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Advocacy
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2025
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2021
SSMCOC joins in Queen's Park Advocacy Series - April 16, 2021Communicating the concerns of our members to elected officials and formulating solutions that best represent the needs of local business are central to the activities of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce. The SSMCOC recently completed a whirlwind series of virtual meetings with elected officials and Ontario Ministers, taking part in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Series.
SSM Chamber of Commerce and STRIVE Young Professionals Group establish Algoma Vaccination Support Council - March 19, 2021The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) and the STRIVE Young Professionals Group have established the Algoma Vaccination Support Council (AVSC). The working group, which has started meeting weekly, is comprised of local businesses, organizations, and community stakeholders, and has identified the goal of increasing vaccination literacy, information dissemination about local vaccination efforts, and providing support wherever possible, such as food and beverages for vaccination clinic staff and volunteers as well as transportation for those unable to secure transportation to those vaccination clinics. -
2020
Chambers urge government to address pain points and lay the groundwork for strong rebound as the province grapples with the economic fallout of COVID-19 - February 26, 2020Today, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released its 2021 Ontario pre-Budget submission, focused on recovery, growth, and modernization. The submission calls for policies that minimize the impacts of business closures, uplift the sectors and demographics hit hardest by the pandemic, invest in the infrastructure and workforce of the future, and modernize government services to improve outcomes for businesses and residents.
Chambers call for virtual care to become a permanent fixture in health care system - December 11, 2020
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Chalks Up a Win with Provincial Budget - November 5, 2020The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce is applauding steps in the provincial budget which are aimed at reducing taxes for job creators struggling to ensure that Ontarians keep their paycheques during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SSMCOC represents Sault Ste. Marie businesses at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM - October 28, 2020The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce was pleased to take part in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting on October 26th and 27th. This year's CCC AGM marked the first time that the event was held virtually. Policy discussions held during the AGM will now form the framework of advocacy efforts undertaken by the CCC at the federal level. More than 300 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade from across Canada took part. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber was proud to represent our members and our community at this event.
SSMCOC Policy Resolutions Accepted by the OCC - September 2020A number of policy resolutions authored, and co-sponsored, by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce have been accepted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber Network following presentation and debate. These policy resolutions will now form part of the framework of the overall networking efforts by the Ontario Chamber network, which speaks on behalf of over 60,000 businesses in the province.- Achieving Property Tax Fairness Across Ontario (submitted in partnership with the Burlington Chamber of Commerce)- Improving Indigenous Education in Ontario (co-sponsored by the SSMCOC)- Support Ontario’s Forestry Industry by Establishing an Ontario Commercial Loan Guarantee Program (co-sponsored by the SSMCO
Chamber supports 'Our Restaurants' campaign to prevent closure of restaurants - August 26, 2020More than 60 per cent of Canada’s restaurants risk having to close their doors permanently by November, according to government data. The campaign puts a spotlight on the current situation faced by Canada’s restaurants amidst COVID-19: high costs, fewer customers, and government programs ill-equipped for the unique, long-term challenges faced by the industry.
SSMCOC appears before Ontario's Standing Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs - August 20, 2020Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce CEO, Rory Ring appeared before the Ontario Government's Standing Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs by video conference on Thursday, August 20th. As an effort to review the government’s numerous actions to support small businesses, the Standing Committee on Finance held a Small and Medium Enterprises hearing.
Chamber looks to take municipal tax system concerns provincial - July 16, 2020The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) is looking to escalate the issue of property tax fairness to the provincial level. A policy resolution drafted by the local Chamber, and co-sponsored by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, will be presented for discussion as part of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) annual policy process in September.
A Win for Communications and Broadband - June 5, 2020The Chamber welcomed the Ontario Government’s announcement of $150 million in broadband and cellular service in rural areas. This has been a long standing issue of advocacy for the SSMCOC for several years. The SSMCOC has long-held that increased capacity for high speed internet and modern communications is essential to the economic success of northern, rural and remote communities and to the well-being of the people living and working in those communities.
Chamber calls on City to defer non-residential property tax - March 23, 2020On March 19th the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce sent a request to Mayor Christian Provenzano and members of City Council, requesting the immediate deferment of all non-residential property taxes for the period of 3 months or as directed by those health professionals and the Province of Ontario ending the pandemic classification of Covid-19, and when the State of Emergency in Ontario is lifted.
Taking our Message Directly to Queen’s Park - March 9, 2020Today, the SSMCOC took part in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Day of Advocacy at Queen’s Park. It was an opportunity to meet with party leaders, provincial ministers and key staff to discuss challenges and opportunities that Ontario’s communities and businesses are facing.
SSMCOC joins in the release of the Ontario Chamber network's Ontario Economic Report - February 26, 2020Released today, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) fourth annual Ontario Economic Report (OER) reveals opportunities where both business and government can focus to create an environment more conducive to small business success. -
2019
Ensuring Business and the Economy was Front-and-Centre in the 2019 Federal Election - Fall 2019In the lead up to the 2019 Federal Election, the Chamber hosted a Federal Election All Candidates Breakfast. Each of the candidates vying to represent Sault Ste. Marie discussed their platforms specific to business and the economy and took questions from Chamber members. The SSMCOC also partnered with Algoma University to host its Federal Election Candidates Panel Discussion.
Chamber Round Table Looks at Red Tape - October 11, 2019The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce was pleased to host a round table discussion with Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape on October 11th. Minister Sarkaria met with Chamber small business owners to listen to the red tape challenges that they face as entrepreneurs and employers.
The President and CEO of the Canada's largest business association addresses Sault Chamber members - October 8, 2019
Addressing Critical Imbalances to Ontario's Future - The Mosaic Report - September 12, 2019The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce has joined with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to release a new report, The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies. The report outlines how governments of all levels can work with industry to unleash the potential of Ontario’s regional economies and reinforce the competitiveness of the province as a whole.
Advocacy for the creation of private, public and Indigenous partnerships pays dividends in Sault Ste. Marie - June 27, 2019In 2018, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce led the charge on the adoption of a Canadian Chamber of Commerce resolution advocating for the creation of private, public and Indigenous partnerships to address the skills gap that is impacting employers across the country. The Chamber is pleased to see that the Federal Government is taking steps to build these partnerships here in Sault Ste. Marie.
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Statement on the Removal of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum - May 23, 2019Chambers of Commerce, Canadian Manufactures and Exporters & Tenaris Call for Changes to Federal Bill C-69 - May 15, 2019
Vote Prosperity Puts Business Issues at the Forefront for 2019 Election: Sault Ste. Marie Chamber - May 13, 2019
Chamber hosts Round-Table discussion with Andrea Horwath, Ontario's Leader of the Official Opposition - April 24, 2019
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce had an opportunity to sit down for a roundtable discussion with Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario and Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party. Some of the items discussed included: infrastructure, transportation, skilled trades training, and steel.
Provincial Budget 2019 Strikes Right Balance for Business Community: Sault Chamber - April 12, 2019
Advocating for Business at Queen's Park - March 25, 2019
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce takes part in the Ontario Chamber network's annual 'Day of Advocacy at Queens Park. Representatives from Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade from accross the provinceare on hand to advocate for Ontario's businesses.
Business Confidence Improves but More Remains to be Done: 2019 ONTARIO ECONOMIC OUTLOOK - February 20, 2019
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