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The Ontario’s upcoming 2017 budget should direct proceeds from the new cap and trade system to help reduce the burden on the province’s business community, according to a letter issued today by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) with the support of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Issued to Premier Kathleen Wynne, the letter highlights the considerable challenges that businesses across Ontario already face in the form of energy rates, workforce recruitment and retention, and provincial red tape. The addition of cap and trade adds to the cost of doing business in Ontario, and risks further investments and jobs in Timmins and across the province. To address the issue, the province should use cap and trade revenues to help offset the overall increase in the cost of doing business in Ontario, according to the letter’s recommendations. This is especially important for global competitiveness, as Ontario businesses are competing with firms in many jurisdictions, including most of the United States, which are not subject to similar programs. This means that businesses in Ontario who face cap and trade costs are at a distinct disadvantage – something the provincial government should rectify within the 2017 budget, said Timmins Chamber President Christine Bender. “Cap and trade costs represent another major challenge to Timmins businesses’ competitiveness at a time where the cumulative regulatory burden in Ontario is already quite significant,” said Bender. “Careful reinvestment of cap and trade funds could help businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and therefore their costs under this system. It is for this reason that, along with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, we are calling on the Premier to take action and support our businesses and our economy.” In the letter to Premier Wynne, the OCC has identified four priority actions that would assist the business community to better navigate the cap and trade system: 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. 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. Create greater post-2020 design certainty. Post-2020 certainty is important for businesses looking to make long-term investments in Ontario. 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 Timmins Chamber of Commerce and Ontario’s Chamber network have engaged in significant advocacy on the cap and trade issue since 2015. This letter builds on the Timmins Chamber’s partnership with the OCC to call on the Ontario Energy Board to disclose cap and trade costs to taxpayers as a line-item on natural gas bills. Last year, the Timmins Chamber also joined the Ontario Chamber network in pushing the government to delay the implementation of the cap and trade system until 2018. To view the OCC’s letter to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, visit www.tinyurl.com/CapTradeApril2017 -30- About the Timmins Chamber of Commerce With 700 members, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest accredited chambers of commerce with distinction in northeastern Ontario. As the “Voice of Business in Timmins” since 1949, our advocacy and policy initiatives focus on ensuring a positive business climate in the City of Timmins. Contact: Nick Stewart Manager of Policy, Research and Communications Timmins Chamber of Commerce (705) 360-1900 policy@timminschamber.on.ca
The Ontario’s upcoming 2017 budget should direct proceeds from the new cap and trade system to help reduce the burden on the province’s business community, according to a letter issued today by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) with the support of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.
Issued to Premier Kathleen Wynne, the letter highlights the considerable challenges that businesses across Ontario already face in the form of energy rates, workforce recruitment and retention, and provincial red tape. The addition of cap and trade adds to the cost of doing business in Ontario, and risks further investments and jobs in Timmins and across the province.
To address the issue, the province should use cap and trade revenues to help offset the overall increase in the cost of doing business in Ontario, according to the letter’s recommendations. This is especially important for global competitiveness, as Ontario businesses are competing with firms in many jurisdictions, including most of the United States, which are not subject to similar programs. This means that businesses in Ontario who face cap and trade costs are at a distinct disadvantage – something the provincial government should rectify within the 2017 budget, said Timmins Chamber President Christine Bender.
“Cap and trade costs represent another major challenge to Timmins businesses’ competitiveness at a time where the cumulative regulatory burden in Ontario is already quite significant,” said Bender.
“Careful reinvestment of cap and trade funds could help businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and therefore their costs under this system. It is for this reason that, along with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, we are calling on the Premier to take action and support our businesses and our economy.”
In the letter to Premier Wynne, the OCC has identified four priority actions that would assist the business community to better navigate the cap and trade system:
“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 Timmins Chamber of Commerce and Ontario’s Chamber network have engaged in significant advocacy on the cap and trade issue since 2015. This letter builds on the Timmins Chamber’s partnership with the OCC to call on the Ontario Energy Board to disclose cap and trade costs to taxpayers as a line-item on natural gas bills. Last year, the Timmins Chamber also joined the Ontario Chamber network in pushing the government to delay the implementation of the cap and trade system until 2018.
To view the OCC’s letter to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, visit www.tinyurl.com/CapTradeApril2017
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About the Timmins Chamber of Commerce
With 700 members, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest accredited chambers of commerce with distinction in northeastern Ontario. As the “Voice of Business in Timmins” since 1949, our advocacy and policy initiatives focus on ensuring a positive business climate in the City of Timmins.
Contact: Nick Stewart Manager of Policy, Research and Communications Timmins Chamber of Commerce (705) 360-1900 policy@timminschamber.on.ca