The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), the provincial organization that includes the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce in its network of local affiliates, has provided the Government of Ontario with 13 tangible recommendations for the upcoming provincial budget to build a stronger Ontario and create a business climate which encourages growth.
The OCC presented the submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, calling on the government to prioritize small business tax reforms, strategic infrastructure investment, and value-based procurement in Budget 2019.
The full submission from the OCC can be viewed HERE.
In an OCC survey last year, 48% of Ontario businesses indicated they were not confident about the province’s economic outlook and 61% of these cited high tax rates as a reason. As the province heads into a time of economic uncertainty coupled with the province’s staggering deficit, the submission calls on the government to focus on fiscally sustainable and long-term taxation priorities. Currently, business with an income of less than $500,000 are taxed at a flat rate. To create an environment which encourages small and medium business to successfully scale, the OCC recommends the government create a variable small business deduction in Budget 2019.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the economy and the heart of communities in all regions of the province. Yet, cumulative red tape, U.S. tax reforms, economic uncertainty, and a system that discourage growth have led to a staggering scale-up challenge for businesses of all sizes across Ontario,” said Michelle Eaton, vice president of Communications and Government at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “We are encouraging the government to address these challenges, focusing on fiscal balance and smarter spending in the upcoming budget to help Ontarians today and into the future.”
The OCC is also urging the government to strategically spend in key areas that will help grow the economy and have the highest return on taxpayer dollars such as expanding broadband access and strengthening critical transportation infrastructure. The OCC also recommends removing red tape for small and medium businesses to access procurement opportunities, leading to employment, economic growth, innovation, and cluster development.
“We applaud the government’s commitment to reduce the debt and deficit as well as cut red tape by 25 percent by 2022 in the 2018 Fall Economic Statement,” added Eaton. “Yet, more work must be done to build a stronger Ontario and create an environment which encourages growth. We look forward to working with the government to support evidence-based policies that drive growth and contribute to a stronger province for all.”
The OCC represents 60,000 business of all sizes in over 135 communities across the province. The pre-budget recommendations stem directly from the Ontario Chamber Network’s policy resolutions presented at the OCC’s Annual General Meeting.
The job market is changing each year, and it can be difficult for young people to know what to expect once they graduate high school and/or college. Also, with more pathways to higher education and careers opening up by the day, more people have opportunities. This means that competition in many areas of the job market is fierce. If you’re a student coming out of high school or college (or know someone who is), here is some practical advice on how to get started in a successful career.
The Annual General Meeting of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce—Wednesday, February 27, 2019—is right around the corner. This year’s AGM will take place, in the Gateway Room of the St. Clair Corporate Centre, located at 265 Front St N, Sarnia.
It’s always a pleasure to welcome a new member of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce and this week we’re delighted to “formally” welcome FIVE businesses to our growing family.
It may be a little chilly outside, but things will be heating up at this month’s Business After 5, which takes place on Wednesday, February 20 at 
The Enbridge Famous 5 Speaker Series in Sarnia-Lambton, an ongoing series that is co-sponsored by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, is featuring Heather Moyse, a multi-sport athlete and inspirational speaker, at the next event, which takes place on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the Holiday Inn, 1498 Venetian Boulevard, Point Edward.
The federal government recently announced it had made available $1.6 billion to support Canada’s struggling oil and gas sector. While the Federal Government’s recognition of the crisis faced by Canada’s energy sector was welcome, the funds are a “band-aid” solution to what is a much larger structural issue.
Significant users of energy in the Sarnia-Lambton region will almost certainly want to attend an upcoming half-day seminar outlining details on a federal grants program offering partial reimbursement of costs related to achieving an International Energy Management Systems standard.
The latest print edition of Lambton Shield, a business publication that launched as a website in 2010, features winners from the recent Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Awards.