How Businesses and Canadians Can Help Ukraine

Like many Canadians, we express our solidarity with Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian business community during these tragic times for their country. For those that would like to help, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is providing links to the specific areas of greatest need that outline meaningful ways to make donations. They are also providing links to various information sources regarding sanctions and other relevant policy. Click here for more information.

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce is joining our Chamber colleagues across the country in suspending the issuance of certificates of origin for exports to Russia, during the conflict.
 
We support, and will continue to support, efforts made by Canada and its allies to take strong measures to end the conflict.
IN THE NEWS
Ontario Moving to Next Phase of Reopening

Effective March 1:
Ontario has taken additional steps to ease public health measures. This includes lifting capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings.

Ontario will also lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at this time. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination.
Mask Mandate to be Lifted

With continued improvement in trends, Ontario will remove the mandatory masking requirement for most settings on March 21, with the exception of select settings such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes and congregate care settings.
Canada Digital Adoption Program

The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) has been established to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) realize their full potential by adopting digital technologies. Announced in Budget 2021, the $4 billion program is an investment of $1.4 billion in grants and advisory services to SMEs from the Government of Canada and up to $2.6 billion in loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada to help businesses cover the costs of implementing new digital technologies.
Changes to Mandatory Testing when Travelling to Canada

As of February 28, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. EST:

  • The Canadian Government eased the on-arrival testing for fully-vaccinated travellers. This means that travellers arriving to Canada from any country, who qualify as fully vaccinated, will be randomly selected for arrival testing. Travellers selected will also no longer be required to quarantine while awaiting their test result.
  • Children under 12 years old, travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will continue to be exempt from quarantine, without any prescribed conditions limiting their activities. This means, for example, they no longer need to wait 14 days before attending school, camp or daycare.
  • Unvaccinated travellers will continue to be required to test on arrival, on Day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. Unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions.
  • Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements. Taking a rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or tele-health service.
  • The Government of Canada has adjusted its Travel Health Notice from a Level 3 to a Level 2. This means that the Government will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.
Applications Now Open for Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program

Eligible businesses required to close or reduce capacity due to the current public health measures put in place to blunt the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can apply for the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program starting today. Through the new program, the government will provide eligible businesses with a rebate payment of up to 100 per cent for property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these restrictions.
Advocacy In Action
The Aurora Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present our annual Town Hall Address with Mayor Mrakas. Please join us to hear the latest updates from the Mayor and other exciting initiatives happening in Aurora.  

Individual Ticket $75 + HST ~ Table For 8 $600 + HST
This is an opportunity to join your fellow industry members to hear key updates from Tony Elenes, the President & CEO of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, meet others in your industry, ask your questions and provide input on your industry needs post-pandemic.
Attention All Businesses

Have you joined the Accelerate Business Recovery Hub yet? Only 2 weeks left to take advantage of this valuable resource.

Take advantage of all the FREE services

Including:
✅ FREE 1 on 1 Coaching - Up to 10 hours with a professional in your area of need
✅ FREE Self-Paced Training Videos - Access anytime and anywhere
✅ FREE Business Foundations Certificate from the prestigious Schulich School of
Business - York University

Plus so much more
But HURRY space is limited

More info visit

Powered by Aurora Chamber of Commerce
And sponsored by Desjardins Group
Government Updates

Please click on the links below to read updates from the municipal, provincial and federal governments

Update from Mayor Mrakas, Town of Aurora, read here

Update from Christine Elliott, MPP Newmarket-Aurora, read here

Update from Michael Parsa, MPP Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, read here

Update from Leah Taylor Roy, MP Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, read here

Update from Tony Van Bynen, MP Newmarket-Aurora, read here