Messages from the Chair of the Board and the President

Chair’s Message

Election Call

As we approach our municipal election on October 25, 2010, the Chamber is eager to hear your thoughts on issues you feel should be addressed by the candidates.  The Chamber will host an all-candidates debate shortly after nominations close on September 10, 2010. The exact date and venue will be announced in the near future.

The Chamber encourages all our members and non-members alike to be engaged citizens of our community and not only exercise your right to vote, but participate actively in the debates and discussions that will shape the candidates’ platforms. To maintain the vibrancy of our community in terms of its economy, culture, and quality of life socially and recreationally, we all need to be involved. In order to influence the incumbents on the issues which matter most to the residents and businesses of Oakville, we need to participate.

Based on informal feedback from our membership, the Chamber has identified some issues which should be addressed during this election campaign. These issues include:

• New Oakville Hospital Funding Formula -  Now that we have a municipal commitment of $200M as Oakville’s portion of the new hospital, how exactly will that commitment be funded?
• Economic Development –With the Town’s adoption of  Oakville’s award-winning economic development strategy, how will the goals of attracting knowledge-based industries in the professional services, advanced manufacturing and life sciences sectors; responding to the needs of the business community in order to foster business retention and expansion; and exploring international business opportunities be executed?
• Municipal Auditor General – What do you think of the possibility of having this oversight at the municipal level?
• Licensing Fees –The Town is proposing changing the process for increasing licensing fees from a 5-year rate increase to annual cost-of-living increments. Do businesses agree with this new strategy?
• Drive Thrus – How do you feel about the severe restriction of drive thrus in Oakville?
• Livable Oakville – New Official Plan – What are your thoughts as a resident of Oakville?
• Air Quality Bylaw –How does the Town ensure the air quality of Oakville if neighbouring municipalities are not regulated and we share the same air shed? Would provincial regulation versus municipal regulation ensure consistency and prevent a competitive disadvantage for Oakville businesses?

We welcome your feedback on the issues we have identified and encourage you to identify any others you feel should be addressed by municipal election candidates. Please provide your feedback care of Katherine Hollinsworth, Chamber Policy Analyst, at khollinsworth@cogeco.ca or 2521 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, ON L6L 6P8.
 

 Sonny Jelinek
Chair of the Board
Oakville Chamber of Commerce

 President’s Message

The Power of Partnership

The Chamber’s year end, June 30, is fast approaching.  It will be another record year.  Membership is at an all-time high, our events are selling out, and in our 60 year history we have never been in better financial shape.   We attribute much of that success to our many partnerships. The essence of a successful partnership is that each party benefits.  Our many partnerships produce tangible benefits for the Chamber, our partners our Members and ultimately the community.  We are all living in an economy where we must do more with less.  Sharing capabilities and resources allows us to work more efficiently and effectively.
 
We are aware that there is a focus in our economy on knowledge-based industries and Oakville is no exception. Oakville is fortunate to be home to the Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning.  We were delighted to recently partner with Sheridan to introduce their new President & CEO, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky to the business community.  There is a definite trend towards business strategies which focus on intellectual capital. Connections and partnerships are critical for these strategies to succeed.

From Cogeco partnering with us to present successful signature events such as our Annual Golf Tournament or Chair’s Dinner, to the Business Development Bank of Canada partnering with us to present Small Business Week or Hynek Financial providing a solid foundation of support at our monthly and quarterly events, we rely on our partners.

Over the last year we have had the opportunity to host keynote speakers: Paul Ferley, Assistant Chief Economist at RBC, Don Drummond, Senior VP and Chief Economist TD Financial Group;  Jim Treliving, Founder of Boston Pizza International and a panelist on CBC’s Dragon’s Den;  Provincial Ministers John Wilkinson and John Milloy, Federal Ministers Lisa Raitt and Tony Clement; Leader of the opposition at Queens Park Tim Hudak; and James Millway, Executive Director of the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity.   We partnered with Chamber Members O’Conner Mcleod, SB Partners and Grant Thornton who very graciously shared their expertise on Bill 168 and the new Harmonized Sales Tax.   

We are very excited to announce that former Chief of Defense Staff for the Canadian Armed Forces, General Rick Hillier will be the keynote speaker at our 56th Annual Chair’s Dinner on September 22. Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications and a panelist on CBC’s Dragon’s Den will be our keynote speaker at our Small Business Week Kick-off Breakfast on October 18, 2010.

We are privileged to partner with the Rotary Club of Oakville West to bring to you the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence, honouring our great local entrepreneurial talent. Partnering with the Town of Oakville, the Bronte Village, Downtown and Kerr Village Business Improvement Areas (BIA’s) and the Oakville Tourism Partnership helps ensure that Oakville tourism remains a vibrant reality.  The Chamber, in partnership with the Town and the BIA’s, successfully launched the I Shop Oakville campaign encouraging us all to use local shops and services.

Finally, we celebrated the contribution of our volunteers at this month’s Business-After-Hours.  Our friends at the Quality Hotel & Executive Suites were wonderful hosts.  Peller Estates, our wine partner, very graciously donated gifts for each volunteer which we presented as a small token of our appreciation.   For those volunteers that were not able to join us I want to let you know how inspired I am by your generosity, support, dedication and hard work.   

Power is in the Partnership.
 

John Sawyer
President
Oakville Chamber of Commerce