Are you a Chamber member and you have a press release or news story about your business that you should like us to share? Email Kim Phair
London Chamber Applauds Approval of HART Hub: A Win for Community Well-Being and Local Business
London Chamber Applauds Approval of HART Hub: A Win for Community Well-Being and Local Business The London Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see the City of London approved by the Ontario Government for a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. This significant development is a vital step toward addressing the pressing needs of individuals in our community struggling with mental health and addiction—challenges that also have a direct impact on the local business environment. The
London Chamber of Commerce Engages in Consultations on Natural Gas Policy
London Chamber of Commerce Engages in Consultations on Natural Gas Policy The London Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce its recent participation in the Ministry of Energy’s consultation on the long-term role of natural gas in Ontario’s energy system and economy. This critical dialogue aligns with the government’s efforts to shape Ontario’s energy future while balancing affordability, reliability, and environmental sustainability. The consultation is part of the Ministry’s development of a Natural
Strengthening the Canada-U.S. Trade Partnership: Why Tariffs Are a Lose-Lose Proposition
Strengthening the Canada-U.S. Trade Partnership: Why Tariffs Are a Lose-Lose Propositionby Kristen Duever Tariffs are the most urgent threat facing Canadian and American businesses today, putting at risk the economic prosperity and interconnectedness that has defined our nations' trade relationship. Every day, $3.6 billion in goods crosses the Canada-U.S. border, fueling a $1.3 trillion annual trade relationship that sustains 2.3 million Canadian jobs tied to U.S. exports and 1.4 million American jobs tied
Why the Government of Canada Must Fast-Track Defence Spending
Why the Government of Canada Must Fast Track Defence Spendingby Kristen Duever The prorogation of the federal government couldn’t have come at a worse time. As we enter this uncertain geopolitical landscape, this message is directed not only to the next Prime Minister but to their successors as well: Canada must urgently prioritize and accelerate its defence spending. On January 20, President Trump will be inaugurated. While some of his rhetoric—including threats of 25% across-the-board tariffs on
Support for MPP Terence Kernaghan’s Motion on Employee Ownership Strategy
The London Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to express our strong support for MPP Terence Kernaghan’s motion to implement an Ontario Employee Ownership Strategy. Read the letter
OCC Announces Support for High-Frequency Rail Project
OCC Announces Support for High-Frequency Rail Project The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has published a letter to the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, in support of the High-Frequency Rail project in Ontario. The project, as currently planned, will offer over 1000km of brand-new rail infrastructure along the Toronto-Quebec corridor allowing faster and more frequent rail service. By moving passenger services to dedicated tracks, the new trains will no
2024 Membership Survey Report
2024 Membership Survey Report The London Chamber of Commerce has recently completed our 2024 Membership Survey. The responses will be used to plan for the coming year, fine-tune events, and craft new policies and advocacy positions. We would like to thank everyone who participated for their valuable input. Read the report
Q3 2024 Report on Business Conditions
Q3 2024 Report on Business ConditionsWritten by Andrew Groves The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab has published their Survey on Business Conditions Report for the third quarter of 2024. This report details the results of a survey that collected data on how businesses across Canada feel about their performance and their outlook for the future. This is an important tool in judging the general perceptions of the Canadian economy and business landscape at the individual level. While
Letter to Minister Steven MacKinnon Regarding Potential Air Canada Labour Disruption
The London Chamber of Commerce, along with 98 other Chambers of Commerce and industry associations, has signed a joint letter to Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon to express concern about a potential strike by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) at Air Canada.Read the letter
Candace Laing to Head Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Candace Laing to Head Canadian Chamber of Commerce The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has announced that Candace Laing will step in as their new CEO beginning on September 1st. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, where her family maintains a longstanding farming operation, Ms. Laing brings her experience as a senior executive with more than two decades of experience with both the private and public sectors. During her ten years with Nutrien and its predecessor company, PotashCorp, Ms. Laing served on
Review of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act
Review of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act The London Chamber of Commerce has officially submitted a policy paper to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in regards to the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act that is included in Bill C-27. This paper points out some flaws with the current draft of the act and some possible solutions that will help make the act more effective and ensure that Canada’s tech sector can remain competitive. While the act does include a large investment into AI, the
London City Council Advances Health and Homelessness Initiatives with New Supportive Housing and Enc
London City Council Advances Health and Homelessness Initiatives with New Supportive Housing and Encampment Response Plans The London Chamber of Commerce is encouraged by the significant process of London City Council in addressing health and homelessness through its Whole of Community System Response. Two major milestones have been reached: the endorsement of the Community Encampment Response Plan and the approval of the next steps for a new highly supportive housing project. The Community Encampment
AI Adoption by Canadian Businesses
AI Adoption by Canadian Businesses The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab has released their report on the state of generative AI in Canada and how it will affect the future of our business landscape. Generative AI is any AI system that can create images, data or text using prompts provided by the user. The current use case for these systems is to fill in some of the productivity and labour gaps that remain in the business environment. This technology represents new opportunities for
Chamber Q1 and Q2 Advocacy Review
Q1 and Q2 Advocacy Review January The London Chamber of Commerce ran our 2024 Advocacy Survey in order to better understand what our members' needs are and how we can address them. We collected recommendations for all levels of government and used the results to better formulate our advocacy strategy for the coming year. The Business Confidence Survey report was released for the fourth quarter of 2023 which took a look at businesses economic outlook and how the labour market was
Report from the 2024 OCC AGM and Convention in Timmins
Kristen Duever represented the London Chamber at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce AGM and Convention. This year, the event took place in Timmins from April 25-27th at Cedar Meadows Resort. Read the report here
Advocacy Win: London Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Success in Helping to Secure International Stude
Advocacy Win: London Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Success in Helping to Secure International Student Visas for Fanshawe College In a significant advocacy win, the London Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the successful allocation of international student visas to Fanshawe College, safeguarding critical programs and economic contributions to the local community. The London Chamber of Commerce joined its voice with Fanshawe College in advocating for a fair allocation of international student visas
Q1 2024 Business Conditions Report
Q1 2024 Business Conditions Report The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab has released their Business Conditions Report for the first quarter of 2024. This is a quarterly report that seeks to understand how businesses of various types and sizes feel about the economy and their current condition within the business landscape. When looking at various economic indicators compared to the Q4 report of 2023, the Canadian economy has seen some steady growth however, general business
Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act Update
Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act Update The Ontario government announced on April 1st an update to the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act that is intended to increase the amount of public procurement that is allocated to businesses within Ontario. This new regulation will require that all organizations in Ontario’s public sector, including hospitals and schools, must give preference to Ontario business when procuring goods and services including school supplies, medical supplies,
Canadian Federal Budget 2024: A Perspective from the London Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Federal Budget 2024: A Perspective from the London Chamber of Commerce On April 16, 2024, the Government of Canada unveiled its 2024 Federal Budget, outlining a roadmap for economic recovery and growth amidst ongoing challenges. As policy experts from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce dissect the implications of this budget for Canadian businesses, the London Chamber of Commerce stands ready to assess its impact on the local business landscape. General Outlook The budget's unveiling didn't
Ontario’s Basic Beer Tax Freeze a Victory for Businesses and Consumers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Ontario’s Basic Beer Tax Freeze a Victory for Businesses and Consumers London, Ontario - The London Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce a significant policy win for Ontario's breweries, tourism, and hospitality sectors. After considerable advocacy efforts by the chamber network as well as Beer Canada, the Minister of Finance of Ontario unveiled plans to freeze the escalator on Ontario's Basic Beer Tax for the next two years. This decision is projected to yield substantial
