MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce escalates its advocacy!
SSMCOC delegation attends Ontario Chamber AGM, presents recommendations to strengthen tomorrow’s workforce
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – A delegation from the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce attended the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Convention in Ottawa from April 23rd to 25th. They did not travel empty-handed. The four delegates -- including Chamber President La-Na Fragomeni, Vice President Sherry Berlinghoff, Chief Executive Officer Robert Burns, and Director of Operations & Policy Don Ferguson -- brought along a policy resolution with recommendations calling on the provincial government to improve early childhood educational outcomes through expanded education opportunities and innovation in childcare.
“The Ontario Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting & Convention is the provincial Chamber’s key policy development event of the year,” explains Fragomeni. “Over the course of three days, participants meet and hear from a variety of key stakeholders and policy makers in critical business and economic sectors. It also provides a forum for member delegates to debate policy resolutions that will guide the OCC’s advocacy efforts at the provincial level for the next several years.”
Earlier in 2026, the local Chamber submitted a proposed policy resolution focusing on long range investments to strengthen Ontario’s future workforce by making critical investments to ensure that children -- particularly those who have been identified as developmentally vulnerable -- have access to the supports needed to succeed. The resolution was a significant update to a sunsetting resolution that benefited from new data specific to early childhood development and new considerations around the anticipation that A.I. will inevitably play a role in every sector, including childcare and pre-school.
“We know that Ontario’s long-term economic success will rely on the strength, resilience, and preparedness of its workforce,” says Fragomeni. “Unfortunately, a growing proportion of children in Ontario are entering the education system with developmental vulnerabilities that can negatively impact their long-term educational outcomes and workforce participation. Without targeted intervention, these challenges will contribute to ongoing labour shortages, reduced economic output, and increased reliance on social programs.”
The Early Development Instrument (EDI) is a tool that gathers information about children’s development in their early years between the ages of 3.5 and 6.5 years old. It measures factors including physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, communication skills, and general knowledge. The most recent provincial EDI collection in 2022/23 shows that the developmental vulnerability rate amongst young children in Ontario has now reached 31.1%, up from 29.6% in 2017/18.
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber is calling on the provincial government to 1) expand affordable early childhood education to include 3-year-olds identified as developmentally vulnerable; 2) place a focus on catching up vulnerable, and at-risk children, to their peers through targeted programming and early interventions; and 3) make use of automation technology, including A.I. in childcare spaces to reduce educator preparation and administration time so they can spend more time directly interacting with children.
“The good news is early childhood investment is one of the highest-return policy options available. The evidence consistently shows returns of up to $7 for every $1 invested. That means better outcomes in education, higher workforce participation, and lower long-term costs in healthcare and social services. From a business perspective, our recommendations represent a smart, strategic investment.” adds Fragomeni.
The Chamber’s policy clearly outlines that the use of A.I.-driven tools should support administrative functions such as documentation, reporting, and developmental tracking, and that limited application of A.I.-supported learning tools need to complement -- not replace -- educator-led instruction. The Chamber also recommends the development of clear provincial guidelines to ensure data privacy, security, transparency, and ethical use of A.I. in childcare settings.
The policy resolution was introduced and delivered by Ferguson during the question and answer and debate portion of the AGM. It was co-sponsored by the Guelph Chamber of Commerce and the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce. The resolution was accepted with an overwhelming 96% approval by the voting Chambers present. The recommendations of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber’s policy will now become part of the advocacy framework of Ontario Chamber of Commerce and its 135+ member Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade from across the province.
The Sault Ste. Matie Chamber of Commerce additionally lent its support as co-sponsor to policy resolutions calling for the modernization of Northern Ontario’s highways, expediting infrastructure builds by addressing the backlog of Ontario One Call locate requests, preserving and strengthening Ontario’s affordable rental housing system, and modernizing mental health coverage to include psychotherapy.
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About the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization comprised of 500 plus businesses and agencies in Sault Ste. Marie and has been serving the needs of this community since 1889. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce will lead the way as the voice of business, advancing economic prosperity for its membership and the business community. Learn more about the SSMCOC at www.ssmcoc.com
For more information, contact:
Don Ferguson
SSMCOC Director of Operations and Policy
don@ssmcoc.com
