M^Me Laing has served as chair of the chamber’s board since 2022 after joining the board in 2019, and served as vice-chair from 2021 to 2022. The chamber said she stepped down from that role while she prepared to assume her new position based in Ottawa.

She succeeds Perrin Beatty, whose 17-year term as head of the chamber ends on August 30.

“My vision is closely aligned with that of the organization that a thriving business and a strong economy lead to a better life for all Canadians,” said Ms.^Me Laing in an interview.

She said bureaucracy and supply chain hurdles are among the challenges facing Canadian companies. “We can reduce that burden rather than add to it.”

Candace Laing said we need to make it “more attractive” to start or relocate businesses to Canada. “For that to happen, we need a stable regulatory environment,” she said.

Candace Laing was born in Saskatchewan and spent 10 years at Nutrien and its predecessor PotashCorp as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer and Vice President of Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations.

The chamber said she was a key member of the integration team that merged PotashCorp and Agrium to form Nutrien in 2018.

Penny Wise, chair of the search committee and vice chair of the chamber’s board, said in a statement that there was “an extensive selection process that attracted a significant number of candidates with impressive experience in government and the business world.”

“We thank everyone for their interest. What set Candace apart was her experience in both the business world and the Chamber movement, as well as her vision for the future of the Chamber of Commerce as an advocate for Canadian business,” she continued.

Mr Beatty stated that Mr^Me Laing “understands the needs of companies of all sizes.”

“No one is better qualified to take the Chamber of Commerce to the next level,” he said in the press release.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors is considering the next steps to fill the role of President until a new President is elected at its Annual General Meeting in October.