Ontario must build an inclusive growth agenda

(TORONTO- May 31, 2022) –Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released the following statement calling on all parties to build policies through a lens of inclusion:

“Ontario’s next government must ensure its public policies support, not stifle growth. This means that our economic recovery must be inclusive. We need action to advance Truth and Reconciliation, support diverse entrepreneurs and implement inclusive workforce development initiatives.

“Ontario’s diversity is an economic advantage, yet many equity-seeking groups in our province – including women, Indigenous Peoples, 2SLGBTQ+, people of colour, people with disabilities, and new immigrants – face outsized challenges.

“During a time when competition for talent is fierce, the province is amidst an affordability crisis, and the future remains uncertain, we cannot afford to overlook our greatest assets.”

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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:

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

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.