Canada’s Budget 2021 Delivers Historic Support Against Uncertain Backdrop

(Toronto, Monday, April 19, 2021) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released the following statement in response to the Government of Canada’s 2021 Budget.

“Today, the Government of Canada released a historic budget at a time when Canadians need it most,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the OCC, “Canada’s 2021 Budget gives businesses much-needed supports to help weather the current health crisis and lays the foundation for a strong and inclusive economic recovery.”

Rossi added: “I echo Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce: The Budget’s focus on growth and jobs is an important step towards our economic recovery, but our growth drivers will need to shift from public spending to private investment to help get our finances under control. The plan to reduce deficits over the coming years is important, but it will depend on meeting our growth target.”

In 2021, Ontario will continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout. Leading up to Canada’s 2021 Budget, the OCC called for policies that will foster economic resiliency within our health care system and among those hit hardest by the pandemic such as small businesses, women, and racialized groups.

“Leading up to Budget 2021, the OCC urged federal and provincial governments to invest in the long-term affordability and accessibility of child care and address the shortage of early childhood educators. We are pleased with the Government of Canada’s historic investments and commitment to working closely with the provinces and territories on program design and delivery, as recommended in our report, The She-Covery Project: Confronting the Gendered Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Ontario,” added Rossi.

Some of the measures welcomed by the OCC in Canada’s 2021 Budget are:

Supports for business

• Program extensions. As employers and workers continue confronting the headwinds of the pandemic, Budget 2021 commits to extending various business supports, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy.
• Financing for small business and entrepreneurs. When small businesses thrive; communities thrive. Entrepreneurs, particularly women and racialized communities face several barriers to growth. We are pleased to see additional access to capital for small business and entrepreneurs through initiatives such as the enhancement of the Canada Small Business Financing Program and resources to support diverse Canadian entrepreneurs.
• Digital Adoption Program. This is an innovative program that will help create jobs for young people  and help small business adopt new digital technologies which will be important to get our economy moving.

Support for communities

• Regional Supports. COVID-19 is having uneven impacts on different regions of Ontario, accentuating existing disparities. Recovery will look different for each community. As many small business owners do not qualify for other support programs and are starved for capital, additional supports through several regional economic development agencies are welcome.
• Further supports in broadband infrastructure. The pandemic has exacerbated the digital divide for people and businesses, particularly in remote and rural communities. Further commitment to connect all Canadians, including businesses, to reliable broadband is welcome news.

Support for inclusive growth

• Child care. Child care can act as an economic equalizer to parents and mothers, particularly, women from minority communities. Affordable and accessible child care can help level the economic playing field for families.
• Diversity and inclusion in procurement. There is both economic and social value in making our supply chains more diverse and inclusive. We welcome the Government of Canada’s commitment to modernize their procurement processes to expand opportunities for diverse businesses and suppliers that champion diversity. Changing the incentive structures is the most powerful way to change outcomes.

Read the full pre-Budget submission here.

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For media inquiries please contact: 
Ceara Copps – Edwards,
Manager, Public Affairs
cearacoppsedwards@occ.ca | Mobile: (647) 936-6734

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner 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.