Region of Peel Goods Movement Strategic Plan 2017-2021

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Mississauga Board of Trade Welcomes Announcement On Red Tape Reduction

May 23, 2017: The Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) is very encouraged by Friday’s announcement on burden reduction by the Government of Ontario.  Cutting red tape for business has been a key component of our advocacy work and we are pleased to see government make meaningful change to reduce the regulatory burden on small business.

The one-window service concept will help save businesses time and money. This approach is something the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has advocated for in their report Obstacles and Opportunities, which was the culmination of the work during the Small Business Too Big to Ignore campaign of which MBOT members played a major role. The small business procurement policy is also very encouraging, and we ask the government to consider how they can expand this opportunity for small businesses across the province.

We are pleased to see Ontario adopt the $1 in $1.25 out provision, which will apply to new administrative costs. This is a best practice internationally and will keep the regulatory burden on business in check. We would certainly encourage this government to consider how they can bring costs down for business more broadly, outside of administrative fees.

“In our consultations last fall with MBOT members, they told use red tape and administrative burdens hurt their business.  Good to see the Provincial Government recognize this and act,” said David Wojcik, President & CEO, MBOT.

All of these changes will have meaningful and positive impacts on Ontario’s business community, and especially among small businesses. But to keep Ontario competitive, we need to ensure that any impending changes to the Labour Relations Act and Employment Standards Act are evidence based and fully costed.

MISSISSAUGA BOARD OF TRADE strongly objects to potential labour and employment standards reforms

Changes would discourage investment, eliminate jobs and diminish economic opportunities in Ontario, especially among small business owners

MISSISSAUGA, Monday, May 15, 2017: The Mississauga Board of Trade, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has sent a letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne warning against potential changes to Ontario’s Labour Relations Act (LRA) and the Employment Standards Act (ESA), including the introduction of a $15 minimum wage. The letter is cautioning that these reforms may have unintended consequences impacting job creation and competitiveness, as well discouraging investment in the province.

The potential reforms are coming at a time when costs for consumers and the cost of doing business is high and putting Ontario at a competitive disadvantage. Ontario has experienced slower growth in GDP and job creation than in the past, and drastic reforms to labour and employment run the risk of causing serious damage to the future prosperity of the province.

“These sweeping changes could seriously impact job creation and the health of our local economy, in Mississauga,” said David Wojcik, President & CEO of the Mississauga Board of Trade. “We need to get the message out that the proposed changes would discourage investment in Ontario, thereby discouraging investment and diminishing economic opportunities in Ontario.”

On issues of non-standard and part-time work, Statistics Canada data shows that part-time work has risen 22 percent since 2003, down from the 36 percent increase in the previous 12-year period. Recent studies show that 76 percent of part-timer workers voluntarily choose part-time work to better accommodate schooling or personal life. 

“We are urging Premier Wynne to complete an economic impact analysis of the proposed reforms to limit potential consequences that could seriously jeopardize our future growth,” said Richard Koroscil, Interim-President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “We support reform where and when it is needed, but we caution against change for change’s sake.”

The OCC’s letter reminds the Premier that Ontario's employer community is doing its part to create a better jobs and working conditions in the province. Budget 2017 points out that 98% of all new jobs created since the recession have been full time, and 78% have been above-average wage for their respective industries.

The letter notes that the goals of economic growth and improved employee rights are not mutually exclusive. The OCC believes that what supports the competitiveness of Ontario’s economy can also help enhance quality of work. Increased education and enforcement may assist with compliance to Government regulations and can improve worker environments. Regulatory reform that raises costs for business, only to reduce the ability of business to invest in and grow the labour force is counterproductive.

Read the OCC’s letter to Premier Wynne at: http://www.occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CWR-Letter-May-2017.pdf

Sheridan College nominated for Tony Awards

May 5, 2017: As one of the producers of the Broadway hit, Come From Away, Sheridan is the first post-secondary institution in Canada to receive a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical. In fact, only five Canadian musicals have ever made it to Broadway. Come From Away, the story of how the people of Gander, Nfld. opened their doors and hearts to 7000 stranded 9/11 passengers, was first developed at Sheridan as part of the Canadian Music Theatre Project (CMTP).
The CMTP is Canada’s leading incubator for music theatre development; 15 new musicals have been development with four moving from school to professional stage including Come From Away. Michael Rubinoff, Sheridan’s Associate Dean, Visual and Performing Arts, launched the Canadian Music Theatre Project (CMTP) at Sheridan in 2011. Rubinoff approached the writers, Irene Sankoff and David Hein, with the challenge of creating a musical about this historical moment. In 2012, Come From Away was developed as part of the CMTP and brought to life by students in the Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program. In 2017, the show premiered on Broadway after stops in Toronto, San Diego, Seattle and Washington. The show will return to Toronto in 2018.

BACK TO BALANCE BUT NOT PRUDENCE: MISSISSAUGA BOARD OF TRADE

Chamber challenges government to clarify where business growth will come from

April 27, 2017: In response to Budget 2017, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Mississauga Board of Trade today expressed concern that there is no clear path for long-term fiscal prudence, while commending the government for Ontario's first balanced budget since the global recession. While there is no deficit over the planning period, there is also no plan for surplus. Given that, downward payment on the debt will be pushed beyond the medium-term. This will place tremendous fiscal burden on future generations and considerable pressure on future economic planning.

"Budget 2017 demonstrates that much of Ontario's fiscal outlook will depend on the prosperity of our private sector," said Richard Koroscil, Interim President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. "The government acknowledged that business investment spending slowed in 2016, though expects firms to increase investment by 3.1 percent, annually, to 2020 - an amount that would outpace growth in real GDP growth and household spending. These assumptions depend upon business confidence - which has fallen precipitously in recent years according to the Ontario Economic Report - and U.S. demand, which is subject to considerable risk given recent comments by American President Donald Trump."

Ontario's revenues rely on the level and pace of economic activity of the province, but Budget 2017 offers limited vision for how to ensure that private-sector economic growth will continue to rise. Promised Corporate Income Tax rate relief, which the government paused following the economic downturn, were not reinstated. In the 2009 budget, the province pledged to reduce the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate to 10 percent by 2013. Within ten years it was estimated that the value of this CIT reduction would see Ontario benefit by increased capital investment of $47 billion, increased annual incomes of $29.4 billion and an estimated 591,000 net new jobs. However, the CIT reduction promise was halted in 2012 in light of the province's deteriorating fiscal situation, and so the CIT rate remained at 11.5 percent.

One bright spot in Budget 2017 were details provided around the clear commitment by Ontario's private sector to providing job growth for the province. The budget suggests that 98 percent of all new jobs since the recession in Ontario have been full time, and 78 percent in above-average wage industries. This positive economic activity by Ontario's private sector demonstrates a clear commitment to good, quality jobs throughout our province.

"Government must listen to its own budget document on the consistent creation of high-quality jobs when they consider the final report of the Changing Workplaces Review, expected in the coming weeks," said Koroscil. "While Premier Wynne and others have recently spoken about the rise of part-time work and concern over precarious work more generally, Budget 2017 states that the majority of the jobs created since the recession were in industries that pay above-average wages, in the private sector and in full-time positions."

KEY POINTS FOR ONTARIO'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY:

• Ontario will not return to planned Corporate Income Tax cuts, jeopardizing tens of billions of dollars in potential capital investment and hundreds of thousands of news jobs.
• While there is no deficit over the planning period, there is also no plan for surplus. Ontario's debt will rise by 21 per cent in the next three yearsas a result of interest charges, with no plans to begin debt repayment.  
• 98% of all new jobs since the recession in Ontario have been full time, and 78% in above-average wage industries. This positive economic activity by Ontario's private sector demonstrates a clear commitment to good jobs throughout our province and challenges many recent comments about precarious work and the need for the Changing Workplaces Review.
• Private sector investment is predicted to grow by 3.1 per cent, annually, to 2020, an amount that would outpace growth in real GDP growth and household spending.

Mississauga Board of Trade Congrats City of Mississauga 

April 18, 2017: Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) would like to congratulate the City of Mississauga for being named again as a Top Mid-Sized City of the Future by Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) magazine.

“We know very well that Mississauga is an ideal location for any foreign firm to locate and we promote this constantly,” said David Wojcik, President & CEO, MBOT.  “Mississauga has the right combination of innovation, highly skilled workforce and a business-friendly attitude making this the perfect place for any foreign investment.”

For more information on the City of Mississauga’s response and fDi magazine, please go to http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/pressreleases/?paf_gear_id=9700020&itemId=7300192q.

Mississauga Board of Trade Supports Downtown Mississauga Community Improvement Plan

April 11, 2017:  The Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) supports the recommendations of the Mississauga Planning & Development Committee approved last night to create a Downtown Mississauga Community Improvement Plan.

The staff report and recommendations were approved unanimously.

1. That the Downtown Community Improvement Plan, proposed in the report titled “Downtown Community Improvement Plan” dated March 17, 2017 from the Commissioner of Planning and Building, be approved and that an implementing by-law be prepared;

2. That a by-law delegating authority to the City Manager, to approve the Downtown Community Improvement Plan Development Processing Fees Grant and Tax Increment Equivalent Grant as proposed in the report titled “Downtown Community Improvement Plan” dated March 17, 2017 from the Commissioner of Planning and Building, be prepared;

3. That the City Manager be authorized to sign Incentive Agreements that stipulate the terms and conditions for the granting of incentives under the Downtown Community Improvement Plan;

4. That the Region of Peel be requested to develop a Regional Community Improvement Plan to support office development in Mississauga’s Downtown.

“Mississauga’s downtown needs to be a strong mix of commercial and residential development and the City needs to find ways to attract new office commercial development to its downtown core,” said David Wojcik, President & CEO, Mississauga Board of Trade.  “The Community Improvement Plan is important but the City must also look at the challenges around underground parking, commercial connectivity and the economics of new development.”

MBOT is a strong supporter of the City of Mississauga and land owners/developers in the Downtown looking at creating a Parking Authority and having the right policies in place that will attract a five star hotel and convention centre. 

“We are very pleased to see the City moving in the right direction on this and we would encourage the Region of Peel to adopt a CIP as well,” Mr. Wojcik concluded.

Media Contact

Bahaar Sachdeva

905-273-3523

bsachdeva@mbot.com

BUSINESSES NEED MORE SUPPORT TO LIMIT CAP AND TRADE IMPACT: MISSISSAUGA BOARD OF TRADE

OCC Calls on Premier Wynne to Prevent Exporting Jobs During the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy

April 5, 2017:  Today the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) with the support of the Mississauga Board of Trade, sent an open letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne calling on the government take action through Budget 2017 to contain the costs of the cap and trade system to better support Ontario’s business community. At a time of low business confidence across the province, and increasing competition from the United States, rising input costs for Ontario business risk negatively impacting jobs and investment in Mississauga and across province.

In the letter, the OCC warns that the province must measure the impact of cap and trade among other input costs to fully understand the cumulative burden facing Ontario’s business community. Because businesses are directly affected by the costs associated with cap and trade, the Government of Ontario must ensure that the revenue and design of the system is allocated and developed in a way that supports Ontario’s business community. 

“The Mississauga Board of Trade stands with our partners at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce  and we are calling on the Premier to take action and support our businesses and local economy,” said David Wojcik, President & CEO, Mississauga Board of Trade.

The OCC has identified four priority actions that would assist the business community to better navigate the cap and trade system:

1. Prioritize the allocation of cap and trade revenue for businesses, in addition to other efforts to offset the cost of cap and trade. Making the process to access resources as quickly as possible will be important, especially for smaller businesses who have little time or money to dedicate to program applications.
2. Prioritize innovation funding. Many Ontario businesses have already taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint. Achieving further reductions could be difficult and will often require the implementation of new technologies.
3. Create greater post-2020 design certainty. Post-2020 certainty is important for businesses looking to make long-term investments in Ontario.
4. Monitor and respond to regional impacts. To ensure the strategic allocation of cap and trade revenues, government should conduct a regional analysis of the impacts.

“Increased input costs imposed on the private sector mean that Ontario risks losing out on jobs and investment, and risks an economically and environmentally damaging shift in production to jurisdictions that are not taking action to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” said Graham Henderson, Chair of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “More action must be taken. In all policy decisions, the provincial government must consider how we can prevent exporting jobs while importing pollution.”

The letter is aimed at impacting government policy in Budget 2017, and builds on the OCC’s meetings with senior government officials. These meetings have emphasized the need to ensure Ontario’s businesses remain competitive and confident in the face of a changing economy.

The Mississauga Board of Trade and Ontario’s Chamber Network have engaged in significant advocacy on the cap and trade issue since 2015. This letter builds on the OCC’s earlier communications to government calling on the Ontario Energy Board to disclose cap and trade costs to taxpayers as a line-item on natural gas bills.  Last year, the Ontario Chamber Network also called on the government to delay the implementation of the cap and trade system until 2018.

A copy of the full letter to the Premier can be found at http://www.occ.ca/portfolio/14518/.

Media Contact

Bahaar Sachdeva

905-273-3523

bsachdeva@mbot.com