Survey: Industry losing millions because of border closure

The Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA), in partnership with the Canadian Association of Mold Makers (CAMM), Automate Canada, and the Niagara Industrial Association (NIA), recently conducted a survey to measure the effects of border closures on the manufacturing industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey found that more than two-thirds of manufacturers have lost business amounting to tens of millions of dollars because of problems at the Canada/U.S. border. Eighty per cent of survey respondents revealed that they require their U.S.-based customers and suppliers to visit their facility for project inspections, signoffs, and technical support and service.

“Manufacturing is essential. Manufacturers produce food, pharmaceutical goods, and common products so important to our daily lives,” said Shelley Fellows, chair, Automate Canada. “The tool and die, mouldmaking, and industrial automation sectors are vital pillars of support for manufacturing, as they provide equipment, software, services, and tools to keep manufacturing running.”

The chain of support necessary to get food to our tables and goods to store shelves is complicated; underpinning it are the machinists, engineers, programmers, and specialists who keep manufacturing facilities running. These are the faces behind the industrial automation, mouldmaking, and tool and die companies that are dealing with challenges serving both Canadian and U.S. customers.

The survey revealed that 65 per cent of respondents have experienced moderate to substantial effects on their businesses. Almost three-quarters of companies reported that they have or will have a negative financial effect on their business specifically caused by border-crossing problems. More than one-third of respondents reported financial losses of $1 million or more.

The associations are recommending that government officials provide a clearer definition of “essential workers” to help Canada Border Services Agency personnel better understand the guidelines, provide more detail on documentation requirements, and implement rapid testing at ports of entry to reduce quarantine periods for individuals travelling across the border to perform essential services.

“To be clear, our associations are not asking for the border to open, but rather a process to keep everyone safe and at the same time be able to continue to operate essential services,” said Robert Cattle, executive director, CTMA.