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
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
A Call for Sensible Policy: Addressing the Impact of Federal Cuts to International Study Permits
A Call for Sensible Policy: Addressing the Impact of Federal Cuts to International Study Permits Written by Kristen Duever In recent weeks, the Canadian educational landscape has been shaken by significant policy changes announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The London Chamber of Commerce, representing the interests of our community's businesses, stands deeply concerned about the ramifications of these abrupt cuts to the international student visa program. An Unwise Policy
Letter from Daniel Tisch in Regards to CEBA Loans
Letter from Daniel Tisch in Regards to CEBA Loans Daniel Tisch has been hired as the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s new President and CEO. Daniel Tisch was the CEO for 20 years at Argyle Communications and had previously held senior policy and communications roles in the Government of Canada. The following is a letter from Daniel Tisch to OCC members in regards to the Canadian Emergency Business Account loans. Dear OCC Members, I am writing to you today with deep concern after hearing from
2023 Q4 Business Conditions Survey
2023 Q4 Business Conditions Survey The Business Data Lab has released their report on the 2023 Q4 Business Conditions Survey which tracks both how businesses feel about their economic outlook as well as how they are performing in the general labour market. There continues to be some growing concern in the business community about profitability and hiring across all sizes of businesses. The cost of goods have become too high for some businesses to remain profitable and with no further extension to
London Chamber Advocacy Survey
2024 London Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Survey The 2024 London Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Survey is now available to be completed by members in order for the Chamber to better understand what issues the membership is facing and how they can be addressed. We value the input of the membership and the results from this survey will be used to develop advocacy initiatives in the coming year.To complete the survey, please visit: https://forms.gle/anjAjgPYW1SizEp1A
London Chamber Meets With Minister Rechie Valdez On November 15th, the London Chamber of Commerce h
London Chamber Meets With Minister Rechie Valdez On November 15th, the London Chamber of Commerce had the honour of hosting Minister Rechie Valdez, the Federal Minister of Small Business, in order to discuss and share about the community and how the federal government can support businesses in London. Joined by members of the Chamber board as well as members of the London business community, the group discussed many of the issues that London businesses are currently facing. This included
AODA Compliance Report Deadline Approaching
AODA Compliance Report Deadline Approaching This is a reminder that the deadline to submit your Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Compliance report is December 31, 2023. This report must be completed if you are a business or nonprofit organization with over 20 employees. It is important that all businesses remain accessible for all people and that there are no barriers for individuals with disabilities. Ensuring that your business is compliant with the AODA will help businesses be
Fall Economic Statement Signals Support for Employee-Owned Busin
Celebrating a Victory for Business: Fall Economic Statement Signals Support for Employee-Owned Businesses Written by Kristen Duever for the London Chamber of Commerce The Fall Economic Statement delivered a mixed bag of news for businesses in Canada, addressing critical issues such as housing, mental health, and labour mobility, albeit without the desired extension on CEBA loans. However, among these developments, there is a standout win for the business community that the London Chamber of Commerce has
Pre-Budget Consultation
Pre-Budget Consultation Good afternoon Mr. Byers, My name is Kristen Duever VP of Public Affairs for the London Chamber of Commerce. The London Chamber represents approximately 1000 London businesses that employ over 60,000 in London and the surrounding area. And on behalf of our members and stakeholders, I want to thank you for the opportunity to share our priorities for the upcoming provincial budget. The themes of our recommendations center around: Cultivating competitiveness and
Provincial Representatives Visit the Chamber
Provincial Representatives Visit the Chamber Throughout the month of October, the London Chamber of Commerce had the privilege of hosting Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP and leader of the Opposition as well as Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin - Middlesex - London and Associate Minister of Housing for Ontario. We were also pleased to speak with Stephen Lecce, the Ontario Minister of Education, on the future of education in Ontario. Marit Stiles was joined by London MPPs Terence Kernaghan, Teresa
2023 Ontario Economic Summit
2023 Ontario Economic Summit The Ontario Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2023 Ontario Economic Summit from November 1-2 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This event involves business leaders from the private and public sectors and serves as one of the province’s largest business conferences. The London Chamber of Commerce was pleased to have our CEO Graham Henderson in attendance for the event which will include keynote speakers, interactive panels, and policy debates. Of the topics being
London Shines at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM and Convention
London Shines at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM and Convention October 12-14, 2023, Kristen Duever - VP of Public Affairs for the London Chamber of Commerce attended the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) AGM and Convention in Calgary. While there, Kristen was able to network and share ideas with many of her peers from across the country. Additionally, she had the opportunity to meet Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith; Calgary Mayor, Jyoti Gondek; and even Brett Wilson of Dragon’s Den. Of course,
Reforming Ontario's Beer Tax System: A Crucial Step for Economic Growth
Reforming Ontario's Beer Tax System: A Crucial Step for Economic Growth By Kristen Duever On Behalf of the London Chamber of Commerce Fans of craft beer enjoy it for its diverse and unique flavours, personalized local touch; and for the sense of community that small breweries provide. But the impact of this industry is much larger and more important to our economy than many realize. Ontario boasts over 340 craft breweries, employing 4,600 individuals, making up 80% of all brewing jobs in the province.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Develop Workplace Policies
Using Artificial Intelligence to Develop Workplace Policies In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool for various industries, including workplace health and safety. Ensuring the safety and well-being of employees is a major concern for organizations worldwide, and by leveraging AI, businesses can develop more effective and proactive workplace health and safety policies. However, these tools are often prohibitive for smaller
Third Quarter Report on Business Conditions
Third Quarter Report on Business Conditions On September 19, the Business Data Lab released their Canadian Survey on Business Conditions Report for the third quarter of 2023. This report covers business conditions across various sectors, organization sizes, and areas and seeks to make predictions on what to expect for the next year based on information received from the Statistics Canada Survey on Business Conditions. Unfortunately, the business conditions report for Q3 saw previous growth