Business Community Applauds Labour Reforms Critical to a Strong Ontario Economy

(Toronto, November 21, 2018) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released the following statement in response to the Government of Ontario’s receipt of royal assent for Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018.

“On behalf of our 60,000 members in 135 communities across the province, we are pleased the Government of Ontario is holding strong in its commitment to make Ontario open for business. Bill 47 restores balance to both employers and workers as well as reduces significant financial and administrative burden felt by businesses of all sizes throughout the province. With the competitiveness of our province at a critical point, the labour reforms introduced by Bill 47 are fundamental to the long-term prosperity of our people, our businesses, and our economy.

“The OCC has long called for labour reforms that are both reasonable for employers and fair to workers. The compounding reforms previously introduced by Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, forced Ontario businesses to decrease staff hours, halt capital investment, and increase their reliance on automation – all in an effort to stay afloat.

“The OCC has also long advocated for the Ontario College of Trades to modernize the apprenticeship application system, promote the skilled trades as a viable career option for young people, and revise the journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio framework to create more opportunities within the skilled trades. As these reforms were not made, the OCC recommended to dismantle the College and return responsibility for trades regulation to the Province.

“With 77 percent of Ontario business stating that access to talent is critical to their competitiveness, today’s news is a bold step in building a stronger Ontario and creating an economy that connects workers to jobs.”

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For more information please contact: 
Ceara Copps – Edwards
Communications Advisor
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
cearacoppsedwards@occ.ca| Office: (647) 243-3562 | Mobile: (647) 472-3274

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan voice of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.