Join us for lunch as Mayor Harrison speaks to the business community on upcoming initiatives, projects, events and more.  Ask questions and get informed.

Friday, January 25, 2019 |  12 noon |  Ramada Hotel Trenton

Cost of Luncheon $30

Marketing your business on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter offers many benefits to small businesses. Most small businesses, however, are not utilizing social media to its fullest.

Advocacy Wins ✔️

• Near-full repeal of Bill 148
• Apprenticeship ratio set at 1:1
• Dissolution of the Ontario College of Trades
• Private Cannabis Retail Model
• Provincial Forestry Strategy
• Insurance Premium Rate Reduction

Follow our latest news and media and stay up-to-date on our many advocacy wins.

In this edition of 5 Minutes for Business, we examine the accelerating pace of change in our economy. For many sectors, the economic fundamentals, the borders of industries, the value of different assets and even the types of competitors are rapidly shifting.

While change to this degree can be uncomfortable or even destructive, it can also contain the seeds of opportunity. The uncertainty created by the accelerating pace of change begs caution, but ultimately fortune will favour the bold firms and governments that can seize upon the speed of the turning moment.

This theme is further explored in our annual Crystal Ball Report, which predicts the issues, opportunities and economic outlook for the year ahead.
 

On January 15, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Ontario Chamber Network provided the Government of Ontario with thirteen tangible recommendations for the upcoming provincial budget to build a stronger Ontario and create a business climate which encourages growth.

The OCC presented the submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, calling on the government to prioritize small business tax reforms, strategic infrastructure investment, and value-based procurement in Budget 2019.

The following are the key areas of recommendation.
 
Tax Competitively
• Establish tougher penalties for tax noncompliance.
• Create a variable small business deduction and delay taxation on corporate income growth to overcome Ontario’s scale-up challenge.
• Maintain the current mining tax rates for remote, non-remote, and diamond mining operations.
• Preserve provincial tax exemptions on employer health and dental plans.
• Modify the Municipal Accommodation Tax to protect tourism industry competitiveness.
Enhance Fiscal Capacity for Municipalities
• Gradually increase the Heads and Beds Levy on institutions.
• Fix the interest arbitration system for fire and police services.
Address Ontario’s Infrastructure Deficit
• Leverage the private sector to expand broadband access.
• Restore passenger rail in Northern Ontario by partnering with the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Adopt Sustainable Spending Models
• Use value-based procurement to more effectively spend taxpayer money.
• Implement user-pay models and means testing for certain government services.
• Direct business support to where it is needed most.
• Leverage technology to increase public sector cost efficiency.

If you have any questions, please contact Claudia Dessanti, Policy Analyst.

As part of the Ministry of Labour’s ongoing commitment to provide compliance support for small business, the ministry has partnered with organizations across Ontario to provide a general overview seminar on the Employment Standards Act (ESA), with a special focus on recent changes to labour laws under the Making Ontario Open for Business Act (Bill 47).

The presentations will be delivered by employment standards officers and cover topics such as minimum wage, hours of work, public holidays, leaves of absence and more.

Above is the poster for the Quinte area session on February 1 but you can check the calendar below and contact the agencies directly to sign up for a session if this date does not work. 

Please note these sessions are provided for your information only. It should not be used or considered legal advice.

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey for the first quarter 2019 was conducted by interviewing a representative sample of 1,930 employers in Canada.

All survey participants were asked, “How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of March 2019 as compared to the current quarter?”

Click on the infographic above to see world results

Many people living with a mental illness report that negative stereotypes about mental illness, and the resulting potential for discrimination, cause them more suffering than the illness itself. As a result, two thirds of those suffering from mental illness are too afraid to seek the help that they need.

Mental illness affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. It can take many forms, including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Most individuals find ways to live with their illnesses but how they are treated by others often proves to be more of a challenge than the illness itself.

That’s why we are joining the conversation around mental health On Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 30. Stigma surrounded many diseases in the past, but concerted efforts to confront these attitudes resulted in change for the better, including better treatment, more funding for research, and greater understanding from family, friends and colleagues. The goal is to achieve the same level of acceptance and understanding regarding mental illness.

On Bell Let’s Talk Day, for every text, mobile and long distance call made on the Bell network, tweet using #BellLetsTalk, social media video view, or use of the Facebook frame or Snapchat filter, Bell will contribute 5 cents more to Canadian mental health programs.

You can download the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit to begin your own conversation about mental health at home, school or in the workplace, and also learn more about the five simple ways to end stigma.

Join us as we work together to break down the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

To learn more about the chamber plan or to request a free quote contact Wendy Riley at the Riley Financial Group 613-771-1244 or by email

Join us for a fun filled craft evening on Friday, January 25th from 6:00 - 9:30PM. $30.00 for two Scottish themed crafts in honour of Robbie Burns day. We will make a watercolour painting of a dragonfly on a thistle and some tartan greeting cards. All supplies included as well as refreshments. Location is Trenton Town Hall - 1861 at 55 King Street, Trenton. This is a fundraiser event and half the proceeds will be donated back to us, the Trent Port Historical Society.

Contact by email or call 613-885-5194

Come out and support the Trenton Curling Club on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight.  Enjoy an evening of fun and dancing to Tailgate, a local classic rock/modern country band.  Doors open at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are now on sale at the Trenton Curling Club, 293 King Street, Trenton, 613-392-5244, $15 per person in advance or $20 at the door.  See you there

Be sure to join us this year for International Women's Day.
Our keynote speaker - Nancy Carroll from Burt's Bees