Leveraging the Private Sector Critical to Meeting Ontario’s Environmental Targets

(Toronto, November 29, 2018) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released the following statement in response to the new made-in-Ontario environment plan, Preserving and Protecting our Environment for Future Generations, announced by the Honourable Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 

“As Ontario’s business advocate, we are pleased the Government of Ontario is taking steps to strike an appropriate balance between protecting our environment and supporting a stronger economy. Today’s plan will help us achieve global targets under the Paris Agreement, while also prioritizing transparency, fiscal sustainability and business competitiveness.

“We have long called on the Province to leverage the private sector to address Ontario’s environmental challenges, support communities’ resilience to climate shocks, and modernize Ontario’s waste management systems. In a recent submission, we recommended the Ministry focus on four key areas: designing smarter regulations, investing strategically in sustainable innovation, supporting community resilience, and fostering collaboration. We are encouraged to see that the Ontario government has taken steps to address all four priorities.

“With the business community already navigating excessive regulatory burdens, we urge the government to continue to prioritize and consider impacts on the private sector when implementing the new standards and policies announced in the plan.”

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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.

Consultation: A Made-in-Ontario Climate Change Plan
On November 6, the OCC held the Sustainable Innovation Conference. This event provided a forum for stakeholders from government and a variety of economic sectors to examine sustainable business practices adopted by leading industries across Ontario and discuss the government’s role in facilitating a resilient and sustainable economy.

The OCC has released a climate change plan submission based on key takeaways from the conference, identifying four areas of priority:

1. Design Smarter Regulations
2. Invest Strategically in Sustainable Innovation
3. Support Community Resilience
4. Foster Collaboration