Media Release

Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce call on local MPs to prioritize Ontario economy

Greater Sudbury, 2015: The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce are calling on the newly elected federal government and local MPs to fulfill their election promise to make Ontario’s economy a top priority.

In a letter to Paul Lefebvre and Marc Serré, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce congratulates the new MPs on their election victory and calls for immediate action to address local and Ontario economic challenges. The OCC and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce have identified three near-term priorities for the federal government: getting infrastructure dollars out the door, reinstating the mandatory long-form census, and moving forward with tax relief measures for small businesses.  We are also calling on the government to show a commitment to Ontario’s North.

“It is paramount that the newly elected government deliver on its commitments to Ontario,” said Karen Hourtovenko, Chair of the Board, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce. “In the near term, more than anything, we want to see increased federal investments in trade-enabling and productivity-boosting infrastructure.”

The chamber network has repeatedly called on the federal government to reinstate the mandatory long-form census. The OCC and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce are encouraged to see that, according to recent media reports, the federal government is responding to this recommendation. A mandatory census will ensure that Ontario employers have access to reliable labour market data and will allow businesses to predict and adapt to emerging trends in the labour market.

Additionally, the OCC and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce are calling on the federal government to move forward with tax relief measures for small businesses. The new federal government has committed to reducing the small business tax rate from 11 percent to 9 percent. We are are urging the new federal government to work with the business community as it designs and implements the tax cut.

The letter also encourages the new federal government to address the gap between what Ontarians pay to the federal government and what they receive back – currently estimated at $11 billion. For too long, says the OCC and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, Ontario’s economic challenges have not been adequately addressed by the federal government.

“We urge all MPs to recognize that Canada’s economic growth is driven largely by growth in Ontario,” said Allan O’Dette, President & CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Further, economic success in this province signals a rise in prosperity across the country.”

The OCC recently shared its federal economic strategy for Ontario with all MPs through its report, In Focus: Federal Priorities for the Ontario Economy.

“This is a pivotal time for our region and our province,” said Hourtovemko. “We look forward to continuing to continuing to engage with our local representatives as we work together to strengthen our business climate.”

Read the letter to Paul Lefebvre here.

Read the letter to Marc Serré here.

Learn more about the Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Learn more about the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce

 

For more information, please contact:

Joyce Mankarios

Policy and Public Relations Manager

Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce

705-673-7133 ext. 224

joyce(at)sudburychamber.ca