Messages from the Chair of the Board and the President

Chair’s Message

As we enter 2010 on an upswing, we recognize that the economy is still top of mind for many of you.  In our role as Oakville’s business advocate, we are hosting our second RBC Economic Outlook on January 28. James Milway  from the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity will be joining Paul Ferley, Assistant Chief Economist for RBC. Mr. Milway will add his perspective on how we can navigate our way through the economic recovery.

The Chamber recognizes the economic strides we have witnessed in Oakville over the last year. Winning the Economic Developers Association/RBC Achievement of the Year award has confirmed the positive direction Oakville’s Economic Development Department is taking with its economic strategy. Highlights of this strategy are identified in the Oakville Economic Update article on page 15 of this magazine. Executing this strategic plan will bring jobs to Oakville.  Fostering a strong, local economy that offers sustainable, well-paying jobs is a critical goal of the Chamber. Local jobs and less commuting enhances the quality of life for all of us in Oakville.

Even while the economy at large struggled with the downturn through 2009, the Chamber has enjoyed a year with record levels of membership and attendance at our events. We are also proud to acknowledge that moving into the new year, we are on target with our financial plan. Our Board of Directors works diligently to set a strategic plan which supports a healthy economic environment for Oakville. Your memberships, partnerships and event attendance ensure our continued success as the voice of business for Oakville.

The Chamber has had the privilege of hosting some key speakers recently including: Tim Hudak, Leader of the Official Opposition for Ontario, John Wilkinson, Minister of Revenue for Ontario and Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. These recent speakers top off a list of high-profile business and political leaders we have hosted in 2009. Providing our members access to important business and political leaders allows us to bring you their insights and direction on issues that affect your business and community.

In addition, our Government Relations & Advocacy Committee works tirelessly to be the Chamber’s voice at Town Hall, the Region and with both the provincial and federal levels of government. We will continue to advocate for a reduced business tax rate and less government regulation.

Beyond the access to key speakers and our role as your advocate with municipal, regional, provincial and federal levels of government, a key benefit we can offer you as a Chamber member is the opportunity to network with other businesses through our monthly networking events or by assisting you in finding a member who can meet a specific need.

 The Chamber will continue to support you with all these initiatives and I encourage you to contact me or any other Chamber director or staff member to discuss your issues or concerns.

Best wishes for a successful and prosperous year in 2010.

Sonny Jelinek
Chair of the Board
Oakville Chamber of Commerce
 

 President’s Message
Let me start out by saying The Oakville Chamber of Commerce is strictly non-partisan.   In our role as an advocate for the business community we must work with elected representatives of all political parties. There is a great deal of confusion around the HST. It is a complex issue and let’s face it –few if any of us, like to pay taxes. This dislike makes it difficult to have a rational discussion about the matter.  In principle, our Chamber supports the policy of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to accept the provincial government’s decision to proceed with the HST.  

If we have a criticism of the government it would be over their communication and education around the HST.  It has been far too little and too late.   Based on the comments we are hearing from the business community and consumers, there is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding of the HST. The HST must be viewed in the context of the overall tax reform package which reduces corporate income taxes, eliminates capital taxes on business assets and reduces personal income tax rates. The tax reform package provides for sales tax credits aimed at lower-income Ontarians. 
The current PST is hidden, complex and difficult for businesses to administer. The HST will not only simplify administration for businesses but it will also eliminate the duplication of the bureaucracy required to collect the tax, making government more efficient.

To the consumer, you are already paying the PST on virtually every product and service you currently purchase, you just don’t see it.   The PST is hidden in the cost and passed on to you in the purchase price.   In the competitive business environment we are in, the savings realized by business from the HST will undoubtedly be passed on to you as was witnessed in Quebec and Atlantic Canada where the net effect on prices was, in fact, a decrease of 0.3 per cent.

If we are to continue to enjoy the outstanding quality of life we are blessed with in Ontario we need to do everything we can to make and keep ourselves competitive.  By increasing Ontario’s global competitiveness, we all benefit through more investment, more jobs and higher incomes.  Virtually every country in the world, except parts of Canada and the United States, has moved to a tax regime similar to the one being proposed for Ontario.  Many leaders and organizations have endorsed Ontario’s tax reform package.   Tax reform is the right thing to do for the long-term well being of Ontario.  

John Sawyer
President
Oakville Chamber of Commerce