Concerns of Business
Cannot Be Ignored this Election
#LSN_Econ
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO - May 3, 2018 (LSN) – The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC), in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and its network of chambers of commerce and boards of trade, will be mobilizing during the upcoming election campaign to bring the recommendations outlined in their Vote Prosperity platform to political leaders and local candidates across the province. Over the course of the campaign, local chambers and boards of trade will be boldly pushing the Vote Prosperity message through local debates, events and stakeholder meetings.
“The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber and the provincial Chamber network have been advocating tirelessly with local candidates and elected officials, highlighting business priorities for this election,” says Don Mitchell, acting president of the local Chamber. “During this election campaign, we will continue those efforts, calling on our local candidates and political party leaders to adopt our economic plan that will help strengthen businesses competitiveness, foster job creation, build healthy communities and improve government accountability.”
Since October, the OCC and the SSMCOC have been meeting with local candidates, elected officials at Queen’s Park and senior public policy leaders, to advocate for the recommendations for a strong Ontario outlined in Vote Prosperity. As leaders in their communities, during the campaign period local chambers and boards of trades will be hosting all candidates debates and events, with a focus on the Vote Prosperity message.
With industry feeling the impacts of the increasing cumulative burden, the Ontario Chamber network have warned that Ontario’s next government must be committed to taking bold action in providing pro-growth policy solutions.
“Ontario has the foundation for sustainable and equitable growth. But, bold action and leadership will be required of the newly elected Government of Ontario, whether it is Liberal, PC or NDP,” adds Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Vote Prosperity is based on four pillars for Ontario:
- Strengthen business competitiveness: Rising input costs, especially those costs deriving from government regulation and policy, are the most common and acute concern of the business community in Ontario.
- Foster Job Creation: A robust labour market consisting of good jobs is essential to prosperity for all Ontarians.
- Build Healthy Communities: Building strong communities through adequate and affordable housing, sustainable health care, and good infrastructure also supports business prosperity and growth, which supports those communities.
- Improve Government Accountability: Poor implementation of government initiatives can result in resource waste, political frustration and disruption for ordinary citizens, as demonstrated by a series of policy failures under governments of all political stripes.
The platform provides eighteen unique recommendations that will help bolster Ontario’s long-term economic future, while also addressing the pressing issues the province currently faces.
The full list of recommendations in Vote Prosperity can be found at http://www.occ.ca/vote-prosperity2018/
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