilience team and continue to pursue a seamless Team Canada approach supporting business to trade.
• Collaborate on joint export promotion, marketing and coordinated communications among federal partners to help enhance collaboration and engagement with Canadian businesses.
• Establish clear targets and track success related to export diversification and impact on Canadian trade, such as creating and sustaining jobs, support for SMEs and support for exporters who belong to underrepresented groups. This enhanced reporting should be reflected in corporate plans and annual reports going forward.

CCC has made important progress over the past year, working in partnership with the Government of Canada to advance foreign policy objectives and help Canadian exporters access foreign government procurement markets. Canadians can be confident that CCC will continue to be there helping Canada achieve prosperity through support that is strategic, inclusive and sustainable.

I look forward to working with CCC in the coming year to advance the priorities outlined in
this letter.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Mary Ng, P.C., M.P.