Ontario Chamber Reacts to Framework To Re-Open Province

(Toronto – April 27, 2020) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce released the following statement in response to the Government of Ontario’s Framework for Re-Opening the Province.

“The Ontario government unveiled a careful and measured framework for re-opening the province today. The safe response is the right response. While Ontario business is eager to get the economy moving again, the safety of workers and consumers must be paramount. We support a carefully monitored, multi-stage process for re-opening.

“Members across all industries are hurting right now – whether it’s a small family-run business or large corporate firm. But the hardest hit has been small- and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in rural and remote communities, as they lack the capacity, capital and, in some cases, access to broadband infrastructure to deliver goods and services online. It will be critical that businesses are able to access adequate PPE along with updated guidelines and education on proper use and other health and safety considerations related to combatting COVID-19 so that they are able to appropriately re-open.

“The OCC is eager to understand the timeline of the plan but recognizes timing will be dependant upon coordination with stakeholders such as public health officials, other levels of government, and the business community – because we’re all in this together.

“The OCC’s Policy Councils, along with our COVID-19 Working Group look forward to working with the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee on our long-term recovery.”

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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, please contact:
Michelle Eaton
Vice President, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
michelleeaton@occ.ca or 647-261-4594