A 4-Point Plan to Support Business Competitiveness
Vote Prosperity: The Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Election Priorities
Through consultation with our members across Ontario, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has developed Vote Prosperity, our priorities for the 2022 provincial election. The goal is to provide Ontario with a strategy to strengthen its competitiveness through measures that support predictability and growth.
Business competitiveness results in more prosperous communities, higher consumer confidence, high-quality jobs, and a more resilient economy. This requires:
- Boosting confidence and predictability
- Implementing pro-growth policies
- Building resilient communities
- Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation
With the collective voice of the OCC’s diverse 60,000 members, the policy recommendations reflect the needs of Ontario businesses under the following pillars:
Improve Business Confidence and Predictability
Predictability is fundamental to business confidence, economic recovery and prosperity. Businesses need a stable policy environment with clear timelines, contracts, consultations, and strategies to help them plan for the future and make long-term investments. Given the uncertainty brought on by COVID-19, Ontario must also bolster its pandemic preparedness in response to ongoing and future threats.
Foster Business and Economic Growth
The dual economic and public health crises of the past two years have left many businesses and households in Ontario with record levels of debt and financial instability. Pro-growth measures for business will fuel economic recovery. Ontario will need to focus on actions that support business access to the capital, markets, and talent that they need to grow.
Build Resilient Communities
A strong economy is built by healthy and resilient communities. Ontario will need to address challenges within our health care system, the ongoing impacts of climate change, access to housing, municipalities’ fiscal capacity to support regional economies, and infrastructure deficits.
Support Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Ontarians’ entrepreneurial spirit is one of the province’s greatest competitive advantages. Ontario will need to foster an environment that encourages new business ideas and investments to boost productivity and create the jobs of tomorrow.