Canadian Manufacturing Coalition urges feds to make manufacturing top budget priority

In a letter to the prime minister, the executive leadership from 42 of Canada’s manufacturing associations urges the federal government to consider adopting measures to form the basis for an advanced manufacturing policy in Canada.

For the upcoming 2013 federal budget, the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition (CMC) asks the prime minister to take steps that will benefit industry sectors and Canadians across the country.

“It should take the technology-intensive and internationally integrated nature of manufacturing into account. It should acknowledge the fact that it will be manufacturers that bring the new technologies to market that will allow us to solve the challenges of an aging population, lagging productivity performance, environmental sustainability, and food, water, and energy security,” it reads.

Among many measures, the CMC requests the government make the following a priority moving forward:

• Extend the ACCA for investments in manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment for another five years;
• Increase the capital cost allowance for railroad rolling stock from 15 to 30 per cent to harmonize depreciation rates across all modes of transportation;
• Create a fund to help Canadian manufacturers secure strategic investments and product mandates; and
• Increase direct funding to manufacturers for purposes of new product development, demonstration, and commercialization.