Government Advocacy

Government Advocacy

The Chamber of Commerce network has been vocal on this from a number of angles:

Making sure that everything is fair. And obviously it isn't, since anyone with a "food" aisle is allowed to open.
Allowing for delivery and curb-side pick up, which they've done.
Asking for transparency in reporting, so we know how the virus is actually spreading.
Asking for a certification program, so that businesses who are compliant (all public health safety measures in place), can open.
We also push hard for a "Buy Local" sensibility (#LoveLocalPtbo) and it's encouraging how many people are going out of their way to support small business.

Chamber Issues Letter to Premier Doug Ford
Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce News Release, March 23, 2021

PETERBOROUGH: Businesses in Ontario need a uniform and equitable set of safety standards to govern their ability to serve their customers through this public health crisis.

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Brampton Board of Trade, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, Milton Chamber of Commerce, Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce, Ottawa Board of Trade, and Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce have all jointly sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford asking for the Province to adopt the Responsible Business Protocol.

The protocol asks the Province to issue restrictions on a business’ ability to serve its customers based on its adherence to health and safety protocols for each business sector instead of a perception of essentiality. At the heart of the protocol is the understanding that compliance with safety standards is an integral part of running a business. It impacts every size and sector, from retail and restaurants to construction and manufacturing.

“We’ve had a year to learn and develop better ways of enacting restrictions for the business community,” says Stuart Harrison, President and CEO of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. “We see the Responsible Business Protocol as a way to bring in public health restrictions equally across business sectors and give businesses the stability they need to continue adapting and investing.”

Read the Letter

Mayor and Warden's Task force for Economic Recovery
The Peterborough Chamber is a member of the task force. Follow along with the work of the task force.
Learn more

Municipal Government

Letter to Peterborough City Council on March 27, 2020 from #TeamPtbo
On March 30, 2020 Council voted in favour of deferring late payment fees for tax payments due March 31, 2020 and May 31, 2020.
A more fulsome plan and update on the City's finances is expected in early May and #TeamPtbo is working on a letter to inform that report.
#TeamPtbo conference calls three times a week
Letter to City Council & County Council ahead of COVID-19 Report to Council on April 22, 2020 from #TeamPtbo

Business Community is asking for the following relief measures:

Cancellation of development service department fees (building, planning, zoning to stimulate construction activities)
Waiving of parking fees and permits (those employers pay to have spots in City-owned parking lots)
Business License Fees (defer payment of fees directly to the city)
Deferred commercial taxes to be paid back interest-free and spread out over 24 months
Consult with businesses on impact of new measures to be put in places

What has been implemented as a result of lobbying:

Transit Fees waived (to help employees get to work at essential service businesses)
Noise By-Laws (Adjusted to reflect the provincial order to allow trucks in at all hours to stock essential businesses)
Waive utilities bills for three months and Place all Time-of-Use customers on off-peak pricing (Peterborough Utilities Corporation has waived late payment fees, security deposits still being held on accounts were applied to bills)

Peterborough Chamber helps pen letter to Minister of Finance on Patio Liquor Licences
The recommendation is that the Government of Ontario should ensure the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario has the ability to expedite the approvals process for restaurants and bars looking for a seasonal license and those who currently have a liquor license but have to expand due to physical distancing requirements.
Read the Letter

Provincial Government

Emailed our MPP Dave Smith with a list of concerns from our local business and echoing calls from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Participate on a conference call with MPP Smith and series of virtual town halls

Peterborough Chamber helps pen letter to Minister of Finance on Patio Liquor Licences
The recommendation is that the Government of Ontario should ensure the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario has the ability to expedite the approvals process for restaurants and bars looking for a seasonal license and those who currently have a liquor license but have to expand due to physical distancing requirements.
Read the Letter

Business Community is asking for the following relief measures:

Commercial Rent (A program to help businesses and landlords with commercial rent concerns)
Create a fund to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) finance remote work options.
A technology grant for e-commerce development (perhaps through the Digital Main Street program)
Create a tax credit for health practitioners who must go into quarantine (as this could impact their livelihood)
Accelerate payments owed to private sector and non-profit vendors (to help get much-needed cash into the hands of SMEs as quickly as possible)
Extend the deadline for submissions on any proposed provincial regulations open for comments and yet to be in effect.

What has been implemented as a result of lobbying:

Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program
Work with municipalities to delay or temporarily eliminate taxes and fees on business (this is done by delaying the deadline to give the education tax portion of the tax bill to the province)
Support Provinces in delaying collection of Employer Health Tax and WSIB (On March 25, 2020 the province retroactively reduced the Employer Health Tax (EHT) and temporarily increase the exemption from $490,000 to $1 million and deferred $1.9 billion of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) premiums and expenses for employers for 6 months (August 31, 2020)

Federal Government

Emails to MP Monsef, MP Schmale, and MP Lawrence throughout the development of the CERB, CEBA and two Temporary Wage Subsidy programs
Participate on weekly conference calls with MP, MPP, Warden, Mayor and Township Mayors along with First Nations chiefs, and many of #TeamPtbo

Business Community is asking for the following relief measures:

Continued thought on childcare and how to create a system that works to get people back to work
Adjust the Canada Business Emergency Account to reflect that many businesses fall below the $50K payroll threshold to access the loan and consider further dropping the lower end to capture more solopreneurs and businesses in our more rural areas. Further push to include even more solopreneurs, employers who pay via dividends and those who employ contract workers.
A program to help businesses and landlords with commercial rent (Announced April 16, 2020 that a Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program is being created)
Incentivize individuals and companies with resources to invest in small businesses
Help businesses, particularly SMEs, finance remote work options; more technology grants for e-commerce
Place a moratorium on the introduction of new regulations that are non-essential
Work with major credit card providers to waive interest on corporate cards for six months (up to $25,000)
Waive the approx. 1% fee for keying in a credit card transaction

What has been implemented as a result of lobbying:

Sliding scale Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Canadian Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program with Ontario
CEBA given new payroll threshold of $20K - $1.5M; and on May 20, 2020 CEBA eligibility requirements were expanded to include solopreneurs, employers who pay via dividends and those who employ contract workers.
More direct funding for employees (Wage subsidy program of 10% is still in place; wage subsidy of 75% announced after lobbying efforts)
Help affected businesses, particularly SMEs, access emergency credit and capital swiftly and interest free (Canada Emergency Business Account announced along with more money for BDC and EDC to loan)
Defer tax deadlines, audits and payments (both for individuals and businesses)
Accelerate government payments to private and non-profit vendors
Provide provisional extensions for temporary foreign workers already in Canada
Delay collection of sales tax (GST/HST) (June 30, 2020)
Duties on imports deferred (June 30, 2020)

Chambers host Town Hall with Ministers Joly and Monsef
About a dozen questions were asked and answered during this 45 minute session on Monday evening. Peterborough and Kawartha Chamber members submitted questions on rent relief, bringing back workers, tourism, and programs available to small business.
Watch the video

More to come as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic together.

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