2005 Advocacy Work

A key objective of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce is to be an effective advocate for Burlington business.  The Chamber works on your behalf.  Our alliances with other Chambers and Boards of Trade, including the Ontario and Canadian Chambers, provide us with information and access to all levels of government.  We carry the collective and individual views of Chamber members to all levels of government to ensure that your voice is heard.

 

During 2005, the Burlington Chamber was very active delivering your views to the City of Burlington, the Region of Halton, the Provincial and Federal governments.  Below is a summary of some of the advocacy activities of the last several months.

 

Read about our 2007 advocacy work

Read about our 2006 advocacy work

Read about our 2004 advocacy work

 

GREATER TORONTO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY  -  November 2005

 

On November 21, Richard Burgess, Chair of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce took part in a public Call to Action held in Toronto. The Call to Action, spearheaded by the Toronto Board of Trade, was held to urge the Provincial Liberals to fulfill an election promise to create a Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTTA). The GTTA would have the power to coordinate and plan the development and financing of transit and transportation across the region. The Burlington Chamber supported the GTTA concept in 2003 with our GTTA Policy Resolution (July 2003) and still believes establishing a GTTA is an important step in relieving gridlock in the area.

 

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PROVINCIAL PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATION  -  November 2005

 

On November 21, the Honourable Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance, hosted a 2006 pre-budget consultation.  The meeting brought together business leaders and Chamber representatives from the Niagara Peninsula, Hamilton and Burlington. Keith Hoey, President, represented the Burlington Chamber.  In a written submission the Burlington Chamber urged the Minister to eliminate capital taxes, reduce business taxes, reduce regulations that apply to small business and work to repatriate Ontario-trained doctors who have left the province.  For more information on the pre-budget consultation process visit the provincial government's pre-budget consultation website.

 

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MEETING WITH MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES  -  November 2005

 

On November 9, members of the Chamber's Board of Directors and Political Action Committee met with local MP Paddy Torsney and The Honourable Scott Brison, MP, Minister of Public Works and Government Services.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the changes being made by PW&GS to reduce government costs and increase small business opportunities to work with the government.  During the Q & A session, Mr. Brison explained how the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises has made it easier for small businesses to bid on government contracts.  Mr. Brison also committed to providing the Chamber with more information about the selection criteria used in qualifying for government contracts.   Click here for more information about the Ministry of Public Works and Government Services.   For more information on government contracts, go to the Merx website.  

 

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CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING  -  September 2005

 

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting in Charlottetown on September 24 to 26, 2005.  The Burlington Chamber was represented by Richard Burgess (Board Chair) and Keith Hoey (President).  The main function of the convention was a series of votes by the general membership on Canadian Chamber policy resolutions.  All of the adopted resolutions that were voted on can be viewed at the CCC's policy resolutions web page.  In all a total of 65 resolutions were voted on by the general membership.  Of these, 55 were adopted, five were defeated and four were referred to the CCC board of directors (two resolutions were merged).  Of particular interest to Ontario business is the "Fiscal Imbalance" resolution which calls for the federal government to develop potential changes in federal provincial fiscal arrangements to redress any inappropriate imbalance.  Details can be found at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce website.

 

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LETTER TO CAM JACKSON:  WSIB PREMIUMS  -  July 2005

 

The Burlington Chamber is concerned about the impact of the proposed increase in WSIB premiums.  We view these premium increases as an increase in payroll taxes.  This payroll tax will extract up to $2 billion from the Ontario economy in the next seven years.  The Chamber has sent a letter to our provincial representative in Queen's Park, Cam Jackson, MPP, Burlington, urging Mr. Jackson to present our position on the WSIB issue. While the Burlington Chamber understands the provincial government's current fiscal position, we believe the Ontario Health Premium sufficiently addresses the government's concern over rising health care costs. Click here to read the letter to Mr. Jackson.

 

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LETTER TO HALTON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD:  GOVERNANCE  -  June 2005

 

The Halton District School Board recently made some changes that give the Board of Trustees more power to be involved in the operational issues of the Halton Schools.  This is a departure from the normal governance function of a Board which typically focuses on strategic or oversight functions.  The Chamber is concerned about how this type of governance change can affect the Halton school system.  In response, the Chamber sent a letter to Mr. Paul Tate, Chair of the Halton District School Board voicing our concerns.  Click here to read the letter.

 

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LETTER TO PROVINCIAL TRANSPORTATION MINISTER:  NEW HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION  -  May 2005

 

In May 2005, the Chamber's Political Action Committee surveyed Chambers members to learn their views on transportation in the area and their perspectives on constructing a new highway.  Click here to see the survey results.  In response the survey, the Chamber sent a letter to the Honourable Harinder Takhar, Ontario's Minister of Transportation.  The letter urges the Minster to:

  • ensure the details of the Niagara to GTA transportation corridor are developed within a framework of an inter-regional transportation strategy,

  • ensure the provincial government retains ownership of a newly constructed highway,

  • ensure a newly constructed highway is paid for with tolls, and,

  • ensure tolls are removed when the capital cost of the highway is recovered.

Click here to read the letter.

 

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ONTARIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONVENTION  -  April 30, 2005

 

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce held its annual convention in Sarnia on April 29 to May 1.  The Burlington Chamber was represented Rick Burgess (Chair, Board of Directors), John Doyle (Vice Chair) and Keith Hoey (President).  The function of the convention was two-fold.  The first portion was an Annual General Meeting which saw the election of new directors of the OCC, approving the OCC's budget and approving a new auditor.  The second portion of the convention was a plenary session where the general membership voted on 45 policy resolutions.  In all, 35 resolutions were adopted, four were defeated and six were tabled to the OCC board.

 

Of particular interest to Burlington Chamber members is that the Doctor Shortage resolution submitted by the Burlington Chamber’s Health Subcommittee (jointly with the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce) was approved by the OCC general membership.  This resolution is now official OCC policy.  This means the OCC will lobby the provincial government to meet the recommendations of this resolution.  Click here to read the Doctor Shortage Resolution.

 

You can read all of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce 2005 adopted resolutions and all the standing policy resolutions.  You can also read the Advocacy plan for all the resolutions.  The plan for the Burlington Chamber's Doctor Shortage Resolution is on page 74.

 

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DOCTOR SHORTAGE RESOLUTION  -  February 23, 2005

The doctor shortage problem affects many cities in Ontario.  Burlington requires 114 doctors and has only 90.  In his State of the City Address last September, Mayor Rob MacIsaac highlighted the doctor shortage problem in Burlington.  The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is addressing this problem at the provincial level.  The Chamber's Health Subcommittee has drafted a policy resolution (to be submitted to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce) with specific recommendations to help address the doctor shortage.  The resolution was written jointly with the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce to demonstrate that this is a province-wide issue and not isolated to small-town Ontario.  The Burlington Chamber Board of Directors officially approved this resolution on February 23, 2005.  The resolution has been submitted to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce where it will be voted on by the general membership on April 29.  If accepted, the resolution will become official OCC policy and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce will begin lobbying the Ontario government to have the recommendations contained in the resolution implemented.  Click here to read the Doctor Shortage Resolution.  Note:  The Burlington Chamber's Doctor Shortage was adopted by the OCC on May 1 2005. 

 

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BUSINESS FORUM WITH MAYOR MACISAAC  - February 17, 2005

 

It was with transportation issues on their minds that 75 people gathered on February 17, 2005 for this year’s first Business Forum with Mayor Robert MacIsaac.  The Mayor began his presentation by confirming the Chamber’s own finding that Burlington residents are concerned about transportation, both inside and outside the City.  He explained that there was a joint effort between the province and the city to meet the challenge. This effort includes an integrated transportation strategy that considers all modes of travel and sets out policies and actions to effectively manage the transportation needs of the city and the GTA. The creation of the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority is an important part of this strategy.  Read more details at our Events page.

 

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WASTE COLLECTION COSTS  -  January 7, 2005

 

In November 2004 the Chamber conducted a survey regarding waste collection costs (click here to see the survey results by sector).  On January 7, the Chamber's Political Action Committee met with Councillor John Taylor to discuss the issues.  It was decided that a Waste Collection Subcommittee will be established to ensure that Chamber members' interests are properly addressed.  This Subcommittee will review current and proposed waste collection cost structures, review details with Halton Region staff, consult with Chamber members and, if necessary, advocate with Burlington and Halton Councils on behalf of Chamber members.  If you are interested in being a part of this subcommittee, please email Margaret.

 

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ADVOCACY WORK  -  2004

 

Advocating your views is an ongoing priority at the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.  To see our advocacy work in 2004, go to our 2004 Advocacy web page.

 

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ONTARIO AND CANADIAN CHAMBERS

 

The Burlington Chamber works closely with the Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce.  Through them, we advocate on your behalf with the Provincial and Federal governments.  Much of this advocacy work takes the form of a series of resolutions that are put before the respective governments.  These resolutions are available online.

Ontario Chamber Resolutions

Canadian Chamber Resolutions

 

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