Warmest regards,
Rick Caruso, President

PUBLIC FORUM - Safe Drinking Water Act

YOUR CHAMBER @ WORK

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is inviting members to submit policy resolutions for debate at the 2009 Annual General Meeting and Convention, to be held at Hockley Valley Resort, Orangeville, on May 1-3.

The deadline for all submissions is Friday, February 20, 2009.

We encourage members to submit resolutions that are focused directly on the OCC priorities of Economic Renewal and Business Competitiveness.

It is only through member engagement that the collective voice of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce is heard and respected at Queen’s Park and beyond.

Members are invited to submit policies that promote:

• A Competitive Tax and Regulatory Regime
• A Skilled Workforce
• Modernizing Energy & Infrastructure
• Transitioning to the New Economy

Resolutions not addressing the above policy areas will still be accepted; however, they will not be considered priority issues by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in 2009.

At a recent Provincial PC caucus group round-table meeting several local business owners attended to discuss what is not working. Some issues that were discussed.
• Lack of dependable high-speed internet in rural Ontario;
• Workplace Safety Inspection Board (WSIB) was getting to be an
uncontrollable monopoly which will result in business closures;
• Hospital funding and the need for changing the federal transfer payments;
• Bill 126 – regulating how many people can drive in a car with a G2 drivers license;
• Regulatory burdens - the need to have a license for everything including loading hogs;

Some business owners reported on some personal difficulties they are/had with the Provincial and Federal governments and gave examples of what is not working.

The Provincial PC caucus is asking for your help in answering the following questions:
• What is holding back small business in rural Ontario?
• How long does it take you as a business owner, on a monthly basis, to comply with government regulations?

This information would be helpful to them to take forward.

If you have a personal story that you want the PC Caucus to know about go to www.ruralpartners.ca.

A big thank you to Betty Ann Johnson and Paul Adamsthwait from The VICTORY for hosting this very successful Meet & Greet.

+ Funkional Arts & Design
+ Grey Stone Return (Suite)
+ Harwood Estate Vineyards
+ Hillier Creek Estates
+ Lacey Estates Winery
+ Moontide Studio Gallery
+ Redtail Vineyard
+ Sandbanks Vacations & Property Management Corp.
+ Summit Group Software

Thank you for your support!

Focusing on the smaller tourism-related businesses, Dawn will introduce the many marketing opportunities available with the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC). The following are a few of the topics that will be discussed:

• FREE Registration of your company on their website directory
• FREE to advertising of Tourist Packages
• FREE Event Listings for most organizations
• FREE use of Ministry logos on your marketing materials for branding purposes, etc.

Register for this FREE SEMINAR through the Events section of the www.welcometours.ca website.
Everyone is welcome to attend the seminars at the location nearest them. Learn what’s available for your business and how you can expand marketing opportunities for your business.
Join us and discover how together we can increase tourism in Bay of Quinte Country, especially during the shoulder seasons. It’s good for everybody!