Breaking News - Tariff Support - The Chamber is your source for Tariff Updates. Check out our page for the latest Tariff Resources, SUpport & Events
Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics

Moving through recovery and into prosperity

11/11/2021

 
Picture
The Government of Ontario recently released its fall economic statement, a document aimed at laying out how the government plans to move our province ahead through recovery and into prosperity.
The report covers investments in infrastructure, healthcare, skills training, and attracting increased investment.
Chambers of Commerce from across Ontario are advocating for more supports for small and medium-sized businesses.
“The Government of Ontario is taking reasonable steps to support healthy communities and economic development across the province as we emerge from the pandemic,” says Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “We welcome the government’s focus on investing in healthcare, 
infrastructure, and skills. However, ensuring a robust and inclusive economic recovery will not come 
immediately, particularly in absence of clarity and predictability for business. Further supports for business are still required because workers and the economy at large are better off if business prospers. 
Specifically, we would like to see the Province address businesses and sectors impacted by the unplanned minimum wage increase and Ontario’s labour crisis.”
The minimum wage hike, which includes a 20 percent increase for alcohol servers, 
will have ramifications through an industry that has been greatly impacted by the pandemic and is still 
struggling to recover. The Chamber supports fair wages and appreciates that wages need to increase, but that lack of consultation and the suddenness of the increase are problematic. A sudden hike in fixed costs should be rolled out with enhanced access to capital and relief programs for businesses being most impacted by the unplanned raise. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is also advocating for targeted supports for small business that include energy efficiency and technology adoption programs.
The fall economic statement also includes new tax credits for Ontarians to travel 
within the province, a move that will have local benefits for our tourism and 
hospitality sector.
Another area of investment is a new Small Business Digitization Action Plan, which will see more targeted investment in helping our businesses pivot into the digital age.
At the heart of the issues facing a lot of businesses right now is labour. It’s a complicated issue with many factors. No one solution will pull us through, which is why we’re asking the Government of Ontario to develop a strategic plan to address it.
To address the current workforce challenges, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce is recommending that in the upcoming 2022 budget, the Government of Ontario:
• Extend regional 
immigration pilots to bring more economic immigrants to rural and remote 
communities.
• Provide new immigrants with more information upon arrival about employment opportunities in smaller 
communities, particularly where there are jobs relevant to their skills.
• Work with other provinces and territories to remove 
barriers to interprovincial labour mobility and trade.
• Implement the 
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System as a critical component of 
economic recovery and women’s participation in the labour force.
• Support workers by 
requiring app-based 
platforms to contribute to flexible benefit funds and establish a committee of stakeholders to discuss the protections and needs of workers on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure the new service 
delivery model for skilled trades is streamlined, 
client-facing, and equitable, as outlined in the OCC’s 
submission to the Skilled Trades Panel Consultation.
We’re also recommending the 2022 budget include targets, timelines, and investments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while making investments in our 
communities to manage the impacts of climate change and boost our local green economy.
We’re making progress in our economic recovery. Just as this pandemic is 
unprecedented in recent times, so too will be our recovery. It’s imperative that we keep open dialogue as we shape what our recovery is going to look like and what future we want to build.

Comments are closed.

    Author

    The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community. 

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.  ​All rights reserved.
175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G6
Phone: (705) 748-9771  |  (705) 743-2331  
Home    |    Calendar    |   Site Map   |    Privacy    |    Accessibility
Join the Chamber
Picture
MemberClicks