Ottawa Board of Trade says adaptation creates an opportunity to turn uncertainty into investment and growth
OTTAWA – Business confidence is improving across Ontario, but trade uncertainty continues to weigh on investment, and businesses in Eastern Ontario are responding by diversifying markets and suppliers faster than any other region in the province.
New research from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce finds that 34% of Ontario businesses are confident in the province’s economic outlook, up from 23% in late 2025, while 51% are confident in their own organization’s outlook.
In Eastern Ontario, including Greater Ottawa, 48% of businesses surveyed are diversifying suppliers or markets beyond the United States and Mexico, compared with 38% provincially. Regional confidence in Ontario’s economic outlook is also higher, at 40%, while half of Eastern Ontario respondents are confident in their own organization.
At the same time, 56% of Eastern Ontario businesses surveyed say trade uncertainty is negatively affecting investment plans, demonstrating that growing confidence has not eliminated the challenges created by an unpredictable trade environment.
“Businesses are not waiting for uncertainty to disappear. They are looking for new customers, new suppliers and new ways to become more productive,” said Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade. “The level of diversification we are seeing across Eastern Ontario is an important signal. Businesses are adapting, and our opportunity now is to turn that adaptation into investment and growth.”
The survey also shows Eastern Ontario businesses expect to increase investment in productivity-enhancing technology and equipment, trade and market diversification, research and innovation, and skills development if trade uncertainty continues.
For Ottawa, those trends are particularly relevant given the region’s strengths in technology, defence and security, professional services, research and innovation, and its proximity to federal procurement and decision-making.
“Adaptation cannot substitute for certainty,” said Ching. “When uncertainty begins to hold back investment, governments need to respond with competitive business conditions, stronger market intelligence and export supports, strategic procurement, fewer internal trade barriers and a policy environment that gives businesses confidence to invest.”
The Ontario Chamber report identifies targeted business supports including tax incentives or deferrals, affordability measures, market intelligence, investment support and more stable trade rules.
The Ottawa Board of Trade will continue working with businesses, governments and economic partners to support diversification, strengthen competitiveness and position Ottawa companies for growth in Canadian and global markets.
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About the research
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce survey included 851 businesses across Ontario and was conducted between July 27 and August 17, 2026. The Eastern Ontario findings include Greater Ottawa, Kingston–Pembroke and Muskoka–Kawarthas.