‘Beyond your usual:’ Ontario Chamber marks Small Business Week with a call to action

(TORONTO, ON – October 20, 2025) – As Small Business Week begins in Canada, it is anything but business as usual for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in today’s uncertain economy. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is marking the occasion with a call for both businesses and governments to go ‘beyond your usual’ by taking steps to become more resilient, productive and competitive.

A recent OCC poll revealed that while only one in three Ontario business decision-makers are confident in the current economic outlook, 61 per cent are confident in their own ability to adapt. This creates an opportunity for Ontario’s SMEs to invest in themselves.

“Ontario’s small businesses are resilient, and recent government relief programs have helped many stay afloat,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the OCC. “But with disruptions from trade tensions to technological change, survival is not enough. This is the moment to move beyond business as usual and create conditions for small businesses to invest, innovate and scale.”

Key actions for businesses include:

• Get started with AI in low-risk areas such as streamlining admin tasks; invest in training for employees to build AI literacy; and partner with government and academia to scale AI-driven productivity.
• Join your local chamber or board of trade to access to a cross-sector network of potential partners; attend networking events to build relationships with other business leaders; and connect with your nearest Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) to access government resources.
• Seek out training programs, and micro-credentials offered by post-secondary institutions; gain access to new talent by participating in co-ops, work placements and other mentorship programs; and make use of upskilling programs that support diverse talent.

Key actions for government include:

• Support SMEs in becoming more productive by expanding broadband infrastructure, funding digital skills training, simplifying business tax tools, and increasing access to capital to invest in productivity-boosting technologies.
• Streamline access to procurement opportunities for SMEs by centralizing information and reducing admin hurdles; develop a procurement framework that promotes supplier diversity, domestic sourcing, sustainability and Indigenous procurement; and assist SMEs in adopting supply chain strategies that enhance their resilience.
• Strengthen the skills and capabilities of SME employees by expanding employer training incentives and aligning post-secondary funding and programs with real labour market needs.

Small Business Week 2025 takes place from October 19 to 25. To learn more about the OCC’s support for small businesses, including a detailed list of recommended actions for government and business, click here.

-30-

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce 

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC convenes, mobilizes and empowers businesses and local chambers in pursuit of its purpose: to bring inclusive and sustainable prosperity to Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities. 

For more information, please contact: 

Michael Thede 
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Manager, Communications & Marketing
michaelthede@occ.ca | (647) 335-1153 

Backgrounder: Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Advocacy and Resources 

Publications 

• The 2025 Ontario Economic Report (OER): The OCC’s flagship publication, which includes its annual Business Confidence Survey, economic analysis and public policy recommendations, provides a critical baseline understanding of business challenges and priorities.   

• Broken Links: Driving Technology Adoption within Ontario’s Small Businesses: This policy brief provides a snapshot of technology adoption among Ontario’s small businesses and offers policy solutions to help them bridge digital divides. Select services and programs that exist to help address this challenge are also highlighted throughout the document to support small businesses across the province with their own digitization efforts. 

• Future-Proofing Ontario: Empowering Business with AI Skills: This policy primer explores how AI can drive SME growth, spotlighting the key barriers to adoption and targeted, scalable strategies to build AI fluency, learn from others and strengthen technology skills in the SME workforce. 

• A Way Forward: Economic Reconciliation Initiative: This report series, published by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), is designed to help businesses take action towards economic reconciliation, benefiting by deepening their talent pool and finding mutually beneficial opportunities in the growing Indigenous economy. 

• Navigating US Tariffs: 10 Tips for Ontario SMEs to Say More Competitive: This resource offers strategies small and medium-sized businesses can adopt to mitigate the impact of U.S tariffs. 

Programs 

• Skills Bridge Program: This program is designed to support SMEs through online training solutions. The objective of this program is to enhance business competitiveness by ensuring employers and employees have the skills needed to succeed in an evolving economic landscape. 

• Seeding Digital Skills Program: Open to agriculture and food/beverage processing businesses of all sizes, large or small, this program helps businesses embrace the future of smart farming and food/beverage processing innovation while boosting productivity and profitability with cutting-edge digital twin technology.