Eric Saumure, CPA, CA, co-founder of Zenbooks and founder of OpenSME, is a financial thought leader and advocate for Canada’s small businesses. He’s been featured by CBC, The Canadian Press, BetaKit, and CTV for his work on open banking and tax fairness.
- +30,000 Petition signatures
- +25 Media Interviews
- +10 years advising SMBs
- +150,000 Linkedin Impressions (2024)
For interviews, speaking engagements, or expert commentary on Canadian small business finance and open banking, please contact Eric at hello@ericsaumure.com or 613-703-3008.
Featured In
In The Press
TV and Video
CTV National
April 26, 2023 – Interview on the CRA Advocacy of Petition
CTV Ottawa
April 26, 2023 – Interview on the CRA Advocacy of Petition
CBC News
April 25, 2023 – Interview on the CRA Advocacy of Petition
Rogers TV Profile
June 23, 2024 – Interview on the CRA Advocacy of Petition
Op-Eds
CanadianSME Magazine (Op-Ed) - Open Banking
October 14, 2025 — Eric Saumure emphasizes that small businesses, which make up 98 percent of Canadian enterprises, must be included from the very start of Canada’s open banking rollout. Drawing on international examples from the UK and Australia, he shows how open banking reduces admin time, lowers costs, and improves access to credit for entrepreneurs. Saumure warns that delaying SME inclusion would mean lost opportunities and years of inefficiencies. He urges policymakers to act decisively while encouraging business owners to adopt digital tools and prepare for the transition now.
The Hill Times (Op-Ed) - Open Banking
August 28, 2025 — Eric Saumure argues that Canada’s open banking rollout in 2026 must include small-business accounts from day one. Excluding SMEs, he warns, would delay adoption, competition, and productivity gains the economy urgently needs. Saumure highlights international examples where open banking has cut administrative burdens, sped up lending, and reduced fees for entrepreneurs. With small firms generating half of Canada’s GDP and employing 90 percent of the private sector workforce, he urges the government to prioritize SMEs in phase one of implementation, ensuring they benefit from faster payments, fairer access to credit, and reduced paperwork. PDF Version(No paywall)
Ottawa Business Journal (Op-Ed) - Open Banking
August 18, 2025 — Eric Saumure authored an op-ed explaining what open banking is and why it matters for small and medium-sized enterprises. The piece highlights the inefficiencies SMEs face without open banking, such as manual data collection, slow loan approvals, and high fees, while outlining the benefits of secure APIs, real-time cash flow visibility, and stronger competition. Saumure urges Canadian businesses to prepare for open banking ahead of its expected 2026 rollout.
Print & Online
BetaKit (OpenSME Launch + Profile)
August 11, 2025 – BetaKit profiled Zenbooks co-founder Eric Saumure and the launch of OpenSME, a volunteer campaign to ensure Canada’s open banking rollout benefits small businesses. The piece highlights OpenSME’s policy asks (clear deadlines, inclusion of business accounts, SME education funding), early support from fintech partners Xero and Dext, and Saumure’s journey from accountant to advocate.
Ottawa Business Journal (Profile)
July 11, 2025 – Ottawa Business Journal writes a 1090 word profile about Eric Saumure's decision to turn down a once in a lifetime opportunity to be Mark Carney's CFO for his leadership campaign. Elaborating on his preference for small business owners and advocacy work for SMEs.
Rockcliffe Magazine (Front Page)(Profile)
February 2025 – Rockcliffe Magazine writes a 2 page feature about Eric Saumure's life, family and impact in the community.
Canadian Press
April 25, 2023 – Canadian Press writes about Eric's petition to extend the personal tax deadline for individuals in Canada, amid strike action by CRA employees.
CBC News
April 25, 2023 – CBC was the first to write about Eric's petition to extend the personal tax deadline for individuals in Canada, amid strike action by CRA employees.
CTV News
April 25, 2023 – CTV writes about Eric's petition to extend the personal tax deadline for individuals in Canada, amid strike action by CRA employees.
CP24
April 25, 2023 – CP24 writes about Eric's petition to extend the personal tax deadline for individuals in Canada, amid strike action by CRA employees.
Wagepoint (Guest posts)
May 20, 2021 – Eric Saumure, CPA, CA, writes an article explaining the 2021 Canadian Federal Budget to small business owners.
Karbon (Guest posts)
2023 – Eric Saumure, CPA, CA, writes a series of articles of Karbon HQ. Trade blog for modern accountants.
Ottawa Business Journal (Mentions)
Multiple mentions in articles with Ottawa Business Journal.
Various mentions
CBC – CBC – CTV – Going Concern – Times Colonist – Daily Hive – BlogTO – Acadie Nouvelle – LaVoixDeL’est – Radio Canada – BIV – Canadian-Accountant – Toronto Sun – Wealth Professional – Investment Executive – HubDoc – Apt613 – Yahoo Sports – Author of Book Section
Open Banking
Eric Saumure is leading a conversation on Open Banking in Canada. Consumer Driven Banking (or Open Banking) impacts small business owners and accountants in their ability to have real time information for small business owners to make decisions.
Ottawa Business Journal (Op-Ed) - Open Banking
August 18, 2025 — Eric Saumure authored an op-ed explaining what open banking is and why it matters for small and medium-sized enterprises. The piece highlights the inefficiencies SMEs face without open banking, such as manual data collection, slow loan approvals, and high fees, while outlining the benefits of secure APIs, real-time cash flow visibility, and stronger competition. Saumure urges Canadian businesses to prepare for open banking ahead of its expected 2026 rollout.
OpenSME (Founder)
In 2025, Eric Saumure launched OpenSME, a volunteer-led campaign to ensure Canada’s open banking rollout includes small business accounts from day one. Drawing on his experience serving 300+ SMEs at Zenbooks, Eric saw firsthand how outdated banking systems slowed entrepreneurs with late payments, manual data collection, and costly loan delays. OpenSME brings together small businesses, fintechs, and advocates to push for clear government deadlines, business account inclusion, and funding for SME education — giving entrepreneurs a stronger voice in shaping Canada’s financial future.
2025 Open Banking Expo - Featured Panel
Eric Saumure is interviewed as part a expert panelist with some of his clients to explore the real-world impact of user-permissioned financial data. Through real case studies and real examples, this session uncovers how Open Banking can strengthen Canada’s small business economy, foster entrepreneurship, and deliver tangible benefits when fully implemented. Lots of real examples with practical view of Open Banking impact on small business owners.
2025 Open Banking Unplugged - Featured Panel
Eric Saumure and Michael Cascone(Xero) are interviewed by Ellie Duncan about what lies ahead for Open Banking in Canada. In this episode, they discuss the specific needs of Canada’s small businesses and, in particular, the business banking challenges they face in the current environment. Eric discusses the potential for Open Banking to address SMBs’ pain points and how to encourage awareness of Open Banking’s benefits among small business owners.
National Petition
On 25 April 2023, Eric launched a petition on Change.org calling on the Canada Revenue Agency to extend the personal tax‑filing deadline to 15 June amid a PSAC strike; it had over 30,000 signatures by early afternoon.
The petition received national coverage and Eric conducted over 25 media interviews in 5 days.
