Policy & Advocacy

Advocating for a Stronger Business Community

As a member of the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce, you have the clout of a much larger business community at your disposal. The Chamber has a long history of success in advancing business interests of its members. Together, we can make significant impact on the political agenda of all levels of governments.

With input from members through our volunteer policy committees, the Chamber develops positions, papers, advocacy letters and presentations that are then used by the Chair and the President addressing municipal, provincial and federal government officials. The Chamber’s Board of Directors approves all Chamber policies and presentations before their release to the public and assists in engaging government officials through regular meetings with elected officials and other specialized policy forums.

Submit an Advocacy Issue or Topic

Policy Advocacy in Action

Policy Resolutions are a key feature of Chamber Network Advocacy. Each year Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across provinces and Canada, develop policy resolutions identifying issues effecting their local economies for varying levels of government. Chambers then submit these resolutions to their provincial Chamber (in Ontario that is the OCC) or the Canadian Chamber depending on whether it is a provincial or federal issue. These resolutions are then discussed at the Annual General Meeting of each organization where amendments are recommended and resolutions are voted on by Chambers. If supported by the Chamber network they become part of the Canadian or Ontario Chamber’s Policy Compendium that form a key part of their advocacy work as well as being distributed to appropriate ministers to share the concerns within their policy portfolio.

Policy Resolutions: Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Competitiveness

The provincial government has a critical role in addressing key competitiveness issues that have a real impact on Ontario’s manufacturing sector. This includes retaining skilled workers, introducing competitive incentives to invest in technology and helping Ontario-based manufacturers become more competitive and lower their business costs.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Leverage the ongoing provincial tax review to establish measures effectively rewarding commercialization and production of goods and advanced technologies in Ontario such as the Patent Box System.
  2. Enhance the current Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit with an on-the-job training incentive to include all on-the-job training for manufacturing workers, up to 50% for the first 5 years.
  3. Establish a single online window covering all types of permits and streamline the various local approvals.

Fiscal/Taxation

Current fiscal arrangements between the Ontario government and municipalities are not resolving on-going challenges for provincial businesses.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. As recommended by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), initiate a major review of provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements to ensure cost-effective program delivery and maintenance/expansion of infrastructure.

Businesses in Ontario pay much higher property tax rates than residents, despite using fewer services. The Ontario Municipal Act requires municipalities to tax commercial and industrial properties at a ratio of 0.6 to 1.1, but many municipalities have no plans to comply.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Enforce existing property taxation ratios set out in the Ontario Municipal Act Reg. 386/98: Tax Matters – Allowable Ranges for Tax Ratios by withholding provincial support — including access to provincial funding streams — to municipalities that:
    • Are not taxing commercial and industrial properties at the required rates or
    • Are not actively transitioning to the required rates based on a plan that specifies gradual decreases on a timeline approved by the Province.

Infrastructure

The highway network in Ontario plays a vital social and economic role in the transportation of goods and people. Yet in rural and northern regions it consists primarily of two-lane roads that limit passing opportunities and produce high rates of serious and fatal collisions, especially on primary roads with high traffic volumes. The typical approach to resolve these issues has been twinning – creating a four-lane road by building an additional road platform alongside the existing one. The findings of the recent Northern Policy Institute Paper “Closing the Gap: How 2+1 Roads Can Save Time, Lives, and Taxpayer Dollars” reveals that the 2+1 road model reduces fatalities and serious injuries while requiring relatively little new construction, thereby delivering substantial benefits at a limited cost.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Implement 2+1 roads widely across the Ontario highway network in Northern and rural areas on sections with annual average daily traffic between 3,000 and 20,000.
  2. Expedite implementation of 2+1 roads by 2039 on sections of the Ontario highway network in rural Southern, Eastern and Western Ontario where the roads are a critical transportation link for traffic travelling within these regions and across Canada, and where alternative routes are limited or nonexistent in the event of road closures.
  3. Expedite implementation of 2+1 roads by 2034 on sections of the Northern Ontario highway network where the roads are a critical transportation link for traffic travelling within these regions and across Canada, and where alternative routes are limited or non-existent in the event of road closures.

The Building Ontario Fund was recently established to reduce taxpayer risks on major infrastructure projects and expedite construction.

Strategic investments and the capacity to deliver in an efficient and cost-effective framework will benefit all provincial economic sectors. The new bank should provide sustainable growth across all regions of Ontario.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Establish timelines for the Building Ontario Fund to commence investments into projects.
  2. Ensure the Building Ontario Fund formulates and follows a strategy to ensure investments in major projects in municipalities and regions across all of Ontario.

Business growth and success depends on infrastructure, yet the state of infrastructure in the province is in an increasingly poor state of repair. Most infrastructure is municipally-owned, but municipal governments do not have sufficient financial resources to maintain their current infrastructure stock, much less close the multibillion-dollar backlog of infrastructure that has fallen into disrepair. It is imperative that a new funding model for municipal government be found so that the infrastructure that supports economic growth can be maintained.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Work with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Government of Canada and adopt the FCM Municipal Growth Framework model for municipal government funding and inter-governmental transfers.

Housing

Historic downtowns in cities across Ontario are full of underused mixed-use buildings. These multi-storey buildings have commercial space on the bottom and un- or under-used residential space in the upper floors. Inquiring about updating to once again have people living in these buildings can trigger expensive inspection processes on buildings that were built long before building, fire, and accessibility codes. Those that do try to develop these spaces are often met with unrealistic costs to meet heritage preservation and accessibility regulations, leaving empty housing in the heart of our towns and cities.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Designate the Downtown Revitalization Program be used for a pilot project that allows private building owners and municipal officials to study and assess, using an independent consultant and without punitive action, the needs of a building or series of buildings in a downtown core.
  2. Implement a policy for municipalities that will allow for the redevelopment of upper floors of aging mixed-use downtown buildings for use as residences that takes a fiscally responsible approach to heritage preservation and accessibility standards.

Foreign and domestic students don’t buy homes, they rent, resulting in a demand impact on the rental part of the housing system. In the affordable rental side, you have low-income renters, all battling each other for a low number of spots on top of student rental demand. In some case landlords are preferring the student renter over the family household Additional challenges arise from some investors buying large quantities of single-family homes and turning them into student rentals, legally and illegally, making it nearly impossible for first-time home buyers and family household renters to find a place to live.

In order to accommodate the growing demand for post-secondary education in Ontario, continue to meet Ontario’s workforce needs and attract highly skilled talent to our province, it is important for the government to collaborate with universities and colleges as they work to provide housing for students, faculty and staff. At the same time leveraging best practices to and working with private sector partners to limit the impact of the rental market.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Identify leading/best practices that can be leveraged to enable the timely launch of critical housing projects, in consultation with municipalities, including new on- and off-campus residences and student housing.
  2. Work with the federal government to implement programs through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that promote high-density Purpose-Built Student Accommodation developments.
  3. Work with municipalities to develop appropriate zoning plans for transit-oriented development and implement zoning reforms that treat campuses similarly to major transit areas to support increased density on college and university campuses. This includes development process, streamline bureaucratic processes, fast-tracking applications for building permits, and encourage the construction of energy-efficient buildings for Purpose-Built Student Accommodations.
  4. Work with the post-secondary sector to review potential amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001, to support post-secondary housing development.
  5. Provide dedicated capital funding and financing to universities and public colleges for on- and off-campus residence and student housing projects
  6. Work with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to attract domestic and international investors and incentivize public/private partnerships for projects related to the construction of on- and off-campus residences and student housing, where appropriate.
  7. Review the Broder Public Procurement Directive to lessen restrictions and allow universities and colleges to proactively engage with the private sector to explore a variety of structured agreements to build and service housing on and off campus.
  8. Work with Ontario’s public colleges to amend Section 28 of the Financial Administration Act to create a fast tracking/guaranteed approval timeline for post-secondary housing development which would expedite Section 28 approvals and lift exemption thresholds.

Funding provided through the Building Faster Fund should be based on a municipality’s efforts to approve permits (that lead to foundations) rather than the current measure of housing starts (poured foundations). The power of municipalities to control or meet housing targets is limited to the permit approval process while funding is currently based on the number of housing starts (poured foundation) which applies additional pressure on the private sector, currently impacted by multiple barriers within the building industry.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Reassess how the performance of municipalities is measured in terms of housing starts to develop the most effective process to get more homes built.
  2. Consult with One Ontario to streamline the development approval process to the benefit of all partners in the housing industry.
  3. Provide an Ombudsman to the Building Industry to review disputes between municipalities and developers.
  4. Improve the dispute resolution process between municipalities and developers.

Challenges have emerged in the rental market since the COVID-19 Pandemic. Tenants and their advocacy groups have raised concerns around landlords evicting people on fraudulent grounds while landlords are stuck with tenants refusing to pay rent and relying on the backlog at the Landlord Tenant Board to avoid their removal from the residence.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Create and implement guidelines similar to vexatious litigation standards to apply to landlords and tenants to prevent inordinate delays.
  2. Develop and enhance educational materials for landlords and tenants to better understand their roles, responsibilities, and rights within the relationship to help avoid conflict and establish better partnerships between the two parties.
  3. Create universal guidelines for municipalities under the Municipal Act that regulate how municipalities can regulate landlords and tenants in order to prevent a patchwork approach developing across Ontario municipalities that makes it harder for landlords to operate across municipalities.
  4. Give the Landlord and Tenant Board enforcement powers to bypass the need for small claims court.

The desire to quickly increase the supply of housing must be balanced with the protection of employment lands near Ontario airports. Considerations need to be made regarding the economic benefits of airports, the preservation of employment lands and the safe takeoff and landing of aircraft at airports. In urban areas, more housing will come mainly from high-rises and increased population on major transportation corridors. Those transportation corridors often are near airports. While more housing is constructed on these corridors, airports continue to be economic centres through which many jobs are connected. The goal of this resolution is to continue the growth of airports, and their local economic contribution, in parallel with increasing the supply of housing in a measured, responsible way.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Consult with airports regarding proposed developments in the vicinity of airports. Considerations need to be made for the economic benefits of airports and the safety issues in relation to the height of buildings.

Workforce Development

Ontario’s marine industry lacks vital support and standardized safety regulations compared to land-based vehicles. Although there are specific certifications for electrical, engine, etc. technicians for other industries, skilled trades for recreational boats apprenticeships are limited. Not only would the safety of residents and tourists on Ontario’s waterways be improved, but an increase in the current number of technicians and the creation of two voluntary new skilled trade designations would strengthen this industry to build the skilled workforce necessary to meet this sector’s growing demands.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Collaborate with the marine industry, associations, and post-secondary institutions to expand marine apprenticeship training programs and research ABYC courses recognized by Transport Canada.
  2. Develop voluntary marine certifications for small vessel technicians and marine electricians through the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
  3. Improve access to marine apprenticeships across Ontario.
  4. Work with industry partners to develop and improve certifications.

For the better part of four decades, Ontario has been a kind of post-secondary-education superpower. Our universities and colleges are among the best in the world, and the world has taken notice. Growth in foreign students have not only been the key to financial stability of the education sector they have diversified our communities, local economies, created entrepreneurial ecosystems, contributed to GDP and tax revenue at every level of government while bring a vibrancy to Canada’s reputation as one of the most diversified and welcoming country’s in the world. Limiting access of foreign students to post-secondary education and after graduation work permits, temporary or long term, will have significant impact on the viability of trusted postsecondary institutions, local economies, tax revenue and (Ontario’s) Canada’s brand as a destination for education.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Work with the federal government to ensure rural and northern Ontario communities and the postsecondary institutions in those communities, as well as those ion communities delivering the Rural Northern Immigration Pilot, are allocated the current level of permits with no reduction in their allocations.
  2. Work with the federal government to review demand for Attestation Letters and cash requirements doubling.
  3. Work with the federal government as well as post-secondary institutions to protect and elevate Canada’s brand as an international destination for foreign student education.
  4. Support building more capability, capacity, and human resources for the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (CQAAP) and Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance to ensure enforcement and compliance of post-secondary educators in meeting Quality Assurance Audits.
  5. Adopt the following recommendations by The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario:
    • Examine recruitment practices and incentive structures used to attract international students. Accurate information and ethical practice can help ensure student success.
    • Revisit MCU’s “Public College-Private Partnerships: Minister’s Binding Policy Directive” (2019) to clarify college accountabilities related to enrolment management, program quality, advertising and student support requirements; monitor and enforce these directives.
    • Develop a provincial strategy to guide colleges’ internationalization activities. Ensure alignment between labour market gaps and high intake programs and emphasize the variety of credentials needed to meet labour market priorities.
    • Work with the Federal Government to review the goals and outcomes of the current program to ensure it is meeting federally identified priority programs, provide a PSE pathway for immigrants to become highly skilled workers, and is taken up across the full range of credential and programs offered by PSE institutions.
    • Work with the Federal Government to examine international student work permits (and the 20- hour pilot project in place) to evaluate student experiences, outcomes, completion rates and time to completion.
    • Work with the Federal Government to evaluate the permits required for co-op opportunities to reduce barriers to access.
    • Work with Ontario Colleges to review the academic requirements for international students’ admission — including language exam scores and assessment of prior learnings — and consider language programs for accepted students who lack adequate skills. Adhering to admission standards can help reduce pressure on students and staff.
    • Work with Ontario Colleges to collect and publish international student satisfaction data related to available supports and resources to understand where there are persistent gaps and challenges; coordinate approaches with other colleges for comparability.

Ontario’s post-secondary institutions are critical partners, as the province works to build a strong economic future by filling labour market demands in key sectors, building the capacity of local industries and developing its innovation ecosystem to hone its competitive advantage in emerging markets. As such, a financially sustainable post-secondary education sector is vital to achieving these goals and creating a better future for Ontario.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Invest in the postsecondary system by increasing multi-year base operating grants, immediately boosting operating grants by 10% and indexing them over time; and
  2. Lift the tuition freeze for general programs at post-secondary institutions, beginning in Fall 2024.
  3. Implement common sense changes to create the opportunity for students to study high-demand programs or to enrol part time.
  4. Implement the Blue-Ribbon Panel recommendations on tuition, while protecting low-income students.
  5. Engage with the federal government and postsecondary institutions to establish clear and reasonable guidelines and timelines for the implementation of the federal cap on international study permits and determine how the cap aligns with previous commitments to develop a Recognized Institutions Framework.

As electric vehicles become an increasingly large share of the automotive market, certifications for mechanics need to have the relevant training to make sure they can service electric vehicles. Especially as the Canadian Government pushes for 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035, plans need to be put in place to transition the workforce for upcoming needs.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Provide financial assistance through loans and grants to help those already trained and 310-S, 310-T, and 421-A heavy duty equipment technician certified to get training to work on electric vehicles and equipment.
  2. Provide financial assistance through loans and grants to help small auto mechanic shops adapt to electric vehicles and their unique needs including any specialized equipment purchases necessary.
  3. Work with post-secondary institutions to develop and enhance certification programs for 310-S, 310- T, and 421-A heavy duty equipment technician to be inclusive of electric vehicles and equipment.

Employers across Ontario, but particularly in Northern and Rural areas, are experiencing a shortage of qualified employees and a shrinking labour market. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program can help to address these challenges by allocating nominee spots to Northern and Rural communities.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Ensure that the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program addresses labour market challenges by allocating 3,000 nominee spots to Northern Ontario and 6,000 nominee spots to Rural communities in Southern Ontario; and
  2. Provide sufficient Newcomer Settlement & Language Training and Language Interpreter Services to address the growth of OINP nominees in Northern Ontario and Rural communities.

Recent changes in federal law have made more international students, international graduates and individuals on temporary visas (e.g. spousal visas) eligible to work in Ontario, however many of these same individuals are not eligible for most provincial services. In 2022, the province opened up international student eligibility for the first time ever under the Skills Development Fund.181 This however is limited in scope and does not include access to assisted services to these individuals such as employment counselling, job development, marketing to employers for employment opportunities, resume support etc.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Expand eligibility to the full suite of programming under Employment Ontario to international students, international student graduates, and persons on temporary visas (such as spousal visas with authorization to work).

Ontario is less competitive than other provinces when it comes to approving permanent residency for new Canadians. This impacts our ability to attract talent at a time when we desperately need to increase our workforce.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Make Ontario more competitive for securing permanent residency by:
    • Tailoring the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program to target candidates who fall outside the federal criteria with an emphasis on those already working in Ontario, including establishing a program for those with long-term work experience in Ontario as a pathway to residency.
  2. Reducing employment criteria barriers, including:
    • Providing clarity on what NOC codes will be invited in the future or eliminating the requirement to select a specific job or occupation from a list altogether.
    • Lowering the revenue requirement and requirements for a specific number of employees for businesses to allow for smaller businesses to sponsor permanent residents.
  3. Opening up the Student Job Offer Stream program to students in one-year programs.
  4. Improving the functionality of the OINP website, providing a more up-to-date and user-friendly experience.

Special Issues

The Ontario Provincial Oversize/Overweight Permit System is very complex making it difficult for companies to comply when their vehicles travel throughout Ontario’s county roads that are not designated as King’s highways.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Investigate the opportunities available to create a one-permit system for wide, high, and heavy loads to navigate throughout Ontario’s roads regardless of the regions, counties or municipalities vehicles must travel through.
  2. Develop a database with a real-time, interactive map with each municipality’s rules, restrictions, and information to provide businesses with a centralized hub for all permit information.

Ontario is increasingly moving towards the goal of a circular economy. More and more the focus is being put towards reducing waste and producers shoulder increasing responsibility for their products at the end of their lifespan, Ontario needs a plan to manage the end-of-life for electric vehicles (EVs).

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Work with industry and post-secondary institutions to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that the end-of-life treatment of electric vehicles follows a circular approach including:
    • Strategies for how batteries can be reused at the end of their vehicle use lifespan, and
    • Incentivize increased recycling of electric vehicle components including from their batteries.

As homelessness, addictions, and mental health continue to plague large numbers of individuals in urban settings, business communities continue to grapple with disruptions, vandalism, threats of violence, and intimidation of staff and customers. Police budgets are ballooning to deal with this problem reactively while not effectively targeting the root cause of these disruptions. By critically evaluating and deploying funding to crime deterrent programs, long-term success can be achieved at reducing incidents of crime and tax-payer funding of over-inflated reactionary policing budgets.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. In consultation with the municipalities, police boards, business communities, and the populations they serve:
    • Use economic analysis principles in assessing crime diversion program efficacy in communities of all different demographics to establish an evidence-based approach to provincial funding of diversionary police programs.
    • Identify underperforming programs that do not adequately serve communities of all types and prioritize provincial funding for programs according to efficacy for each demographic cross section and community.
    • Implement a system to measure long term impacts of the investment in diversion programs to systematically gauge performance across all community types and demographics.
    • Evaluate the efficacy of these programs in the context of other wrap-around services available to individuals in each community to gauge the broader impacts of the Provincial Programs and ensure no individuals are systematically excluded from these services.
  2. Ensure that municipalities can continue to use Special Constables in proactive patrolling of urban areas in lieu of fully sworn officers to reduce tax burdens.

Parents seeking childcare face significant affordability and availability challenges in Ontario. The federal and provincial governments have begun to focus on childcare, but we need more immediate action at the provincial level. The new childcare agreement between the two senior levels of government is not a silver bullet solution, and the agreement has increased demand for childcare spots. This issue disproportionately affects female workers, who stay at home with younger children the majority of the time. We must advocate for childcare solutions that will bring more women back into the workforce at a time when businesses are desperate for more workers.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Monitor the effects of the ratification of the Early Learning and Child Care Agreement between the governments of Canada and Ontario to ensure issues are addressed quickly;
  2. Create a long-term plan for childcare that supports families in Ontario with an eye toward future economic prosperity; and
  3. Make the availability of an adequate number of affordable daycare, preschool and after-school spaces a priority so that parents, particularly women, can return to the workforce to help address the labour shortage.

Ontario requires a robust energy sector that puts certainty in future access to natural gas and sets a deliberate course which assures natural gas delivery in Ontario’s energy mix, impacting millions of Ontarians and businesses who depend on natural gas for heating and day-to-day operation. Any action to destabilize the vitality of natural gas system such as the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) decision on Phase 1 of Enbridge Gas Inc’s (EGI) 2024 rebasing application, is a setback to Ontario’s energy and economic efforts.

Recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce urges the Government of Ontario to:

  1. Focus on an integrated approach where pipes and wires work together to ensure Ontario maintains an energy system that is resilient and cost-effective while supporting decarbonization. A diversified “pipes and wires” approach balances end-use electrification, leverages Ontario’s gas system to deliver madein-Canada renewable gasses including RNG and hydrogen and pairing natural gas with carbon capture and can achieve net zero emissions with other critical benefits.
  2. Accelerate the implementation of the provincial Electrification and Energy Transition Panel recommendation that the government establish a roadmap for an orderly energy transition and provide clear policy direction on the role of natural gas and low-carbon fuels in Ontario’s energy system.
  3. Prioritize a diversified approach that gives industrial and residential consumers flexibility. This includes allowing customers to choose a heating system that best meets their needs, such as natural gas and reliable hybrid heating and natural gas and relates solutions for heavy industrial processes (e.g. RNG, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage) and heavy long-haul transportation that cannot be. practically electrified.

Policy Resolutions: Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Agriculture

A recent MNP Report states; “Under Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan, the government of Canada is envisioning a 30% reduction in absolute emissions by the year 2030. That would include chemical fertilizer reductions used in crop production by Canadian farmers to achieve their part” in reduced emissions. To understand the reduction needed in fertilizer use to achieve the 30% emission reduction goal MNP uses “the model proposed under the EU Green Deal which cites an actual reduction of 20% in fertilizer use compared to 2020 levels”.1, Humalite should be supported as a soil and foliage enhancer, and it may be a perfect solution to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions while working to maximize crop yield.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Work with the provinces and territories, farmers, and other relevant industry stakeholders including Indigenous partners to:
    • Support and promote the research, production, domestic use and export of environmentally friendly humalite products, including raw materials/products that are mined/manufactured in Canada, for agricultural use; and
    • Ensure that any fertilizer emission reduction plan includes a strategy to maintain and maximize crop yield, including the use of humalite; and
    • Provide farmers with education and support to adopt new practices and technologies including the use of humalite in their agricultural operations.

Current risk management programs are not meeting the changing needs and requirements within agriculture. Furthermore, the lack of education and awareness around risk management strategies is limiting the growth and success of agriculture producers.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Consult with industry and stakeholder organizations to determine improvements and solutions for all agriculture risk management options;
  2. Revise risk management programs to ensure equitable coverage across all producer types;
  3. Provide transparency in risk management solutions and budgets, disclosing how much is made available for claims;
  4. Provide better response time in assessments, claims and processing through service level agreements, ensuring adequate staffing levels and contracting third party adjusters and verifiers to assist where needed;
  5. Work with Provinces and Territories to provide education on the cost of production per acre by providing a cost of production toolkit to producers;
  6. Provide more flexibility and options in risk management solutions to allow for new cropping and diversification opportunities;
  7. Allow farms to file their year-end on the farm’s financial year-end as opposed to imposing a universal Agri-Stability year-end filing date;
  8. Increase the reference margin trigger point up to 85% and include the ability for farmers to adjust inventory within Agri-Stability; and
  9. Work with producer groups to identify alternative technological methods to assess crops and pastureland

With greater attention around food sustainability and the environmental footprint of agriculture, there is a need to raise awareness and provide fact-based education focused on where our food comes from, recognizing the sustainability of agribusiness and its vitally important role in our economy as a natural resource.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Develop a unified public education strategy showcasing the agriculture industry’s practice of environmental stewardship resulting in reliable, sustainable and high-quality agri-food and value-added products;
  2. Expand on the “Canada Brand” program to create a single unified label, logo, image, and theme;
  3. Ensure the Next Agricultural Policy Framework works to develop branding skills, knowledge and awareness of opportunities within the agriculture industry;
  4. Create a consolidated resource center with fact-based agriculture education and learning opportunities, resources, and connections; and
  5. Promote experiential learning options such as on-farm learning, community gardens and community classrooms.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Works collaboratively with provincial/territorial and federal inspection agencies to effect positive changes to food safety outcome inspections, enabling processors to compete more efficiently in both domestic and international markets:
    • To support a single industry outcome that can be implemented with consistency and cost-effectiveness across Canada by the provinces/territories, with each provincial/territorial regulator subject to Canadian Food Inspection Agency oversight;
    • The food safety regulations need to be reviewed for relevancy and modified/broadened if current criteria are unnecessarily restrictive and insensitive to sound business interests; and
    • The implementation must be consistent and cost-effective throughout the food distribution chain, without compromising Canada’s reputation for high food safety standards; and
  2. Reassess inspection and regulatory costs and how they are allocated, to enable processors to trade across provincial or national borders, without being at a competitive disadvantage.

In 2022, there were almost 1.5 million visits to local Canadian food banks, because of household food insecurity. At the same time that food insecurity is a serious issue, we continue to see substantial amount of food wastage and loss. In response, some of Canada’s over 200,000 farmers have spoken up and asked for support to donate produce that would be lost or wasted to local food banks.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Expand the current food policy in Canada to include a commitment to funding more food waste reduction programs, including food waste reduction programs specifically for farmers to harvest and donate crop that would otherwise be lost or wasted, to the food bank system, without any adverse impact to the farmer or the agricultural sector, similar to the Ontario model.
  2. Introduce a Federal Tax Credit for farmers that donate agricultural products to community food programs, including local food banks.

Digital Economy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly utilized in everyday life and business operations. That impact is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come. Canada has the opportunity to position itself as a leading global player in AI research and commercialization, while improving national productivity. The regulatory environment of AI systems in Canada can be shaped to promote safety and privacy, maintain global competitiveness, and improve productivity of businesses overall.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Implement a flexible, principles-based legal framework for AI technology in Canada, that remains aligned with other international approaches and recognizes and incorporates already existing industry best practices for responsible AI. Additionally, support self-regulatory initiatives for responsible AI before a legal framework is established.
  2. Financially support and incentivize AI research, development, and innovation in Canada, and model these initiatives based on successful practices implemented in other countries.
  3. Financially support and incentivize AI adoption and implementation in business operations and processes to improve the efficiency and productivity of Canadian businesses as well as to the public service and federally regulated sectors to streamline services and operations.
  4. Financially support and incentivize comprehensive employee transition support, such as upskilling and reskilling training programs, to ensure a seamless and inclusive adaptation of the workforce to AI technology integration.

Regulation is needed to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are designed and used in ways that are safe, ethical, and accountable. Regulation can establish standards for transparency, fairness, and accuracy, and it can provide a framework for reducing the risks associated with AI.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Work in collaboration with businesses to develop and implement standards for transparency, fairness, and accuracy in the design and use of AI systems to ensure that innovation continues to be supported and encouraged.
  2. Prioritize regulation on high-impact AI applications.
  3. Ensure unacceptable AI practices are defined and apply to all AI applications, regardless of their impact classifications.
  4. Ensure the framework of standards for AI is agile and can adapt to rapid change.
  5. Conduct risk assessments of AI systems and provide guidance on how to navigate regulations.
  6. Implement a national AI advisory committee consisting of industry, academia and government for guidance on regulation and potential risks.
  7. Work with other countries to align and harmonize standards for monitoring and overseeing the development of AI, where possible.

The escalating divide between rural/remote communities and urban centres around broadband services potentially limits economic opportunities in all regions of Canada.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Continue with high-speed internet infrastructure investments across rural/remote areas and First Nations;
  2. To build an inclusive economy for all Canadians, ensure all financial resources allocated to increasing high-speed internet capacity are urgently distributed for addressing the digital divide;
  3. To evaluate the effectiveness of government high-speed internet policy in delivering connectivity, particularly in rural and indigenous areas, there should be an evaluation of connectivity coverage, quality and adoption; and
  4. Commit to businesses and citizens in rural and remote areas that necessary infrastructure to allow them access to competitive high-speed internet speeds will be constructed if not by private industry, then by the federal government utilizing the Universal Broadband Fund.

Since the emergence of the internet nearly forty years ago, it has become integral to operations for Canadian businesses of all sizes. While large corporations have invested heavily in cyber security infrastructure, small and medium sized businesses have fallen behind, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. It is critical that Canada increase investment in cyber security to support small and medium sized businesses improve their cyber security by reducing barriers to action.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Prioritize and promote cyber security awareness and protection and continue to make training available for the Canadian public, and small and medium-sized businesses.
  2. Increase investment in cyber security research and development.
  3. Expand and diversify the cyber workforce pipeline by investing in learning curriculum and talent development, attraction and retention across all demographics.

The cost and maintenance of cybersecurity measures is prohibitive to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all sectors of the Canadian economy. There are a few very simple things that can be done to minimize the risk and enhance recovery procedures. Many SMEs lack the detailed knowledge to make informed decisions and the financial support to contract professionals to handle it for them.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Broaden the scope of the existing Canadian Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) or create a similar grant program focused on cyber security which will allow SMBs to access comprehensive cybersecurity products and services;
  2. Provide specific annual tax credits for the ongoing support and maintenance required from Third Party vendors for SMEs that have satisfied the grant program to assess their technology;
  3. Allow SMEs to write off 100% of their business investments in preventative cybersecurity-related software, equipment and other costs (support services and outsourcing costs) in the year those investments are made;
  4. Provide a subsidy for training of staff on cybersecurity awareness programs; and
  5. Create a SME Cyber Defence Fund that provides SMEs with the necessary support to improve their cyber resilience and close the cybersecurity investment gap.

Finances & Taxation

The federal government created an “Intellectual Property Strategy” to support and protect innovation across Canada. Improvements to the strategy must include an additional focus on federal investment and tax incentives, that will encourage business investment in intellectual property and innovation to improve productivity, economic growth, and incomes for Canadians.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Complete the study on a national “patent box” strategy to encourage business investment in innovation in Canada by 2025, to be implemented for 2026.
  2. Consult with senior business leaders and technologists to define what intellectual property would qualify, e.g., patents, copyright, industrial design, and for what duration.
  3. Ensure that any such regime adopted in Canada delivers the clarity and simplicity that encourages participation in innovation from both SMEs and large companies.
  4. Develop a federal program modelled after the “My First Patent Program” using the Quebec model as a template to encourage more investment by SMEs across the country.
  5. Review the Patent Collective Program and update funding to meet the needs of new potential innovators.

The federal government created an “Intellectual Property Strategy” to support and protect innovation across Canada. Improvements to the strategy must include an additional focus on federal investment and tax incentives, that will encourage business investment in intellectual property and innovation to improve productivity, economic growth, and incomes for Canadians.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Complete the study on a national “patent box” strategy to encourage business investment in innovation in Canada by 2025, to be implemented for 2026.
  2. Consult with senior business leaders and technologists to define what intellectual property would qualify, e.g., patents, copyright, industrial design, and for what duration.
  3. Ensure that any such regime adopted in Canada delivers the clarity and simplicity that encourages participation in innovation from both SMEs and large companies.
  4. Develop a federal program modelled after the “My First Patent Program” using the Quebec model as a template to encourage more investment by SMEs across the country.
  5. Review the Patent Collective Program and update funding to meet the needs of new potential innovators.

The Canadian tax system is overly complex and ineffective. A comprehensive review is required and no new business taxes should be introduced until the current regime is analyzed in relation to international competitiveness, investment attraction, simplicity, fairness and neutrality.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Not implement any new business taxes or increases on existing business taxation levels until a review of the current system, particularly related to competitiveness and productivity, is completed.

Since 1990, Canada Revenue Agency set the Capital Cost Allowance amount for vehicles at $30,000 plus tax. This amount was updated in 2023 to $34,000 but is still short of current vehicle prices. The Capital Cost Allowance needs to be adjusted to better reflect the costs of vehicles.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Increase the maximum capital cost threshold for pool additions of passenger vehicles that reflect the current market purchase price.
  2. Index the maximum capital cost threshold for pool additions of passenger vehicles to the average price for vehicles.

Pension security is an important asset that employees require to be productive and loyal to employers. The current pension models used by Canada are dying and unable to account for the many employees due to the ineligibility for the described benefit or described contribution.

Additionally, pensions are volatile and depend on market stability, which is not always the case. This leads to uncertain and unproductive employees.

There are still too many working Canadians that do not have an employer-sponsored pension plan (Defined Benefit (DB), Defined Contribution (DC), or group Registered Retirement Plans (RRSP)) to supplement their retirement income, together with their CPP.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Assess the pool of employees currently covered under the traditional Defined Benefit, Defined Contribution and group Registered Retirement Savings Plans.
  2. Improve financial literacy through effective programs.
  3. Protect existing RPPs.
  4. Develop a legislative framework to increase flexible and competitive pension contribution options for employers that can supplement CPP participation for businesses of all sizes, helping businesses attract and retain employment.
  5. Increase labour force participation rates at older ages as life expectancy increases.
  6. Reform the current regulatory environment to support innovation pension reform that includes:
    • Regulatory support for private sector multi-employer pension programs.
    • Regulatory framework to include multi-employer pension programs across provincial jurisdictions.
    • Regulatory framework for trusteed pension plans that do not require government or union sponsorship.
    • Regulatory frameworks that allow and promote private sector access to the very solutions already available in the public sector.
    • Regulatory frameworks and support that provide access to the efficiencies of collective pension plans and that recognize the unique needs of small private sector employers and self-employed individuals.
    • Adding to the portfolio of the Minister of Seniors.
  7. Develop a legislative framework to increase flexible and competitive pension contribution options for employers that can supplement CPP participation for businesses of all sizes, helping businesses attract and retain employment.

Canada is facing a continued affordable housing crisis, yet effort made by all levels of government have made very little discernable difference to Canadians.

Community Land Trusts already exist across Canada and a proven vehicle to combat the affordable housing crisis in perpetuity, but they are crippled by current Federal tax law in their ability to acquire land donations.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Make amendments and additions to the Income Tax Act to incentivize the donation of land to Land Trusts, for the purpose of developing affordable housing, by utilizing the same mechanisms as those already provided in the Act for individuals and corporations to make donations to ecological land reserves.
  2. These changes will allow for donations of land to Community Land Trusts to be capital gains exempt IN ADDITION, a tax credit or deduction can be provided in exchange for the land, based on the fair market value.

Small business enterprises are vital to the Canadian economy. The current Small Business

Deduction limit has become restrictive and requires an increase in the threshold in order to allow for business sustainability and economic growth.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Increase the current Small Business Deduction limit, as it is currently defined in the provisions of subsection 125(2) of the Income Tax Act, Canada, from $500,000 to $750,000.
  2. Apply annual indexing to the Small Business Deduction threshold limit at a rate equal to the annual Consumer Price Index.

While speculative investment in Canada’s largest cities has driven up cost of housing in Canada, the government’s implementation of an Underused Housing Tax to address this has unforeseen consequences that could further drive up the cost of housing and affect millions of Canadians. Canadian citizens and residents are exempt from the UHT and fully used properties are also exempt. The government requires privately owned Canadian businesses, trusts, and partnerships who are exempt from the tax to still file the UHT return, risking massive penalties for not filing. Many Canadians are not even aware of the filing requirements and will inadvertently be charged thousands in fines and penalties. Additionally, the burden of filing this form.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Exclude CCPCs, substantive Canadian partnerships, Canadian trusts with Canadian trustees and beneficiaries, Canadian bare and deemed trusts from the list of required UHT-2900 filers.
  2. Reduce the $10,000 penalty to be consistent with the penalties applied to late-filed information returns and adopt a more lenient approach for late filing of the UHT forms, including appropriate appeal procedures.
  3. Revise the UHT form to streamline the process for corporations by allowing them to list all their owned residences in a single section, instead of requiring multiple submissions.

Health & Innovation

During the COVID-19 pandemic, both the federal government and our provincial/territorial governments have seen, in real time, the importance of domestic bio-manufacturing capacity to produce tests, vaccines, and therapeutics to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemics of the future. However, before a test, vaccine or treatment can ever be manufactured, the constituent parts and ingredients must be secured. Without also investing in a local supply chain that can provide the necessary inputs for bio-manufacturing, Canada risks undercutting our own efforts to bolster our domestic capacity and increase our self-sufficiency.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Work with the Provincial/Territorial Governments to identify specific strategies and actions, as part of either the Government of Canada’s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy or a respective provincial/territorial biomanufacturing strategy, that will build and support bio-manufacturing supply chains across Canada through investments in organizations and businesses that can produce the necessary components required for domestic manufacturing of testing supplies, vaccines, laboratory infrastructure and medical therapeutics.

Human Resources, Skills, and Immigration

The economic footprint of post-secondary education has taken a dramatic hit through the pandemic along with the reductions of government funding. Access to education is essential in the economic recovery of Canada and its future access to human capital and intellectual development. Post secondary education serves as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic organization for both the management and advancement of social and economic progress.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

  1. Increase Funding for Research:
    • Allocate additional federal funding specifically designated for research and development in post-secondary institutions.
    • Establish grant programs aimed at supporting innovative research projects and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations.
    • Enhance research infrastructure by providing grants for the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
    • Facilitate partnerships between industry and post-secondary institutions to encourage industry-sponsored research projects.
  2. Support Sustainability and Affordability:
    • Develop measures to enhance the affordability of post-secondary education, including reviewing tuition fee structures and exploring financial aid options for students.
    • Encourage institutions to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact through initiatives such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and carbon neutrality targets.