The Ontario Chamber of Commerce

TORONTO: President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42^nd President of the United States, will deliver the keynote speech at Massey Hall to open the 8^th Annual Ontario Economic Summit (OES) on Monday, November 21^st at 7 p.m.

President Clinton served the United States for eight years during a time of unprecedented prosperity and change. Now, President Clinton is a powerful voice for progress around the world as he shares his unique insights and observations with audiences around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

TORONTO: The 8th Annual Ontario Economic Summit (OES) will bring together some of the world’s most distinguished and innovative economic leaders with respected government decision-makers. Their objective: moving Ontario toward its next great era. The key themes to be tackled this year are Innovation in Health Care Delivery, Championing Urban Regions and Ontario’s Energy Future.

Co-chairing the 2011 OES are Laura Formusa, President and CEO of Hydro One and Mary Jo Haddad President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

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TORONTO:  On Monday, September 26^th, 2011 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, big names in business and entertainment will celebrate the success of this province’s private sector at the 2011 Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAA).

Rick Campanelli and Kim D’Eon from Entertainment Tonight Canada will host the Ontario Chamber of Commerce annual event and almost 500 attendees will welcome Donald Trump Jr. as the keynote speaker. It will be a star-studded evening with high profile winners and nominees as well.

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TORONTO: Greater Toronto Area (GTA) businesses are calling for new investment in transportation infrastructure as their top priority for Ontario’s next government. In a province-wide private sector study, businesses recently weighed in on their key policy needs. As a result, GTA Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade together with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce are calling for increased consideration of GTA transportation needs in the lead up to the October 6th election and beyond.

Businesses across the province participated in record numbers in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Pre-Election Business Survey. The survey identifies policy priorities most integral to the province’s economic prosperity. Overall, the results revealed that steering Ontario’s economy through tough economic times will require political leaders to redouble their focus on reducing red tape and bringing down the deficit. However GTA businesses made it clear that transportation was at the top of their list.

The GTA transportation network plays a critical role in Ontario’s growth and economic development. Studies indicate that the demand for travel will exceed the capacity of the existing regional transportation network over the next two decades. The result will be increased congestion, constrained economic growth, higher fuel consumption and air pollution, and a lower quality of life.

GTA businesses use the 400 series highways and regional transit on a daily basis for going to and from work and moving goods across the region. Businesses realize from a highway safety and traffic congestion standpoint the need for increased transportation and transit capabilities to properly and safely service the residents, businesses, and industry located in the GTA region. Better integrating GTA-Hamilton transit systems, expanding inter-city bus and rail services, and investing in the road network (such as the 407 extension) were raised as key areas for improvement by GTA employers.

GTA Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade (listed below) together with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, urge candidates in all parties to make transportation investment a key consideration in the lead up to the October 6th election and a strategic aspect of the new government’s mandate. We look forward to working with the new government to strengthen our transportation network and future competitiveness.

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