Issues and Updates

Chamber 2011 Business Survey Results

Transportation policy: An important road to follow

Transportation policy is one of the broadest areas of public policy when it comes to municipal governments. From bus route revisions to new thruways and facilitating the movement of people, goods and services, transportation policy touches almost every business and citizen. That also makes it one of the most divisive policy issues, and one of great interest to many Chamber members.

The Town of Oakville takes a multi-pronged approach to developing and executing its transportation policy. Making information about its transportation programs and planning initiatives available to the public is one such prong.

Late last year, Town staff presented a report highlighting the extent of Oakville’s transportation network. For example, did you know that the Town owns and operates a road network of more than 1,700 lane kilometers of town roads, 870 kilometers of sidewalk and 120 signalized intersections?

Extensive public consultations are also underway on Oakville’s transportation policy. Having started last year, “Switching Gears” is ramping up in 2012 as the Town looks to finalize its transportation plan. These consultations will help create a blueprint for addressing the short- and longer-term opportunities and challenges of getting around Oakville to 2031. This includes careful consideration of public transit, walking, cycling, ridesharing and strategic roadway improvements.

The Town’s 2012 budget will dictate how much money is allocated to the broad transportation bucket going forward. The fact is, transportation is one of the biggest expenditures in Oakville’s combined operating and capital budget, with Oakville Transit itself more than 20 per cent of the Town’s capital budget.

Money taken from transportation can, in theory, be allocated to other budget items. On the other hand, money not invested in transportation and transit infrastructure can affect the present and future quality of life and the economic health of a community. That’s another reason why transportation issues are so important to consider carefully.

The Town’s work in transportation, in turn, comes in the context of extensive regional and provincial transportation policy work.

The Halton Region’s Transportation Master Plan, approved last fall, outlines regional transportation priorities through to 2031. It looks in detail at things such as population growth, road widening, active transportation (i.e., cycling) and transportation demand management across four municipalities and 20 years.

Meanwhile, the province – through its GTHA-focused transportation agency, Metrolinx – is consulting with a number of stakeholders as the agency moves toward publishing its Investment Strategy by June 2013. This critical document will cost-out and rank a number of significant transportation priorities under the mandate of Metrolinx. Building a Bus Rapid Transit route across Dundas Road in Oakville, for example, is on the Metrolinx list of potential projects.

The cross-boundary aspects of transportation policy, combined with the reality that transportation policy serves the public good while also generating private benefits, gives rise to a number of important questions.

For the Town of Oakville, what hard choices have to be made to foster greater economic development in and around expanding and/or new employment nodes (i.e., the digital hub at Sheridan and the life sciences hub at the new hospital) while also servicing existing business and residents across Oakville?

For the Region of Halton, how can the considerable costs of road infrastructure be incorporated into the current tax regime without driving up development costs – currently the highest in the province – even higher?

And for Metrolinx, what criteria is the agency developing to create – and therefore help fund – transportation priorities across the GTHA, and what role will stakeholders have in determining such criteria?

Answers to these and other questions are central to a sustainable transportation policy for Oakville. That’s why we encourage Chamber members to let their views be known on transportation, just as we do on any number of other important policy issues.

So whether you attend a public consultation, talk to elected officials and/or call the Chamber, make your voice heard. And let us know how we can help.

Are you ready for AODA? January 1, 2012 deadline is fast approaching.

If your business serves customers in Ontario, whether your business is based in Ontario or not, and you have at least one employee in Ontario, you will need to be compliant with the Customer Service Standard of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) by January 1, 2012.
Customer Service Standard Employer's Guide
Sample Customer Service Policy

Please review the attached documents relating to the sign by-law changes to determine how your business may be impacted
Sign By-Law Report
Technical Appendix

Town of Oakville Economic Development 2011 Annual Report
CLICK HERE

Retail Business Holidays Act Region of Halton

Air Quality By-Law Update

OAKVILLE (August 17, 2011) – The Oakville Chamber of Commerce welcomed news today by Ontario’s Minister of the Environment John Wilkinson, who announced a local air quality pilot project in the Oakville-Clarkson airshed.
“Clean air is important to everybody – individuals, governments and businesses,” said Mark Brown, chair of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. “So on behalf of our members, we proposed such a pilot project to the province more than two years ago. Then Minister Wilkinson spoke of the possibility of this pilot while meeting with our Chamber in January of this year. That’s why we welcome his announcement today and look forward to ongoing participation with all pilot stakeholders.”
Brown attended the news conference today with the Minister, along with Chamber President John Sawyer who attended on behalf of the Chamber’s more than 1,100 members.
“Several of our members have demonstrated measureable air quality leadership over the last several years, with the Ministry’s own numbers showing considerable emission reductions from industry since 2003,” said Brown. “Air quality is a trans-border issue, and to deal with it most effectively you need the provincial government to take the lead role. They are doing that. We therefore applaud the province’s work in bringing together a range of stakeholders – including residents, the Town of Oakville and the Chamber – in taking on this important initiative.”
The Chamber’s letters to the provincial government on air quality can be found on its website, www.oakvillechamber.com.

Letter 1 to the Minister of the Environment
Letter 2 to the Minister of the Environment