A recent announcement by the new provincial government to repeal and replace Bill 148, a piece of legislation that was deemed “too much, too fast” by chambers of commerce across Ontario, is welcomed by the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce.
“These changes are encouraging,” said Shirley de Silva, president and CEO of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce. “We see the corrective steps being proposed through the Making Ontario Open for Business as being a bold step toward creating a stronger and more prosperous province.”
The new legislation will maintain some important provisions such as emergency leave for cases of domestic or sexual violence and 3 weeks holiday after 5 years of working for the same employer. It also includes much-needed improvements to the ratio of journeyperson-to-apprentice.
“It is now more critical than ever to create an economy that ensures both employers and employees are prepared for the labour market needs of tomorrow,” said de Silva. The compounding labour reforms and unintended consequences of Bill 148 came at too high a cost to Ontario’s economy.”
According to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, in the months following the introduction of Bill 148, prices have increased for everyday consumer goods and services, impacting every family in Ontario and in the long term, Bill 148 was expected to put between 50,000 and 180,000 jobs at risk and cost the economy at least $150 million.
Ontario College of Trades
In announcing changes to the skilled trades apprenticeship system, the new provincial government sees the need to be more responsive to the needs of the economy and to address a dire labour shortage.
The Ontario College of Trades has become overly focused on enforcement and regulation, limiting its ability to serve the public interest by attracting and training new tradespeople.
With that in mind, the Sarnia Lambton Chamber joined with the Ontario Chamber Network in advocating for a modernization of the College of Trades and the apprenticeship application system, promoting the skilled trades as a viable career option for young people, and revising the system to create more opportunities within the skilled trades.
“Because those reforms were not made through the Ontario College of Trades, the recommended dismantling of that needless bureaucracy is going forward, with responsibility for trades regulation going back to the Province,” said de Silva. “We welcome that move.”
At a workshop event being jointly sponsored by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce—through its Global Business Opportunities Community (GBOC)—and the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, business owners will discover ways to “take the LEAP” when it comes to growing their business globally.
Are you looking to: sharpen your competitive edge, develop a business plan, launch a new product, expand, apply for a business loan or develop a succession plan?
There was excitement in the air at the Imperial Theatre in downtown Sarnia, with dozens of nominees gathering with hundreds of their, colleagues, friends, and family for one of the signature events of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.
The Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, along with title sponsor 
More than 300 business leaders from every corner of the country—including Sarnia-Lambton—came together last month to focus on the challenges they face and come up with ways to address them.
With online and telephone voting in the City of Sarnia now taking place, an event held last Wednesday (the day before voting began) was a timely opportunity for candidates to put their best foot forward.
Lambton Public Health is asking for the help of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce as it looks ahead to the upcoming winter season, with all its snow and ice challenges.
This is a new feature that will appear from time to time in the Chamber newsletter. Members are invited to contribute brief items at no cost.
The OCC’s 