Media Releases
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce honoured the area’s top local companies, individuals, and organizations on Wednesday May 17th at the Sold Out 2023 Business Excellence Awards, presented by Windsor Star.
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce is delighted to have the support of our Chamber network partners for our policy resolutions submitted for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) Policy Compendium, 2023-2026. These resolutions covered our burgeoning wine sector, the evolving auto industry, and growing international student population.
With the economy facing global headwinds, Canada needs competitive investments in innovation, productivity, and sustainable economic growth. However, growth cannot occur without significant and sustained investments from the private sector – and those dollars will flow where productivity is highest. Today, the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released the 2023 Federal Budget Submission to lay the path for business predictability and competitiveness.
According to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) Ontario Economic Report (OER), Ontario business confidence has dropped to a record low in 2023. Labour shortages, inflation, health care system vulnerabilities, and fears of a potential economic contraction are dampening confidence in the province’s economic outlook.
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce announced today a new partnership with NFP in Canada to provide Chamber members with home, auto and travel insurance. Under this new partnership, Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce members can save up to 20% on home and auto insurance and will have access to 24/7 claims submissions and a dedicated online portal to access their accounts. The partnership launches on March 2, 2023.
“Ontario business confidence has dropped to a record low in 2023. Labour shortages, inflation, health care system vulnerabilities, and forecasts of an economic contraction are dampening confidence in the province’s economic outlook,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, OCC. “Only 16 percent of organizations surveyed have confidence in the economy. This is down 29 percent from last year. Promisingly, most businesses feel confident they can withstand these headwinds and continue to grow in the year ahead.”
The Premier Business Event of the Year’, recognizing outstanding businesses, individuals and community groups, the 2023 Business Excellence Awards (BEAs) will be held in person Wednesday May 17th, starting at 6:00pm.
The event includes a Red Carpet Arrival, Awards Show in the Chrysler Theatre showcasing 12 categories, and an elegant dinner in the Skyline Ballroom at the St. Clair College Centre For the Arts.
Three Award winners were announced during today’s News Conference, hosted by BEA Chair Shelby Colarossi. The event at the J.P. Wiser’s Experience Centre was sponsored by the Better Business Bureau of Western Ontario.
Against the backdrop of rising interest rates, inflation, constrained supply chains, labour shortages and fears of a recession, it is critical for governments to focus on creating the right conditions to support competitiveness, productivity, and long-term economic growth. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has identified critical areas that must inform Ontario’s growth strategy outlined in today’s release: Supporting Economic Growth in Uncertain Times.
While domestic and inbound tourism improved in the latter half of 2022, the industry is not expected to fully recover from the pandemic until 2025 – a situation that looks grimmer as a recession approaches, cost of living goes up, and consumer spending behaviour shifts. Ontario’s tourism sector is calling for a comprehensive strategy to address ongoing impacts of COVID-19 border closures, capacity restrictions, and structural issues.
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA). These two organizations represent thousands of local businesses and are working together with the goal of providing even more savings and benefits to their respective members.