At Communitech, we work with founders, partners and all levels of government to ensure that Waterloo Region remains the beating heart of Canadian tech. This includes amplifying entrepreneurs' experiences, connecting top innovators and policymakers, and pushing for solutions that make our ecosystem a more competitive place for founders to start, grow and succeed.
Standing with our founders amid tariff challenges
At Communitech, we’re driven by innovation and community. Recent tariff changes have created uncertainty across our tech ecosystem—affecting software, medtech, and hardware companies—and by extension, the customers who rely on their groundbreaking work.
We understand that these tariffs aren’t just a line item on a balance sheet; they have real, tangible impacts on everyday operations and the pace of innovation. That’s why we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our founders during this challenging time.
We’re actively engaging with policymakers and industry peers to push for fair trade practices that truly recognize the unique pressures our community faces. Our goal is to help mitigate these impacts, ensuring that our ecosystem remains resilient, competitive, and ready for the future.
Communitech remains committed to supporting our vibrant tech community as we navigate these changes together. Over the coming days and weeks, we will be working with local and national partners to bring together the expertise needed to understand this evolving situation.
Updates:
- The Department of Finance released the full list of American goods subject to Canadian tariffs as of Tuesday.
- The government has also released details of its remissions process.
Resources & support
- Tariff Tracker: Stay up-to-date by joining our chat group.
- How to ride out tariff turbulence in Canada's tech sector: Read expert advice from our Tariff Talk event with partners EY and Gowling WLG.
- How tech startups can prepare for tariff uncertainty under a Trump presidency: Check out a summary of our Tariff Town Hall on Jan. 17.
1:1 GR Office Hours
Communitech is now offering 1:1 Government Relations Office Hours. We can provide coaching to help you understand how the government works and make policy changes or support a visit from an elected official. Reach out if you’d like more info and book your session with our Government Relations Specialist Stéphane Hamade here.
Documents
- January 2025 Government Update (January 29 2025): A look ahead at both provincial and federal elections, an update on the federal Liberal leadership race, the potential imposition of new tariffs on Canadian goods and capital gains.
- Budget 2024: Founders’ Feedback on Building a Mature Innovation Ecosystem (May 2 2024)
Blogs
- How tech startups can prepare for tariff uncertainty under a Trump presidency (January 20, 2025): A town hall hosted by Communitech brought together 40 local startups and scale-ups, along with community partners, all with a shared concern over the uncertainty and potential impacts of broad-based tariffs on Canadian goods and services.
- Canada Arab Business Council (CABC) visits Communitech Hub (November 13 2024): A delegation from the Canada Arab Business Council (CABC) visited the Communitech Hub in Kitchener to explore Canada’s tech ecosystem and meet local founders.
- Tech leaders call for broader CEI thresholds to strengthen Canadian tech ecosystem (August 2024): On August 27, 2024, Communitech hosted a meeting with over 25 tech founders to discuss the revised Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive (CEI).
- Securing Canada’s AI Advantage (July 2024): On July 31, Communitech and the Accelerator Centre hosted 22 Canadian tech leaders and policymakers for a roundtable discussion on the AI Compute Access Fund announced in the 2024 federal budget.
Tech News
- Building trust in AI with strong policies and cooperation between public and private sectors (September 13 2024): Communitech welcomed the Honourable Todd J. McCarthy, Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, for a tour of the hub and roundtable discussion.
- Connecting continents (June 21 2024): A delegation from ACATE, Santa Catarina’s tech association, visited the Communitech Hub for a celebration of the launch of its first outpost in Canada and to highlight opportunities for Brazilian founders in the Canadian tech ecosystem.
- Staying power for Ontario startups (April 5 2024): Effective April 1, a new regulation under the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act (BOBIA) gives businesses in the province access to more government and public sector procurement opportunities. The regulation mandates that the province’s public sector prioritize Ontario-based businesses when procuring goods and services.
- Strengthening partnerships for procurement (March 14 2024): Breaking down procurement barriers was the focus of a visit from Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, to the Communitech Hub.
- Wiring tech startups for success (February 16 2024): Nina Tangri, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business, visited Communitech to meet with startup founders and get a tour of the hub.
- Fuelling prosperity through procurement (March 22 2023): Treasury Board President Prabmeet Sarkaria was in Kitchener to launch a series of consultations about government procurement and Supply Ontario, a new provincial agency.