Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Operations and Government Relations, Joel Wiebe will be attending a conference with Chambers across the country to discuss proposed policy resolutions.
Wiebe will be touching on Improving the Regulatory Environment for Natural Health Products, High Frequency Rail, Supporting International Students Entry to the Canadian Workforce, and Tax Fairness for Healthcare Professionals. Here are some of the following policy resolutions that will be discussed. Improving the Regulatory Environment for Natural Health Products In Canada, oversight of Natural Health Products (NHPs) falls under the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR) of the Food and Drugs Act. These regulations came into effect on January 1, 2004, after consultation with stakeholders and the public to determine an appropriate regulatory framework for NHPs. At that time, it was agreed that it was not proper to regulate natural products under the same regulations as chemical drugs or impose the same standards of evidence onto natural health products. In 2017, Health Canada launched a consultation on the regulation of self-care products. In 2021, Health Canada conducted consultations regarding proposed regulations to amend the Natural Health Products Regulations with the purpose of gathering feedback on proposed improvements to natural health product labelling. In addition, it was cited that the proposed amendments were anticipated to decrease the regulatory burden and costs to businesses, as well as introduce greater efficiencies for businesses. Since then, new proposed regulations were introduced creating concerns around the future of Natural Health Products (NHP) in the Canadian Market, from new fees and charges imposed, to the increased regulatory burden and the inequitable treatment of natural health care products. Most recently, in 2023, Health Canada provided information related to the fee proposal with the intention to start charging new fees on April 1, 2025, in addition to increasing the regulations. There is value in making sure products claiming health benefits are safe, but these standards do not take into account the wide variety of NHPs. While some offer alternatives to pharmaceuticals, many are considered supplemental to pharmaceuticals like vitamins, probiotics, and amino acids. Many of these products are not normally healthcare-associated, like natural deodorants, sunscreens, toothpaste, and skin care products. According to the Canadian Health Food Association’s Save Our Supplements campaign, 76% of brands say there is a high/very high chance they will need to pull product from the market as a result of these regulations. One in five companies say they are seriously considering leaving the Canadian market. Additionally, 66% of companies said it would have a negative impact on employment. Dating back to 1998, with the report of the Standing Committee on Health, Natural Health Products: A New Vision, it has been recognized that there is a legislative and regulatory regime required to govern traditional medicines (including, but not limited to, traditional herbal remedies, traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic and Native North American medicines), homeopathic preparations and vitamin and mineral supplements, taking into account the needs of associations, consumers, manufacturers, distributors, growers, importers, exporters, retailers and practitioners. The guiding principle since that time has been to establish a regulatory framework for NHPs that (1) protects the health of consumers (2) respects consumers' access to products and (3) guarantees product safety and quality. With limited implementation timelines, exorbitant fee increases and additional regulatory burdens, the new standards will cause significant issues within the industry and government. The fees, regulations and compliance costs are viewed as unnecessary changes to a system that was deemed to be working after the Natural Health Products Regulation in 2004. Canada already had some of the strictest regulations for NHPs prior to the new regulations. Once fully implemented, it will have the most stringent regulations on NHPs in the world. Many of our trading partners, including the US, Australia, EU, Japan, and China have different classifications based on the product’s composition, claim, and intended use. These factors will determine whether it is a supplement or medicine. As of 2022, Health Canada had licensed over 120,000 NHPs.6 With the increased demand for Natural Health Products and Practices and the increasing regulatory environment, there has been increased awareness regarding the need for legislation that will ensure a better regulatory environment for Natural Health Products and Practices, including calls for a proposed Charter of Health Freedom Act.7 The health and wellness industry recognizes the need for a more balanced regulatory environment and structure, built in consultation with industry, while still achieving the guiding principles of protecting the health of consumers, respecting consumers’ access to products and guaranteeing product safety and quality. Businesses in the health and wellness sector understand the regulations imposed in 2004, citing that they have been the best regulatory regime of NHPs in the world with the expertise and time invested in that process. However, the most recent cost recovery model and amendments to the Food and Drugs Act, as of December 22, 2023,8 will not achieve the desired outcomes without the same due diligence and consultation as previously conducted with industry. Recommendations: That the Government of Canada: 1. Replace the definition of therapeutic product in section 2 of the Food and Drugs Act with the following: therapeutic product means a drug or device or any combination of drugs and devices, but does not include a natural health product within the meaning of the Natural Health Products Regulations. 2. Repeal Section 21.321 of the Food and Drug Act and Subsection 21.8(2) of the Food and Drug Act to reverse the changes imposed by Bill C-47 section 500-504. 3. Eliminate additional fees, until fee levels are re-examined in consultation with industry. 4. Consult with the Natural Health Product industry to come up with a globally competitive strategy to address safety concerns, and the differentiation between medicinal NHPs, supplements, and other consumer products while taking into consideration costs and the regulatory impacts for businesses of all sizes. 5. Implement the Standing Committee on Health’s recommendations from the report: Natural Health Products: A New Vision. 6. Only implement new regulatory changes once backlogs are cleared, operations run efficiently, and policies and procedures are in place to ensure stable operations continue for Natural Health Products. High Frequency Rail The upturn in passenger rail transport is well and truly back on track since the end of the pandemic. More than four million passengers used VIA Rail trains in 2023, representing a 24.7% increase over 2022. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, cumulative ridership increased by 116.2% in the Quebec-Windsor corridor. This enthusiasm for intercity travel on VIA Rail trains is, however, hampered by the fact that VIA Rail owns only 3% of the infrastructure on which its trains run. With 60% of Canada’s population residing along the corridor, the HFR project becomes a strategic issue for Canada in the following respects: • Job creation: the VIA HFR Inc. project is expected to create thousands of jobs over the life of the project. • Economic development: As part of the VIA HFR project, the state-owned company will expand its existing network by more than 1,000 km of track, and expects to see a marked increase in ridership in the Corridor, thanks to reduced travel times, increased punctuality and more departures in certain parts of the Corridor. By connecting more communities with more and more punctual departures, schedules better adapted to business needs and faster journeys, the HFR project will help weave commercial links by simplifying business travel and making it easier to work and rest on board trains. The HFR project will also enable employers in the corridor to expand their labour pool by combining transportation and work. 55 • Tourism: in 2022, tourism accounted for 2.02% of Canadian GDP and 1 in 10 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. Between 2024 and 2030, the Canadian economy is expected to grow by 4.1% annually, while the tourism sector will grow faster, by 5.8% on the same basis. • Nevertheless, growth in the tourism sector is below the global average. Mobility between major urban centres will therefore play a key role in the coming years. The HFR project will make intermodal connections more fluid by increasing the number of transfers between different means of transport, with the aim of attracting more tourists to inland Canada. As such, in 2024, spending on business and leisure travel in Canada will exceed that of 2019. • Optimizing infrastructure: As identified by several chambers of commerce, the creation of a separate passenger rail corridor between Quebec City and Toronto will benefit the freight sector, which will also be able to optimize its own infrastructure and generate more economic activity. Consider, for example, the benefits of further optimizing rail lines to transport coastal products from the Prairies even more efficiently, or consumer goods that travel the distance by rail between British Columbia and Quebec. The HFR project will also free up some of the road traffic on the corridor’s highways, which represents a major congestion issue between cities. • GHG reduction: Thanks to the higher number of frequencies, the punctuality of trains on dedicated tracks and the increased speed of journeys, the train is becoming an alternative to the car. In its 2017 report Stuck in Traffic for 10,000 Years, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce stated that an HFR would cut congestion by 2.4 million cars along the corridor, in addition to reducing highway maintenance costs. The HFR project includes track electrification, so that the newer engines will be ready to run on it. The introduction of an HFR will contribute to Canada’s efforts to meet its new GHG reduction target. • It is worth noting that a number of municipalities have publicly expressed their wish to see the VIA HFR project come to fruition, with the aim of starting up service as soon as possible, including open letters signed by the mayors of Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivieres and Quebec City. More than half of all trip segments are not between two major cities on the current route. Recommendations: That the Government of Canada: 1. Urge VIA HFR to proceed with the entire HFR project as quickly as possible. 2. Gives priority to the HFR project and other passenger rail services on dedicated tracks as essential ways to meet our climate objectives. 3. Develop a strategy to extend HFR service beyond the current Toronto-Quebec City project. Supporting International Students Entry to the Canadian Workforce International students have long been integral to the socio-economic fabric of Canada, contributing significantly not only as a skilled workforce but also enriching the cultural landscape of the communities in which they reside. Historically, these students have faced stringent work limitations that conned their off-campus employment to a maximum of 20 hours per week. In response to acute labor shortages across various sectors, the Government of Canada enacted a temporary measure in November 2022, allowing these students to exceed this limit. Initially set to expire in April 2023, the policy was extended to April 2024, recognizing its broad benefits. The policy was not extended and a 24-hour cap on International Students during the school terms was introduced as of May 1, 2024. International students typically pay between 2.9 and 5.3 times more for their education than domestic students . While there are some financial supports for international students, they are not eligible for many of the supports domestic students receive, like student loan programs. Many rely on working in Canada to help pay for their school and living expenses. Unfortunately, those work experiences are limited. International students often turn to the underground economy to increase their hours. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. These jobs may pay less than minimum wage and it creates a power imbalance as the students have no legal recourse to demand payment because they are working in violation of their study permit. This progressive policy of extending the number of hours the International Students could work has proven vital for both the students and the Canadian economy, particularly in smaller cities and communities like those in Quinte West. By working more hours per week, international students have not only been able to better support themselves financially but have alleviated staffing shortages, filling critical gaps in the labor market, particularly in sectors like hospitality, retail, personal care and entry level manufacturing, which often struggle to attract local workers. These roles, while crucial, are frequently undervalued and understaffed, yet they form the backbone of our local economy, ensuring the operation of community essentials from restaurants to retail stores. The ability for international students to work additional hours has enhanced the students' educational experience by providing them with real-world work experience in a global setting and increased their contributions to the economy through taxes and consumer spending. More importantly, this policy has allowed them to earn a livable wage, which has reduced their need to rely on limited and overburdened social services. The evidence is clear: international students significantly bolster our workforce, particularly in sectors that struggle to attract domestic employees. Their contribution extends beyond filling labor gaps; they enhance our cultural landscape, stimulate economic activity through their spending, and alleviate pressures on our social services by being financially self-sufficient. Allowing these students to work more hours has proven to be a successful policy, not just as a temporary relief measure but as a potential long-term solution to ongoing labor market challenges. However, the benefits currently realized are at risk now with the new measures that have been introduced. The resulting reduction in work hours to 24 hours per week, will not only reverse the gains we have made but could also push many students into precarious living conditions or compel them to seek work in unregulated environments where they are vulnerable to exploitation. Moreover, the current housing crisis and the rising cost of living exacerbate these risks, making it even more critical to maintain and enhance their ability to work sufficient hours. Now the temporary measure of full-time hours during school terms has expired, there is a critical need to not only reassess its impacts but also to advocate for its extension and enhancement based on empirical evidence and the positive outcomes observed. The Quinte West Chamber of Commerce, representing both the business and civic interests of our community, recognizes the dual benefits of this policy to our local economy and the international students’ welfare and thus proposes a strategic approach to make these changes permanent, ensuring the continued prosperity and inclusivity of our community. By providing additional oversight to protect them as they enter the Canadian workforce during their studies, by strategically guiding them towards in demand careers, and by allowing them to work the number of hours necessary to meet the high cost of living in Canada, there is a greater chance they will have success entering the Canadian workforce after graduation. Therefore, the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce proposes a series of strategic measures designed to solidify and expand the current policy framework. These include making the increase in allowable full time work hours permanent, improving regulatory oversight to protect students in the workplace, and providing targeted support services that address both the immediate and long-term needs of international students. Recommendations: That the Government of Canada: 1. Implement a policy allowing international students to work full-time hours during academic terms. 2. Support financial literacy programs tailored for international students to help them manage their finances effectively, including Canadian banking, savings, fraud prevention and tax systems Tax Fairness for Healthcare Professionals The federal Excise Tax Act provides the Canada Revenue Agency with a number of exemptions to the collection of sales tax. Schedule V, Part II of the Act 1 defines healthcare services and section 7 specifically lays out what individual service practitioners are exempt. The Act lists 13 specific services like chiropodic, physiotherapy, and naturopathic services. There are notable registered professions missing from this list, including registered massage therapists. The registered massage therapy sector met the criteria for harmonized sales tax exemption in 20192 by achieving five provinces regulating the profession. These provinces are Prince Edward Island, Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Canadian Massage Therapist Association has requested exemption from the Ministry of Finance, but no action has yet been taken from the federal government. Psychotherapists have been in the same situation, but the federal government is now in the process of approving a sales tax exemption for this mental health profession. It’s fair for the Government of Canada to set baseline criteria for providing HST exemptions to ensure only those held accountable through regulated professions can be afforded this support. However, it’s also incumbent on the Government of Canada to grant approval in a prompt manner when those criteria have been met. Waiting five years with no indication of any action is unacceptable. Recommendations: That the Government of Canada: 1. Level the playing field for all regulated healthcare professions by providing sales tax exemptions for all providers that meet regulation requirements, including Registered Massage Therapists 2. Begin the sales tax exemption process within one year of complying with regulation criteria This past week Kawartha Downs and your local Chamber hosted a trackside chat which featured Mayor of Cavan Monaghan, Matthew Graham, and Otonabee-South Monaghan Mayor Joe Taylor. Also in attendance was the honorable Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, David Piccini. Our VP of Operations & Government Relations, Joel Wiebe led the chat with a Q & A period for our guests.
The conversation began with Minister Piccini addressing the current state of affairs in Ontario. He touched on the big challenges we are facing - labour shortages, foreign workers, and housing. According to Piccini, productivity is taking a hit due to an increasing regulatory burden, labour shortages, and a lack of investment in skills. To combat these issues, he highlighted a new policy initiative which would allow for grade 11 and 12 students to earn co-operative education credits in the skilled trades. Students would also receive a new seal on their diploma recognizing their completion of the program. This will allow students to fast track their learning and hands on experience before entering post-secondary through co-operative learning. This is just one of the ways the minister is addressing our labour shortage by attracting more youth into trades. Another incentive is the provision of grants for individuals to purchase trade materials. This provincially funded grant provides individuals looking to enter the trades industry with that first set of tools to start their careers. Covering the costs of materials for tradesmen can remove the initial investment to enter trades for individuals. Shifting to the topic of foreign workers and immigration, Minister Piccini acknowledged the immense contribution immigration has played in building our workforce, including his own grandfather who immigrated from Italy. However, he emphasized the importance of also growing our own domestic worker base specifically in the services industry. While immigration has mitigated our labour shortage problem, it is important to continue to concentrate efforts on enticing our own local workforce to join various industries experiencing labour shortages as well. Piccini touted the economic success Ontario has experienced without raising taxes and reducing a regulatory environment, pointing out that Ontario is the only province that has not raised taxes, and this has contributed to over $60 billion in revenue. In addition, he proudly mentioned before the pandemic we produced “0% of PPE, now 90% of PPE manufacturing is produced in Ontario” further illustrating our progress in providing a prosperous and viable market for manufacturers here in Ontario. Next up, Cavan Monaghan Mayor Matthew Graham, and Otonabee-South Monaghan, Mayor Joe Taylor set the stage. They both had a lot to say on municipal matters such as housing, employment lands, and economic development. The mayors had their own set of experiences within their townships but faced the same bureaucratic challenges in lengthy approvals for land development. In positive news, both townships are experiencing progress with hundreds of housing units in development! For example, Mayor Graham spoke on Millbrook overseeing 600-1200 units in the process of being built. Although housing units are progressing, the cost of development remains a concern. One person for instance, spent $2 million just on buying land and another $2 million on hydro. Meanwhile Mayor Taylor touched on the need to develop land on cross-border boundaries with the city of Peterborough. Taylor said that “some townships do not have the capital to service city-owned lands and needs cooperation from the city.” With more cooperation this could lead to increased development in areas identified for growth between municipal boundaries. Both mayors also spoke on the significant delays for developing employment lands. Graham mentioned “one land assessment cost $300,000 and then took four years for approval.” To mitigate these lengthy delays Graham proposes a “streamlining of services where municipalities can go to one body to meet provincial regulations rather than go through multiple bodies.” The mayors closed off in talking about how meeting the needs of their township is their number one priority. Mayor Graham mentioned a thoughtful point about bureaucracy acknowledging that while it can be frustrating, these are processes of our democratic system. “Some people hate bureaucracy but a lot of these bureaucratic processes and policies are democratic and to undermine them would be anti-democratic.” Despite these challenges, it was refreshing to hear both mayors remain optimistic about the future of their townships. Finally, it was a very insightful discussion, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the work being done by our local mayors and the Minister of Labour for businesses in our community. Whether it’s Minister Piccini’s focus on tackling labour shortages or the ongoing work of our mayors to drive housing and employment land development, the topics discussed help address key challenges businesses are facing, such as labour shortages and rising regulatory burdens. The solutions offered by Piccini—encouraging youth to enter the trades and reducing the financial barriers to entry—will provide students with early exposure to the trades and fast-track their skills development. This means businesses can expect a more skilled and prepared workforce in the near future. Additionally, the mayors' focus on reducing bureaucratic delays and fostering cooperation between municipalities and the province would create more opportunities for business growth and investment in our community. It’s encouraging to see proactive steps being taken at both the provincial and municipal levels to build a better future for all. Our community needs some creative solutions for our current housing and homelessness crisis. Right now, we are in a complex situation. Housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable for those who are working-class citizens, and those on the margins of society who simply cannot afford housing. With a vacancy rate of just 1.0%, both groups are competing for a limited housing supply.
However, there is a glimmer of hope with some creative ideas coming forward. We have seen short-term success in our local housing initiatives with modular housing and plans are in motion to increase our housing supply. One of these projects is from the Brock Mission. Just last month at a local news conference they announced plans to build a permanent 50-unit transitional housing project, which was attended by our own VP of Operations and Government Relations, Joel Wiebe. This 50-unit building will be a transitional housing project, operating in a similar fashion to the organization’s current shelters on Murray Street and Cameron House on Chemong Road. Although the location for the project has not yet been finalized, The Brock Mission is asking for a one-time support payment of $250,000 from the City of Peterborough to cover the costs of professional services and building permit process. In the meantime, we have seen short-term success with our temporary modular housing project. According to a report from the City of Peterborough, between November 27, 2023, to June 30th, 2024. There was a 96% decrease in calls from the previous site of the encampment which was on the current site of modular housing. Back when there was an encampment on Wolfe Street, police were called 95 times between November 27, 2022, and June 30, 2023. Between Nov. 28, 2023, to June 30th, 2024, police were only called 4 times. The current statistics paint an optimistic picture. So far, one person has moved into more permanent housing, and another has secured a home. Four people living in the cabins are employed. Additionally,17 people were evicted from the site. For context, four of these evictions happened in the last 3.5 months and 13 happened in the first 5 months of the program. This may paint a negative picture for modular housing, but 33 people have been housed for 6+ months indicating more than half have adjusted to the site. While the city is considering expanding modular housing, Peterborough’s low vacancy rate is still a big worry. Young families are left with limited housing availability in a time where Peterborough is experiencing a growing population. According to a report from Mike Moffat from the PLACE Centre, Peterborough’s population has significantly increased from upwards of about 2,500 people in just one year. We are seeing more families moving into Peterborough because they are being priced out of the GTA, but this only adds to the pressure on the housing market. This pressure is being felt, where 10 individuals in the modular housing project are waiting for housing to become available. In light of a demand for housing, Habitat for Humanity, recently got approval for a five-story, 41-unit condo on 78 and 82 Lansdowne St W. This will offer low-income families the chance to buy a home with a low-interest, geared-to-income mortgage. It is refreshing to see creative local solutions from Habit for Humanity to address our housing needs. Together, The Brock Mission and Habitat for Humanity projects have a lot of potential to help increase affordable accessible housing in our community. We are finally laying the groundwork to support not only those experiencing homelessness but also the young families who want to make Peterborough their home. Ultimately, we’re going to need more involvement from our Provincial government to fund and support more projects like this. A new campaign called “Solve the Crisis,” led by a group of Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) was presented at a conference in Ottawa, hosted by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
The conference included members from several caucuses and brought together some big names such as the minister of housing, mental health and addictions, and the minister of health. Those in attendance were Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC), and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC). The three caucuses announced their collective support for the “Solve the Crisis” campaign. On a local note, Mayor Jeff Leal accepted a municipal innovation award on behalf of the city of Peterborough from the AMO. The award recognizes the city of Peterborough's innovative modular housing community project which started in 2023. The project helped to end a tent encampment of people experiencing homelessness on Wolfe Street. According to a CBC report, the modular housing project has successfully housed 47 people out of 50 units. A report by AMO in 2023, found there were at least 1400 homeless encampments in Ontario communities. The encampments were situated in communities of any size, urban, small town rural, and northern Ontario. This eye-opening statistic set in motion the call for urgency in this crisis. The leading organization is the OBCM which includes mayors of 29 cities with a population of 100,000 or more that makes up about 70% of Ontario’s population. The OBCM thus advocates for issues and policies for Ontario’s largest cities. At the conference the OBCM highlighted their demands for urgent action on homelessness and the opioid crisis, known as “Solve the Crisis.” The conference addressed the reality of an issue that continues to grow where municipalities do not have the sufficient resources and support to combat homelessness. The campaign calls on specific demands from the provincial government and federal government. This involves creating a ministry responsible for overseeing housing needs and mental health supports, as well as a taskforce to develop an Ontario Action Plan. In addition, they’re asking for more funding, tools and resources to address homelessness. During the conference, Health Minister the Hon. Sylvia Jones’ announced that the province would be investing $378 million into 19 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs which will add up to 375 supportive housing units. On top of this, the province has implemented a ban on consumption sites within 200 metres of a school or childcare centre. Several mayors from OBCM voiced their gratitude for further investment from the province. Mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton stating, “Grateful for the Ford government’s focus on treatment for addictions and not band-aid solutions. I share their concern about the proliferation of safe injection sites in area close to families and children. This needs to stop". Looking ahead, the OBCM, and our own mayor, remain steadfast on tackling this crisis and collaborating with all levels of government. In an interview with the Peterborough examiner, Leal mentioned he has had productive conversations with the minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Micheal Tibollo’s to help address our local needs. Leal said, “we want to continue to impress upon the need to have additional funding, both from a treatment perspective and (for) supportive housing”. The city of Peterborough has already received both federal and provincial funding for housing, drug supervision and treatment programs. These include the current supervised consumption site, affordable housing and a future residential treatment centre. Locally, we met with Fourcast to get a better understanding of Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment Services Site (CTS). Fourcast is the lead agency operating the CTS site here in Peterborough. The CTS which has been active since June 2022, has seen a large success in preventing overdoses according to their 2022-2023 report. While a CTS is controversial in recent news and from communities, Fourcast involves community perspectives from community and business leaders in their operations with a community committee. Therefore, any community concerns will be reviewed in the committee. If you would like to see the past year's report on the CTS, please click the following link. While the AMO acknowledges there have been some positive steps towards action, more is needed to combat this growing problem. With the success from modular housing and our own supervised consumption site, it will be interesting to see which municipalities will have the HART hubs. Thanks to the OBCM and pressure from Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Canada, the homelessness crisis in Ontario is getting the attention it needs. As global interest in Basic Income grows, Ontario's brief pilot offers insights and raises questions about the potential for more sustainable social assistance models.
This week on the VOB we are discussing Basic Income (BI) - a concept that proposes providing people with a livable income that helps improve housing and health outcomes. The brief pilot project in Ontario did not provide enough data to get a good idea of its impact. It’s time to look at alternatives to the current social assistance status quo and see if there are better models. Basic income would be set at 75% of the median income in Canada. BI operates through a negative income tax (NIT), by assessing an individual’s tax return where their earned income would be reduced by 50 cents per dollar. This would then determine the BI amount they could receive. Ontario started its BI pilot project in the fall of 2017. BI aims to test how a livable income for couples and individuals would provide sustainability and how sustainability impacts employment, education, life, health, and financial security outcomes. An individual could receive up to $16,989 with an extra $500 monthly and couples could receive up to $24,000. Notably, BI would be a substitute for people on ODSP and OW. The BI pilot project recruited 4,000 participants across three cities: Thunder Bay, Hamilton, and Lindsay. The pilot project was meant to last 3 years, but only lasted 18 months. The gross cost for the three years was $150 million. Unfortunately, the pilot project was short-lived, and we could not fully analyze the impacts of the BI. These impacts could demonstrate labor market participation and healthcare use on BI. Additionally, no data collection was done on the control group that did not receive BI, limiting our ability to compare and observe whether economic and life conditions improved without BI. After the shutdown of the BI pilot project, recipients went back to our current social assistance, which are Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). OW currently supplies up to $733 monthly and ODSP supplies up to $1368 a month. For someone trying to re-enter the labor market, $733 is extremely difficult to live on when a rental for a one-bedroom apartment in Peterborough is $1,173. ODSP can cover rent but with very little left over. As taxpayers, we are concerned with the costs of these projects. If these projects come to fruition, will the cost increase taxes? Will we see a decrease in labor market participation? These are valid concerns from both business owners and taxpayers. For context, the Ontario Government is currently spending $3.7 billion less than required to fund existing programs and announced commitments on social assistance until 2026, and as of this year, our budget is short $0.7 billion. The 2024-2025 budget stands at $214.5 billion with social assistance covering 9.3% of the budget. From a sample of 200 participants in Hamilton, there was 24% of people who were unemployed before and during the pilot. 11% were employed but became unemployed during the pilot. 6% were employed before the pilot but became unemployed to pursue a post-secondary education. 5% of participants found work while on the pilot project. In total, there were almost two-thirds of people worked with 54% of people working before and during the pilot excluding the 5% who found work while on the pilot. 35% of people in total did not work during or before the pilot. What is noteworthy is the 11% who were employed but became unemployed during the pilot. The Ontario government spends $85 billion on healthcare annually. In the same survey, 33% of respondents reported a reduction in hospital emergency room visits, and 83% noted increased access to over-the-counter medications. With a third of participants reducing their hospital visits, this could alleviate the strain on our healthcare system and improve people’s standard of living by decreasing the frequency of visits from lower-income individuals. Such a shift could potentially lead to cost savings for taxpayers by reducing the need to service a higher volume of patients. Short-term results from the BI pilot project indicate potential cost savings for our healthcare system and the reduced effects from the rising cost of living. It’s time to look at all the options when it comes to assisting those living on the margins. The Peterborough Irish Club, joined by the Irish Consul General, announces a new website dedicated to the historical Irish nine ships.
This past week, your local Chamber of Commerce hosted members of the Peterborough Irish Club (PIC)and Irish Consul General Janice McGann. Members of the PIC gathered to present their new website documenting the Peter Robinson nine ships' immigration to Canada in 1825. In attendance were guests who were descendants of the people of the nine ships from Ireland. The voyage of the nine Irish ships to Canada departed on May 6th, 1825, from County Cork, Ireland. The ships carried 2,024 individuals who traversed the Atlantic Ocean to reach Canada for a new life. The nine ships would leave a legacy in founding Peterborough and many other communities in the surrounding areas. The newly created website documents a detailed history of the nine ships led by Peter Robinson from start to finish. The website features information on the journey of the nine ships into the City of Peterborough, a biography of Peter Robinson, the ships, and even the ship’s list of travelers—the content of this website is derived in partnership from the local historians of Trent Valley Archives. The launch of the Nine Ships website is also particularly important in the upcoming 200th anniversary next year. This celebration will host many activities such as boat cruises, tours, plays, and art displays. Local First Nations have also been invited to participate for the 200th anniversary. The commemoration will seek to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the immigrants from nine ships who immigrated from Ireland. Several members of the PIC gave their own words on the importance of being a descendant of 9 ships and the pride of their ancestors who embraced the challenge of a new life in Canada. Some members from the PIC and McGann acknowledged the complex histories intertwined with local First Nations. This involved the local Anishinaabe people having to adjust to their new Irish Neighbors. According to the Nine Ships website, the history of Peterborough credits the immigration of the Nine Ships to the founding of the city of Peterborough! After arriving in Cobourg, the Irish settlers transported their possessions up to Peterborough. Upon arrival in downtown Peterborough, they were then given directions to their land administrated by Peter Robinson, whose office was at Water and Simcoe Streets. From there, each family was scattered around Peterborough County working to build farms and communities. The 200th anniversary hopes to celebrate the legacy left by the Irish settlers of the nine ships. The commemoration event will take place next August and will hope to attract visitors and descendants of the nine ships from as far away as Australia and the United States. This event will serve as a great information gateway for future visitors wanting to know more about the historical impact of the Irish people from these nine ships. Irish Consul General expressed her support for the upcoming calendar of events and the launch of the new website. McGann highlighted that “immigration is an act of bravery and resilience, where there is no chance of going back. Canada offered hope for a better life and opportunity. Today we are blessed to have an Irish Community that thrives and continues to keep our heritage alive.” The meeting concluded with a gift to McGann from the Peterborough Irish Club thanking her for her visit to the city of Peterborough. For all those interested, the website can be accessed at nineships1825.com. Exciting Visit by US Consul General to Peterborough
The City of Peterborough and the Chamber recently hosted Baxter Hunt, the US Consul General, and his wife Deborah. The meeting took place at the newly opened Canoe Museum, marking the US Consul General’s first trip outside of the GTA. The meeting was chaired by Sarah Budd, CEO of the Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce. In attendance were Mayor Jeff Leal, Warden Bonnie Clark, and CAO Jasbir Raina. Several business owners and representatives from Trent University and Fleming College were also present. The meeting began with comments from Mayor Jeff Leal and Warden Bonnie Clark who expressed their gratitude to the Consul General for visiting Peterborough. Hunt reiterated the rich economic relationship between Canada and the US and stressed the need to continue strengthening business ties. Throughout the meeting, several businesses and organizations showcased their roles within the community. Common themes discussed included ways to strengthen our cross-border relationship. Some businesses mentioned wanting to possibly expand into the US, while others noted their existing connections with US cities. Hunt added that 35 US states have Canada as their biggest trading partner, stressing the immense potential to strengthen our economic partnerships. Leal highlighted Peterborough’s key water system as a valuable resource. Peterborough's geographical location, marked by rivers and lakes, offers abundant opportunities to explore in collaboration with our American neighbors. Trent and Fleming were also mentioned for their renowned water science programs that have attracted American students. Hunt noted that businesses looking to expand into the US have a great point of reference in Toronto. The American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AmCham) serves as a valuable resource for connecting partners from the US and discovering advantages in different US states. This would be a great resource for companies in Peterborough County looking to tap into US markets. Hunt further encouraged businesses or organizations with questions about US visas, to reach out to the American Consulate General in Toronto. Moreover, he suggested that businesses or organizations looking to invest in the US market, should consider SelectUSA, which hosts their annual summit in Washington DC that attracts 4,500 attendees from around the world to promote investment in the US. To close the meeting, Hunt reciprocated the growing interest in strengthening the cross-border relationship, highlighting the abundant opportunities and attractions in Peterborough. This meeting marked the beginning of a great opportunity to enhance our cross-border relationship, with Hunt remarking “I’m already feeling bullish on Peterborough.”. City plans to hike property taxes on businesses in favour of lower taxes for residents hit a roadblock.
During last year’s 2025 budget talks, the city increased Peterborough commercial to industrial property tax to 1.65 times the residential rate, up from 1.5 times. This hike amounted to collecting approximately 22% more property taxes from local businesses, but thankfully this move was rejected by the provincial government. Currently the Municipal Act limits commercial and industrial property taxes to a 0.6-1.1 ratio. To put it into perspective, as of 2023, Peterborough businesses paid 150% of what residents pay on industrial and commercial properties. Many municipalities are charging in excess of the mandated ratio of 0.6 - 1.1. For example, cities outside of the GTA pay on average commercial and industrial tax ratio of 1.81 - 2.32. Cities within the GTA such as Toronto, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, and Markham, pay an average rate of 1.94 - 2.06 for commercial to industrial tax. It is evident cities all over Ontario, not just Peterborough, are operating outside the 0.6 - 1.1 tax ratio. According to the Peterborough Examiner, the reason behind this tax increase for Peterborough derives from the 10.28% increase in costs. Included in these costs is $2.1 million more to cover salaries for municipal workers, $2.1 million more to cover salaries for worker benefits and $1 million more to run Peterborough Police Services. Without this tax, this leaves the city with a $3.1 million shortfall. This means the city will need to look for other ways to generate revenue. Our Chamber here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas actively participated in bringing this proposal to the provincial government. Joel Wiebe, Vice President of Operations & Government Relations, met with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to advocate on behalf of businesses in Peterborough who are disappointed in this increase. With the rejection from the ministry to increase the tax ratios, councilors need more time to work on creating a fair and equitable tax ratio for businesses in Peterborough. Increasing tax ratios is not a solution to reduce costs for the city. Businesses should not face the burden of reducing costs at times where widespread inflation is affecting everyone. Mayor Jeff Leal reiterated a previous warning he made earlier, “People thought it was a hyperbole when I said we would hit the wall...there’s the wall. Right there.”. His statement highlighted the city’s dead-end in finding solutions to reduce costs. With the proposed tax hike rejected, Leal suggested gathering additional revenue from city partners. For instance, he hinted Trent University, as Trent is not required to pay property taxes to the city. Furthermore, Leal proposed “it is time to have serious discussions with our partners, we can’t keep going like this” Leal said. With cost recoveries lagging, we need alternative solutions to help reduce future costs. This will require aid from local partners and generating revenue through other means, not businesses. The city will have to make some tough decisions when it comes to next year’s budget. Costs to run the municipality are going up, but it cannot push off those increases by arbitrarily hiking taxes on businesses to minimize the impact on residential taxpayers. Mayor Leal is committing to growing our local business base by increasing our commercial and industrial assessment base from 20 to 30 per cent and increasing our GDP growth rate from 15 – 30 per cent. This will benefit all taxpayers by growing our economic base, thereby generating more tax revenue for the city. This week on the Voice of Business was a step in the right direction for the future growth and development of Peterborough. Siddhartha Nath, Consul General of India, held his first meeting outside of the GTA. Joel Wiebe, our VP of Operations & Government Relations and Sarah Budd, our President & CEO were present and led this open discussion.
Consul Nath was hosted by Mayor Jeff Leal and CAO Jasbir Raina on behalf of the City and Warden Bonnie Clark on behalf of the County. They were joined by a group of local businesses for a discussion on economic partnerships with India. Our focus of this meeting was to foster the relationship between the consulate of India and Peterborough. There were many issues discussed at this meeting. Several concerns were raised around the cap on international students and its impact on local postsecondary educational institutions as well as recruitment for local businesses, including long-term care homes. With a staffing shortage like this, we are risking the quality of service that goes into taking care of our growing elderly population. The Chamber voiced the need for a strong relationship with India. Many businesses rely on bringing new Indo-Canadian workers to maintain their staffing numbers. Local businesses are relying on recruiting workers from India for roles like IT. With the shortage of international students, this could in turn lead to a staffing shortage. After the concerns were voiced by local businesses, Mayor Jeff Leal and Bonnie Clarke voiced their proactive solutions to Siddhartha. Leal emphasized the need to increase the visibility of Peterborough and let others know about the advantages of Peterborough. Clark reiterated that we need to work more with the Indian government to show what Peterborough can offer and form more economic partnerships. Nath responded to the Leal’s and Clarks comments stating that he would work within the consulate to address our community concerns and conduct further investment promotion for Peterborough. Nath also stated the importance of reaching out to the Indian Consulate if there were any more concerns. Finally, the echoing message was “If we want to see Peterborough grow, we need more investment and investment” said Leal and furthermore, a strong relationship with the consulate of India can help facilitate this. An average of eight people die every day in Ontario from drug poisonings. That’s 3,000 people every year.
It’s an issue affecting communities across Ontario. The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is echoing the comments of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) in its latest policy primer Beyond Emergency Declarations: Charting Ontario’s Course Through the Substance Use and Overdose Crisis. In fact, our local chamber is leading a new Chamber working group under the OCC involving chambers of commerce and boards of trade from across the province to share best practices and find meaningful solutions to one of the biggest issues we’re dealing with. In a press release about the new policy primer, OCC President and CEO Daniel Tisch says: “Businesses across Ontario find themselves near the frontlines of an evolving social crisis that they are ill-equipped to manage. With rising security costs and dwindling customer traffic, they see risk to their employees, their customers, and their future. Our report also highlights high fatality rates in some sectors, such as construction. Without urgent action, our province faces devastating, long-term socio-economic harm.” The goal as stated in the report is to frame the ongoing conversation about addiction management by simplifying the complex narrative surrounding substance use, bridging the knowledge gap among stakeholders and emphasizing the need for evidence-based, community-informed solutions that prioritize public health principles, prevent mortality, and improve recovery outcomes. The report itself is only seven pages and packed with good information. It’s well worth a read, but I’ll pull out a few key points. Peterborough is well above average in our number of opioid deaths. While Ontario averages 17.6 deaths per 100,000 people, Peterborough sits at 53.2. All of those with higher rates are in Northern Ontario in places like Thunder Bay, Timmins and Sudbury. The report notes that addictions issues are hitting northern, rural and First Nations communities particularly hard. There is a lot of context when it comes to which communities are dealing with significant issues. For example, the issue in First Nations communities is magnified by the effects of colonization and residential schools as well as issues like inadequate housing and poor access to clean water. Access to healthcare and addictions services have a big impact on addictions and mental health issues, something that also creates more barriers in more rural communities. Seeing Peterborough with three times the opioid toxicity mortality rate of the provincial average is humbling. Our community is hurting. It’s hitting our families, our workplaces, and our friends. Simranzeet Singh Vig, Senior Policy Analyst at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, sums things up well: “Collaboration between industry, government, healthcare leaders and community organizations is paramount. We believe that through improved data collection that enables direct comparisons of provincial outcomes, Ontario and other jurisdictions can learn from one another and mitigate the impacts on our communities.” The report ends with three recommendations which are themselves merely the next steps in this discussion: Ontario stands at a pivotal juncture in confronting the substance use and overdose crisis. While stakeholders welcomed provincial commitments in the Roadmap to Wellness Plan and additional investments in Ontario’s Addictions Recovery Fund, Ontario’s strategy must better engage and reflect the concerns of businesses and local communities, who find themselves at or near the frontlines of the crisis. Actions should include: 1. A review of the operating procedures and practices of existing interventions to reduce the unintended harm that can be caused to communities, while ensuring the crisis is managed through a public health approach that prevents mortality, improves recovery outcomes, reduces stigma and respects the dignity of all people. 2. Improved data collection that enables direct comparisons of provincial outcomes to ensure that Ontario and other jurisdictions can learn from one another. 3. Support for both a strategy and a culture of collaboration – with industry, government, healthcare, and community organizations working together to mitigate the impacts of this crisis on people and communities everywhere. |
AuthorThe Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community. Archives
February 2025
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