Advocacy
The Chamber holds a collective voice allowing us to inform and advocate on behalf of the business community.
Now more than ever, Chambers of Commerce across the country are being recognized as strong collective voices for business. They play a vital role in providing information, insights, and advocacy that help shape programs and policies supporting businesses. The Sussex and District Chamber remains committed to actively supporting our local business community through ongoing advocacy efforts.
Your Voice Matters: Submit Advocacy Issues & Report Small Crimes
Share Your Advocacy Concerns
We are committed to supporting local businesses by advocating for your needs. If there’s an issue or concern that you believe requires attention, use the form below to submit it. We’re here to help amplify your voice and work towards solutions that benefit your business and the community.
Small Crimes Reporting Initiative: Strengthening Safety Through Collaboration
The Chamber has introduced a small crimes reporting option to help businesses stay informed about local incidents and collaborate on solutions. This initiative, driven by a group of concerned businesses who participated in a discussion on community policing and small business safety, aims to strengthen our collective approach to safety. By sharing information, businesses can identify emerging trends, deter crime, and foster a safer environment for everyone. The report will be available to our business list on a quarterly basis, beginning in June. This initiative enhances communication and supports proactive efforts toward community safety.
This form is for informational purposes only and does not replace official police reporting. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to report the incident to law enforcement as needed.
Latest Advocacy Updates & Publications
April 23, 2026
Press Release from Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce
In light of the recent news regarding Agropur, the Chamber is prioritizing the well-being of the employees, families, and local partners impacted by this transition. We are collaborating with provincial and regional partners to ensure that helpful resources and a strong support network are readily available as we move forward.
Read the full statement here: Statement on the Agropur Closure Announcement
May 21, 2025
Letter to The Hon. John Dornan re: Letter of Support for rural healthcare proposal
The Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce has submitted a letter to the Minister of Health in support of Ark Health Collective’s proposal for a scalable public-private partnership model in rural healthcare. The lack of 24-hour emergency services and primary care access continues to impact both quality of life and economic growth in our region. This model offers a practical, community-based solution that aligns with provincial priorities and could help ease the strain on the public system.
Read the full letter here: Letter of support for Public-Private Partnership in Healthcare
February 27, 2025
Joint Letter to The Hon. Marc Miller re: Atlantic Immigration Program
We’ve joined Atlantic chambers in expressing concern over recent cuts to immigration allocations for Atlantic Canada, highlighting the impact on local businesses and the need for continued federal-provincial collaboration to address labor shortages and retention challenges.
Read the full letter here: Joint Letter to The Hon. Marc Miller Re: Atlantic Immigration Program
February 13, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS: TARIFF IMPACTS FOR THE GREATER SUSSEX AREA
Joint Press Release from Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
During the pandemic, Perrin Beatty, former President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said that “If chambers are important during the good times, they are essential during the tough ones.” Unfortunately, this sentiment applies once again as we face the challenge of tariffs. The strength and influence of the chamber network is unmatched, and we’re grateful for the support it provides to smaller chambers like ours. Thanks to the ongoing advocacy of both the Canadian Chamber and the Atlantic Chamber, we are well-positioned to keep our local businesses informed and supported.
We are pleased that the provincial government continues to recognize the chamber network as a valuable resource during challenging times as well. Last week, Premier Holt invited all New Brunswick chambers to a call to discuss the province’s tariff response plan, ensure we were informed about available business resources, and hear firsthand the concerns from our region.
During that call, we also learned that two of our members, Mrs. Dunster’s and J.D. Irving Ltd., would be joining the Premier this week on an important mission to Washington. This trip is focused on strengthening Canada-U.S. relations and highlighting the deep economic ties between our regions in sectors like energy, seafood, forestry, agriculture, and aquaculture. We are grateful for their leadership in representing not only their businesses but also the broader business community in our region and province, and we thank them for their commitment to this crucial mission.
The urgency of this issue was reinforced on Tuesday morning when the Canadian Chamber shared new analysis identifying the Canadian cities most vulnerable to U.S. tariffs. Saint John, along with Calgary and Windsor, topped the list, with key energy, manufacturing, and trade hubs facing significant exposure. Given our close economic ties to Saint John, this is particularly concerning for our region. It underscores the importance of strong advocacy at every level to push for solutions that protect businesses and jobs.
Throughout difficult times, our community has consistently rallied behind its businesses. Through initiatives like our Love for Local Greater Sussex page, we’ve been dedicated to promoting the importance of supporting local. That commitment remains strong—we will continue to champion local businesses, ensuring they have the resources and backing they need to navigate challenges and thrive.” said Vanessa Coggan, Executive Director of the Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce.
Read the full press release here: SDCC & CCC Joint Press Release – Cdn-US tariffs
December 4, 2024
Joint Letter from Atlantic Chambers Re: Chignecto Isthmus
We’ve joined Atlantic chambers in signing a letter urging action on the Chignecto Isthmus, a vital trade corridor needing immediate investment to withstand rising sea levels and ensure regional economic stability.
Read the full letter here: Joint Letter from Atlantic Chambers Re: Chignecto Isthmus
October 19, 2024
TRAINING AND ALIGNMENT OF SUPPORTS FOR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF CYBERCRIMES
Description
Police departments face a broad range of duties in serving their local communities. The innovation of perpetrators, including forms of fraud against the public and especially businesses have increased demands on local police departments. Large, medium size and smaller police departments have identified a number of specialty teams required within their organizations.
Cybercrime is a real and rapidly growing form of crime affecting our communities in which governments, businesses and individual citizens are targeted across Canada.
Municipal and rural police departments are increasingly strained to meet this rising form of crime and threat to the public and business community, both in terms of crime prevention and investigation.
Recommendations
That the Government of Canada:
1. Provide resources to expand the expertise, local experience and data sharing practices of national/regional cybercrime structures.
2. Facilitate professional development opportunities, including specialized/advanced in-service training through the National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3) for businesses and enforcement organizations.
3. Clarify roles and responsibilities of local, provincial and federal police agencies in addressing cross-jurisdictional cybercrime.
Read the full policy resolution here: Training and Alignment of Supports for Local Police Departments for the Investigation of Cybercrimes – Policy Resolution Presented by the Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce with support from the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce at the Canadian Chamber Policy Debates
Letters
Sussex NB Flood Mitigation Funding – May 2024
Craft Producers Change in Tax Policy – June 2023
Cost Surge Buffer New Brunswick – March 2022
We encourage you to reach out to the Chamber anytime to discuss any policy/advocacy issues your business may be facing – info@sussexdistrictchamber.ca or (506) 433-1845.