For two packed days this week, AEM staff and 21 equipment manufacturing executives fanned out across Ottawa to advocate to raise the profile of the industry and advocate for pro-manufacturing policies. Together, they met with Members of Parliament, Deputy Ministers, and senior government officials, discussing the state of the industry and offering up policy solutions to address Canada’s infrastructure deficit, shortfall of manufacturing workers, and trade barriers.
Building on last year’s successful inaugural event, the day on Parliament Hill also served to spotlight the role of equipment manufacturers in future-proofing Canada’s economy, as well as the 152,000 family-sustaining jobs that the industry supports in Canada.
“The equipment manufacturing industry supports 1 in 20 Canadian manufacturing jobs, and so our industry’s financial health is directly tied to Canada’s long-term prosperity,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM’s senior vice President of government and industry relations. “Our conversations with the Government of Canada were insightful and productive, and we are encouraged by the interest across party lines to help Canada build more resilient domestic supply chains, invest in large-scale infrastructure projects that supports manufacturing competitiveness, and fortify Canada’s long-term economic security.”
The 2025 Ottawa Hill Day follows AEM’s announcement earlier this month that it has expanded its presence in Canada, hiring its first full-time employee based in Ottawa. AEM will also be opening a new office in Ottawa next year.
The industry’s direct engagement with Members of Parliament and government officials comes at a critical time for the industry, with major federal reviews on infrastructure, trade, and labor underway. The close partnership between AEM and member companies on advocacy ensures that the voice of an industry that contributes $41 billion to the economy is central to the policy-making process.
“Now more than ever, equipment manufacturers need a direct, unified voice on the policies needed to drive investment, foster innovation, and secure a resilient Canadian economy for generations to come,” said Jim Jarrell, CEO and president of Linamar Corporation. “This year’s AEM Ottawa Hill Day was an opportunity for the industry to tell our stories and advocate for the strategic, nation-building projects and pro-manufacturing policies that will bolster Canada’s global competitiveness.”
2025 legislative asks included:
- Strengthening Equipment Manufacturing in Canada: Equipment manufacturers shared stories about how tariffs are impacting their companies, suppliers, customers, and communities. They encouraged the Canadian government to act to swiftly reach agreements with trading partners that level the playing field for Canadian products, remove tariffs, and put in place reasonable exemptions for parts and components that cannot be sourced at cost and scale in Canada.
- Protecting Safety and Innovation in “Right to Repair” While Supporting Workforce Development: Equipment manufacturers educated lawmakers about the widely available repair tools for off-road equipment and the need for the training of more skilled technicians amid labour shortages. They urged the Canadian government to ensure that safety, security, and environmental benefits are maintained through education, not legislation on “right to repair.”
- Invest in Rural Broadband and Precision Agriculture: Equipment manufacturers urged lawmakers to increase support under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) and expand programs like Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) and AgriInnovate to accelerate adoption of precision agriculture technologies. They also discussed the importance of continued expansion and improvement of rural and remote broadband internet to facilitate the increasing use of automated equipment in the mining and forestry sectors and in precision agriculture technology.
- Modernize Canada’s Trade-Enabling Infrastructure: Equipment manufacturers support long-term, predictable funding for the modernization of Canada’s trade-enabling infrastructure through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and approval of major projects through the Major Projects Office. They specifically asked lawmakers to prioritize rural and industrial freight corridors to improve the movement of goods across the country.
As part of the Hill Day, seven executives also participated in a media roundtable with Ottawa-based reporters from CTV, Bloomberg, Financial Post, and The Logic to discuss the state of the industry and equipment manufacturers’ policy priorities.
First reported by Bloomberg, during the roundtable, Jim Jarrell “suggested the Canadian government should consider increasing its $5 billion allocation for its strategic response fund, which was launched in September to help industries affected by U.S. tariffs transform their operations.”
Charles Vennat, president and CEO at C.M.I. Inc., as quoted in the Financial Post, discussed the need for increased incentives for businesses to adapt to new export markets.
“To develop something new for a new export market, European regulations can be quite different,” said Charles Vennat. “So, there are licensing requirements, there are design changes that are required, I mean the size of our machines can’t circulate on most European roads.”
To learn more about AEM’s Canadian advocacy efforts, or to get engaged, please contact AEM’s Director of Government Affairs in Canada Alexandre Mattard-Michaud at amattard-michaud@aem.org.
