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Last week the Ontario government presented the Fall Economic Statement, 2018 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review. The Chamber applauds the government for the steps it is taking to build a more prosperous Ontario with a strong focus on fiscal accountability and cutting cumulative red tape.

The Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber Network have long called on the government to reform Ontario’s tax system, reduce red tape, and restore fiscal sustainability to the Ontario taxpayer.

We agree that the Government of Ontario will not proceed with the prior government’s initiative that would have taxed the so-called “passive” income for thousands of businesses across the province. This would have greatly increased taxes for thousands of employers in Ontario.

We also applaud the government for increasing the amount of payroll that is exempt from the Employer Health Tax. This is a reasonable step in the right direction. Our members are also supportive of some of the government’s other key priorities, such as their commitment to:

• Cutting red tape by 25 percent by 2022;
• Implementing tax reforms for small businesses;
• Expanding broadband to rural and underserved communities across Ontario;
• Reviewing electricity costs for industrial users; and
• Investing in both the Ring of Fire and transportation infrastructure in Northern Ontario.

Combined, these are fundamental steps towards a more competitive and prosperous economy. Ontario is strongest when industry and government work together and we look forward to working with the government in support of businesses of all sizes, in every corner of the province.

For more information, read the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Rapid Policy Update:

https://occ.ca/rapidpolicy/2018-fall-economic-statement/

Representatives of Hydro One recently reached out to the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce as a point of contact for a roundtable discussion on issues related to a critical energy infrastructure for the area.

Hydro One’s key representative at the roundtable was Jason Fitzsimmons, chief corporate affairs and customer care officer.

For the roundtable, the Chamber brought together leaders of the business community, including representatives from Bluewater Power, Sarnia Construction Association, Lambton Federation of Agriculture, Sarnia Lambton Industrial Alliance, Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, Imperial, Shell, and the Bowman Centre for Sustainable Energy.

Among the topics discussed were the new transmission station in Enniskillen Township, various capital projects, and corporate restructuring and long-term planning by Hydro One.

Also discussed were reliability improvements planned, energy costs, interconnectivity to other provinces and U.S. states, and time of use billing.

“We welcome these opportunities to connect our members with companies like Hydro One,” said Shirley de Silva, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “This roundtable was especially important given the role Hydro One plays in the development of the critical energy infrastructure in our region.”

A roundtable held last Friday with key representatives from the new provincial government, including Premier Doug Ford and local MPP Bob Bailey, saw Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce representatives involved in the discussion of the provincial “Open for Business” campaign.

Topics discussed included labour reforms, the reduction of red tape, the Oversized Load Corridor, issues related to local bio and chemical industries, and trade.

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.”