Chamber This Week – November 23, 2018

November 23, 2018 | Non-Advocacy

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Media Release: Niagara Economic Summit 2018

October 16, 2018 | Media Releases

If there is a single lesson to take from the recent NAFTA/USMCA negotiations, it is that an economy is vulnerable when it relies too much on a single trading partner, a single industry, or a single market. Economies that will survive and thrive in this uncertain climate will be those that are diverse.

Diversification is the key question at this year’s summit. How do we attract not just new businesses, but new industries? How do we diversify our workforce and our population? How do we build bridges between industries and sectors, and close the gaps between business, non-profits, and government? These questions, and more, will be tackled at the Summit. Big thinkers from inside Niagara and from without will attempt to identify where Niagara needs to go, and how it will get there.

The first session of the day will focus on trends, population shifts, employment, and what Niagara may and should look like tomorrow. Ursula Gobel, Associate VP of Future Challenges at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, will delivery a power talk and then join a panel of experts, including Brock University professor Dr. Jeff Boggs, an expert in population and industry mapping and trends, Exchange Brewery’s Robin Ridesic, a pioneer of Niagara’s craft beer industry, and engineer, STEM advocate and astronaut candidate Stephanie Thompson.

The second will be on collaboration between sectors and industries, and focus on how we can strengthen ourselves by working together and building partnerships in unlikely places. Bruce Macdonald, CEO of Imagine Canada, will speak, along with a panel of experts including Dr. Tom Stewart, the new CEO of the Niagara Health System, and Doug Hamilton, who became a household name in Niagara when he brought a diverse group of stakeholders together to lead a successful bid for the Canada Games.

The third is on attracting new industries, and the CBC’s Peter Armstrong will moderate a discussion from experts in business development and attraction including Niagara College School of Business and Management Associate Dean Dr. Justin Williams, Mike Kirkopoulos, CAO of the Town of Lincoln, Bill Elliot of Global Investment Attraction, and Dottie Gallagher, CEO of the Buffalo-Niagara Partnership.

Broader provincial and national perspectives will be given as well, with updates from the Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce. Ashley Challinor, VP of Policy at the OCC, will deliver an update on their work over the last year and their thoughts for the next year in Ontario and Niagara, while Dr. Trevin Stratton, Chief Economist of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, will deliver a talk on the broad Canadian economy and how it affects Niagara.

The event falls shortly after the municipal elections, and we hope that guidance will emerge for Niagara’s new governments which will help them form their plans for their term of office. The vision of the GNCC is to see Niagara at its social and economic best, and this year’s summit will drive that vision forward.

For tickets and further information, please visit niagaraeconomicsummit.ca

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Niagara and the third-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,600 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.

Contact:

Mishka Balsom, President & CEO of GNCC
Mishka@gncc.ca or 905-684-2361

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Regional Council

September 21, 2018 |

[[“Municipality”,”Title”,”First Name”,”Last Name”,”Email”],[“St. Catharines”,”Chair”,”Jim”,”Bradley”,”jim.bradley@niagararegion.ca“],[“Fort Erie”,”Mayor”,”Wayne”,”Redekop”,”wredekop@forterie.ca“],[“Fort Erie”,”Councillor”,”Tom”,”Insinna”,”tom.insinna@niagararegion.ca“],[“Grimsby”,”Mayor”,”Jeff”,”Jordan”,”Jeff.jordan@niagararegion.ca“],[“Grimsby”,”Councillor”,”Michelle”,”Seaborn”,”michelle.seaborn@niagararegion.ca“],[“Lincoln”,”Mayor”,”Sandra”,”Easton”,”seaston@lincoln.ca“],[“Lincoln”,”Councillor”,”Robert”,”Foster”,”Robert.foster@niagararegion.ca“],[“Niagara Falls”,”Mayor”,”Jim”,”Diodati”,”jdiodati@niagarafalls.ca“],[“Niagara Falls”,”Councillor”,”Kim”,”Craitor”,”kim.craitor@niagararegion.ca“],[“Niagara Falls”,”Councillor”,”Bob”,”Gale”,”bob.gale@niagararegion.ca“],[“Niagara Falls”,”Councillor”,”Joyce”,”Morocco”,”joyce.morocco@niagararegion.ca“],[“Niagara-on-the-Lake”,”Lord Mayor”,”Gary”,”Zalepa”,”gary.zalepa@niagararegion.ca“],[“Niagara-on-the-Lake”,”Councillor”,”Andra”,”Kaiser”,”gary.zalepa@niagararegion.ca“],[“Pelham”,”Mayor”,”Marvin”,”Junkin”,”mjunkin@pelham.ca“],[“Pelham”,”Councillor”,”Diana”,”Huson”,”diana.huson@niagararegion.ca“],[“Port Colborne”,”Mayor”,”Bill”,”Steele”,”bill.steele@niagararegion.ca“],[“Port Colborne”,”Councillor”,”Fred”,”Davies”,”fred.davies@niagararegion.ca“],[“St. Catharines”,”Mayor”,”Mat”,”Siscoe”,”mayor@stcatharines.ca“],[“St. Catharines”,”Councillor”,”Haley”,”Bateman”,”haley.bateman@niagararegion.ca“],[“St. Catharines”,”Councillor”,”Brian”,”Heit”,”brian.heit@niagararegion.ca“],[“St. Catharines”,”Councillor”,”Laura”,”Ip”,”laura.ip@niagararegion.ca“],[“St. Catharines”,”Councillor”,”Tim”,”Rigby”,”tim.rigby@niagararegion.ca“],[“St. Catharines”,”Councillor”,”Peter”,”Secord”,”peter.secord@niagararegion.ca“],[“St. Catharines”,”Councillor”,”Sal”,”Sorrento”,”sal.sorrento@niagararegion.ca“],[“Thorold”,”Mayor”,”Terry”,”Ugulini”,”Terry.Ugulini@thorold.ca“],[“Thorold”,”Councillor”,”Tim”,”Whalen”,”tim.whalen@niagararegion.ca“],[“Wainfleet”,”Mayor”,”Brian”,”Grant”,”mgrant@wainfleet.ca“],[“Welland”,”Mayor”,”Frank”,”Campion”,”frank.campion@welland.ca“],[“Welland”,”Councillor”,”Pat”,”Chiocchio”,”pat.chiocchio@niagararegion.ca“],[“Welland”,”Councillor”,”Leanna”,”Villella”,”leanna.villella@niagararegion.ca“],[“West Lincoln”,”Mayor”,”Cheryl”,”Ganann”,”cganann@westlincoln.ca“],[“West Lincoln”,”Councillor”,”Albert”,”Witteveen”,”albert.witteveen@niagararegion.ca“]]

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St. Catharines

September 21, 2018 |

[[“Title”,”First Name”,”Last Name”,”Email”],[“Mayor”,”Mat”,”Siscoe”,”mayor@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 1 Merritton Councillor”,”Jackie”,”Lindal”,”jlindal@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 1 Merritton Councillor”,”Greg”,”Miller”,”gmiller@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 2 St. Andrew’s Councillor”,”Matt”,”Harris”,”mharris@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 2 St. Andrew’s Councillor”,”Joe”,”Kushner”,”jkushner@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 3 St. George’s Councillor”,”Mark”,”Stevens”,”mstevens@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 3 St. George’s Councillor”,”Kevin”,”Townsend”,”ktownsend@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 4 St. Patrick’s Councillor”,”Caleb”,”Ratzlaff”,”cratzlaff@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 4 St. Patrick’s Councillor”,”Robin”,”McPherson”,”rmcpherson@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 5 Grantham Councillor”,”Dawn”,”Dodge”,”ddodge@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 5 Grantham Councillor”,”Bill”,”Phillips”,”bphillips@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 6 Port Dalhousie Councillor”,”Carlos”,”Garcia”,”cgarcia@stcatharines.ca“],[“Ward 6 Port Dalhousie Councillor”,”Bruce”,”Williamson”,”bwilliamson@stcatharines.ca“]]

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Chamber This Week – September 7, 2018

September 7, 2018 | Non-Advocacy

Featuring member news, upcoming events and more, Chamber this Week is your source for information on the GNCC.

Chamber This Week 905-684-2361 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram
September 7, 2018

Submissions? email brad@gncc.ca

Priceless
GNCC
EVENTS
GNCC Fall Classic
GNCC Fall Classic Golf Tournament
Monday, September 10, 2018
St. Catharines Golf & Country Club
70 Westchester Avenue, St. Catharines
11am to 7pm (Dinner)

Join us for the largest business-to-business fall classic golf tournament in Niagara. The tournament has been sold out for the past 44 years!

NCBC Social
NCBC Social
Thursday, September 13, 2018
ZenQ
Pen Centre, 221 Glendale Rd., St. Catharines
5pm to 7pm

Join us for this social event put on by the Niagara Chinese Business Council in conjunction with the GNCC. Network with NCBC and GNCC members as well as students from Niagara College and Brock University. Hosted by ZenQ.

Free Registration

Priceless
Priceless
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
2565 Niagara Parkway
6:30pm to 9:30pm

Priceless is the Art Auction for Yo-Pros. Bid with your time, not your dime, by pledging volunteer hours to local non-profit organizations. Featuring the Devin Cuddy Band.

All Access Tickets & Info

BA5 – September 4, 2018
Business After 5
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Prime Steakhouse Niagara Falls
5685 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls
5pm to 7pm

Meet and mingle with Chamber members and their guests. It’s a great place to relax and do business! No registration is required to attend this event.
Niagara Economic Summit
Niagara Economic Summit
Friday, November 2, 2018
White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa
253 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake
7:30am to 2:30pm

The Niagara Economic Summit brings us together to celebrate shared successes, strategize the way forward for our regional economy, and increase collaboration.

Tickets & Info

Women in Business Awards
2018 Women in Business Awards
Friday, November 16, 2018
Marriott on the Falls
6755 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls
11am to 2pm

The Women in Business Awards (WIBA) is an annual event to recognize the leadership and success of women in our business community.

Get Tickets

NEW MEMBERS:
AUGUST 2018
Please join us in welcoming the new members who joined in August 2018.

9Round Fonthill
ABS Hospitality Inc.
Balaji Katlai PHD, CPA, CGA
Boccabella Beauty
Century 21 Avmark Realty Limited Brokerage
CTRL V
Essential HR
Girotti Machine
Harris Lawyers LLP
Precision Electric
Rockway Vineyards
Rockway Vineyards Golf Wine Dine
TD Wealth Financial Planning
The Enviro-Niagara Group Hearth and Barbeque
Welland Toyota
Niagara Economic Summit
MEMBERS
IN THE NEWS
Campaign Experts Join Growing Enterprise Government Relations Practice

Applications Open for 2018 Shannon Passero Women in Business Grant

Shannon Passero is thrilled to continue supporting woman entrepreneurs with her annual Women’s Business Grant Program. Introduced in 2013, The grant program seeks applicants from businesses that have a woman in a significant leadership role, and combine the principles of social consciousness, sustainability, and innovation to create new businesses or invigorate existing ones.

“Now, more than ever, it is time to instill confidence in women entrepreneurs. I want to encourage creative business women with a focus on introducing and developing new innovative products.” said Passero.

Read more

Doors officially open at Niagara College’s Community Employment Services’ 43 Church St. office

Caverners Help Calamus Estate Winery Celebrate Grand Re-Opening

Canada’s longest-running Beatles tribute band, The Caverners, will help celebrate Calamus Estate Winery’s grand re-opening on September 23. Peter and Rosalee Van Helsdingen are the new owners of the winery, located in the Winemount Ridge Appellation in Vineland.

New additions and openings at the winery include a 3-level deck and a 350-barrel cellar. The grand opening features all-you-can-eat casual Farm to Table BBQ presented by Feastivities Events & Catering. The winery staff hope you can attend their grand opening with the Beatles!

Find out more

‘This is rocket fuel’: Constellation Brands spending $5 billion to boost stake in Canopy Growth

Ben Jones Named Captain of 2018-2019 IceDogs

The Niagara IceDogs are extremely proud to announce that Ben Jones has been named the franchise’s 11th captain in team history. Jones, a fourth-year veteran quickly became a fan favourite early in his time in Niagara and has continued to be one of the team’s most relied upon forwards.

“Over the past 3 seasons, Ben has not only developed into a strong leader and ambassador but an elite player as well. Ben has earned this honour and is ready to lead our group this season,” said IceDogs head coach Billy Burke.

Read more

Niagara College recognized as top performer, earns silver for sustainability

Street Hoops Tournament Benefits Heart Niagara

The Street Hoops 3-on-3 basketball tournament is coming to Niagara Falls on September 22. The event features free throw, 3-point and dunk competitions, with cash prizes going to the winners. All proceeds from the tournament are going to Heart Niagara and The Ronald McDonald House South Central Ontario.

Street Hoops Canada was founded on the principles of skill development and fun, all while bringing play back to the streets. The events are designed to be fun, inclusive and provide opportunities for people of all ages to hone and show off their skills in the sport of basketball.

Register Now

New head of Folk Arts Multicultural Centre ready to say welcome

Big Band Fundraiser Supports Niagara Health Foundation

Canada’s ‘Sweetheart of Swing’ Alex Pangman will be featured at the TD Niagara Jazz Festival’s 3rd annual Big Band Fundraiser. The evening features the Jimmy Stahl Big Band and special guests Juliet Dunn and Peter Shea.

This year’s Big Band fundraiser will be giving 50% of its proceeds to support the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis program at the St. Catharines General Hospital. The other half will support the not-for-profit TD Niagara Jazz Festival.

Find out more

New head of Folk Arts Multicultural Centre ready to say welcome

Paintings of a Survivor

Artist Renu D’Cunha of Niagara Falls rediscovered her passion for art after surviving cancer, then a stroke. In her mind, she imagined painting something bright and bold, a visual depiction of her inner soul. “I wanted to show that I had gone through this and I survived,” said Renu. This led to a series of paintings she called her Survivor series. Renu is also featuring a painting, Power, at Priceless Niagara.

Renu has donated some of these paintings to the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre to raise funds for its new cancer rehab program. The outpatient program, which opened in July, receives no government funding. It’s intended for cancer patients who have recently finished treatment but are at risk for a decreased independence with day-to-day activities..

Read More in the St. Catharines Standard

See her work at Priceless Niagara

Reporting Foreign Property: when does this become relevant for your case?

Reporting Foreign Property — When Does This Become Relevant for Your Case?

Many Canadians enjoy a home away from home and/or have assets, investments or other specified foreign property held outside of Canada. Under certain situations, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requires Canadian residents to file an annual declaration (in a prescribed manner) of all such specified foreign property valued over a $100,000 via prescribed form T1135.

Failures can result in hefty penalties (up to $2,500 and even more for gross negligence). This declaration is to be filed along with your personal tax returns.

Read more from Balaji Katlai

New head of Folk Arts Multicultural Centre ready to say welcome

Niagara College Sees Record Enrolment

Niagara College is welcoming its largest-ever intake of students this week with activities like speed friending and wellness workshops, to a carnival and vendor fair and even goat yoga. The college said preliminary enrolment numbers show the college is expecting more than 10,000 students for the fall term, which starts Wednesday, with about 6,000 of those new students.

“Enriching lives and fulfilling dreams for students is part of our ‘Niagara College DNA’ and we are looking forward to welcoming our largest-ever intake of students this fall,” said college president Dan Patterson in a release. “Our unique approach to applied learning is drawing students from across Canada and around the world, and we look forward to providing them with an outstanding start to their college experience.”

Read More

New head of Folk Arts Multicultural Centre ready to say welcome

Big Move Doing Big Things for Niagara Cancer Care

With the 10th annual Big Move Cancer Ride just around the corner, The Walker Family Cancer Centre has reason to celebrate. The centre is recognizing the significant ways in which cancer care has changed in Niagara over the past 10 years.

Dr. Janice Giesbrecht, medical director of the centre for Niagara Health said the greatest improvements to local cancer care are the development of programs. Niagara now has a radiation program — a treatment that wasn’t available in region before the centre opened in 2013.

Read More

UPS Store Election Special
NETWORK
NEWS
Canadian economy surges on export growth but falls short of forecasts

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Reacts to Announcement that NAFTA Negotiations Will Continue Next Week

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomes news that the parties remain at the NAFTA negotiating table. Achieving a trilateral agreement remains a priority for the Canadian business community and we are encouraged that the parties appear to be committed to continuing negotiations.

The CCC is hopeful that the extension signals continued forward momentum and a focus on reaching an agreement that will continue to support the highly integrated North American supply chains of Canadian companies.

Read more

U.S. trade commission kills duties placed on Canadian newsprint

Ontario Chamber Calls on Provincial Government to Immediately Repeal Bill 148

On August 30, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce called on the Government of Ontario to immediately repeal the drastic labour reforms introduced by Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act, 2017. Recent testimonials from the Ontario business community showcase a common theme — the labour reforms established by the previous government were too much, too fast and have significantly limited their ability to maintain or grow the workforce they need to be competitive.

“Businesses across the province are experiencing real consequences from this legislation’s lack of stakeholder consultation and unrealistic implementation timelines,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the OCC.

Read more

Ontario to cut natural gas price October 1

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and Ontario Chamber of Commerce Unite in Support of Free Trade

Recognizing the strong economic ties that have long existed between Pennsylvania and Canada, the PA Chamber of Business and Industry joined the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in calling for the renewal of the North American Free Trade Agreement in order to strengthen cross-border trade.

“There is no upside to an economic trade war, which threatens to undo all of the positive economic gains Pennsylvania has seen as a result of federal tax and regulatory reforms,” warned PA Chamber President Gene Barr. “The Commonwealth’s trade relationship with Canada is a critical component in advancing the state’s overall economy.”

Read more

RENEWING MEMBERS:
AUGUST 2018

The following members renewed their membership in August for another year. Thank you for supporting the Chamber — and supporting business in Niagara.

13th Street Winery
A & M Electric
Airbus Helicopters Canada Limited
Anfra-Tile & Stone
Art’s Tool Sales Ltd.
ASK Disposal and Services
BDC Business Development Bank Of Canada
Big Brothers Big Sisters – St. Catharines-Thorold
BTS Network Inc.
Burke Employment Solutions
Business Builders Club of Niagara
C Burt & Associates
C. Fleming & Associates Ltd.
Casino Niagara
Catfish Calhoun Inc.
CEE Green
CIBC Small Business
Citrus Boutique Inc.
City of Port Colborne – Economic Development Division
Cobblestone Gardens Retirement Residence
Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold
Cookware Health Clubb Inc.
CoWork Niagara
Creative Outdoor Advertising
Custom Metal Frame And Door
DBS Financial Management
Dominion Lending Centres Home Capital Solutions Inc.
Dr. Andrew Panko
Emporium Carpet & Flooring
Enns Cabinetry Inc.
Fallsview Casino Resort
Family Hearing Clinic Inc.
FDM Holdings Inc.
Front Row Sports
Glen Merritt Collision
Globetron Controls Corp.
Goodwill Niagara
Imagine Research Inc.
INdustry Hair & Esthetics
Innovative Kitchen Design
Inteleservices Canada
Jobs Niagara
Lakeside Electrical
Mele Trattoria
Mental Health Solutions
Moore Insulation Ltd.
National Bank Financial Wealth Management
Niagara Centre for Independent Living
Niagara IceDogs Hockey Club – OHL
NuVest Management Services Corporation
Old Stone Inn Boutique Hotel
Partridge Iggulden LLP Chartered Accountants
Performance Auto Group
Peter Janzen Electric Ltd.
Pleasantview Funeral & Reception Centre
Pleasantview Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Pollington Productions Inc.
ProActive Chiropractic & Training Centre
Red Roof Retreat
Rod Barber – Detail Supply
Royal LePage NRC Realty, Brokerage
Scrimp and Save Ltd.
SelloffVacations.com
Skyway Truck Stop Inc.
Stacey’s (1994) Moving & Storage
The Graphix Works
The Lighthouse Restaurant on-the-Pkwy
The Post Office – Shannon Passero
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
The Vision Clinic
Transitions College of Business & Career Studies
Trinity TCI Inc.
Van Egmond Electric
Vern Martens Painting
Victim Services Niagara
VinFirst Inc.
—————————
MEMBER
PROGRAMS
Chambers Group Insurance
If you’re thinking of adding group benefits to your company, there are a lot of good reasons to put your Chamber membership to work for you. Not the least is exclusivity: only members have access to the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan®.

To contact your local insurance rep, call Jim Garrett or Cindy Haines at 905-468-8575

H2Only
Try the purest, freshest water available — one month absolutely FREE. Experience the taste of clean water AND discover why so many homes, schools, and businesses love H2Only… it’s the service. No contracts, no set schedules. You call, we deliver the following business day. That simple since 1995.

Contact: 905-934-0966
sales@h2only.ca www.h2only.ca

Member 2 Member Discounts
MEMBER 2 MEMBER SAVINGS PROGRAM

Many other Chamber of Commerce members feature discounts and special offers — tailored specifically for other GNCC members. Check out the full Member 2 Member database. If you’d like to add an offer for your company, sign in to your account. You can add and update your offer any time you wish.

Chambers Group Insurance
BUSINESS SAVINGS PROGRAMS

The GNCC offers many business resources that are regionally, provincially or nationally endorsed – programs offered to Chamber Members through the OCC (Ontario Chamber of Commerce) or the CCC (Canadian Chamber of Commerce). Affinity programs include the Chamber Group Insurance, FedEx savings, Gales Gas discounts, Desjardins payroll service, Chase Paymentech and FirstData merchant services, etc. For more information click HERE.

If your organization is interested in partnering with the GNCC on an affinity program, please feel free to reach out to Mishka Balsom, CEO, at mishka@gncc.ca.

GNCC Referral Program
GNCC REFERRAL PROGRAM

From the beginning, the GNCC has grown because of your word-of-mouth support.

This Referral Program is our way of saying thanks.

Get your choice of a $25 Starbucks Gift Card for every new member you refer and who joins the Chamber -OR- $50 in GNCC Cash for every new member you refer and joins the Chamber towards GNCC ads, sponsorship or event tickets.

More program information HERE.
—————————
MEMBER
PARTNERS
Brock University Meridian Credit Union Niagara Workforce Planning Board

CHAMBER
THIS WEEK
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Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
NEW ADDRESS — 80 King Street, Unit 3
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7G1 Canada
Telephone: 905-684-2361 | Fax: 905-684-2100
Email: info@gncc.ca | Website: www.gncc.ca
Hours: Monday to Friday — 8:30am to 4:30pm

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GNCC Welcomes Business Investment and Municipal Supports but Urges Deficit Caution in Ontario Budget

March 29, 2018 | Latest News, Media Releases

Niagara, March 28, 2018 – The Government of Ontario released its 2018 budget today. The GNCC had previously offered comments from Niagara’s business community at a budget consultation on January 29th with MPP Yvan Baker, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance, and MPP Jim Bradley, St. Catharines. The GNCC also submitted written comments directly to Finance Minister Charles Sousa. We acknowledge the Government of Ontario’s openness and its collaborative attitude, and are pleased to see our suggestions reflected in some of the budgetary items announced today.

Chief among our suggestions was that, despite substantial re-uploading of municipal services by the present government, a $3.3-billion funding gap still existed from provincial downloading since the 1990s. In this process, provincial governments “downloaded” many programs onto municipal governments, such as child care, transit, housing, public health, Ontario Works, and the Ontario Disability Support Program, but did not accompany these downloads with sufficient funding transfers and revenue tools. As a result, cash-strapped municipal governments were not only unable to fully support these programs but were forced to cut or postpone their existing commitments. We urged the Government of Ontario to continue and to expand upon their program of re-uploading to support municipal government.

The budget contained a commitment of $4.2-billion to municipalities in 2018 – nearly four times the level of support provided in 2003. This includes doubling the municipal share of the gasoline tax by 2021-22 in order to support local public transit, $25-million over five years to support municipal asset planning and infrastructure sustainability, and – importantly – uploading an additional $2-billion in costs. This is a very positive step, and the GNCC shares the Province’s assessment that this will help build a more prosperous Ontario by supporting the providers of vital municipal services to citizens and businesses.

However, we also note that with an $6.7-billion deficit in Budget 2018, the provincial public debt has continued to grow. The GNCC has made clear, in the past, that the current debt load is a cause for concern, but it is not yet cause for alarm (previous GNCC articles on Ontario’s debt can be read here and here). However, the debt is trending in the wrong direction. As of last November, the government promised balanced budgets for 2018 and beyond; now, the budget will not be balanced until 2024-25. The annual interest on Ontario’s public debt will increase from $12.5-billion in 2018-2019 (44 percent of our education spending, for example) to $16.9-billion as of 2025-2026, increasing from 8.6 to 9.8 percent of total projected program expenses. We recommend that more urgency be given to dealing with the public debt before it becomes a greater concern.

Although it is impossible to predict the future of the economy, economists and market observers believe that we are nearing the end of a business cycle, meaning that a downturn may occur quite soon and potentially within the life of this budget. It has been about ten years since the “Great Recession” of 2007-2009, and the average length of an economic cycle is about five-and-a-half years – but has never exceeded ten.

To build a prosperous Ontario, we must not only make the most of the good times but anticipate and plan for the bad. Prudent fiscal policy includes leaving a reserve for this, and the GNCC feels Ontarians would be well-served by a contingency plan and some level of fiscal caution this late in the business cycle.

While social programs received a lot of attention in this budget, we are concerned that this substantial new spending may make the province’s fiscal position more precarious. That being said, the GNCC also notes that some of these new investments were aimed at business growth. Highlights of Budget 2018’s support for businesses include:

  • $900-million over ten years for the Jobs and Prosperity Fund, which helps Ontario businesses grow, hire, and train, to access capital, and to navigate foreign challenges and opportunities around international trade
  • $500-million over ten years for the New Economy Fund, which helps firms in priority sectors such as advanced manufacturing, information and communications technology, life sciences and cleantech
  • $120-million over three years through the Food and Beverage Growth Fund to assist Ontario food, beverage, and agribusinesses – a solid investment in a crucial Niagara sector
  • $85-million over ten years for the Ontario Scale-Up Vouchers Program and the Venture Technologies Fund, combined with $50-million over ten years for the Transformative Technology Partnerships Fund, helping firms gain access to venture capital financing
  • An end to the electricity debt retirement charge beginning April 1, 2018, reducing electricity bills for all businesses not in the Regulated Price Plan or Industrial Conservation Initiative
  • A requirement that all ministries offset every dollar of new administrative costs with a $1.25 removal of old and unnecessary costs, helping to cut red tape
  • Maintaining the cut in the small business Corporate Income Tax Rate from 4.5 to 3.5 per cent announced in 2017.

    The Ontario Government is harmonizing with the federal government’s eligibility criteria leaving over 20,000 employers paying $100 million more in Employment Health Tax over the next three years. In addition, businesses will be phased out of the small business deduction if they earn between $50,000 and $150,000 of passive investment income in the taxation year, resulting in an additional $350 million in new taxes for Ontario businesses over the next three years. We are concerned that many businesses may find this additional burden hard to bear, especially after the impact of Bill 148 this year.

    The budget also contained a specific recommitment to expanding weekday GO rail service to Niagara starting in 2021. The GNCC recognizes the importance of this development for Niagara, and we are reassured by the mention in Budget 2018.

    The business investments are welcome and address some of the concerns that the GNCC raised over the costs to small businesses incurred as a result of Bill 148 or over lack of access to capital for business growth, for example. We recommend that the government make the best use of these investments – and others – by looking at Ontario’s businesses by size and by sector, and not neglecting firms in sectors that may be struggling but do not have the cachet of, for instance, the high-tech sector. Rather than a blanket approach, we feel that Ontario’s prosperity is best-assured by precisely targeting struggling firms and helping them remain competitive and to preserve the jobs they provide.

    The GNCC has already worked with the Government of Ontario on smart investments such as the Linking Niagara project, which built bridges between employers and Employment Ontario services, helping businesses access talent and workers to find jobs. We hope that we can continue working with the Government of Ontario to help them deliver programs that aim at business growth, and we look forward to a partnership that will achieve our shared goals of a prosperous, strong, and fair province in which to live and to do business.

    The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Niagara and the third-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,600 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.

    -30-

    Contact:

    Mishka Balsom, President & CEO of GNCC
    Mishka@gncc.ca or 905-684-2361

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Changes to Workplace Rules Coming April 1st – Are You Prepared?

March 15, 2018 | In The News

Further changes to the legislation governing Ontario’s workplaces from the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act 2017, a.k.a. Bill 148, take effect on April 1st. Is your business ready?

The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act introduced sweeping changes for Ontario employers, most notoriously an increase in minimum wage to $14/hr beginning January 1st, 2018, and to $15/hr on January 1st, 2019. The legislation contained much more than wage legislation, however, and the conversation about wages has led many to overlook the other changes that were made.

Some provisions have already come into force, such as more paid vacation time for employees with five years of tenure and increased leaves of absence including paid personal days. Rules governing equal pay for casual, part-time, temporary and seasonal workers will take effect next month.

Under the new rules, casual, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees cannot be paid at a rate of pay less than full-time or permanent employees if:

  • They do substantially the same kind of work, in the same establishment
  • Their work requires substantially the same skill, effort and responsibility
  • Their work is performed under similar working conditions

Temporary help agencies also will not be permitted to pay assignment employees at a rate less than employees directly hired by the agency’s clients under these same conditions.

If you have questions about this legislation and your compliance, please contact Hugo Chesshire, Policy & Government Relations Manager at the GNCC, at hugo@gncc.ca.

The GNCC has worked hard to try and make this legislation fairer to employers, and is continuing that work. The GNCC has met with every provincial elected official in Niagara and made trips to Queen’s Park. We presented arguments and a written submission to the Standing Committee reviewing this legislation. We have hosted informational sessions for Niagara’s businesses, and have helped many members navigate these changes. We are currently meeting with MPPs and candidates from all major parties to try and ensure that, whatever the outcome of this year’s election, we have a business-friendly government in Ontario.

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GNCC Welcomes Betsy Myers to Niagara for International Women’s Day

March 1, 2018 | Media Releases, WIN

On March 8th, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) and its Women in Niagara Council (WIN) will celebrate International Women’s Day at Club Italia in Niagara Falls. International Women’s Day is the date on which the world not only celebrates the achievements of women, but focuses on breaking down the barriers faced by women in business, in politics, and in leadership.

The GNCC and WIN are proud to welcome keynote speaker Betsy Myers to Niagara for this event. Ms. Myers was the Chief Operating Officer of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and the founding director of the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University. Prior to these roles, she was also a senior adviser on women’s issues in former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s administration. A tireless advocate for women in business and female leaders, Ms. Myers will share some of the insights she has gained from an intense career spent focusing on developing leadership and helping women to seize opportunities and become leaders themselves.

Mary Ann Edwards, Director of the Rankin Cancer Run, will be honoured with an award for her creation of the Run and her achievements as its director, having raised over $7.5 million for cancer patients and survivors in Niagara. The award is richly deserved not just for Ms. Edwards incredible and tireless leadership, but also for the community spirit she has built and the generosity and giving she has guided.

The International Women’s Day event is co-sponsored by Performance Acura and PenFinancial Credit Union. The event will include a fundraiser for a bursary for an up-and-coming female leader in Niagara to attend the Leadership Niagara program. The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “press for progress.” There is a strong call to press for progress motivating & uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, to act, and to be gender inclusive.

The International Women’s Day Luncheon will be held on Thursday March 8 at Club Italia. For more information and tickets please visit iwd.gncc.ca.

Quotes:

“This International Women’s Day, we wanted not only to showcase our achievers and our leaders like Betsy and Mary Ann, but to promote and enable the next generation of female leaders. We’re proud to be able to do both.”

— Mishka Balsom, President & CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

 

“We’ve seen remarkable advancement for women and the prospects for women recently, but there is still so much further to go, so it’s appropriate that we focus not just on the achievements that women have made, but on how they can achieve even more. This International Women’s Day will do both and we are glad to bring this event and its speakers to Niagara.”

— Nicole Regehr, WIN Chair & Community Development and Public Relations Manager, Gillian’s Place

 

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Niagara and the third-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,600 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.

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Chamber This Week – February 23, 2018

February 23, 2018 | Non-Advocacy

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