Skip to content
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube
occ-logo
  • Ontario Economic Report
  • COVID-19
    • Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Webinars
    • Our Advocacy
    • COVID-19 Policy Brief Series
    • SME Difference Makers
    • Government News
    • Work From Home
    • Mental Health Resources
    • How to Protect Yourself
    • Talk To Us
    • #DifferenceMakers
  • Advocacy
    • Small Businesses, Big Impact
    • In Data We Trust
    • Ontario Economic Report
    • The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies
    • Our Publications
  • Councils
  • Events
    • Ontario Economic Series
    • Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park
    • Annual General Meeting
    • Ontario Business Achievement Awards
    • Ontario Business Advisory Council
  • Webinars
  • Programs
    • Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
    • Talent Opportunities Program
    • Discover Ability Network
    • Export and Trade
  • Membership
    • Affinity Programs
  • News
    • Media Releases
    • Policy Updates
    • Blogs
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Diversity and Inclusion Policy
    • Strategic Plan
    • By-Laws & Code of Conduct
  • Contact
Asset 6
x
x
  • Ontario Economic Report
  • COVID-19
    • Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Webinars
    • Our Advocacy
    • COVID-19 Policy Brief Series
    • SME Difference Makers
    • Government News
    • Work From Home
    • Mental Health Resources
    • How to Protect Yourself
    • Talk To Us
    • #DifferenceMakers
  • Advocacy
    • Small Businesses, Big Impact
    • In Data We Trust
    • Ontario Economic Report
    • The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies
    • Our Publications
  • Councils
  • Events
    • Ontario Economic Series
    • Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park
    • Annual General Meeting
    • Ontario Business Achievement Awards
    • Ontario Business Advisory Council
  • Webinars
  • Programs
    • Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
    • Talent Opportunities Program
    • Discover Ability Network
    • Export and Trade
  • Membership
    • Affinity Programs
  • News
    • Media Releases
    • Policy Updates
    • Blogs
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Diversity and Inclusion Policy
    • Strategic Plan
    • By-Laws & Code of Conduct
  • Contact
search_White

Small Business: Too Big To Ignore

Chamber and Partners Kick Off Small Business Week Conversation About Digital and Skills Access

COVID-19 Information COVID-19 Resources
Tools and Resources Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit Frequently Asked Questions Webinars Our Advocacy Policy Brief Series SME Difference Makers Government News Work From Home Mental Health Resources How to Protect Yourself Talk To Us #DifferenceMakers
Become a Member
Become a Member >
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

Media Release

Small Business: Too Big To Ignore

October 15, 2020

(Toronto – October 15, 2020) – The pandemic has highlighted challenges for small business: their access to digital technologies and skills. In advance of Small Business Week 2020, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and partners are kicking off a vital conversation today about these gaps with the launch of their report, Small and Medium-Sized Employers (SMEs): Skills Gaps and Future Skills. The report is a Skills Next project and a collaboration between the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, Public Policy Forum, and the Future Skills Centre.

 “We are deeply concerned about the impacts the COVID-19 crisis is having on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), charities, and not-for-profit organizations in Ontario,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “They are the backbone of the Canadian economy, accounting for more than 90 percent of jobs in the private sector. Yet they face critical labour shortages, skill mismatches, and challenges related to broadband internet access that threaten their competitiveness.”

“Skills and digital access need to be front and centre in our discussions of economic recovery and growth. COVID has taken a terrible toll on small businesses but it has also disrupted old ways of doing things. We need to take advantage of this disruption to accelerate innovation and competitiveness across all sectors. Most of the discussion regarding skills is dominated by organizations focused on large businesses even though SMEs account for the vast majority of jobs in the corporate sector,” said Wendy Cukier, founder of the Diversity Institute.

“Broadband is a basic infrastructure requirement in today’s economy, but the ongoing pandemic has made it even more essential to public health and economic resilience,” added Ashley Challinor, Vice President, Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “For businesses and workers, particularly those practicing physical distancing, connectivity is necessary to ensure they can remain productive by using digital tools such as video conferencing. Without adequate access, those in rural and remote regions will be vulnerable to additional layoffs and business closures.”

Canadian Small Business Week takes place during the third week of October every year. This year, the celebration will occur October 18-24, 2020. Over the course of Small Business Week, the OCC and local chambers will be participating in the “Small Business: Too Big To Ignore” campaign across the province, actively engaging small businesses in discussions about the top obstacles impeding their growth and the ways in which these challenges can be overcome.

Be the first to read the Skills Next project report: Small and Medium-Sized Employers (SMEs): Skills Gaps and Future Skills. Skills Next is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.

-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.

For more information, please contact:
Ceara Copps – Edwards, Manager, Public Affairs, cearacoppsedwards@occ.ca| Mobile: (647) 936-6734

 

Previous

Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade Support Canada United to Help Local Businesses and Accelerate Business Recovery

Next

Further Support for Business Critical

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
IBM TELUS SNC Lavalin Ontario Power Generation Hydro One CPAO Bell BDO Canada RBC Royal Bank TD Bank Group Ontario Real Estate Association Music Canada Medavie Blue Cross GSK DM Primerica CN Canadian Fuels Association Desjardins PwC McCarthy Tetrault Coca-Cola Canada Meridian Credit Union Uber BMO Bank of Montreal Bruce Power Air Canada Power Corporation of Canada Boehringer Ingelheim Eli Lilly Greater Toronto Airports Authority Aecon Enbridge Tilray Rogers Google Waste Connections of Canada Cogeco Omers Labatt Arcelor Mittal IBC LiUNA ICG Northeastern University Fire and Flower Golfdale Consulting The Stratagem Group 407 ETR Concession Company Ltd. Accerta McKesson Canada Rothmans, Benson and Hedges (RBH) Nerds on Site Grasshopper Astra Zeneca Bio Marin Pharmaceutical Birch Hill Equity Partners Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals Career Colleges Ontario CF Industries Cisco Systems Canada Club Link Corporation Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited Innovative Medicines Canada Magna Carta International Pfizer Canada Inc. Service Now Servier The Canada Life Assurance Company Northbridge Consulting Insurance MNP Takeda

Ontario Chamber of Commerce © 2021 | Privacy Policy | Service Standard | Employment Opportunities
The OCC is an accredited chamber of commerce