Access to high-speed internet is a must for life and business for most people.
 
With more and more processes moving to cloud-based and remote access, businesses depend on reliable internet for bookkeeping, client management, scheduling, and meetings as well as applications like marketing and research. There are very few aspects of business that don’t have an online component. It also spans all business sectors, with rural sectors like agriculture and mining pushing for better connections so they can make better use of technology to make them more efficient and competitive.
 
Our personal lives are very similar. It’s where we interact socially, find entertainment, shop, make reservations, and attend school.
 
Yet our community, along with many others across the province, has been lacking in consistent, reliable high-speed internet access.
 
While the problem is more prevalent in rural areas, there are places within Peterborough’s city limits that are considered underserviced and have been put on a provincial priority list.
 
Recently, the Government of Ontario announced it had concluded its procurement process and signed agreements with eight different internet providers for its plan to expand broadband internet access.
 
Locally, this includes the City and all eight townships of Peterborough County as part of a deal with Rogers Communications Canada, Bell Canada, and Xplornet Communications worth $894.8 million. The agreements should provide an estimated 266,600 un- and under-serviced businesses and homes with high-speed broadband internet.
 
This deal will build on the ongoing efforts to increase connectivity. It follows years of advocacy from chambers of commerce, boards of trade, business improvement areas, municipalities, the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus, industry associations, cottage associations, and many of the people who have struggled with internet access in their home or business. It’s largely a non-partisan issue with different governments passing on the broadband torch to the next government.
 
The issue isn’t about intention. There isn’t really any opposition. The issue is follow-through. This is part of a program that has been running for more than a decade. Progress has certainly been made over that time with many communities receiving or getting upgraded internet service thanks in part to government investments. But there are still 266,000 homes and businesses in Ontario struggling to interact with the modern world.
 
Adding further complexity is that the remaining areas left to service are likely the more difficult ones. Infrastructure projects like this tend to focus on the easy wins that provide the best bang for the buck off the start before making their way to the more complicated and sometimes hyperlocal issues.
 
The last couple of years have certainly added urgency to the situation as the need for online access moved ahead in leaps and bounds.
 
The Government of Ontario has set a target of connecting every corner of the province by 2025. For those without proper internet, that’s still three long years away.
 
Our advocacy efforts need to focus on keeping pressure on our government and internet providers to keep the momentum up. We need the continued voice of municipalities, businesses, organizations, and residents. Everyone should have a level playing field when it comes to accessing businesses, government services, schooling, social interaction.

​As the voice of business in Peterborough and the Kawarthas for 138 years, advocacy is a core component of the role of the Chamber in our community.
 
We work with the local business community to identify barriers and opportunities. That grassroots input turns into various forms of advocacy initiatives.
 
National
Currently, we’re in the midst of the national-level advocacy program. As members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), we have an opportunity to submit local issues of national significance as policy resolutions.
 
We have two resolutions proposed:
• Tax Rebates for Home Care – We’re looking to save taxpayers money while providing a higher level of care for people with long-term health needs. Currently, access to key equipment like hospital beds and patient lifts are a barrier people being eligible for home care support work. Additionally, a bit of help with paying for those services will go a long way in enabling people to receive care at home instead of an institution.
• Increasing Public Notice and Consultations for Federal Projects – The rules around providing public notice regarding road closures are vague when it comes to federal agencies. Peterborough experienced this with very little notice regarding the Parkhill Road bridge closure. We’re advocating that the federal government increase requirements for federal agencies to provide public notice to affected residents and businesses when closing a road for planned work.
 
These resolutions will be debated by CCC members in the fall. In the mean time they’re being vetted by members of various committees (of which our Chamber is a part of) to make sure it’s a significant enough business issue to need attention at the federal level. These committees help improve local advocacy efforts with other perspectives and expertise.
 
Provincial
The provincial policy process is very similar to the national one. We are active members of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and submit resolutions on provincially significant issues. Earlier this year we had a resolution approved regarding tiny homes and secondary suites. We’re looking to have the Province work with municipalities to streamline the approval process for this type of niche housing, keeping cost, risk, and complexity to a minimum.
 
Municipal
When it comes to local government, the policy process is entirely based around grassroots advocacy. We take input from local businesses directly to the government involved and work on solutions, whether it’s reducing the commercial and industrial tax ratio or making sure the perspective of local businesses is heard in the official plan, transportation master plan, and other municipal planning initiatives.
 
Regardless of the government body we’re advocating to, the majority of our work doesn’t result in policy resolutions or even formal letters to our leaders. Most of the advocacy work we do starts with an email, phone call, or a casual conversation at a networking event. Someone is facing a very specific barrier like a zoning issue or haven’t had a response from a government agency on a crucial application. Sometimes they just need to chat with someone to make sense of government regulations. Other times we partner with industry associations to amplify their voice.
 
It's not that we have all the answers or can solve every issue brought to our attention. Sometimes it can be sorted out quickly with some pressure, compromise, or better communication. Other times it’s a long-term process. We’ve been advocating for the return of passenger rail to Peterborough for more than a decade and we don’t plan on stopping until that first load of passengers arrives. We’ve hit some obstacles along the way, but right now passenger rail is closer to becoming a reality than any time since service ceased, with support from all major political parties and a government that now has parts of the project into the procurement phase.
 
Whether you’re facing a pressing issue, have new opportunities you need help exploring, or are looking for long-term results, we’ll continue to be your voice of business.
 

​Aggregates are big business in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. We mine them, ship them, and consume them.
 
A new report from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), commissioned by the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, titled The Long Haul: Examining the Implications of Far-From-Market Aggregates examines the value, impact and implications of mining, hauling and consuming aggregates.
 
Aggregates include gravel, sand, clay, earth, shale, stone, marble, granite, and other materials. It is used directly in construction as well as in the production of products like cement and concrete. It is a core product in most construction and infrastructure projects.
 
In 2019, production of new aggregates was worth $1.7 billion in Ontario, paying out $806 million in labour income and employing 13,400 people.
 
Central eastern Ontario, an area that includes Peterborough and the Kawarthas and the surrounding areas to the east and north, produced 22 million tonnes of aggregates, contributing $222 million to our GDP and directly employing more than 1,500 people.
 
Very little can be built without aggregates, making it a major contributor to Ontario’s $51 billion construction industry (2019).
 
It’s a product that is required in large amounts. Its value is inherently tied to the cost of getting it to market.
 
The report makes the case for keeping aggregate production near where construction and industry need it. The further it is hauled from, the more expensive it gets, the larger its carbon footprint, and the more trucks that are needed to get it there.
 
The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) is dotted with quarries, but can’t keep up with its own supply needs. The GTHA consumes approximately 73 million tonnes of aggregate while producing only 25 million tonnes. This means that aggregate mining in areas like Peterborough and the Kawarthas plays a key role in not only our own development, but that of our larger neighbours.
 
Development in Ontario is not showing any signs of slowing. The GTHA is expected to consume 1.5 billion tonnes of aggregates by 2041. Our region is experiencing its own period of growth. The industry will continue to find efficiencies in production, recycling, and design, but demand for new product will continue. If quarries close or are not allowed to expand, aggregate consumers will simply buy it from further away.
 
The GTHA is increasingly relying on pits and quarries further away and can expect to exhaust all close-to-market aggregate production supply within the next 10 to 15 years.
 
The current average hauling distance for close-to-market production is 35 km. As those are exhausted, that average is expected to increase to 110 km (i.e. Peterborough to Toronto). This will increase the haulage cost from $5.92/tonne to $12.67 for a one-way trip. For a 32-tonne truck load, that’s a one-way increase of $216 per load. These costs will be passed on to builders, increasing the cost of things like homes, roads, and bridges.
 
Longer distances also mean trucks will not be able to make as many trips per day, requiring more trucks and more time driving. Sourcing aggregates further from market is expected to burn an additional 32.8 million litres of fuel, generating an extra 88,594 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
 
The report from the OCC is an examination of the industry and is not directly an advocacy item. What’s clear is the value of the industry, its integral role in our communities, and the implications for hauling aggregates from further distances – increased costs and pollution.
 
As our region grows and becomes more populated, conflict with pit and quarry operations will increase. There are legitimate concerns regarding dust, noise, air quality, water quality, and truck traffic. But simply saying “not in our backyard” is not going to be a helpful approach. Peterborough and the Kawarthas is a thriving aggregate producer for our own needs and those of our neighbours. We need to be proactive with this sector by addressing concerns, minimizing environmental impacts, and finding ways to integrate pit and quarry operations within our community.

​After talking for two years about getting back to normal, normal continues to elude us.
 
It’s now the seventh wave of a gradually subsiding pandemic, inflation is at 7.7%, and the Bank of Canada just hiked its rates by a whopping 100 basis points.
 
Economists have been busy analysing our current situation and putting together some forecasts for where we’re headed.
 
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is figuring inflation will peak soon, breaking new records over the summer, followed by a period of decline as it’s expected to fall below 5% in early 2023 and returning to the Bank of Canada’s target range of 1% to 3% in spring.
 
One factor BDC highlights that will keep prices higher for a while is that supply chain issues have prompted businesses to move from "just-in-time" inventory management to "just-in-case." Increasing inventory is also adding to current goods transportation challenges. On the plus side, it’s getting easier for customers to find the products they want.
 
Many Canadians are still spending, even with costs going up. A survey by BDC showed that 25% of Canadians have not changed their spending habits because of inflation and the rest say they’re more likely to search for bargains than to restrict their purchases.
 
The Bank of Canada’s 100 basis point rate hike came in higher than predicted, citing that inflation has been higher and more persistent than it had expected. The overnight rate now sits at 2.5%, well above the 0.25% that was with us for most of the pandemic.
 
BDC is predicting that Bank of Canada rates should peak at 3% to 4%, likely hitting 3% by the end of the year. They also note that in a historical context these rates are still considered low, but we’ve become accustomed to low rates since the 2008 financial crisis.
 
Interest rate hikes, along with other factors, seem to be having some effect in cooling the housing market. According to Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtors, the average selling price of a home in Peterborough in June was $751,522, an increase of only 3.4% over June of last year. This is well below the peak of $885,153 in February, dropping the year-to-date average home price to $830,193. Rather than rushing to buy before they’re priced out of the market, some home buyers are now holding off to see how much lower prices will fall.
 
One of the other big factors driving inflation is the price of oil. It’s not just the price at the pumps hitting consumers, but the whole supply chain is largely passing fuel costs on to consumers. This includes the large amounts of fuel consumed by farming, mining, shipping, and construction. It’s even hitting tax bills with City staff recently citing an expected $2 million increase in fuel cost next year as one of the reasons for hiking property taxes by 3% to 4%.
 
The U.S. Energy Information Administration is predicting a decline in the price of crude oil, though likely not to where it was a few months ago. The price of crude oil increased from $87/barrel in January to $123/barrel in June. They’re expecting that price to drop through the second half of this year, eventually hitting $97/barrel by the fourth quarter of this year. That said, the rise and fall of crude oil prices influence but aren’t necessarily mirrored in the price at the pumps.
 
Another cause for concern is the possibility of an upcoming recession. Rising interest rates, soaring inflation, the pandemic and the ongoing war in the Ukraine are all contributing factors that have economists warning that Canada could slip into a recession in 2023 and maybe into 2024. Statistics Canada reported that our Gross Domestic Product declined by 0.2% in May, however BDC notes Statistics Canada’s preliminary estimates tend to underestimate the final results.
 
Of course, all of these predictions are based on a snapshot of the world as it is today. We’re only one geopolitical crisis, catastrophic weather event, or virus variant away from another game changer.
 
If nothing else, our business community have proven themselves to be resilient and adaptable. There is a path emerging in terms of an economic “normal” and overall there’s a greater sense of certainty in what lies ahead.

​Downtown is the heart of our city. It’s a mix of history and progress. It’s a destination and a bustling hub of business.
 
As our City deals with an influx of growth, it’s important that we plan for what we want our city to look like in the future. The City recently adopted a new Official Plan. Now, the City is looking into creating a Downtown Heritage Conservation District to guide the future of what our downtown core will look and feel like.
 
For now, City staff are just looking for support to make sure council is on the same page in terms of doing more research on what will be involved in a heritage conservation district designation for the downtown. It’s still in the early stages, with research and consultations likely to be conducted in 2023.
 
What a heritage district will mean is far from decided.
 
All too often the historic building preservation process is triggered by applications from developers to renovate, expand, or demolish buildings. A heritage district should lay out the rules ahead of time. Taking out some of the uncertainty and risk should lead to increased investment.
 
A big part of the charm of doing business downtown is the historic architecture. It’s not something that can be replicated in other areas. It’s also not something that can be replaced when it’s gone.
 
It’s hard to image the downtown without icons like Market Hall, the Hunter Street Café District, and The Commerce Building at the corner of Water and Hunter streets. There’s something quaint about shopping and dining at a literal bricks and mortar building. There’s no question this atmosphere is an important cultural element for the community and local businesses.
 
A heritage district shouldn’t mean nothing changes. We’ve seen some amazing redevelopments of historic anchor buildings like the Y Lofts (former YMCA) and Venture North (former Promenade building) as well as up-scale offices like Lett Architects, Outpost 379, and Unicity. With the right vision and ambition, development of historic buildings can enhance our community.
 
The plan should also lay out the rules for what it takes for a new building to fit into the downtown vibe. Not every building downtown needs to be preserved as it currently sits. Ideally, the district will lay out the design elements ahead of time so developers know what they can build. Many are eagerly awaiting the replacement of the eyesore at 385 George Street North with a new building that will host local businesses and create needed housing.
 
There are a lot of challenges when it comes to renovating old buildings, but it’s important that any plan for the downtown include modern accessibility needs in its design criteria. Many of the buildings downtown were built at a time when accessibility wasn’t a consideration. Some buildings are easier to bring up to modern standards than others, but sometimes making buildings more accessible creates conflict with preserving history. 
 
Similarly, fire codes add additional challenges to development of historic buildings.
 
At a time when our community is desperate for housing, we have a significant stock of apartments downtown that are current unoccupied due to challenges in meeting all the historic, accessibility, and fire code legislation. As a Chamber, we currently have a resolution on the books of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce called Maximizing Growth in Built Areas which essentially calls for all parties to work together to find solutions to making these residential units safe, accessible, and economically feasible — making them livable again.
 
A plan for the downtown has to be careful not to price out current tenants through increased rents, insurance costs, and other factors. We need continued investment, but not at the expense of losing the character and charm of the current businesses downtown.
 
There are concerns that too many rules regarding heritage preservation will drive away investment. Hopefully the business community is actively engaged in the process of defining these rules to help minimize this impact.
 
Similarly, the status quo has driven away investment. Some developers are intimidated to invest downtown because the rules aren’t straight forward. They often have a fair bit of money invested before finding out the details of what they can and cannot do with their property.
 
It’s important that the community, developers, business owners, and building officials are all engaged as part of the process to ensure that our plan for the downtown has the intended effect of both preserving what we cherish and spurring redevelopment. Done right, a Downtown Heritage Conservation District is an opportunity to create new investment and build a stronger downtown core.
 

​Despite the pandemic and its restrictions on personal interactions largely behind us, there’s no sign that people’s habits are going to revert right back to 2019.
 
This is especially true when we talk about our online habits. The expectation to find what you want, book an appointment, order a product, or communicate with businesses online is expected to increase.
 
Additionally, businesses eager to move out of the pandemic are finding it tricky to hire enough staff to meet their goals. Digital automation is key to making do with less, including integrated inventory systems, team management software, and automatic lead generation. Any tool that cuts down on workload has become a valuable asset to maximize the effectiveness of the people they have.
 
To help local businesses make effective digital investments, the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has re-launched our Digital Main Street program.
 
The Chamber has received a grant from the Digital Main Street program for a two-year Digital Service Squad (DSS) program, which provides small business owners with the tools, personalized technical support and access to funding needed to digitally transform their businesses. The role of the DSS is to empower small businesses across the region to navigate new tools to remain competitive.
 
The DSS is the cornerstone of Digital Main Street, with trained specialists who meet with brick-and-mortar small businesses, at no cost, to help them complete an online assessment and to introduce them to online training modules designed to build their digital knowledge and skills. This one-on-one DSS assistance includes support for basic website setup, Google Business Profiles, 360⁰ photos, social media presence, and much more. Squad members are also trained to help qualified small businesses with the development of their Digital Transformation Plan and then with the application process for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant.
 
To qualify for the Digital Transformation Grant, business owners must:
• Have a permanent brick-and-mortar location in Ontario
• Employ 1-50 employees
• Pay commercial property tax either directly or through commercial rent
• Be a registered business in Ontario and/or incorporated
 
Applications for the Digital Transformation Grant opened on June 21, with eligible brick-and-mortar small businesses able to apply for a $2,500 grant to adopt digital tools and techniques. The current intake period for applications will remain open until October 31, 2022 (or until funds have been exhausted). For more information about how to apply to the DTG or to access digital tools and training to improve your business, visit https://digitalmainstreet.ca/ to register on Digital Main Street and begin your journey.
 
Additionally, the federal government is launching the Canada Digital Adoption Program though the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, offering a grant of up to $2,400 toward adopting e-commerce solutions. The program also comes with a network of e-commerce advisors and our DSS can assist businesses in their e-commerce plan. For more details, visit https://www.peterboroughchamber.ca/canadian-digital-adoption-plan.html
 
To book a free consultation with a Digital Service Squad Team Member, contact Jacie Condon-Houghton at 705-201-1663 or Jacie@acorn30.com.
 
Investing in digital is key for all local businesses. We have experts available and grants to help make it happen. There’s no better time for local businesses to step up their digital game.

​The housing crisis in Canada has hit Peterborough hard — demand and prices have gone through the roof.
 
We need more homes of all types. For this week’s column, we’re taking a look at some of the proposed solutions for getting more built and making it easier for people to buy them.
 
Taking the politics out of site plans
The Province is looking to have municipalities delegate site plan approvals to staff rather than requiring council decisions. To get to the point where a site plan is up for approval, a development must meet the terms set out in the official plan or have an amendment that is approved by council. Council still has a say regarding the zoning, which sets out the rules for uses for the property and the size of buildings. Site plans are focused on the actual final layout of the development, including entrances, parking, and grading.
 
Set deadlines for approvals
The Province is planning to add aggressive deadlines for getting development applications approved. Faster approvals will equal more homes being built, but it’s a two-way street. In a report to council, Interim Commissioner of Infrastructure and Planning Services Michael Papadacos notes that some of the delays are attributed to developers, consultants, and external agencies. Staff often have to go back and forth with applicants to get all of the necessary information. It’s going to take a concerted effort from all involved to speed up the application process.
 
Increase Density
Subdivisions take a lot of work to plan out. They need water and sewer service to their location, upgraded roads, and electricity grid expansion. These greenfield developments will always have a place in our growth, but infilling and redevelopment offer more opportunities to add additional housing without as much new infrastructure. However, redevelopment has other hurdles in terms of zoning, fire code, accessibility, modern building codes, flood plains, and architectural heritage. Infilling has a positive community impact as it gets more people closer to the amenities already available.
 
To make it easier and quicker to redevelop existing properties, municipalities can get a head start on issues like zoning and heritage priorities so developers know what they are getting into. We’re also calling on the Province to work with property owners to find solutions to converting old buildings to modern fire, building and accessibility codes.
 
Modernizing the HST threshold
The Ontario Home Builders Association us advocating for province to increase the threshold for charging HST to buyers of new homes from $400,000 to $600,000. The program is a decade old and doesn’t reflect the current price of new homes. Increasing the HST threshold to $600,000 would increase the rebate to home buyers by $12,000 to $36,000.
 
Pay-on-Demand Surety Bonds
Municipalities require assurance that the necessary site improvements will be constructed in a timely manner and as designed when approving a development like subdivisions and site plans. This assurance typically requires a Letter of Credit from a bank, using up a large amount of credit capacity builders have available to them. This means that builders who might have the capacity otherwise to carryout a series of projects at once are unable to do so.
 
The Ontario Home Builders Association is advocating for Pay-on-Demand Surety Bonds as an alternative. These can provide municipalities with the same level of financial security while not restricting a builder’s credit capacity, enabling them to build more homes, dramatically increasing housing supply available to buyers.
 
Supply chain and inflation
Even with an approval and financing in place, building more homes has other challenges. Supply chain and inflation issues have hit most Canadians in various ways. Even with an approval, getting the supplies and tools needed to build more homes is a challenge. Investments in core supply chain infrastructure is critical to the success of our plans for aggressive home construction and redevelopment.
 
Inflation has added an additional challenge in quoting a build and planning future developments. Both material and labour costs are on the rise. For projects that take years to plan and build, this challenge adds more risk and uncertainty. It also limits a developers’ ability to take on more ambitious projects as they weigh the risk of overextending themselves due to unpredictable rising costs.
 
Workforce
Ontario was facing a shortage of skilled trades workers prior to the pandemic and housing crisis. Many builders are making due with less, but that limits the amount and speed they can build. Our post-secondary institutions have been busy creating more trades opportunities and the government has increased its messaging in promoting young people into the trades, but the current skilled worker shortage is holding back home development.
 
It's going to require a multifaceted approach to solving our housing crisis. It’s going to take a concerted effort from all levels of government, builders, lenders, and educational institutions. In our efforts to build more homes, we also need to be careful not to push aside the community consultation process. We need to make sure we’re building toward a sustainable, affordable future that builds a community that is not only bigger, but stronger.

The status quo isn’t enough when it comes to building more homes in Peterborough.
 
The latest numbers from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show Peterborough lagging when it comes to building new homes. In May, there were 20 new homes started and 17 completed in the Peterborough Census Metropolitan Area. Meanwhile next door in the City of Kawartha Lakes 278 new homes were started and 15 completed. Kingston saw 195 starts and 136 completions. Barrie had 123 starts and 75 finishes.
 
While these numbers can ebb and flow based on a variety of factors, the overall theme is that we need to do more to create housing in our community.
 
While the prices of homes seem to have stabilized over the last couple months, supply is still way behind demand.
 
According to the report Baby Needs A New Home: Projecting Ontario’s Growing Number of Families and Their Housing Needs, Ontario is going to need 1 million new homes over the next 10 years. The report, which is from the Smart Prosperity Institute and funded by the Ontario Homebuilders’ Association, notes that we’re already 65,000 homes short of what is needed.
 
Lack of access to housing is creating additional social challenges in our community. It’s also making it difficult to attract and retail talent, which is one of the biggest challenges facing local businesses right now.
 
According to Statistics Canada, we’re experiencing the highest level of interprovincial migration in more than 30 years, with Ontario taking the biggest hit. Many of the people leaving are younger, first-time home buyers — the very people our labour market is desperately in need of.
 
There is a lot to debate in terms of types of housing needed and strategies to make it affordable for first-time buyers, but the core issue is we simply need more — more single detached-homes, duplexes, townhouses, low-rises, and mid-rises. We need to infill and create higher-density neighbourhoods, but also look to expand into new areas.
 
One key area Peterborough can address to help increase housing stock is to streamline the planning approval process. The Province is rolling out Bill 109, known as the More Homes for Everyone Act, which includes streamlining and speeding up the municipal planning and approvals process for new developments. The City of Peterborough received $1.75 million from the Province to help with streamlining the development process. It’s important that the City embrace measures that are in the interest of improving access to housing in our community.
 
Streamlining the municipal planning process will involve delegating more approval responsibilities to the qualified and competent staff at City Hall. There will still be public notice and consultations, but plans that meet the rules set out by council and the province will get approved more easily and quickly. It will also take some of the politics out of planning, reducing red tape and uncertainty.
 

Aside from taking direction from the Province, there are some very knowledgeable people and organizations that want to be part of the solution. Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders have been actively working with City staff and council, highlighting the barriers homebuilders face and suggest way to improve the development process.
 
Whether it’s Provincial direction through Bill 109 or something more grassroots, our community needs an active and concerted effort streamline the process for building more homes — and it’s needed ASAP.

Our population is getting older quickly. The Government of Canada’s Action for Seniors report states one in seven Canadians were seniors in 2021 with that number expected to jump to one in four by 2030. The Canadian Institute for Health Information is predicting a 68% increase in Canada’s senior population from 2017 to 2037, accounting for 10.4 million people.
 
Receiving healthcare at home is the preferred route for most people where feasible, saving both them and the government money when compared to staying in institutions. However, upfront capital costs and ongoing out-of-pocket health and personal service care costs to provide adequate healthcare are a major barrier to home care.
 
The applies to seniors as well as those with ongoing healthcare needs due to illness or injury.
 
The National Home Modifications Survey, commissioned by March of Dimes Canada in April 2021, found 78% of Canadians want to age in their current homes, but only 26% predict they’ll be able to do so. The survey found 50% of adults and seniors identified costs of home modifications as a barrier.
 
For many, the decision to move into long-term care is complicated, even if it’s the best way to meet their healthcare needs. The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) estimates some 40,000 Canadians were on waitlists for nursing homes at any given time in 2019. Meanwhile, they estimated a further 430,000 Canadians have unmet homecare needs. The NIA estimates 22% of people currently in nursing homes would be better served at home with the appropriate support.
 
Our municipal, provincial and federal governments spend billions of dollars every year on assisting people with long-term healthcare needs with the majority going to long-term care homes and subsidies for institutional care. The NIA estimates that in 2018 public spending on long-term care in Canada included $20 billion for nursing home care and $4 billion for home and community-based care.
 
Most Canadians in need of regular healthcare are getting it at home whether by choice or lack of available institutional space. Some require a moderate level of support while others need several hours of daily care. Regardless, the costs are cheaper for care at home than in an institution.
 
Home Care Ontario estimates based on a 2011 study that the costs for care are $842/day for a hospital bed, $126/day for a long-term care bed, and $42/ day for home care.
 
Home care allows Canadians to get the care they want at a much lower cost to the public and, depending on the subsidies they are eligible for, a lower cost to themselves.
 
Receiving care at home has challenges and significant expenses. Many people’s homes need renovations and special equipment from beds to lifts. There are costs for private services, including medical care, housekeeping, transportation, physical therapy, cooking, and personal care. The role of family caregivers can only offer so much and is dependant on a senior’s family situation.
 
Home Care Ontario found family fund more than 20 million hours of home care annually for 150,000 people at an average cost of $17,600 per year per family.
 
While healthcare is provincial in operations, our federal government is heavily involved in supporting our healthcare network and has provided tax credits for various healthcare initiatives.
 
The Government of Canada currently offers the Medical Expense Tax Credit, but it does not offer a level of support sufficient to have a meaningful impact for someone undertaking the task of receiving long-term care at home.
 
Offering subsidies to receive care at home will save Canadians money when it comes to healthcare spending and relieve pressure on our overburdened healthcare system.
 
The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has submitted a resolution to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) asking the Government of Canada to:
• Create a home care refundable tax credit of 15% of up to $10,000 in annual retained home care services, for a total maximum benefit of $1,500
• Create a one-time refundable $10,000 tax credit toward special medical equipment and renovations, including hospital beds and patient lifts
 
If adopted by the CCC at the annual conference this fall, this will become a core part of the CCC’s advocacy platform for the next three years. It’s important to start making these investments now. Investments in home care saves money to taxpayers and people needing care while providing the level of care many desire.

​Ontario has elected a Progressive Conservative government with an even larger majority, but with it comes increased expectations.
 
As a Chamber, we would like to congratulate all of our elected officials on their successful campaigns, including Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini, and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott. We look forward to working with you to build a stronger community.
 
Additionally, we would like to thank all of our local candidates and their teams of volunteers who put in many hours knocking on doors, talking to residents, and tackling local issues. While it didn’t result in a seat in the legislature, those hours of community engagement have a substantial impact as we try to sort out our priorities for the future. Creating meaningful dialogue and grassroots momentum on local issues is at the core of the democratic process.
 
With the election behind us it’s time to put our attention on governance. The first term of this government saw a host of newly elected MPPs — but now most, including our local MPPS, are seasoned veterans. They dealt with a world-wide public health crisis, sky-rocketing housing prices, record-breaking inflation, and a major labour force and skills shortage. But now those issues aren’t new. The expectation is that re-electing local leaders should allow them to take the last four years of experience and planning to hit the ground running. We expect to see results.
 
Our role as a Chamber is to be non-partisan on the politics and push our elected representatives to act on local business and community issues. We welcome the support of all parties and candidates in progressing policy that will build, support and provide opportunities for the local business community to thrive.
 
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has a four-point plan called Vote Prosperity which lays out priorities for our newly re-elected government


1. Improve Business Confidence and Predictability
Predictability is fundamental to business confidence, economic recovery and prosperity. Businesses need a stable policy environment with clear timelines, contracts, consultations, and strategies to help them plan for the future and make long-term investments. Given the uncertainty brought on by COVID-19, Ontario must also bolster its pandemic preparedness in response to ongoing and future threats.
 
2. Foster Business and Economic Growth 
The dual economic and public health crises of the past two years have left many businesses and households in Ontario with record levels of debt and financial instability. Pro-growth measures for business will fuel economic recovery. Ontario will need to focus on actions that support business access to the capital, markets, and talent that they need to grow.
 
3. Build Resilient Communities
A strong economy is built by healthy and resilient communities. Ontario will need to address challenges within our health care system, the ongoing impacts of climate change, access to housing, municipalities’ fiscal capacity to support regional economies, and infrastructure deficits.
 
4. Support Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Ontarians’ entrepreneurial spirit is one of the province’s greatest competitive advantages. Ontario will need to foster an environment that encourages new business ideas and investments to boost productivity and create the jobs of tomorrow.
 
Building a stronger business community over the next four years needs to involve social change as well, including greater engagement and consultation with Indigenous communities, investing in growth that helps meet our climate change goals, and addressing the mental health, addictions and poverty issues that have become much more visible in our communities.
 
While our expectations for building a stronger community are high, we don’t expect our politicians to do it alone. In fact, we prefer them not to. Besides their local Chamber of Commerce, there are a host of community organizations, non-profits, charities, businesses and residents that want to help. We’re invested in building a more sustainable and resilient community and our expectations involve our local leaders working with the talent, experience, and voices available in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.