TORONTO, March 29, 2017: Earlier this week, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) along with a delegation of representatives from over 90 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade participated in the annual Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park. Chamber leaders had the opportunity to
meet with Premier Kathleen Wynne, senior government officials and MPPs from across the province. This allowed Milton Chamber President & CEO Scott McCammon to discuss local issues of importance with the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth. Specifically, employ
ee recruitment, access to high speed internet, and red tape challenges were discussed.
During the meeting,
the Milton Chamber stressed the importance of finding employees for local jobs, as well as the need in rural Milton for reliable, high speed internet so businesses can compete in the digital economy.
“In addition to convening business leaders from across Ontario and advancing the province’s business priorities, Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park was an excellent opportunity for Chamber leaders and local representatives to educate government officials while trying to obtain policy commitments from senior officials and locally elected representatives,” said Scott McCammon. “It was an opportunity for the Chamber Network to work
with government decision makers on issues that matter most to Ontario’s business community,”
The day con
cluded with a reception at Queen’s Park, which gave representatives an opportunity to interact with Cabinet Ministers and local MPPs in a more informal setting and allowed for further conversation regarding issues of concern to Ontario business.
“Advocacy
Day at Queen’s Park highlights the collective strength of the Chamber Network,” said Graham Henderson, Chair of the OCC Board of Directors. “We know the Chamber Network can and has created positive change at Queen’s Park, and we are eager to see how the provincial government will react to the economic challenges that were discussed here today.”
The OCC
’s Advocacy Day is one of the many ways that the Chamber Network engages in influential advocacy work. Through the strength of the Network’s powerful voice, the Chamber Network has seen tangible results including: the implementation of a provincial Red Tape Reduction Strategy, establishing greater transparency and lower costs in energy pricing, enhancing Ontario’s agri-food sector and helping close Ontario’s tourism gap. These exciting initiatives are all a result of the OCC’s and the Milton Chamber’s ongoing government engagement. By working together with businesses and community leaders across the province, the Chamber Network and the Milton Chamber are addressing the unique challenges faced by Ontario’s diverse economy.
