by Lindsay Stevenson | Jan 28, 2021 | Chamber News
BACKGROUNDER
For immediate release
January 28, 2021
2021 ONTARIO ECONOMIC REPORT KEY FINDINGS – BACKGROUNDER
(BURLINGTON, JANUARY 26, 2021) – Today, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released the fifth annual Ontario Economic Report (OER), providing the latest data on Ontario’s economy and business confidence, highlighting the unprecedented year that was 2020 and the unpredictability that lies in the year ahead.
Key highlights from the OER include:
- Data provided by the Bank of Montreal indicates that Ontario witnessed a steep decline in real GDP growth (-5.6 percent) in 2020 but is projected to see a moderate rebound of 4.8 percent in 2021, fuelled largely in part by expectations for vaccination rollout and the eventual re-opening of the economy.
- Projections for the coming year suggest moderate GDP and employment growth across most regions, suggesting a near-full recovery after steep drops in 2020.
- In 2020, only 21 percent of survey respondents expressed confidence in Ontario’s economic outlook. Less than half of Ontario businesses (48 percent) are confident in the outlook of their own organisations over the next year.
- Small businesses are more pessimistic about Ontario’s outlook than larger ones. Only 20 percent of small businesses expressed confidence in Ontario’s economy, compared to 27 percent of medium and large businesses.
- Confidence also varied considerably across sectors of the economy, a testament to the uneven nature of the pandemic. The most pessimistic sectors were accommodation and food services (62 percent were not confident in Ontario’s outlook); arts, entertainment, and recreation (55 percent); and retail trade (51 percent).
- Employment growth declined throughout the province in 2020 and is expected to make a steady recovery in the year ahead.
- 47 percent of organizations indicate they let employees go due to COVID-19 (23 percent permanently and 24 temporarily).
- Amid the second wave, 53 percent of businesses surveyed said their organizations shrank between June and November; while only 19 percent grew.
- Sectors most negatively impacted by the crisis included: accommodation and food services; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and retail. Businesses in these sectors were among those most pessimistic about the economic outlook and most likely to have shrunk and let go of staff in 2020.
- In some of these sectors, more than two-thirds of organizations let staff go: labour (83 percent), accommodation and food services (70 percent); arts, entertainment, and recreation (68 percent); and transportation and warehousing (67 percent).
- Fewer than one-third of organizations let staff go in the following sectors: management firms (14 percent); utilities (20 percent); government (25 percent); finance and insurance (25 percent); non-profits (31 percent); and real estate, rental and leasing (33 percent).
- From a regional perspective, businesses were most likely to say they shrank in Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula (70 percent) and Northwest Ontario (68 percent). These are two regions that reported above-average employment losses in 2020. A more detailed analysis of regional employment numbers can be found in Ontario’s Economic Outlook.
- Despite lagging confidence in Ontario’s economic outlook and ongoing regional and sectoral disparities in how businesses have been impacted by the crisis, an encouraging 60 percent of businesses believe their communities have enough economic opportunities for them to thrive.
- Further, 60 percent of businesses reported feeling confident that entrepreneurship would rebound after the pandemic. Entrepreneurship and small business growth will play an essential role in Ontario’s economic recovery.
- Businesses’ priorities for governments during economic recovery included enhancing access to capital, reforming business taxes, encouraging Ontarians to buy local, and investing in broadband infrastructure.
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE INTERACTIVE REPORT.
– 30 –
MEDIA CONTACT
Corinne Radake
Director, Stakeholder Relations & Policy
corinne@burlingtonchamber.com
by Lindsay Stevenson | Jan 26, 2021 | Chamber News
Burlington City Council and Team Burlington calling for renewed and expanded funding to support local businesses during COVID-19
Burlington, Ont. — Jan. 26, 2021 — On January 11, 2021, Burlington City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for the Provincial and Federal government to make changes to extend and expand funding for the Digital Main Street program to support local business.
The resolution was passed, in partnership with the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) and Team Burlington, calling on the provincial and federal governments to:
- Renew and expand funding to the Digital Main Street program as soon as possible to help our businesses to survive the provincial lockdown and reopening of the economy in the future;
- Renew the $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant and Digital Service Squad support; and
- Expand the Digital Main Street Transformation Grant to be available to main street businesses that are located outside of BIAs as the initial program restricted applicants to BIA member businesses only
- Commit to a minimum 2-year funding extension to the Digital Main Street program
The resolution was developed in partnership with the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) and Team Burlington, which includes representatives from Tourism Burlington, Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Chamber of Commerce and two business improvement areas – Aldershot Village BIA and the Burlington Downtown Business Association. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith sit on the BERN.
The BERN chair Randall Smallbone and Mayor Meed Ward have co-signed a letter to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages the Honorable Mélanie Joly and the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade the Honourable Victor Fedeli. The letter includes a copy of the resolution and reinforces the critical support to local main street businesses during COVID-19.
The Digital Main Street Program has been a critical support to local main street businesses during COVID-19 that Team Burlington has implemented based on business concerns raised by the Burlington Economic Recovery Network. As part of the program, Burlington has benefitted from hiring two Digital Service Squad members who have had over 1,000 touchpoints with businesses and supported over 130 businesses to date in growing their digital presence and tools. In addition, qualifying businesses have been able to access a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant to implement digital tools within their business.
When the province of Ontario went into lockdown on December 26th, 2020 online and digital channels became the primary method for main street businesses to interact with customers and generate revenues. Many businesses reached out to Burlington’s Digital Service Squad team for support in how to engage with customers, update their website and use social channels to promote curbside pickup and takeaway, in line with provincial lockdown restrictions placed on business. As of December 31th, 2020 applications for both the $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant and new applications for Digital Service Squad support have been closed to new applications awaiting the renewal of funding.
On January 20th, 2021, a similar resolution was brought forward to Halton Regional Council by Mayor Meed Ward and Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith and was unanimously endorsed. Multiple members of Burlington City Council are also members of the local business community, with Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith and Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna both being longtime business owners in Burlington. Councillor Bentivegna also has a long history in the hospitality industry.
The City of Burlington’s fundamental priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been to protect the health and safety of Burlington residents, employers and employees, and support our business community to survive the economic impacts of COVID-19 public health measures.
Burlington is ranked as Canada’s best community and best place to raise a family. It is a City where people, nature and businesses thrive. As residents continue to rediscover many of their favourite spaces and activities in the city, City services may look different as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19. The City’s commitment to providing the community with essential services remains a priority. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at Burlington.ca/Enews and download the free City of Burlington app. For more information about the Burlington Economic Recovery Network, visit https://www.burlingtonchamber.com/bern/.
Quotes
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
“The Digital Main Street Program is a critical lifeline for many of our businesses. Now more than ever, our businesses need help to go digital to ride out the continued shutdown. Extending this program, and expanding it to businesses outside of BIA areas, will go a long way to help ensure our small businesses will be there for us on the other side of COVID-19.”
Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith
“As this pandemic continues into its second year, we need to provide all the assistance that we can to our local business community that are suffering. The extension of the Digital Main Street funding will continue to help businesses outside of BIA areas with opening up additional streams of revenue from online offers.”
Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna
“This is a great opportunity for small business here in the City of Burlington. We are thankful to the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) for their advocacy work on behalf of small business. The expansion of the Digital Main Street program will help local retail and restaurants to look for alternate methods to increase sales and support the needed training and technical advice. Small businesses will be able to introduce new technology into their portfolio that typically they may not be able to create or afford. This program will add needed innovative technology to many local businesses. I am pleased to see the expansion of this program, not only to increase online customer base but also as a potential tool to expand this program after this pandemic. The positive message here, during this pandemic, is that Burlington has supported small business entrepreneurs and will continue to in the future.”
Randall Smallbone, Chair of the Burlington Economic Recovery Network
“I thank the Mayor and our City Council for supporting BERN’s efforts in advocating for the expansion and extension of the Digital Main Street program. We all know the impact of this pandemic will not end anytime soon and will likely carry forward into 2022. Every effort has to be made to keep our small businesses alive, and this program is critical to helping us do that.”
Attachments
BERN resolution to Burlington City Council
BERN letter to province
COVID-19
-30-
Communications contact:
Suzanne Vukosavljevic
Manager of Communications, City of Burlington
Office: 905-335-7600, ext. 7841
suzanne.vukosavljevic@burlington.ca
by Lindsay Stevenson | Jan 22, 2021 | Chamber News
Last year, the Board approved the addition of a new role to complement the Chamber’s activities directly aligned to our efforts to actively advocate on behalf of our members and Burlington’s business community. Through thoughtful and purposeful communication, the Chamber’s new Director of Stakeholder Relations and Policy will be responsible for driving forward the interests and concerns of our members with key influencers in the community, including: all levels of government, associations, community partners and other stakeholders.
We are pleased to share that Corinne Radake will officially join our team on January 25, 2021, as Director, Stakeholder Relations and Policy.
“This is a key role for the Chamber – one that supports the vision of the Board and the Chamber’s mandate to play a proactive and influential role in policy development for our members,” says Carla Y. Nell, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber. “I’m looking forward to working with Corinne; she has a unique combination of experience, expertise and passion for Burlington that will undoubtedly bring significant value to our members.”
Corinne has spent her career in corporate communications with responsibility for a wide range of duties including government and media relations, as well as marketing and public relations. Most recently, she was Director, Public Affairs at the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) where she was responsible for managing several government and media relations files, including contributing to the recent provincial government approval to conduct COVID-19 testing in pharmacies. Prior to OPA, Corinne was Director, Member Marketing at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario where she provided strategic direction and communication through one of Canada’s largest association mergers. In addition, she has also worked at the City of Hamilton as a Communications Officer in Community Services and Public Health.
Corinne is a proud, lifelong resident of Burlington and is looking forward to working on behalf of Burlington’s business community. Please feel free to reach out to Corinne at corinne@burlingtonchamber.com as we warmly welcome her to our Chamber.
by Lindsay Stevenson | Dec 16, 2020 | Chamber News
Burlington to Provide $117,392 across 94 Burlington Businesses in Second Round of Burlington Safe Restart COVID-19 Business Relief Grant
(December 16, 2020 – Burlington, ON) Following a very successful first round of the program, Team Burlington (Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Downtown Business Association, Aldershot Village BIA and Tourism Burlington), in partnership with the City of Burlington and POST Promise is pleased to announce that $117,392 will be awarded across 94 Burlington businesses in the second round of the Burlington Safe Restart COVID-19 Business Relief Grant.
The grant provides eligible businesses with a one-time grant of up to $2500 that can be used towards related COVID-19 costs. Costs include PPE and renovations to physical space to allow businesses to properly adhere to public health guidelines. After a successful first round of funding where $124,689 was awarded across 59 businesses, Team Burlington looked to open the second round of funding in order to help even more businesses get the support they need.
Since this program was initially rolled out, the Ontario government has also launched a PPE grant for businesses known as Ontario’s Main Street Relief Grant. This program provides eligible small businesses with a one-time grant of up to $1,000 to cover PPE costs. Efforts were made to ensure Round 2 of the Burlington Safe Restart Grant aligned with the provincial program in order to help small businesses get access to the capital they need without duplication. For this second round of funding, Team Burlington adjusted the assessment criteria to ensure alignment was achieved and deliver the funds to the businesses that have been the hardest hit due to COVID-19.
The Burlington Safe Restart COVID-19 Business Relief Grant was a direct outcome of the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN), which aimed to create and deliver an innovative new program that would provide financial support to Burlington’s small business community during COVID-19.
The program is also proud to partner with POST Promise, a private sector-led initiative, for support to provide essential information on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. All grant recipients are required to make the promise through the POST Promise initiative.
Recipients in the second round come from a range of industries including salons, fitness facilities, retail stores and many more, all of which have been dramatically impacted due to COVID-19. A full list of companies supported can be found online at www.investburlington.ca.
QUOTES
Burlington Mayor, Marianne Meed Ward
“COVID-19 has proven to be incredibly challenging for our business community. Our local small businesses remain resilient and respectful, and for that, I am incredibly proud. Even though up to $2,500 was available, our business community only asked for what they needed and made it possible to support more applicants. I would like to thank our grant recipients for this and their tireless commitment to our community and their resilience and fortitude in getting through this difficult time. We see you, and we support you.”
Carla Y. Nell, President & CEO, Burlington Chamber of Commerce
“We are pleased to partner with the City and POST Promise to deliver the second round of funding to Burlington businesses. To complement the programs that have been implemented through all levels of government, we are thrilled that our municipality has provided this much-needed support to our local business community. Re-establishing consumer confidence is vital to economic recovery and the steps businesses take to protect employees and consumers is important to ensure the viability of business into the future during this period of uncertainty.”
Anita Cassidy, Executive Director, Burlington Economic Development
“Supporting our economy and rebuilding consumer trust is critical right now, so we are happy that in addition to the Burlington Safe Restart grant, the Ontario government is stepping up to support small businesses during these challenging times. We wanted to ensure our program complements the Ontario Main Street Relief Grant program rather than compete with it as well as ensure the hardest-hit businesses are receiving the support they need. We applaud all of the businesses who are doing everything they can to keep customers safe, especially as we move into the holiday season.”
Laura Hearn, President & Executive Director, POST Promise
“The POST Promise is thrilled to be partnering with Team Burlington, the City of Burlington and the Burlington Safe Restart Program once again. Now, more than ever, we all need to come together to support our local businesses. We congratulate all grant recipients and businesses who have made the POST Promise and commend their efforts to keep their customers and employees safe during this pandemic.”
-30-
Media Contact
Claire Green
Manager, Marketing and Attraction
Burlington Economic Development
Claire.Green@burlington.ca
by Lindsay Stevenson | Dec 11, 2020 | Chamber News
Burlington, Ont. — Dec. 11, 2020 — Burlington City Council has unanimously approved a motion asking the provincial government to make changes to business restrictions to increase fairness for smaller businesses during the pandemic closures and restrictions.
The resolution is asking the province to level the playing field for small retailers forced to close while big box stores selling the same goods can remain open – so long as they sell food or other essential items. The resolution also asks that capacity limits be based on square footage of a venue, not a hard cap. This would also increase fairness among smaller and larger businesses.
The resolution was developed in partnership with the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) and Team Burlington, which includes representatives from Tourism Burlington, Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Chamber of Commerce and two business improvement areas – Aldershot Village BIA and the Burlington Downtown Business Association. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith sit on the BERN and worked together to bring the resolution forward.
The BERN chair Randall Smallbone and Mayor Meed Ward have co-signed a letter to the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, the Honorable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, the Honorable Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, MPPs Jane McKenna, Effie Triantafilopoulos and Parm Gill, Halton Regional Council, AMO, Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM), Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) and Team Burlington. The letter includes a copy of the resolution and reinforcing the call for fairness for Burlington businesses.
Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith and Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna will be working together to bring a similar resolution to Regional Council for endorsement. Both councillors own businesses in Burlington, and Councillor Bentivegna has a long history in the hospitality industry.
Burlington is ranked as Canada’s best community and the best place to raise a family. It is a City where people, nature and businesses thrive. As residents continue to rediscover many of their favourite spaces and activities in the city, City services may look different as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19. The City’s commitment to providing the community with essential services remains a priority. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at Burlington.ca/Enews and download the free City of Burlington app.
For more information about the Burlington Economic Recovery Network, visit burlingtonchamber.com/bern
Quotes
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
“We can maintain public health and safety and do better to ensure fairness among our large and smaller businesses, which are the engine of our economy. It makes no sense that a large big box store can sell goods smaller retailers can’t. It makes no sense that the same store can have hundreds of people inside while a large restaurant is capped at 10 regardless of size and ample ability to ensure physical distancing. We hope the government will make the necessary changes that will both protect public health and our local businesses.”
Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith
“We as decision makers need to balance the recommendations of public health while protecting our local economy. Small business is the engine of our economy and will be relied upon as recovery efforts from the pandemic continue. They have greater ability to put in place, public health measures to protect their clients and we feel that they should be given equal opportunities to do so without the threat of closure. Large retailers that are permitted to remain open during lockdowns, have been given an unfair competitive advantage due to their variety of offerings when considering what businesses are essential. We need a solution that can work for all businesses by taking into consideration the square footage of their premises. Hard caps of 10 people permitted indoors does not work for larger restaurants that have the ability to keep people distanced. Many have not opened due to this restriction and some will never open again. We need to work together to come up with local solutions that will save many small businesses and hardworking entrepreneurs from insolvency.”
Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna
“As part of the hospitality industry for many years, I understand how every single customer is important for economic success, especially at this time of year. We must do everything we can to help our local restauranteurs and small business owners. They are the heart and soul of our community and these motions can help keep them open for business.”
Randall Smallbone, Chair of the Burlington Economic Recovery Network
“We certainly understand that Canadian Governments at all levels are doing their best to keep citizens safe and healthy during this difficult period. I am so thankful that I live in Burlington, Ontario, Canada!
Unfortunately, safety measures do not always work as a one-size-fits-all solution. Specifically, we need to adjust measures to accommodate a more balanced square footage per person guideline. People need to get out of their homes from time to time to fight pandemic fatigue and mental stress. If all stores and restaurants abide strictly by the rules of mask wearing, sanitization stations and social distancing, it can offer a better alternative to people hosting social gatherings at home.
It is critically important that we support all of our local businesses that support our local economy and employ Burlington citizens.”
Attachments
BERN letter to province
BERN Resolution to Council
Communications contact:
Suzanne Vukosavljevic
Manager of Communications
Office: 905-335-7600, ext. 7841
suzanne.vukosavljevic@burlington.ca
by Lindsay Stevenson | Dec 11, 2020 | Chamber News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
DECEMBER 10
(BURLINGTON, December 10) – This week’s report from Ontario’s Auditor General has put the spotlight on virtual care. And while telemedicine sites have been in place for decades in Canada, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of virtual care in Ontario. Virtual visits have enabled more and more Ontarians to continue accessing quality health care while not exposing themselves to the virus. The latest report by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), Realizing the Full Potential of Virtual Care in Ontario, underscores the need to permanently integrate virtual care into Ontario’s health care system.
“We are now more virtually connected than ever before, and how Ontarians are interacting with the health care system reflects this fact,” said Rocco Rossi President and CEO of the OCC. “We can’t make the same mistakes we did with SARS, by only implementing temporary measures related to virtual care. The permanent integration of virtual care into our system could ensure all Ontarians can access timely and appropriate care, no matter their circumstances, as well as alleviate some of the pressures facing our health care system, such as reducing unnecessary visits to the ER.”
According to Canada Health Infoway’s September 2020 survey, 60% of health care visits with primary care physicians and specialists were conducted virtually at the onset of the pandemic.1 The report notes that given the uptick in virtual care usage, the resurgence of the pandemic in a second wave, and an uncertain timeline for a vaccine, a more permanent and comprehensive solution is needed.
“Long before COVID-19, Ontario’s health care system faced numerous pressures and growing costs. By empowering patients to manage their health while at home, virtual care has the potential to reduce the strain on primary care providers and hospitals, lessen the backlog in care, and protect frontline workers from exposure to the virus,” added Carla Y. Nell, President & CEO of the BCC. “We are calling on the Government of Ontario to consider urgent policy reforms such as modifying the existing fee code system to allow for the permanent and effective delivery of virtual care in Ontario.”
The report explains that, while the implementation of temporary billing codes in March 2020 allowed physicians to conduct virtual visits, these temporary codes were a stop-gap measure and have limitations.
The report provides the Government of Ontario with four recommendations to ensure virtual care is not only permanently integrated in our health care system, but is more equitable, accessible, and widely adopted:
- Develop a comprehensive framework for virtual care in Ontario.
- Modify the existing fee code system to allow for the permanent delivery of virtual care, and provide physicians with training and knowledge supports to allow care to be delivered virtually.
- Focus on equity to improve access to virtual care, including ensuring all Ontarians have internet access so that the expansion of virtual care options does not exacerbate inequities for patients in rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities.
- Support employers’ continued investment in virtual care for their employees that expand beyond care delivered virtually through the health system.
These recommendations were developed with the OCC’s Health Policy Council, a group of expert practitioners and industry representatives.
The report explains how virtual care is not solely about convenience for patients, but it also benefits the health care system as a whole. Further, virtual care should be viewed as one modality in which health care can be delivered, and should continue to complement, not replace in-person care.
“Looking beyond the pandemic, virtual care holds much promise and we believe our recommendations can help the Province realize the full potential of technology for patients and our health care system alike,” added Rossi.
The OCC would like to thank members of the Health Policy Council whose input helped shape this report.
[1] A survey conducted by Leger on behalf of Canada Health Infoway between April 3 to August 25, 2020, with 31,889 Canadians.
–30–
Media Contact
Lindsay Stevenson
Strategic Communications Coordinator
lindsay@burlingtonchamber.com
