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To ensure the 2018 provincial election addresses the most important issues for business, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) to launch Vote Prosperity, a policy platform outlining the business community’s priorities for a pro-growth agenda. Built in consultation with businesses across Ontario, Vote Prosperity provides a series of recommendations for all political parties to consider adopting as part of their election platform to help build on the province’s advantages and strengthen its global competitiveness. The platform offers solutions to specific challenges that limit growth for Ontario’s businesses, which face rising electricity prices, a cap and trade regime, onerous labour law reforms and a burdensome regulatory environment. “Businesses are the backbone of Timmins’ economy, which is why we need to ensure their needs are addressed in next year’s provincial election,” said Jamie Clarke, President of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. “By issuing our election priorities a year in advance, we hope that Vote Prosperity will be used in the coming months by Ontario’s political leaders to build their own election platforms around ideas that will help promote growth in Northern Ontario.” To help address existing business challenges and promote a positive economic environment, Vote Prosperity is based on four overarching strategies: strengthening business competitiveness, fostering job creation, building healthy communities and improving government accountability. These strategies are the foundation for the platform’s 18 recommendations, some of which the OCC based on policy resolutions previously advanced by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Some of these recommendations include: · Allow Ontario businesses to purchase surplus electricity at rates equal to or better than the exported price to other jurisdictions; · Conduct and publish the results of a comprehensive review of the electricity sector, including an objective economic impact analysis assessing the full range of inputs that make up the Global Adjustment (GA), and then pursue cost-reducing measures based on the results; · Modernize the apprenticeship system; and · Ensure all proposed policy, regulation and legislation is based on sound, quantitative evidence. “Ontario businesses have made it clear that the ever-rising costs of doing business from all levels of government have hindered their ability to prosper and grow,” said Karl Baldauf, Vice President of Policy and Government Relations at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Our objective is to achieve coherent, comprehensive pro-growth policies from all political parties. Our recommendations provide a prosperous path forward because when you vote for prosperity, Ontario wins.” As the 2018 election approaches, the Timmins Chamber and the OCC will continue to share the concerns and recommendations outlined in Vote Prosperity with political parties and local candidates. To learn more about the Vote Prosperity platform, visit www.occ.ca/voteprosperity2018 -30- For more information, please contact: Nick Stewart Manager of Policy, Research and Communications Timmins Chamber of Commerce policy@timminschamber.on.ca | (705) 360-1900
To ensure the 2018 provincial election addresses the most important issues for business, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) to launch Vote Prosperity, a policy platform outlining the business community’s priorities for a pro-growth agenda.
Built in consultation with businesses across Ontario, Vote Prosperity provides a series of recommendations for all political parties to consider adopting as part of their election platform to help build on the province’s advantages and strengthen its global competitiveness. The platform offers solutions to specific challenges that limit growth for Ontario’s businesses, which face rising electricity prices, a cap and trade regime, onerous labour law reforms and a burdensome regulatory environment.
“Businesses are the backbone of Timmins’ economy, which is why we need to ensure their needs are addressed in next year’s provincial election,” said Jamie Clarke, President of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.
“By issuing our election priorities a year in advance, we hope that Vote Prosperity will be used in the coming months by Ontario’s political leaders to build their own election platforms around ideas that will help promote growth in Northern Ontario.”
To help address existing business challenges and promote a positive economic environment, Vote Prosperity is based on four overarching strategies: strengthening business competitiveness, fostering job creation, building healthy communities and improving government accountability.
These strategies are the foundation for the platform’s 18 recommendations, some of which the OCC based on policy resolutions previously advanced by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Some of these recommendations include:
· Allow Ontario businesses to purchase surplus electricity at rates equal to or better than the exported price to other jurisdictions;
· Conduct and publish the results of a comprehensive review of the electricity sector, including an objective economic impact analysis assessing the full range of inputs that make up the Global Adjustment (GA), and then pursue cost-reducing measures based on the results;
· Modernize the apprenticeship system; and
· Ensure all proposed policy, regulation and legislation is based on sound, quantitative evidence.
“Ontario businesses have made it clear that the ever-rising costs of doing business from all levels of government have hindered their ability to prosper and grow,” said Karl Baldauf, Vice President of Policy and Government Relations at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Our objective is to achieve coherent, comprehensive pro-growth policies from all political parties. Our recommendations provide a prosperous path forward because when you vote for prosperity, Ontario wins.”
As the 2018 election approaches, the Timmins Chamber and the OCC will continue to share the concerns and recommendations outlined in Vote Prosperity with political parties and local candidates.
To learn more about the Vote Prosperity platform, visit www.occ.ca/voteprosperity2018
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Nick Stewart Manager of Policy, Research and Communications Timmins Chamber of Commerce policy@timminschamber.on.ca | (705) 360-1900