A monthly update to keep members of the local business community informed regarding advocacy issues at the local, provincial and national levels. Get involved to inspire positive change!

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Local Advocacy Initiatives

Aurora Chamber Advocacy Committee Report
ACOC Advocacy Committee Update 

In September, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Town of Aurora, co-hosted a town hall information session to provide an overview of the impact of Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs to the local business community.

Ashley Challinor, Director of Policy at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), presented the research and analysis done by the OCC to bring to light the impact of Bill 148.

Laura Williams, Principal, Williams HR Law and Williams HR Consulting, presented the effects of Bill 148 on employers and 10 strategies to prepare to integrate Bill 148 into business going forward, in anticipation of most of Bill 148 being implemented as-is.

Williams HR is offering a free 60-minute webinar on October 30th, Bracing for Change: Is your organization ready for Bill 148? . Plan to attend—now is the time to be proactive, prepare and ensure your organization is ready before the legislation takes effect.

Discover the latest updates and resources regarding Bill 148 below.
At the request of Mayor Dawe, the Advocacy Committee is preparing a position paper on Bill 148 for consideration by Aurora Council. The paper will be submitted to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for approval prior to submission.

Thank you to all who attended the town hall meeting and shared their concerns regarding Bill 148.
What's Holding Your Business Back? 
As the largest and most influential business association in Aurora, we are the voice of our members and the Aurora business community.

We bring Aurora business issues to the forefront and we work to create positive change.

If you are a member of the local business community and have a concern about something affecting your business, contact the Chamber to share your issue. We stand up for all Aurora businesses!

Provincial Advocacy Initiatives & News

Advocacy Initiatives from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC)
Make your voice heard at Queen's Park!

Participate in the Business Confidence Survey

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber Network are looking for members to help shape our advocacy by completing the Business Confidence Survey.

Members can share their insights on the state of the Ontario economy, recent government policy, and the impact on business by taking the five-minute survey.

The Ontario Chamber Network is committed to ensuring government understands the issues impacting Ontario business in this province. That’s why we need your help in ensuring the voice of business is heard loud and clear at Queen’s Park. 

Click on the button below, and in five minutes let the government know what’s important to you. 
Vote Prosperity: 2018 Election Platform

The 2018 election comes at a pivotal time for the province. Ontario has the fundamental ingredients for sustainable and equitable growth, but bold action and leadership will be required to leverage its existing strengths to forge a path forward.

To encourage Ontario’s political parties to take up this challenge, the OCC released its 2018 election platform, Vote Prosperity.

Vote Prosperity is the OCC’s comprehensive strategy to promote prosperity for the province and ensure the next provincial election addresses the most important issues to the survival of Ontario's business communit y. 
See the coverage from the OCC's Vote Prosperity launch in the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun
Bill 148 Update from the OCC

Send Written Submissions to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

On October 18th, Bill 148 passed the second reading at Queen's Park and has now been referred back to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

Details on how the committee will proceed with public hearings is yet to be determined. In the meantime businesses are strongly encouraged to send written submissions to the committee.

Written submissions can be submitted via email to the address below: 

Eric Rennie, Clerk
erennie@ola.org
cc: comm-financeaffairs@ola.org
416-325-3506
Read the media release from the Ontario Government regarding Bill 148 passing its second reading.
Steering Through Change: A Handbook to Help Ontario Businesses Understand and Manage Bill 148

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce, alongside the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and management-consulting firm, MNP, have released a comprehensive handbook, Steering Through Change , to help Ontario businesses navigate the new costs and regulations associated with Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act.

The handbook provides a summary of the incoming changes, outlines the potential risks to business, and identifies human resources and operational strategies to help mitigate the impact. This handbook will be especially helpful to smaller firms .

The handbook outlines the impacts businesses are likely to see from the numerous changes and identifies that small businesses are most likely to face four main issues:

Profitability : businesses may not be able to keep up a sustainable profit margin;

Staffing levels : businesses may not have the capacity to maintain current staffing;

Competition : to keep their doors open, businesses will be forces to raise prices; and

Taxation : with higher wages comes higher payroll taxes and contributions to EI and CPP.
Learn More: Join the Webinar

How to Prepare for Ontario's New Labour Laws

On Thursday, November 2nd from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, the OCC and MNP will be hosting a webinar to discuss the handbook and go into more detail about the impact of Bill 148. The webinar will also provide more information on the broader scope of changes Bill 148 will introduce. 

Register for the webinar to learn more.

National Advocacy Initiatives & News

Advocacy Initiatives from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)
#ProtectGrowth - Federal Fair Tax Plan Update

The federal government announced on October 16th that it plans to make significant revisions to the proposed corporate tax reforms.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) welcomes the government’s plans to revise its proposed tax reforms and to reduce the small business tax rate as a result of the comments and concerns expressed through the #ProtectGrowth campaign and in consultations.
 
Finance Minister Bill Morneau has responded to some of the concerns expressed by the CCC and the small and medium-sized businesses it represents, and by his caucus colleagues. The government’s revised package is still not perfect, but is more balanced and it addresses a number of the issues that have been raised over the past several weeks.

This is a substantial win for Canada's business community! It's a testament to the power of the Chamber Network and an example of how much we can accomplish when government and business work together.
 
The CCC is not going to stop at this win. As Canada's largest trading partner, the US, introduces a competitive new tax regime, the Canadian Chamber’s next task is to broaden the conversation around taxes.

It is time to focus on what businesses need to grow and innovate in a fair Canadian tax system that attracts domestic and foreign investment.
Review the media coverage surrounding the revised tax reforms:



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Aurora Chamber of Commerce | Phone: 905-727-7262 | Fax: 905-841-6217 | Email: info@aurorachamber.on.ca | Web: www.aurorachamber.on.ca

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