Climate policies critical to business confidence this election

(TORONTO- May 24, 2022) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released the following statement calling on all parties to commit to evidence-based climate policies.

“As Ontario emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot forget about another critical systemic threat: climate change. Its impacts are already being felt across Ontario as extreme weather events disrupt livelihoods, infrastructure, access to natural resources, and community health and well-being. If Ontario wants to remain an attractive place for business investments, its next government will need to provide a predictable path forward for climate action that is based on sound evidence.

“Organizations across Ontario are developing and investing in innovative approaches, like decarbonization and energy efficiency, that will support both climate action and long-term economic recovery. Our members are uniquely positioned to tackle the climate crisis with made-in-Ontario solutions in all sectors that are a win-win for both the environment and the economy. What we need to see from Ontario’s next government is a commitment to move forward with a comprehensive strategy that incentivizes and not obstructs these investments.”

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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 or to arrange an interview:

Samir Janmohamed 
Policy and Public Affairs Specialist
samirjanmohamed@occ.ca | Cell: 647-882-9878

Backgrounder: Vote Prosperity

As outlined in OCC’s election priorities document,  Vote Prosperity, parties should be focused on policies that result in more prosperous communities, improved business confidence, high-quality jobs, and a more resilient economy. This requires:

• Boosting confidence and predictability by modernizing regulation, committing to meaningful consultations, and developing a long-term plan to tackle Ontario’s debt without increasing taxes or cutting valuable programs and services.
• Implementing pro-growth policies through helping businesses access the capital, markets, and talent they need to grow.
• Building resilient communities by bolstering health care capacity, addressing climate change, and bridging our infrastructure gaps, including housing.
• Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation with targeted supports and a bold approach on technology adoption and data innovation.

The recommendations outlined in OCC’s Vote Prosperity were developed together with businesses, associations, post-secondary institutions, as well as chambers of commerce and boards of trade from across the province.

As the indispensable partner of business, we look forward to putting our members’ issues front and centre this election. To ensure the next provincial election addresses the most important issues, we have developed Vote Prosperity. Read the full plan.