As election nears, Ontario Liberals believe their gravest enemy is indecision, Toronto Star

Province’s wage-freeze talks go off the rails, Toronto Star

Business

BMO results lower bar for bank sector, Globe and Mail

Telus takes aim at Shaw over CanWest content, Globe and Mail

Economy

If the economic road is so bumpy, why are all those trucks on the move?, Globe and Mail

Ontario’s debt hit record $212.1 billion in 2009-10, CTV News

Canadian construction industry faces slowdown, Toronto Star

Borders

Debate rages over Detroit-Windsor bridge plan, Michigan Morning Sun

Senate pondering plan for second bridge, The News- Herald

Healthcare

Survey finds most fear boomers will cripple health-care system, Globe and Mail

Ontario to open 14 new nurse-led clinics, National Post

Health care system’s value can’t be measured, Auditor-General says, Globe and Mail

ER wait times worth cheering about, Toronto Star

Pension

Ontario to shore up pension guarantee fund, Toronto Star

Ontario to overhaul pension fund, Globe and Mail

Changes will strengthen Ontario pensions: Duncan, CTV News

Making sense of McGuinty’s cabinet tweaks, Globe and Mail

Pledges power to municipalities, Intelligencer

We’re not perfect, McGuinty says, Ottawa Citizen

Business

Google Eyes Canadian Expansion, CTV News

Ontario a developing video-game player, London Free Press

Economy

‘Ontario economy is growing,’ Dalton McGuinty says, Toronto Star

Enough stimulus, say Canadian business leaders, Toronto Sun

Trade

Canada-Europe free trade talks prompt Turkey to jump on board, Embassy

Borders

 Environmental group fights US-Canada bridge construction, AFP

Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun loses bid to keep plaza, Windsor Star

Northern Ontario

Hudak says he will scrap Far North Act, Timmins Times

Liberals should rethink Far North Act, Toronto Sun

Healthcare

The premiers vs. drug costs, Toronto Star

Why we’re paying more for health care and getting less, National Post

Private care is coming, National Post

Chamber News

Helping immigrant entrepreneurs flourish, Hamilton Spectator

Premiers drop economic ball, Toronto Star

Ontario’s Premier Dad rolls dice on nanny image, Globe and Mail

Business

Behind the battle over BlackBerry, Toronto Star

Economy

Canada’s innovative malaise: The cure’s in our culture, Globe and Mail

CAW head calls for national jobs summit, CBC News

Federal flexibility needed, Toronto Star

Trade

Canadian exports take hit in June, Globe and Mail

Never been a better time for Canada to set rules with U.S., Montreal Gazette

Borders

Border ‘partner’, Windsor Star

Bridge may open by 2014, Cornwall Standard Freeholder

Strong support for cheaper passports, CANOE.ca

Energy

Replace nuclear plant with green power, coalition urges, Toronto Star

Wind turbine factory to create 300 jobs, Toronto Star

Guelph gets new solar panel plant, Toronto Star

Census

Harper stands beside decision on long-form census, CTV News

The Amendments, which are part of the government’s Open for Business initiative, would introduce a risk-based approval system for all business operations that contain air emissions, waste management systems, waste disposal sites, and/or sewage works.

Adopting a risk-based approach to environmental regulation would address a longstanding priority of the OCC to make the approval process more flexible and efficient for business. By bringing Ontario up to speed with other jurisdictions, the new approach would strengthen the provincial economic climate and stimulate greater growth and investment. The OCC is in full support of the proposed amendments.

The government believes these changes will simplify and speed up the approval process for business by creating a lower risk category for standard or less complex activities that would eliminate the need for obtaining a traditional environmental approval. Remaining activities would undergo a streamlined Environmental Compliance Approval process that would combine approvals for multiple sites and activities into one process.

If adopted, the amendments would also enable businesses to make changes to their operational systems, within defined limits, without amending their Environmental Compliance Approval.

To obtain further details or comment on the proposed changes to environmental regulation, please view the notice on the Regulatory Registry.

For more information please contact Kelly Pritchard, Policy Analyst, at 416-482-5222 ext. 246, or kellypritchard@occ.on.ca.

Left unchecked, these trends will have serious ramifications for the provincial economy. Many sectors are or soon will be unable to fill key positions which rely on advanced analytical skills and technical expertise. There is an urgent need for innovative government programs to address the skills deficit by better rationing the skills and talents of the existing workforce.

The OCC is concerned about the lack of a comprehensive government strategy for addressing the skills shortage. In order to contribute to proactive government policy that will position Ontario to capitalize on changing economic conditions, the OCC is assembling a task force to examine the issue of provincial programming for workforce literacy and essential skills training.

The goal of the task force is to determine what type of delivery model would allow the government to provide the skills that are in demand while meeting the expectations of employers, employees, and training organizations. The task force is open to all interested OCC members.

For more information or to participate on the OCC task force, please contact Kelly Pritchard, Policy Analyst, at 416-482-5222 ext. 246, or kellypritchard@occ.on.ca.

The OCC has prepared a formal letter to the federal minister responsible for copyright reform, commending his government for its action in key areas and providing recommendations on how the legislation can be strengthened.  The OCC views up-to-date rules for copyright protection as vitally important to strengthen economic competitiveness, protect jobs, and create more and better choices for consumers.

The OCC is asking the government to go beyond the existing content of Bill-C32 to create a legislative framework that is second to none for Canadians. The Copyright Modernization Act can achieve this goal through effective procedures for counteracting pirated material, clear liability for websites that host pirated content, and firm penalties for illegal behaviour.

Members who are concerned about the outcome of copyright reform are encouraged to reach out to Members of Parliament to help them understand why stronger measures are needed.  For inquiries, please contact Kelly Pritchard, Policy Analyst, at 416-482-5222, ext. 246 or kellypritchard@occ.on.ca.

More information about Bill-C32 please can be found at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce .

The OCC has been a continuous voice for a more competitive regulatory regime in the province. It has identified the areas of government activity that involve the most red tape for business and proposed alternatives to the existing model that would allow the government to achieve more effective regulations that do not negatively impact the economy. Through the Open for Business program and Bill 68, the government has adopted specific elements of the OCC’s proposals, while leaving large portions of the current system untouched.    

The OCC believes that more in depth and extensive changes are required in order to achieve a regulatory framework that provides a foundation for balanced and sustainable economic growth.

The OCC has submitted its views to the government outlining immediate actions the government can take to achieve a more competitive regulatory environment.

As part of its ongoing advocacy efforts, the OCC is striking a task force on the topic of regulatory reform which will provide further recommendations to inform government policy over the long-term.

For more information on how you can contribute to this initiative or the task force, please contact Kelly Pritchard, Policy Analyst, at 416-482-5222 ext. 246 or kellypritchard@occ.on.ca.

Ontario businesses have a strong interest in a more competitive regulatory environment that does not unduly penalize businesses that are committed to sound social and environmental stewardship.  In order to ensure that the provincial government’s current efforts to reduce red tape are translated into lasting results for business, the OCC is assembling a task force to determine which issues and principles must be addressed.

The task force is open to all interested OCC members. The task force will take place throughout August and September to gather business input and establish the foundation for a policy report on smart regulation.

The Ontario government is taking its first steps to transform the culture of regulatory management through its Open for Business program. The purpose of this initiative is to achieve a more flexible regulatory framework based on streamlined and simplified services and procedures that will allow the government to safeguard the public interest while maximizing economic productivity. However, it is to wind down in 2011, and the OCC needs to ensure that red tape issues continue to be addressed by government.

For further information or to participate on the OCC task force, please contact Kelly Pritchard, Policy Analyst, at 416-482-5222 ext. 246, or kellypritchard@occ.on.ca.