Issues and Updates
Final Draft Policy Resolutions for Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Proposed By-Law May Affect Your Business
Government Relations & Advocacy Committee Update
Committee News
Wendy Rinella, Chair of the Government Relations and Advocacy Committee is pleased to welcome Marlene Yakabuski as Vice-Chair of the Committee. Marlene, Vice President Corporate Affairs for BOT Construction Group, is a long-standing member of the Chamber and the Committee where she has contributed her expertise on many issues.
Town of Oakville Budget
There was a proposal to eliminate a Marketing and Research function in the Economic Development Department, representing a $75,400 reduction to the total operating and capital budget of $311.1 million. Chamber President, John Sawyer made an effective representation to Council to retain this position and an excerpt is included below:
“Oakville is in an intensely competitive situation, locally, within the GTA, provincially, nationally and internationally.
With the steps being taken to bring Winston Park West on stream, now is the right time to invest in the necessary marketing efforts to make Oakville attractive and competitive on whatever stage we decide to play on.
The Chamber, better than most, fully understands the pressures Council faces in dealing with municipal budgets and balancing competing interests.
However, if we fail to invest to support and enhance our economic well being, revenues will not be generated to fund the initiatives and programs that contribute to a livable, complete and sustainable community.
So again, now that the plan is in place, we are here today to encourage you to make sure that adequate resources are allocated to insure that the plan can be executed. There is no point having the best plan in the country if it sits on a shelf.”
The full presentation is available on the Chamber’s website. The Budget Committee re-instated funding for the position in the budget.
The value of building permits has plummeted in 2009 from 2008 YTD November. The only growth is in the “institutional” or government sector, e.g. the arena, police station, schools, etc. This sector saw growth from $22.7 million in 2008 to $113.85 million in 2009. Net of institutional, total building permits are down by 55%.
The estimated assessment growth is1%, which is considerably lower than Oakville has seen in recent years. This low growth has had a significant impact on the Town’s revenues and its ability to fund the non-growth related cost increases, even with the Town’s application of 4.2% for inflation.
Ultimately Council approved a 4.5% total property tax increase for the municipal budget, resulting in 1.6% increase overall, with regional and education taxes included. This is the last budget for this term of Council.
Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce
The Oakville Chamber continues to work closely with the National and the Provincial organizations to represent our members’ interests on issues related to the other two orders of government including submitting policy resolutions, responding to consultation requests, participating on committees and conferences. If you are interested in submitting a policy resolution suggestion for possible submission to the Ontario Chamber, please refer to our website for information: http://www.oakvillechamber.com/oakville-government-relations.aspx.
Advocacy 2010
We look forward to a new year working on behalf of Chamber members to bring economic health and prosperity in our town of Oakville.
Events
Join us for Breakfast with RBC Assistant Chief Economist, Paul Ferley and James Milway, Executive Director of The Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
More government relations and advocacy information, as well as copies of correspondence and web links are available at the Oakville Chamber’s website. www.oakvillechamber.com
Should you have any Government Relations or Advocacy Issues, or an interest in participating in committee meetings - please contact one of us at:
John Sawyer, President
johnsawyer@oakvillechamber.com
Government Relations & Advocacy Committee:
Wendy Rinella, Chair
wrinella@firstcdn.com
Katherine Hollinsworth, Policy Analyst
khollinsworth@cogeco.ca
Chamber's Council Budget Presentation - November 18, 2009
Invitation to Submit Issues for Ontario Chamber Policy Resolutions
The Oakville Chamber of Commerce is an active member of the Ontario Chamber. It is through the collective voice of local chambers that the Ontario Chamber’s polices are developed and adopted. By sharing your issues with us, we can align similar concerns and table these concerns to the Ontario Chamber as possible policy resolutions. Please review the current OCC policies to determine if your issue is currently addressed at: http://occ.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/Post-AGM-Current-OCC-Policies-May-2009.doc.
In order to determine whether or not an issue is appropriate for consideration, an issue must be:
• Provincial in scope or impact;
• Does not align one industry against another;
• An important matter of principle that requires the OCC to be on the public record;
• Deemed important enough to be on the legislative agenda of the government or be of considerable concern to a majority of members.
Issues for priority consideration in the 2010 policy resolutions should be focused on:
• A Competitive Tax and Regulatory Regime;
• A Skilled Workforce;
• Modernizing Energy & Infrastructure;
• Transitioning to the New Economy.
Your submission should be as detailed as possible including:
• Title – reflects the nature of the issue;
• Issue – a brief three or four sentence summary of the issue;
• Background – a more detailed outline of the problem at hand and a brief assessment of available policy options (including all relevant data, properly sourced);
• Recommendations – lists the preferred policy options for the provincial government to pursue.
Although we require your feedback for possible inclusion in the current policy resolutions by January 8, 2010, this resolution process is ongoing and your feedback is always encouraged. Thank you for assisting us to continue advocating on your behalf. Please contact khollinsworth@cogeco.ca.
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