Skip to content
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube
Ontario chamber of commerce logo.
  • Advocacy
    • Campaign Trail & Advocacy Updates – 2025 Federal Election
    • Ontario Competes
    • Our Publications
    • Ontario Economic Report
    • Ontario’s Mining Future 2030
    • Artificial Intelligence Hub
    • Economic Reconciliation Initiative
    • Housing Affordability Initiative
    • Policy Brief Series
  • Councils
  • Events
    • Advocacy Day
    • Annual General Meeting
    • Ontario Business Achievement Awards
    • Ontario Business Advisory Council
    • Ontario Economic Summit
    • Smart Growth Symposium
    • Webinars
  • Programs
    • Grow Your Business Online
    • Talent Opportunities Program
    • Discover Ability Network
    • Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
    • Export and Trade
  • Membership
    • Affinity Programs
  • News
    • Media Releases
    • Policy Updates
    • Blogs
  • About
    • Contact
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Strategic Plan
A magnifying glass icon on a white background.
x
x
  • Advocacy
    • Campaign Trail & Advocacy Updates – 2025 Federal Election
    • Ontario Competes
    • Our Publications
    • Ontario Economic Report
    • Ontario’s Mining Future 2030
    • Artificial Intelligence Hub
    • Economic Reconciliation Initiative
    • Housing Affordability Initiative
    • Policy Brief Series
  • Councils
  • Events
    • Advocacy Day
    • Annual General Meeting
    • Ontario Business Achievement Awards
    • Ontario Business Advisory Council
    • Ontario Economic Summit
    • Smart Growth Symposium
    • Webinars
  • Programs
    • Grow Your Business Online
    • Talent Opportunities Program
    • Discover Ability Network
    • Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
    • Export and Trade
  • Membership
    • Affinity Programs
  • News
    • Media Releases
    • Policy Updates
    • Blogs
  • About
    • Contact
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Strategic Plan
A man is riding a bike on a hill.

Chamber: Truth and Reconciliation Requires Action and Partnership

COVID-19 Information Tariff Resources
Navigating U.S. Tariffs
Become a Member
Become a Member >
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

Media Release

Chamber: Truth and Reconciliation Requires Action and Partnership

September 30, 2022

(Toronto – September 30, 2022) –To mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released the following statement:

“Indigenous Peoples make up the fastest growing population in Canada and continue to face systemic barriers to their economic and social well-being,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, OCC. “Every sector has a role to play in advancing Truth and Reconciliation and ensuring equitable outcomes across the country.”

While today presents an opportunity to amplify Indigenous voices and commit to continuous learning and unlearning, the work does not end here. As a collective, we must recognize the lasting legacy and impacts of colonialism, the inter-generational effects of residential ‘schools’ and the ongoing systemic racism facing Indigenous communities across Canada.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 92 calls on businesses to advance economic reconciliation and Indigenous economic inclusion by:

  • Building meaningful, respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples;
  • Ensuring equitable employment and economic development opportunities for Indigenous communities; and
  • Providing skills-based staff training in intercultural competency and anti-racism.

“Indigenous leaders have emphasized the need for truth before meaningful reconciliation can happen. Today, we call on businesses to honour Survivors and their families by leaning into discomfort and deepening their understanding of the history and legacy of residential ‘schools’,” said Sara Fegelman, Senior Policy Analyst, OCC.

-30-

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.

 For more information, please contact:

Andrea Carmona
Manager, Public Affairs
andreacarmona@occ.ca | Mobile: 647-234-0255

Backgrounder:

Resources:

  • Government of Ontario: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Learn about and reflect on the ongoing legacy of Indian Residential Schools
  • Government of Canada: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
  • Reclaiming Power and Place: Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
  • Business Reconciliation in Canada Guidebook
  • National Indigenous Economic Strategy
  • The Bank of Montreal (BMO), together with the First Nations University of Canada, is marking this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by providing an interactive e-learning initiative, nisitohtamowin ᓂᓯᑐᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ(pronounced: nis-toh-tum-win), free to the public for the next three years. Nisitohtamowin introduces participants to the fundamentals of Indigenous history: the diversity of Indigenous peoples, treaties and nation-to-nation agreements, residential schools, the Indian Act and the ongoing struggle for economic and social justice. More information can be found at fnuniv.ca/reconciliation.

Select books by Indigenous authors:

  • 21 Things You Might Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
  • Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
  • Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jesse Wente
  • In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience by Helen Knott

Mental health supports offered by the Government of Canada:

  • Residential ‘School’ Survivors can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.
  • Indigenous peoples across Canada can also access The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the .

 

 

Previous

Long-Term Predictability Critical to Energy Efficient Investments in Ontario

Next

Putting Ontario on Top of the World’s Travel Bucket List

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

Site Nav

  • Advocacy
  • Events
  • Programs
  • Membership
  • News
  • About
  • Contact

Receive Updates

Subscribe to our mailing list and stay up to date on everything with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Subscribe Now
PREMIER MEMBERS
A purple and green logo on a black background. Atkins reals logo on a white background. A green logo on a black background. A teal color with a white background. A blue and green logo with a cross in the middle. A blue bell logo on a white background. Rbc bank of canada logo. A blue and white logo with a black background. A blue and gray logo with a blue and gray background. Rr america logo on a black background. The cn logo on a black background. A logo with a red, orange, and yellow background. Mccarthy tetrault logo on an orange background. The meridian logo on a black background. A black and white photo of a man and a woman. A blue and red logo with the word mcdonald's. Bruce power innovation at work logo. A red and black logo on a black background. The logo for the ontario medical association. The power corporation of canada logo. The lily logo on a black background. A colorful logo with the word mcdonald's on it. A black and yellow logo with a yellow arrow. Waste Connections of Canada A blue logo with the word cogeco on it. A blue and orange logo with the number 5 on it. The canadian maple leaf logo on a black background. A logo with an orange and black background. A logo with a red and gray background. The university of cleveland college of business and economics logo. The logo for luna feel the power. A red and black logo on a black background. The logo for strategim. Tln media group logo. 404 etr express rail route logo. The logo for accerta on a black background. The logo for rothman, beshish & hedges, inc. The logo for astrezeca. Biomarin logo on a black background. A logo with the letter a on it. The logo for the board of canadian registered safety professionals. A blue and white logo with a blue background. Magna logo on a black background. Pfizer logo Canada life logo on a black background. Northbridge insurance logo on a black background. A green logo with the word mnp. Tc energy logo on a white background. Destination northern ontario logo. The interac logo with a hand on it. A thin red line on a black background. The cadillac fairview logo. Meta logo. Beer canada logo on a white background. The logo for port montreal. The federation of rental housing providers of ontario logo. The logo for bennett jones. Agnico eagle logo. Leger 360

Ontario Chamber of Commerce © 2025 | Privacy Policy | Service Standard | Employment Opportunities
The OCC is an accredited chamber of commerce