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.

Small Business Resilience Critical for Ontario’s Economic Growth

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

Media Release

Small Business Resilience Critical for Ontario’s Economic Growth

October 14, 2022

(TORONTO – October 14, 2022) – Emerging from the pandemic, supporting small business resilience and growth has never been more important and is a key theme for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) annual Small Business: Too Big To Ignore campaign. The OCC is proud to partner with Desjardins to underscore the importance of small business success to support the province’s economic prosperity during Canadian Small Business Week from October 16-22, 2022.

“Ontario’s small businesses have shown tremendous strength and resilience throughout the pandemic. This Small Business Week, we are proud to partner with Desjardins to celebrate their hard-work, innovation, and adaptability, as well as advocate for the supports necessary to bolster small business success,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, OCC. “98 % of all employer businesses in Canada are small businesses, yet they continue to face unique challenges related to accessing talent, capital, and markets. It is more important than ever that public policy focuses on removing red tape and other barriers to ensure they can continue to support our labour market and economy.”

Small business owners across the province continue to grapple with supply chain constraints, labour shortages, and inflation, impacting business predictability and their bottom line. To build small business resilience, an emphasis should be placed on workforce development strategies, infrastructure investments and technological adoption.

“We are delighted to partner with the OCC to celebrate the extraordinary work of small businesses across the province. At Desjardins, we recognize that small businesses are at the heart of our local economies and are vital to the communities they serve,” said Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group. “As North Americas largest financial cooperative, we continue to develop products and services that will improve the economic and social well-being of our society. We generate partnerships that align with these values and connect our members and clients with the resources they need to grow and succeed.”

Canadian Small Business Week takes place annually during the third week of October. To learn more about the OCC’s support for small businesses, go to www.occ.ca.

-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.

About Desjardins Group
Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets of $404 billion. It was named one of the 2022 Canada’s Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world’s strongest banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.

For more information, please contact:
Samir Janmohamed
Policy and Public Affairs, Specialist
samirjanmohamed@occ.ca | 647-916-3110

Backgrounder: Ontario Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocacy and Resources

  • Offering support to small businesses to help close the mental health action gap in partnership with Sun Life Financial through its Mental Wellness in the Workplace: A Playbook for SMEs.
  • Recognizing entrepreneurial diversity as a powerful strategy for Ontario’s economic recovery and long-term prosperity in The She-Covery Project: Confronting the Gendered Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Ontario. 
  • Providing practical solutions to support small businesses as they fuel Ontario’s economic recovery vis-à-vis Capital is Key: Financing Entrepreneurship in Ontario After COVID-19.
  • Highlighting acute challenges facing small businesses in rural, remote & northern communities, such as accessing capital being a longstanding barrier to expansion for First Nations entrepreneurs through Small Business, Big Impact.
  • Putting a spotlight on issues such as property tax rates that prevent small businesses from being able to flourish within their communities, resulting in less economic activity in Better Budgets: Bolstering the Fiscal Resilience of Ontario’s Municipalities.
  • Spotlighting the key policy priorities of Ontario’s small businesses in the Blueprint to Bolster Ontario’s Prosperity.
  • Partnering with the Government of Canada to deliver the Canada Digital Adoption Program Grow Your Business Online grant.  Through this program, small business owners can receive a micro-grant worth up to $2,400 to help get their business online, give their e-commerce presence a boost, or digitalize business operations. Grant recipients must commit to maintaining their digital adoption strategy for at least six months. To learn more, click here.
  • Offering a unique perspective on the experience of businesses of all sizes across the province through the OCC’s flagship Ontario Economic Report.
  • Providing small businesses with the tools and supports, including in-person workshops, webinars and online resources, they need to help businesses understand the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, why and how to become a more inclusive employer, and how to hire and retain talent from the persons with disabilities labour pool through the Discover Ability Network.

Previous

John Ruffolo Named OCC’s 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Next

Four Years Into Legalization, it’s Time to Reimagine Ontario’s Cannabis Strategy

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