The OCC’s Workforce Development Policy Council serves as a key platform for advancing business-informed solutions to Ontario’s labour market and skills challenges. Through regular engagement with employers, postsecondary institutions, training partners, and government, the Council helps identify emerging workforce pressures and translate member insights into practical policy and advocacy priorities.
With a strong track record of convening diverse voices across the business community, the council continues to inform OCC’s work on talent development, labour shortages, work-integrated learning, immigration, skills training, and workforce readiness. Its contributions have supported letters to federal and provincial governments, policy briefs, submissions, and public-facing advocacy that help shape conversations with decision-makers and strengthen Ontario’s long-term competitiveness.
The council is chaired by Kelly Hoey, Executive Director, HIEC | ApprenticeSearch.com | OntarioCareerLab.ca, and consists of leading experts from business, academia, and our Chamber Network.
Recent Highlights:
- 2026 Ontario Budget Submission
- 2025 Federal Budget Submission
- Policy Outlook: Untapped Talent Pipeline: Leveraging Ontario’s Diversity
- Policy Primer: Future-Proofing Ontario – Empowering Businesses with AI Skills
- Advocacy Letters
- Day One Agenda letter to Ministers Piccini and Quinn on strengthening Ontario’s workforce through skilled and diverse talent.
- Urgent Need for Strategic Investment in Ontario’s Post-Secondary Education System
- Advancing Canada’s AI Leadership – Key Priorities for Action
- Blogpost:
2026 Policy & Advocacy Priorities:
- Expand work-integrated learning to build stronger talent pipelines and support employer competitiveness across priority sectors
- Map and address labour shortages in strategic sectors to build a future-ready workforce
- Rebuild Canada’s immigration system with clearer pathways into in-demand sectors and stronger supports for newcomer success
- Modernize skills training and embed AI literacy to prepare Ontario’s workforce for an evolving labour market and economy
Members of the council include:
- ACCES Employment
- Achev
- Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario
- Bruce Power
- Career Colleges
- Civiconnect
- Colleges Ontario
- Council of Ontario Universities
- Doordash Technologies Canada, LLC
- Food and Beverage Ontario
- Fragomen (Canada) Co.
- Halton Industry Education Council (HIEC) | ApprenticeSearch.com | OntarioCareerLab.ca
- Indigenous Institutes Consortium (IIC)
- Queen’s University
- Skills for Change
- The Career Foundation
- TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University)
- University of Waterloo (WatSPEED)
- Waste Connections of Canada
- Zurich Canada
For more information on how to join the council, please contact Chloe Cayabyab, OCC Senior Policy Analyst.