Guelph SME Roundtable with MP O’Rourke and Minister Rechie Valdez

Guelph, Ont., August 13, 2026 – The City of Guelph, together with Dominique O’Rourke Member of Parliament for Guelph, welcomed Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), to City Hall today for a roundtable discussion with local small business owners.

The roundtable brought together a number small businesses and industry partners to share their experiences, discuss challenges, and identify opportunities directly with the Minister. Participants discussed issues including access to funding, tariff-related impacts, as well as programs and supports available to help businesses grow and contribute to a strong local economy.

“Today’s roundtable had two goals. First, to hear directly from business owners about their challenges and the growth opportunities they see. Second, to share information on pathways to procurement, trade diversification, and federal programs for SMEs. These conversations directly inform our work in Parliament as we continue to champion the investments and opportunities needed to help businesses thrive, to build resilience, and to achieve long-term success in Guelph and across Canada,”- MP Dominique O’Rourke.

The roundtable is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to support a strong business community and create conditions that encourage investment, innovation, and growth. It also follows recent federal support announced for Guelph businesses, with three local companies receiving a combined $2.1 million in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency to help offset the impacts of tariffs and strengthen their competitiveness.

By convening this discussion and connecting local businesses directly with federal decision-makers, the City and MP O’Rourke are helping ensure the perspectives and priorities of Guelph’s business community are heard at the federal level.

“Strong economies are built through collaboration,” said James Goodram, general manager of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Guelph. “The City has been working closely with local businesses and hearing firsthand how tariff-related uncertainty, supply chain challenges, and delayed investment decisions are affecting their operations. Today’s roundtable provided an important opportunity for businesses in our community to share their experiences directly with the Minister and have meaningful conversations about the supports needed to sustain economic growth in Guelph.”

The City thanks MP O’Rourke for helping facilitate this opportunity and remains committed to working alongside businesses, government partners, and community organizations to foster economic stability, resilience, and growth in Guelph.