I was reading a book by Alexander McCall Smith wherein he captured the essence of “local” while describing Scottish clans and why a local identity is important. His eloquent words include:

• “We need to be anchored – we need to have some sense of where we’ve come from and who we are. We need to know who went before us and how we’re linked to them.”
• “Without that sense of being linked with one another, we have every temptation to be selfish and unmoved by others and their plight.. Well, we should not be strangers to one another. We should feel for one another. We should be able to share a sense of being together – what we typically call community.”
• “We have to have some meaningful sense of the local in order to understand what our shared humanity is. If you take that away from people – as has been happening – then they don’t know who they are, and that means they won’t care very much about others. You get a crude materialism, because the material is all that we will have in common. You’ll get vast anonymous societies where we are all strangers to one another.”
• “We get much of our humanity from the local, the immediate, the small-scale."

Peterborough has a very strong love of all things local, from the historic, to the burgeoning entrepreneurial culture, to a strong downtown, and more. Where does it come from? Is the desire to localize more connected to humanity, to a desire to belong to something, to a feeling of supporting something or
someone you know?

Sure, I can order a pair of boots from my phone and have them sitting in a box on my porch tomorrow morning, but I’d rather try them on at a local shoe store, owned by someone I know, someone who supports my chamber, or my kids soccer team, and someone who knows a thing or two about boots.

Our strong entrepreneurial culture comes from a desire to not only create something local, but to support those who do. It’s a remarkable movement triggered and amplified by people who are relentlessly positive,
supportive and generous.

The Chamber has been using a catchy little hashtag #LoveLocalPtbo as a way of profiling local businesses. The United Way campaign this year gave it a handsome twist, asking people to show their “local love”.

The Chamber, the Innovation Cluster, PKED, WBN, Venture North, JA, DBIA, NCC, and other organizations are all providing programming and opportunities to nurture a love of local. The list of initiatives is endless:
a.  The Business Excellence Awards
b.  The Business Hall of Fame Awards
c. 100 Women Peterborough
d.  The Business Woman of the Year and the Judy Heffernan Award
e.  Win This Space, The Bears Lair/Cubs Lair, Ignite 100
f.  Multiple breakfasts, lunches, dinners, networking events, workshops, round tables, seminars, webinars and more, all serving to help local people connect and succeed.

Most importantly, local people - thought leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, young/old, female/male, new to the area or not, but all with a positive attitude - are creating a culture of “community” that supports all of the above.

As author Margaret J. Wheatley said, “There is no power for change greater than a community
discovering what it cares about."

Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton along with MPPs David Piccini (at microphone), Laurie Scott and Dave Smith, dropped in to Robins General Merchant in Roseneath recently to talk about investing in mobile broadband.

The Chamber was pleased to hear about the commitment of $71M to the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) cell gap project. We have been advocating for many years for expanded broadband access for businesses.

Peterborough County Warden and Chair of EORN J.Murray Jones also spoke about the first EORN project, which along with multiple layers of government and the private sector built a 5,000km digital highway through Eastern Ontario.

It's an important view as digital highways are just as important as our physical highways.

• The project involves all Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus members and 10 separate municipalities.
• The goal of the project is to bring cell coverage to 99 per cent of the region where people live, work and travel.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has launched its election policy website, Vote Prosperity, to highlight the needs of Canadian businesses to all parties in the upcoming federal election.

Every day, the businesses that drive our economy are making hard decisions about how to preserve jobs or create new ones, whether to invest here or abroad and how to respond to competition that grows more intense by the day. The decisions they make determine the future of our communities and our country. Without a thriving business sector, Canada’s economic growth suffers, our prosperity declines and our governments lack the resources to build roads, hospitals and schools and provide social services. In short, for Canada to succeed, our businesses must also be successful.

An open letter formally challenged all party leaders and caucuses to embrace all seven priorities and 45 recommendations outlined in the document.

“We have published an open letter to all of Canada’s federal party leaders, challenging them to give our 200,000 business owners what they must have: a fighting chance to compete and grow. Canada’s businesses have every right to expect a level playing field with the countries they compete against. We call on all party leaders to build their business policy proposals around the Vote Prosperity checklist, which outlines what Canada’s job creators themselves have identified as mission critical,” said the Hon. Perrin Beatty, PC, OC, President & CEO, CCC.

The Vote Prosperity website focuses on a small number of big issues that are crippling the ability of Canadian businesses to compete, grow, and innovate.  While our economy faces many headwinds that are out of our control, there is much we can, and should, do.

Some of the solutions outlined by the Canadian Chamber include:

• A regulatory system that works for everyone, including business;
• A tax system that is fair, efficient and modern; 
• Greater access to new markets around the world, and the breaking down of domestic trade barriers;
• Helping SMEs in a way that’s meaningful to them so that they can grow and succeed at home and abroad;
• Helping Canada seize the power of the digital age, while also investing in more traditional trade-enabling infrastructure;
• Helping grow a 21st century workforce with the skills, education and training required to prosper; and
• An affordable approach to filling the gaps in pharmacare without disrupting today’s employment provided plans.

“Without a thriving business sector, Canada’s economic growth suffers, our prosperity declines, and our governments can't afford roads, hospitals, and schools. When business succeeds, Canada succeeds. Our businesses needs the next government to be a forward-looking partner that helps them build a stronger and more innovative Canada for all,” added Beatty.

The platform was developed in partnership with Canada’s provincial and territorial chambers of commerce. The entire network of 450 chambers of commerce, including your Peterborough Chamber, will be working together throughout the election period to keep our nation’s political leaders focused on taking bold steps to protect and strengthen Canada’s competitive position.

The Canadian Chamber is strictly apolitical, and its policy analysis should never be taken as partisan or endorsement. The Canadian Chamber bases its analysis solely upon whether a policy aligns with the Canadian Chamber’s existing platform.

As the Chamber Network, we will be taking action by writing letters to candidates and providing direct links to voter information and locations.

Follow the discussion on social media through #VoteProsperity

The Ontario Government has a series of public consultations underway that could have an impact on business.   

Industrial Electricity Prices
The government wants to hear from businesses about the design and effectiveness of industrial
electricity pricing and programs. The sectors of interest are:

• automotive
• forestry
• mining
• agriculture
• steel
• manufacturing
• chemicals

They are looking for input on electricity rate design, existing tax-based incentives, reducing system costs and regulatory and delivery costs.

Regional Government Review
This review involves eight regional governments (Durham, Halton, Muskoka District, Niagara, Oxford County, Peel, Waterloo, York), Simcoe County and their lower-tier municipalities.
The goal is that these municipalities are: working well and supporting the future economic prosperity of residents and businesses working harder, smarter and more efficiently

Ontario's Aggregate Reform
Ontario’s aggregate industry contributes almost $1.4 billion to Ontario’s economy and supports almost 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. Aggregates are the raw materials (such as sand, gravel and clay) that help build schools, hospitals and bridges, and are the foundation of many of Ontario’s industries.
A survey will remain open until May 31, 2019 to allow for additional feedback and help inform future actions.

Representatives from the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce have just returned from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting hosted by the Muskoka Lakes and Gravenhurst
Chambers of Commerce.

At the conference delegates voted in favour of two policy resolutions put forward by the Peterborough
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in the area of skilled trades.

The first was a new resolution entitled “Keeping the Best of the College of Trades in the Wind Down”, which recommended that the government:

1. Keep the public registry for skilled trades people.
2. Keep clear pathways for immigrant and inter-provincial skilled tradespeople.

In introducing the resolution, President and CEO Stuart Harrison emphasized to the delegates that, “while the opposition to the College of Trades was loud and clear, when it was announced that it would be repatriated into the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, we heard from some of our members about a couple of things they would like to see maintained. For example, having a public registry for skilled trades people allows consumers to know whether the person you called is actually qualified to fix your
plumbing. The companies that play by the rules use trade certifications as a competitive advantage. So, we feel that maintaining a public registry is important.

Secondly, we feel that one of the ways to narrow the skills gap is to have clear pathways for
international skilled trades people. We have a welding school in Peterborough that trains people in the Philippines so that they arrive in Canada as economic immigrants, fully certified as welders able to work in Canada.”

The second was the reintroduction of a resolution originally submitted in 2016 asking that the provincial government:

1. Implement a three-year pilot project that would allow small and medium-sized employers in rural communities and small urban centres across Ontario to apply for an apprenticeship ratio increase.
2. Compile and assess the data from the pilot project to inform future programming and policies.

Board Chair Ben vanVeen, Team vanRahan, Century 21 presented the following reasoning for continuing to have the policy on the books - “while the recent significant changes to the apprenticeship ratios were
welcomed by small businesses across the province, in some cases 1 to 1 still isn't enough. Businesses
in smaller urban and rural communities are telling us that more work needs to be done to address the skills gap. A flexible apprenticeship system is available in other provinces and that should also be the case in Ontario. This resolution offers a way to do that.” 

The group also discussed issues around financial literacy, immigration, and infrastructure.  The Premier and all opposition parties delivered remarks to the delegates. 

Perrin Beatty, President & CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) also provided an update from identifying seven areas (regulation tax regimes, innovation, pharmacare, trade deals and small medium
enterprises) as those they will focus on as we approach the October federal election.

​It’s that time of year when the Ontario Chamber Network comes together to set the lobbying priorities and agenda.   

Over the past several months, chambers of commerce and boards of trade have been researching and developing suggestions on how to help improve the business climate and ultimately the Ontario economy.   These issues rise from the grassroots of individual communities and land on the provincial stage at the Ontario Chamber Annual General Meeting.

This year’s meeting is being hosted by the Muskoka Lakes and Gravenhurst Chambers of Commerce and is themed “Stronger Together”.   Attending for the Peterborough Chamber will be President & CEO Stuart Harrison, Chair of the Board of Directors Ben vanVeen, and Policy Analyst Sandra Dueck.

The policy debate will feature 29 policy resolutions including 23 new resolutions.   

The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has a recurring resolution around creating flexibility in the apprenticeship system to allow for larger ratios in smaller urban and rural communities.   The needs of rural and small urban communities in the apprenticeship realm are different from the GTA.  Our member businesses have told us they have to turn people away because of the ratios.   With a major gap in workforce in the skilled trades, our area is missing opportunities to keep people local and fill jobs in our community.

The Peterborough Chamber Policy Committee and Board of Directors also approved submitting a
resolution around the transition of the Ontario College of Trades back to the Ministry of Advanced Education.

We learned from our members that two programs developed through the college were valued and
important to keep.   The first is to keep the public registry of businesses and status of their membership with the government.  Members indicated they used this feature to promote and encourage potential clients to be aware of their standing and record in the skilled trades.

The second recommendation is to ensure new Canadians with skilled trades can easily access the Ontario economy.   Other topics that will be discussed during the policy debates include addressing high electricity prices, how government deals with private sector contracts, highway connectivity, strengthening the connections between the business community and our post-secondary institutions and creating a stronger business/commerce curriculum.

In our workshop sessions, we will be discussing the advocacy plan for red tape and continued advocacy around the cannabis legislation.   

This work is a signifcant part of the work a Chamber does.  Through the policy resolution process we are able to bring the voice of our 900 members along with the rest of the Chamber Network to government as one voice.  This influence helps create the conditions for growth and improves competitiveness of our business community.   
​
Stay tuned as we will update our members on the results of the conference!

World IP Day was recently celebrated here in Peterborough and with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC). 

Our own Si Grobler attended the Innovation Cluster's Power Breakfast that featured member Marcelo Sarkis of Prima IP.  Si told us that one of the most important  takeaways from the presentation was that every company should consider having an IP policy.

Currently, an IP policy resolution from Peterborough is on the books at the CCC.  It calls for a number of reforms including more help and encouragement with first patents.

In a recent blog the Canadian Chamber echoed that sentiment writing, that IP rights play a
significant role in encouraging innovation and creativity. IP rights offer not only protection, but can also drive commercial success. Canadian businesses, whether large or small, should take stock of their IP assets and develop a solid IP strategy.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce along with Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), are building programs to help increase IP literacy among businesses and help businesses access to IP services to support the growth of Canada’s innovation ecosystem and the global competitiveness of Canadian innovators.

chamber.ca

Over the past several months, we’ve been detailing the federal and provincial budgets and the impact on the local business community.

I’m a fan of understanding process, so now is a good time to start digging into the municipal budget, how it’s developed and when businesses and residents can weigh in.

The City of Peterborough has started its journey to developing the 2020 budget.  Even though there have been a few public engagements held already, residents and business owners still have time to present their thoughts.    

How do municipalities budget?
According to the City of Peterborough website, the budget process starts in the spring with the development of budget guidelines.  These guidelines set out initial goals, including any anticipated tax increases and capital project parameters.

“Creating the City’s annual operating and capital budget is a big undertaking that involves our community, the delivery of services, maintenance of infrastructure, and ultimately City Council as your elected representatives,” said Councillor Dean Pappas, the City’s Finance Chair in a recent press release. “There are many ways for you to get involved, be engaged, and get the information that you want.”

Municipalities have relatively few mechanisms to raise the money required for operations and capital needs.  Traditionally, the operating budget is funded by tax dollars and user fees, which include charges for recreation programs, water and sewers.  Tax increases can also include an amount
designated for capital purchases.

The operating budget is the plan for the day-to-day operations.  This includes salaries, materials and supplies.

The capital budget is the annual plan for the development, purchase and financing of capital assets such as infrastructure, lands, buildings, machinery and equipment.

So, what are some of the areas that the business community is keeping an eye on in the next municipal budget?

With the advice and feedback of our members we developed the Municipal Business Platform that outlines a number of key areas including:

• Investing in areas of economic growth
• Completing the Tax Ratio Reduction program to ensure that Peterborough businesses remain competitive
• Planning and building measures that are future focused, proactive and bridge city and county geographical lines
• Building a transportation network that works for all
• Supporting the building of various types of housing stock

Now some of these requests fall into the operations budget and others into capital projects.

What do you want the City to know from a business perspective as the budget guidelines are built?
Let us know.  Contact Sandra Dueck, Policy Analyst at sandra@peterboroughchamber.ca

You can also fill out the survey on the City’s website. 

The 2019 time frame as released by the City in a recent press release:

Public engagement opportunities:
Thursday, April 25 (tonight) – Ward 3 Town public drop-in session, Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N. 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 29 – Ward 5 Northcrest public drop-in session, Northcrest Community Centre, 100 Marina Blvd. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 7 – Ward 4 Ashburnham public drop-in session, Peterborough Museum and Archives, 300 Hunter St. E. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, May 10 – Closing of public survey on budget priorities
Wednesday, May 22 – City Council, Finance Committee meeting to hear public delegations on the preliminary guidelines for the 2020 Budget development
Monday, June 24 – City Council to consider ratifying its Finance Committee’s decision on the guidelines for the creation of the 2020 Budget, opportunity for public delegations during the meeting
Wednesday, November 13 – Public meeting to hear from the community on the draft 2020 Budget
Monday, December 9 – Council considers final approval of the 2020 Budget, opportunity for public delegations

Budget document release and review by Finance Committee:
Monday, May 6 – City Council, Finance Committee meeting, presentation of preliminary guidelines for 2020 Budget development
Monday, June 10 – City Council, Finance Committee meeting to consider recommendations to approve guidelines for the creation of the 2020 Budget
Monday, October 28 – City Council, Finance Committee to receive draft 2020 Budget documents, which begins the official review of the draft documents
Monday, November 18 to Thursday, November 21 – Council holds Finance
Committee meetings each day to review and discuss the draft 2020 Budget documents
​

The provincial government has announced the following plans:

• Introduced Bill 87 Fixing the Hydro Mess which includes refinancing of the Global Adjustment
• Consultations on industrial electricity pricing and programs with the following sectors:
• automotive
• forestry
• mining
• agriculture
• steel
• manufacturing
• chemicals
• Modernizing the Ontario Energy Board (OEB)

Plans also include:

• Ending Green Energy contracts
• Supporting the nuclear industry in Ontario
• Promoting transparency and accountability at Hydro One

Read more on Electricity.

Comment:
Our Peterborough Chamber member businesses consistently report concern around the pricing of electricity and available programs.
​
Consultations are currently underway and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce will be requesting feedback from members in the above industries to provide to the provincial government.

Contact Sandra Dueck, Policy Analyst if you would like to participate.
Email: sandra@peterboroughchamber.ca

The provincial government has announced the following plans:

• Proposing new legislation for a governance framework that would replace the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009
• Financial incentives to encourage employer participation in the apprenticeship system to support a consortium like model where employers come together and train apprentices
• A new one-window application process for apprentices
• Promoting apprenticeship and the skilled trades to students from K-12
• A flexible framework to allow training and certification in a full trade or in a portable skill set
• A micro-credentials pilot in an effort to develop the in-demand skills employers are seeking
• Enhanced labour market information website featuring job profiles and a connection to the federal government job bank
• Changes to Ontario’s Immigration Nominee Program to better reflect changing labour market needs across the province.
• Specifically, the government will amend the program by:
• Creating a technology-focused stream to attract skilled employees
• Expanding the occupations eligible for the Employment Job Offer to reflect in-demand skills
• Expanding the Entrepreneur Stream

​
Read more on Workforce and Training.

Comment:
In the Peterborough Chamber's most recent membership survey, retaining and recruiting talent was identified as one of the most prevalent challenges. The Chamber is hopeful that these new programs, particularly those around apprenticeships, will help our member businesses.

The Peterborough Chamber has advocated for flexibility in the apprenticeship system for small urban and rural centres for the past three years.

Changes to the Ontario Nominee program have the potential to bring highly skilled immigrants to communities such as Peterborough.

The provincial government has announced the following plans:

• Development of a Housing Supply Action Plan with the following principles:
• Develop the right mix of housing where it is needed
• Lower the costs of development
• Make it easier to develop rental housing
• Address other concerns and opportunities to increase the housing supply
• Allow municipalities flexibility while protecting the Greenbelt, agricultural lands, and cultural heritage areas

• Introduce legislation in Spring 2019

​
Read more on Housing Supply.

Comment:
Through its membership, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has identified that housing is an area that has an impact on employment.

In the Chamber's Municipal Business Platform under Building Whole Communities, we call for increasing housing stock by supporting the construction of a variety of types.

The provincial government has announced the following plans:

• Commitment to Made-in-Ontario Tourism Strategy
• Consultations are complete and strategy development is underway

Read more on Tourism.
​
Comment:
Tourism is an important pillar of Peterborough's economy. It is positive to see the recognition of the need to develop a tourism strategy that is reflective of the importance of the industry to Ontario's economy.

With the provincial budget set to be released today (Thursday, April 11, 2019) there is a lot of speculation as to what exactly it will hold.   

We know what our members have said to our MPP through a series of roundtable events earlier this year, including:
Not-for-Profit Innovation
Among them is the request from our not-for-profit members to have the flexibility to be innovative in their programming by having budget buckets instead of line by line reporting. This would afford them the ability to future plan effectively.

Workforce
Many of our employers spoke to the need for skilled and unskilled labour to fill their job openings in core Peterborough industries such as agriculture and construction.

Suggestions from the group included more high school specialist programs, reaching students at an earlier age to introduce them to different career paths, and retraining opportunities that are flexible enough to work for the employee and the employer, including a flexible apprenticeship ratio.   

Broadband
Generally, it was expressed that broadband should be a focus to connect communities and improve business competitiveness.

Taxes
There was agreement to bring the marginal tax rate below 50% to leave more money in the pockets of Ontarians.

Government & Legislative Compliance
Participants at both roundtables expressed concern with the number of government touchpoints they must experience and encouraged goal-setting to reduce that number for businesses and not-for-profits.   Legislative compliance has a cost and a productivity toll, particularly on smaller operations.

On the issue of improving government accountability, there was a desire to see less rebranding
of government ministries and programs, and the suggestion that an effective navigation or concierge service for business and not-for- profit organizations would improve communication between the
government and its constituents.

Peterborough Chamber Policy Resolutions
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has approved two policy positions for our advocacy program.  Both are focused on the apprenticeship framework by encouraging more flexibility of ratios, particularly for businesses in smaller urban and rural centres, and keeping two parts of the Ontario College of Trades as that arms-length body is dissolved.   

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce pre-budget submission includes a request from the Peterborough and Kingston Chambers of Commerce to increase the heads and beds levy on public institutions and then tie it to the Consumer Price Index.  Doing so would help our municipalities achieve a more realistic return on providing services, which in turn would help the businesses and residents of impacted communities.   

The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce recognizes that Ontario has debt and deficit challenges and that focused leadership through this time will be crucial to our overall competitiveness.

Ontario Chamber Debt Report
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce recently released a report that takes a look at the province’s $348 billion debt and the impact that debt has on our province.  Currently the debt accounts for about 41 percent of the provincial GDP.  Ideally, a province would like to have debt account for less than 40% of GDP to receive the best credit ratings from financial rating companies.

The challenge is that the large debt and deficits are holding the province back.  Interest on our debt is the third largest expense of government.  The question is how does the government go about reducing that debt and yet continuing to encourage growth in investment and competitiveness for business?

These are tough conversations, particularly when there are outside forces to consider including the fact that we are very much in a global economy.  Then there are the areas that need our tax dollars to really work for us such as broadband internet, transit and transportation, health care and education.
​
We’ll be breaking down the budget over the coming days and assessing what it will mean for the
Peterborough business community.