Chamber This Week - September 15, 2017 - Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

The GNCC welcomed Ontario Chamber of Commerce Vice-President Karl Baldauf back to Niagara on September 15 in the latest Niagara Business Leadership Series breakfast. Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act (2017), introduces sweeping legislation that will transform Ontario’s workplaces and employer-employee relationships, including:

Increases to vacation pay and personal emergency leave
Card-based union certification
Union access to employee lists
Equal pay for temporary workers
A phased increase to a $15/hr minimum wage by January 1, 2019 – the most contentiously debated change

Karl presented the results of an economic impact analysis which the OCC has commissioned. The report found:

A $23 billion hit to business, minus an $11 billion stimulative impact from increased consumer spending, would result in a $12 problem for the Ontario economy
The rate of inflation would increase by 50 per cent
About 185,000 jobs in the next two years would be put at risk, including 30,000 jobs for under-25s, and 96,000 for women

The sectors facing the highest risks to jobs include:

Manufacturing
Accommodation and food service
Retail
Wholesale trade

Karl also detailed the previous efforts of the Chamber network to head off or ameliorate this legislation for businesses, and their continuing advocacy work.

Businesses who are concerned about this legislation are encouraged to visit the KeepOntarioWorking.ca website, send letters or phone their local MPP to inform them of their thoughts, share the impacts of Bill 148 with their families, friends, co-workers and customers, and to think about offsets which the government could offer that would help them remain competitive and successful, and suggest those to the government.

The full presentation can be read here. For more information, contact Hugo Chesshire at hugo@gncc.ca or call 905-684-2361 ext. 224

UPCOMING

EVENTS

Priceless 2017
September 21, 2017 • 6:30pm—9:30pm
13th Street Winery
1776 Fourth Ave.
St. Catharines

Register Now Nonprofit Information

Lunch & Learn: Great Companies Share Great Stories
Social Media for Business
Presented by Janice Arnoldi, Janice and Robin Digital Communications
September 26, 2017 • 12:00pm—1:30pm
Coppola’s Ristorante & Banquet Facility
203 Carlton Street, St. Catharines

Register Now

Niagara Economic Summit
Niagara Networks
A great opportunity to promote your products and services
September 27, 2017 • 4:00pm—7:00pm
Fallsview Casino Resort
Niagara Falls

Find Out More

WIN Estate Planning Seminar
September 29, 2017 • 12:00pm—1:30pm
St. Catharines Club
77 Ontario St.
St. Catharines

Free For WIN Members

WINspirational Women: Allie Hughes
October 17, 2017 • 12:00pm—1:30pm
Loft 123
123 Queenston St.
St. Catharines

Register Now

Niagara Economic Summit
October 26, 2017 • 7:15am—2:45pm
White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa
253 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake

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NEW MEMBERS:

AUGUST 2017

Please join us in welcoming the new members who joined in August 2017.

MEMBERS

IN THE NEWS

Wellspring Niagara Halfway to Goal

Wellspring Niagara is halfway to its goal of $5 million raised to support the new facility being built at 50 Wellspring Way in Pelham.

The organization, which has helped families cope with cancer since 2001, will be moving from its current 2,000-square-foot unit in Thorold to a soon-to-be-built, 11,000-square-foot facility in Pelham.

Snowbirds Coming to Niagara District Airport

The countdown is on to the rare opportunity of seeing the Canadian Snowbirds perform their thrilling air show in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

As part of the Canada 150 celebrations, the Snowbirds will perform from the Niagara District Airport the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Christmas Parade Call for Entries

This year’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Parade will be taking place on Saturday, December 9, at 11:00 a.m.

If you would like to participate, please fill out this form. You can review the Parade Route here. Forms must be returned before November 24, 2017.

Find out more

Teens Complete Swim for Red Roof Retreat

Hard work and dedication has paid off for four young swimmers. On September 10, four swimmers were given another chance to conquer Lake Erie, successfully swimming more than 20 kilometres and raising $13,000 for Red Roof Retreat in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Mallory Doppenberg and Leah Schouten, both 11, Noah Schouten, 14, and Everett Pritchard, 12, swam from Surgeon Point, N.Y. to Crystal Beach near Waterfront Park. The swim lasted about eight hours and each of the teens had four 30-minute intervals in the water while others cheered them on from the boat.

Alzheimer Society Kicks Off Coffee Break Season

You are invited to join Alzheimer Society Niagara on Thursday, September 21st for their Coffee Break Kick-Off. A flag raising ceremony will take place at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Municipal Offices at 11:30am and will be followed with a BBQ.

This year’s Coffee Break Kick Off will be hosted by The Honourable Rob Nicholson, MP. Coffee Break is the Alzheimer Society’s major nationwide annual fundraiser where friends, co-workers and customers gather in communities across Canada to raise funds for their local Alzheimer Society.

Hotel Dieu Shaver Celebrates Anniversary & #1 Ranking

On Tuesday August 8th, Hotel Dieu Shaver celebrated its 12th anniversary with a BBQ in the Healing Garden for all staff and patients. It was a great turn out and amazing weather to celebrate another fabulous year!

In June 2017, the Ontario Stroke Network released its Annual Stroke Report Card for the province of Ontario. Hotel Dieu Shaver was identified as #1 in the province of Ontario for progression in Stroke Rehabilitation.

Niagara Pallet Hosts 4th Annual Open House

Everyone is invited to attend Niagara Pallet’s 4th Annual Open House on September 22 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. Enjoy food and refreshments by Country Boy’s, tour the facility and watch a live demonstration.

Meet the Niagara Pallet team and check out their planned expansion. For more info or to RSVP pleast contact fred@niagarapallet.ca or 905-386-7543 Ext. 22

Cannabis Conference Coming to Convention Centre

With legalized marijuana coming next summer to Canada, the buzz has begun for a two-day pot conference in Niagara Falls next month.

“The response we’ve been getting is overwhelming,” says Welland’s Randy Rowe, president of the Grow Up Cannabis Conference & Expo coming to the Scotiabank Convention Centre Oct. 6 and 7. “We’ve got people coming in from all over North America.”

Alectra Joins Hurricane Irma Relief Efforts

Niagara power workers continue to pitch-in, joining efforts underway to restore power to millions of people left in the dark in the wake of hurricane Irma.

Alectra Utilities employees left their St. Catharines facility at about 6 a.m. on September 13, forming a convoy of 20 bucket trucks and support vehicles bound for Atlanta, Ga., to assist with power restoration efforts in communities ravaged by the hurricane.

Bi-National Meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Join the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s CanAm Council for its fall meeting on September 27th! Have the opportunity to view the beautiful Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, hear from a mix of speakers, and network with Canadians and Americans.

Speakers will discuss the importance of the region to our bi-national economy and how tourism has made a large impact on Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Find out more

Team Up for Terry Fox

For millions of people worldwide Terry Fox is the face of cancer research. His Marathon of Hope inspired a country and The Terry Fox Run, now in its fourth decade, continues to motivate people here in Canada and around the world. To date, over $600 million has been raised in support of Terry’s cause.

This year the run is being held Sunday September 17 at Brock University and expects to have more than 400 participants. With your help we will continue to make Terry’s dream a reality in the fight to cure cancer.

Find out more

NETWORK

NEWS

Taxation Proposals from Finance: Policy Brief from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

The government has proposed the most radical changes in the treatment of Canadian controlled private corporations in 50 years, including a new tax — effectively 73% — on investment income in a corporation, a much higher tax rate for compensation in a family business deemed “unreasonable,” and new, tougher rules for converting income to capital gains.

Our ultimate objective is to have the government revise its proposed tax measures so the ability of business owners to save within their companies for purposes of retirement or business growth will not be affected. We want to position the Canadian Chamber as a constructive voice and the chamber network as a communications channel for the government to better understand the concerns of business owners.

New Program Helps Ontario Business Connect with the Right Talent

On September 14, the Honourable David Onley, Special Advisor to the Government of Ontario’s Minister Responsible for Accessibility, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (The OCC) and the Discover Ability Network partners launched a new program and online portal that will connect persons with disabilities seeking employment directly with Ontario businesses looking to meet their talent requirements.

The portal is a key feature of Access Talent: Ontario’s Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, a comprehensive plan focused on connecting more people with disabilities to rewarding jobs and more employers to new talent to help grow their businesses.

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Chamber This Week – September 15, 2017