News in a Nutshell (Aug 23 – Aug 27)
Politics – Provincial
As election nears, Ontario Liberals believe their gravest enemy is indecision, Toronto Star
Province’s wage-freeze talks go off the rails, Toronto Star
Business
BMO results lower bar for bank sector, Globe and Mail
Telus takes aim at Shaw over CanWest content, Globe and Mail
Economy
If the economic road is so bumpy, why are all those trucks on the [...]
News in a Nutshell (Aug 16 – Aug 20)
Provincial Politics
Making sense of McGuinty’s cabinet tweaks, Globe and Mail
Pledges power to municipalities, Intelligencer
We’re not perfect, McGuinty says, Ottawa Citizen
Business
Google Eyes Canadian Expansion, CTV News
Ontario a developing video-game player, London Free Press
Economy
‘Ontario economy is growing,’ Dalton McGuinty says, Toronto Star
Enough stimulus, say Canadian business leaders, Toronto Sun
Trade
Canada-Europe free trade talks prompt Turkey to jump on [...]
OCC Creating Survey to Help Businesses Upgrade Workforce Skills
The OCC task force on workforce literacy and essential skills is creating a survey to help businesses address skills deficits in the workplace. The survey will provide an opportunity for businesses to better inform us about what programs and incentives are needed to bring workers up to speed with the demands of the job in [...]
OCC Task Force Getting the Scoop on Red Tape from Business
The OCC’s task force on red tape held its first meeting last week to discuss alternative ways to regulate that are economically competitive and support sustainable economic growth. The task force has created a list of guiding principles that will allow the government to achieve an improved approach to regulation based on consensus and the [...]
News in a Nutshell (Aug 9 – Aug 13)
Provincial Politics
Premiers drop economic ball, Toronto Star
Ontario’s Premier Dad rolls dice on nanny image, Globe and Mail
Business
Behind the battle over BlackBerry, Toronto Star
Economy
Canada’s innovative malaise: The cure’s in our culture, Globe and Mail
CAW head calls for national jobs summit, CBC News
Federal flexibility needed, Toronto Star
Trade
Canadian exports take hit in June, Globe and Mail
Never been a better [...]
Ontario Adopting Risk-Based Approvals for Environmental Compliance
The Ministry of the Environment is attempting to take a more business-friendly approach to environmental regulation through proposed amendments to the existing Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act.
The Amendments, which are part of the government’s Open for Business initiative, would introduce a risk-based approval system for all business operations that contain air emissions, waste management [...]
OCC Striking a Taskforce on Workplace Literacy and Essential Skills Training
Ontario is facing an unprecedented skills shortage due to Ontario’s transformation to a more knowledge-driven economy in the midst of an aging workforce.
Left unchecked, these trends will have serious ramifications for the provincial economy. Many sectors are or soon will be unable to fill key positions which rely on advanced analytical skills and technical expertise. There is [...]
Federal Legislation Improves Protection for Copyright Holders
The Canadian government has introduced new legislation aimed at enhancing the fairness and accountability of Canada’s Copyright Act. Bill C-32 addresses several of the obstacles faced by creators and distributors of entertainment software, including the reproduction of copyrighted materials, the marketing of electronic tools for this purpose, and the mass distribution of copyrighted works.
The OCC [...]
Government Red Tape Reductions Good First Step
Bill 68, the Open for Business Act, is the latest initiative in the government’s three-year Open for Business program. The goal of this program is to reduce the amount of time and money government regulations cost businesses by creating simpler and more flexible processes for government approvals, inspections, and services. Making regulations more responsive to [...]
OCC Establishing a Task Force on Red Tape
The OCC has long advocated for a more competitive tax and regulatory regime for Ontario.
Ontario businesses have a strong interest in a more competitive regulatory environment that does not unduly penalize businesses that are committed to sound social and environmental stewardship. In order to ensure that the provincial government’s current efforts to reduce red tape are [...]