Guelph Chamber of Commerce

Drummond Report Summary - Good for Business

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:02:53 GMT

Drummond Report Summary - Good for Business:

The analytical and pragmatic approaches put forward in the Drummond Report are consistent with policies the Guelph Chamber has been advocating for, including streamlining business support programs, alternate financing of infrastructure projects, encouraging innovation, consolodation of hydro utilities, focusing on wellness initiatives to reduce health care costs, maintaining investment in education. The policy review team from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has put together a bullet point summary of highlights of the report now in front of our provincial government.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce Review of the Report of the Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services

Overall Key Messages:

The Commission's report sets the stage for Ontario's future competitiveness.
To slay the deficit and keep Ontario competitive, the government must seriously consider the package of reforms recommended by the Commission.
Ontario's business community has been asking the government to get the province's fiscal house in order by setting out a deficit reduction plan, managing public sector compensation, finding efficiencies in service delivery, and negotiating a new fiscal deal with the federal government. The report responds to those ideas.
Now more than ever, the government needs to look to the private and non-profit sectors to partner in the delivery of services and financing of public projects.
Encouraging innovation will increase productivity and provide Ontario with a sustainable economy in the 21st century.

Background:

The Commission on the Reform of Ontario Public Services Report (the "Drummond Report") was released on February 15, 2012.
The report contained 362 recommendations on how to transform government service delivery in order to reduce costs.
The Government of Ontario will now decide which recommendations to implement in Budget 2012 and beyond.

Economic Assumptions
The Commission projects that:

In the current economic climate, and if government continues to spend as it does today, the deficit will not be eliminated by 2017-18. Instead, the deficit would more than double to $30.2 billion in 2017-18 and net public debt would reach $411.4 billion.
The Commission's recommendations would balance the budget in 2017-18, based on a revenue projection that is substantially lower than the 2011 Budget projections. The Commission's plan allows for a 0.8 percent increase in total spending programs per year.
The Commission recommends restrained growth in spending on:
    o health care (increase of 2.5 percent per year out to 2017-18),
    o education (increase of 1.0 percent per year),
    o post-secondary education (excluding training) (increase of 1.5 percent per year), and
    o social programs (increase of 0.5 percent per year).

All other programs would see a decrease in spending of 2.4 percent per year until 2017-18.

Recommendations that may be of interest to the OCC Network include:

Business Support:

Review direct business support programs and tax expenditures to ensure they are delivering value for money.
Refocus the mandate of business support programs from job creation to productivity growth.
Pool money for direct and indirect business support programs into a single funding envelope.

Labour Relations and Compensation:

Constrain broader public sector compensation increases over the next several years.
Look at “total compensation” when engaging in public sector labour relations – this means including benefits and pensions in any discussion.

Operating and Back-Office Expenditures:

Consider alternative service delivery where value for money can be enhanced without compromising quality or access.
Seek greater private sector participation in ServiceOntario.

Government Business Enterprises:

Create additional value from Ontario’s Government Business Enterprises (LCBO, OLG, Hydro One and OPG) by improving their operational efficiencies, by directing the LCBO to use its purchasing power more effectively, and by directing the OLG to close one of its two head offices and one of the two casinos in Niagara Falls.

Revenue Integrity:

Ensure user fees more accurately reflect the costs of inflation and the costs of providing the related service.
Continue to gradually implement a single uniform Business Education Tax rate.
Replace taxes tied to a good’s volume with taxes tied to its value (e.g. many “sin taxes” like gasoline, tobacco and alcohol are currently taxed on the volume of the product rather than the value. This means when prices rise, revenues from the tax do not respond).

Liability Management:

Eliminate the Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund or transfer it to a private insurer.
Eliminate or modify the Taxpayer Protection Act so that both spending and taxes can be used to address threats to fiscal sustainability.

Intergovernmental Relations:

Reform the equalization program to capture resource revenues in the equalization formula.
Eliminate the Canada Social Transfer and transfer tax points to the provinces.
Eliminate duplication and overlap in shared areas of responsibility with the federal government.
Decrease the rate of increase of provincial transfers to municipalities.

Health Care:

More private-sector involvement in the delivery of health care so long as the public payer model remains intact.
Develop and publish a comprehensive plan to address health care challenges over the next 20 years.
Maximize opportunities to use nurse practitioners with the aim of efficiency, while maintaining excellent care.

Education:

Funding for First Nations on-reserve education that at least reaches parity with per-student provincial funding for elementary and secondary education.
Post-secondary institutions need to devote more resources to experiential learning such as internships.

Employment and Training:

Streamline and integrate employment and training services with Employment Ontario to reduce red tape and increase client access.
Develop a comprehensive training agreement to replace the patchwork of federal-provincial agreements currently in place.
Direct Workforce Planning Boards to encourage employers to increase investment in workplace-based training.
Link employment and training services more strongly to economic development initiatives.
Shift responsibility for apprenticeship training administration to colleges and union training centres. All other administrative responsibilities for apprenticeships should be transferred to the College of Trades.

Immigration:

Develop a position on immigration policies that is in the province’s best economic and social interest.
Advocate for a greater provincial role in immigration selection to support economic prosperity.
Streamline and integrate provincial delivered settlement agencies for immigrants with Employment Ontario.
Advocate for devolving federal immigration settlement and training programs to province with appropriate funding mechanism.

Infrastructure and Transportation:

Find efficiencies in transit services in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
Use alternative financing methods to fund transportation.
Pursue a national transit strategy with the federal government, other provinces and municipalities.
Engage citizens in an open, public dialogue on how best to create new revenue sources for transportation capital needs. These sources could include: congestion charges, parking surcharges, and regional gas taxes.

Energy:

Acknowledging the importance of electricity prices to regional competitiveness in areas such as manufacturing and forestry, Mr. Drummond recommends the following:

Review energy subsidy programs to ensure they align with policy goals and are delivering value for money.
Eliminate the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (OCEB) as it can lead to higher electricity costs for consumers and businesses while discouraging conservation.
Consolidate Ontario’s 80 local distribution companies (LDCs) to reduce the $1.35 billion/year spent on operations, maintenance and administrative costs.
Undertake an electricity education strategy that covers information on Ontario’s electricity resources including nuclear, hydroelectric, thermal and renewable generation; the role of electricity import and export markets; roles and responsibilities of the various players in the electricity sector; and what drives and shapes electricity prices.

Environment:

Streamline the roles for environmental protections where currently there is overlap among provincial ministries and the federal government.
To reduce duplication of environmental assessment procedures at the federal and provincial levels, investigate ways to further streamline the environmental process, such as co-ordinating further with the federal government’s process or integrating it with certain approvals.
Consolidate the agencies and bodies involved in land use planning and resources management.

Ring of Fire:

Ensure employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal People are maximized as part of the development of the Ring of Fire.
Streamline and co-ordinate environmental assessment and regulatory processes to improve timelines in order to secure investment and growth in the region.

PlantForm Launches HIV Antibody Project

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:42:55 GMT

The National Reasearch Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) has awarded PlantForm Corporation $292,777 to develop antibodies for the treatment of HIV. Click here to read more about this project!

Can Tobacco Be Used to Cure Cancer?

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:55:22 GMT

Don Stewart, President and Cheif Executive Officer of PlantForm Corp., whose company is running animal studies on tobacco, thinks so. Click here to read the full article in The Globe And Mail.

Pablo's World of Cartoons

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:57:10 GMT

Pablo's World of Cartoons - What's more fun than watching cartoons? Drawing them yourself! Click here to see the flyer for details on the upcoming March Break camps!

Guelph Leaders Urged to Foster Innovation, Embrace Change

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:07 GMT

Guelph Leaders Urged to Foster Innovation, Embrace Change

GUELPH - Canadians do invention very well. “We suck” at commercializing that invention, said Kirk Roberts, executive director of Innovation Guelph.

Guelph appears eager to take the lead in changing that.

Roberts was part of the Making Innovation Tangible breakfast and panel discussion Thursday morning. The discussion, which attracted about 150 people, was organized by the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. Among audience members were representatives from several chambers of commerce from across the province.

The panel included Roberts, Erin Skimson, director of the business development office of the University of Guelph, Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge, and Lloyd Longfield, Guelph Chamber of Commerce president and chief administrative officer.

They shared local initiatives aimed at generating a culture of innovation in the way we do business, the way we do local government, and the way our post-secondary education environment can foster research, development and commercialization.

Roberts said the only reason we know of companies like Google or Apple is because the inventive minds of those companies saw the commercial potential of their inventions and set in motion the business savvy to fulfil that potential.

Invention is not innovation, he reminded the audience. Innovation is what invention becomes when it finds a market. Roberts said the commercial application of an invention might be completely different from its original intent, but it takes flexibility and agility to see those broader applications.

Once an invention takes off in the world of commerce it is important for a company to be in a constant state of innovation so as not to be left behind by the competition, he added. Product change and diversification is critical to staying in the game.

Skimson said universities in this country are brilliant at research, but not so stellar at development. The business development office at U of G is working hard to close the gap between research and development, streamlining processes and helping to connect inventive minds with entrepreneurial ones. The same appears to be happy at the City of Guelph and the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.

Longfield said the chamber works to connect business talent with innovators. Guelph, he said, is noted for its collaborative approaches to innovation and continues to build on that interconnectedness and open communication.

He said organizations have to consistently behave like a startup business, exploring new communication platforms, questioning the relevance of its processes and services, and remaining open to change.

Skimson said the university is a maze of dozens of departments and hundreds of researchers and the business development office is there to make the maze more navigable.

Farbridge spoke of process changes and flexibility in the way the city does business. It is no longer viable, she indicated, to conduct municipal business in the way it has always been done. The city must closely examine its core business and be committed to real change, not simply to “tweak around the edges.”

It is imperative to change processes in such a way that the community is better able to attract and retain talent. That includes fostering a vibrant arts and culture life, and making infrastructure improvements, Farbridge added.

Economic diversification is the key to a sustainable future, she suggested. But local government must strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection, she indicated. It is not a matter of economic growth at all costs, because municipal government is also responsible for building healthy, livable communities.

Farbridge said city hall must have the courage to look at the “good, bad and ugly” of how it conducts its business, and to be vulnerable in that self-examination because that is part of the commitment to change.

Kevin Hall, vice-president of research at U of G, opened the morning with a keynote address. He said Canada lags behind “much of the world” when it comes to fostering innovation. And universities are traditionally slow to respond to innovation opportunities.

But the world has changed and Canadian universities must change with it, Hall said. They must become “much more responsive” to things like the commercial opportunities that emerge from research or invention on a scientific, humanitarian and social level.

A culture change is taking place at the university that is much more collaborative in nature, especially with the world of business. “We need to think about partnership opportunities,” he said, adding that taking risks is crucial to innovation.

He encouraged business people to see the university as a viable partner in innovation, one with access to expertise, high-quality laboratories and various funding programs.

Article Written by Rob O'Flanagan, Guelph Mercury - Thursday, February 2, 2012

Renaan Isaacs Contemporary Art

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:34:32 GMT

Renaan Isaacs Contemporary Art Presents The Red Dot Exhibition. Please join us in celebrating our first show of the new year! This exhibit runs from January 21 to March 10, 2012 at 31 Quebec Street. Opening hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Click here for more information.

Canadian Blood Services

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:02:33 GMT

Canadian Blood Services - Approximately every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. In fact, according to a recent poll, 52% of Canadians say they, or a family member, have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment. The good news is that one blood donation - in just one hour - can save a life.

In efforts to increase our numbers, we are reaching out to the Guelph community to pass the word to friends, family, peers and co-workers. It's in you to give! Click here for more information.

4th Annual Heart and Stroke Curl for Heart

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:36:58 GMT

The 4th Annual Heart and Stroke Curl for Heart will be held at the Guelph Curling Club on Saturday February 25, 2012! With our goal of raising over $10,000.00, this event is filled with lots of fun, great prizes, a heart healthy lunch and a Silent Auction celebrating the Merchants of Downtown Guelph. This event is back by popular demand.

To register, please contact Gina Sweet at the Heart and Stroke Foundation 519-837-4858 or by email gsweet@hsf.on.ca

Chamber of Commerce to move downtown to 111 Farquhar St.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:11:56 GMT

GUELPH — The Guelph Chamber of Commerce has found a home in the city’s core.

The staff of nine will be moving to 111 Farquhar Street from the chamber’s current location at 485 Silvercreek Parkway North. Innovation Guelph, which has a staff of five, will also be moving to the building with access to 10,000 square feet.

“The core of the city is downtown,” said Guelph chamber president Lloyd Longfield. “We want to be in the core. It gives us a central location to serve the city’s business community.”

Longfield said it will also provide the chamber excellent proximity to city hall, which will be a benefit as staff does work with the city on behalf of businesses quite often.

The Farquhar street property is an 1858 industrial building. The chamber’s staff will occupy the second floor and Innovation Guelph will occupy the third floor. Longfield said the chamber used to be located downtown on Woolwich Street and Woodlawn Road before it moved in 1989 to Silvercreek.

The chamber will also create the Chamber Business Centre at the new location, made up of eight small businesses and five startup businesses. The businesses will have access to meeting rooms, a receptionist and exposure to other businesses, Longfield said.

“It is going to bring more business people to the downtown,” he said.

Longfield said there has been interest in the business centre as far away as France. One international company wants to have a sales office in Guelph.

The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management wants to hold an entrepreneurship course at the centre and has already chosen three local businesses to participate, Longfield said.

Chamber staff will make their move at the end of March and Innovation Centre staff will relocate by Monday.

Article Written by Thana Dharmarajah, Guelph Mercury - Monday, January 9, 2012

Guelph Wellington Local Food & Round Table

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:12:25 GMT

Source It Here" Local Food Networking Event is on February 27, 2012 From 12:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Join in on the networking and learning. Click here for more information.

Lutherwood: We're Having a Job Fair!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:39:17 GMT

Lutherwood: We're having a job fair. Come join us on Wednesday February 29th, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Italian Canadian Club (135 Ferguson Street - Guelph, ON). Click here for more information.

The 2012 Driven to Quit Challenge is here!

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:17:20 GMT

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health 2012 Driven to Quit Challenge is here! Quit smoking for your chance to WIN incredible prizes, like a new car! Have you quit recently? You may be eligible to enter too. Visit www.driventoquit.ca for more information!

Jane's Walk 2012 (Guelph)

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:03:11 GMT

Established in our city since 2007, Guelph has hosted this walk which honours the legacy of Jane Jacob’s and her love for urban neighborhoods. Guelph hosted over 20 walks, and it was so popular that this year we hope to encourage even more walks which will take place on May 5^th and 6^th, 2012. Click here for more info.

2012 Annual Spring Fashion Gala

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:07:39 GMT

Community Living Guelph Wellington and Scotiabank are presenting their 2012 Annual Spring Fashion Gala on April 4^th at the Italian Canadian Club. Doors open at 5:00 pm with dinner served at 6:00 pm. Dinner to follow with many door and raffle prizes. Tickets are $45 and are available by calling Community Living at 519-824-2480. You can also get tickets at these featured businesses: La Crème, Millennium, Fresh Salon & Spa, Dalia Lingerie or Broderick’s Apparel for Men

Capital Paving 1st Annual Miles for Memories

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:49:32 GMT

Capital Paving is having their 1st Annual Miles for Memories to be held on Saturday, May 26th, 2012. This fundraising event (walk/run) supports our fight against Alzheimer's disease. Capital Paving is looking for assistance on how to reach out to Guelph's business community to help support this event.

For details on our event please visit our website at www.miles4memories.ca or our coporate website at www.capitalpaving.net.

Council Balks at EU Trade Agreement

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:44:21 GMT

Council balks at EU trade agreement

GUELPH — City councillors are not willing to support a contentious trade agreement between Canada and the European Union until they have more information.

Council reversed a decision of its corporate administration, finance and emergency services committee, which earlier this month refused to endorse a staff recommendation that the city not endorse the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

Councillors Monday voted to withhold the city’s support for the deal until it receives information from the federal government on the potential impact of the trade agreement.

However, it was not unanimous, passing with a 6-4 vote.

Coun. Karl Wettstein was one of those voting against the motion, along with councillors Todd Dennis, Cam Guthrie and Gloria Kovach.

“This gets us into a world I don’t feel we as a council should be in,” Wettstein said, suggesting that to withhold support for the agreement is akin to “micromanaging the federal government’s job.”

That comment elicited hisses and boos from a few dozen members of the public attending the council meeting.

Coun. Leanne Piper said while it is important governments at every level understand their jurisdiction, one of council’s roles is to support and protect the local economy which could be affected by a trade agreement which potentially opens up the municipality to competition from European firms.

“The federal government is entering into binding agreements,” Piper said, and if those agreements negatively impact Guelph businesses and residents, council should have a say.

As at the committee meeting earlier this month, several delegations implored council to do what it can to get Guelph exempted from the agreement.

Terry O’Connor of the Guelph and District Labour Council said while there needs to be a better relationship between Canada and the EU, the trade agreement in the works will restrict the ability of municipalities to govern as they see fit.

“I don’t think you can make any decisions until you have all the information,” O’Connor told councillors, “but what you’ve been told so far is this is not good for cities.”

George Kelly, co-chair of the Guelph-Wellington Coalition for Social Justice, agreed with other speakers the trade agreement would threaten “buy local” initiatives by throwing purchasing and procurement measures open to a more global market.

“Our federal government is set to sign away our democratic rights to make decisions at the provincial and local level,” Kelly charged.

Dave Sills, president of the Guelph Civic League, alleged that under CETA — as the agreement is known — initiatives such as the Green Energy Act which require materials to be locally sourced would not be allowed.

“The city cannot be a bystander on this critical issue for local governance,” Sills said.

Retired Guelph employee Keith Bellairs told councillors if CETA is implemented, the city’s purchasing policy would have to be rewritten so it complies with the trade agreement.

“Nobody has ever told us what the city will gain from this,” Bellairs said, although Guelph would specifically be named as a party to the agreement.

Though he could not attend the council meeting, Guelph Chamber of Commerce president Lloyd Longfield sent a letter in support of the trade agreement.

“Open market is not something to be afraid of,” Longfield wrote. “Capitalism works. The EU provides opportunity as the second largest economic zone in the world, next to the USA.”

Longfield conceded in his letter this also opens Canadian markets to European companies, but suggested this is not to be feared.

“Competition brings forward the best ideas and ensures businesses and people drive to reduce inefficiencies,” Longfield wrote.

“If EU businesses add competition at the municipal level it will only ensure we have the best ideas at the best prices possible.”

Article Written by Scott Tracey, Guelph Mercury - Monday, December 19, 2011

Share Your Input on Budget 2012

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:59:59 GMT

Deadline Fast Approaching!

Pre-Budget Survey
Please complete by January 9th, 2012.

With the provincial budget just around the corner, now is the time to make sure your voice is heard.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) pre-budget survey is made up of 15 questions and takes only a few minutes to complete. Provide your input today!

The OCC will develop its pre-budget submission based on the survey results. The recommendations within the pre-budget submission will formulate the OCC's input into the 2012 provincial pre-budget consultation process.

This is your chance to let the Ontario government know what matters most to your business. Make your voice heard.

For more information, contact:
Liam McGuinty
Policy Analyst
liammcguinty@occ.on.ca | 416-482-5222 ext 238

Guelph Connect

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:29:12 GMT

GUELPH CONNECT is a joint collaboration between the City of Guelph, the University of Guelph, and the Guelph Business Community via the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. Earlier this year we interviewed many senior business representatives to get their perspective on what can be done to accelerate business growth in Guelph and our region.

An initial project of GUELPH CONNECT is developing a master business directory, compiled by research from the University of Guelph, with funding from the City of Guelph (DFAIT grant) and Guelph Chamber of Commerce (IRAP grant). Three thousand copies of a print version will be used at trade shows and within the local business community. An online version of all businesses in Guelph will be managed by the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. To check it out please go to http://www.guelphchamber.com, click on Business Directory and type in a keyword or business name. Our website is being updated to reflect GUELPH CONNECT branding for the directory. Guelph Chamber of Commerce members receive enhanced features in the online directory with extended business descriptions, logos and maps as well as “GCC Member” identification.

This will be Guelph’s only printed comprehensive business directory to be distributed by the City of Guelph and Guelph Chamber of Commerce locally, regionally, and at national and international trade shows and conferences under the Grow Guelph initiative to promote Guelph and our businesses.

Canadian Chamber Connections

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:42:52 GMT

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce recently attended the annual meeting of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, held this year in Newfoundland. Every year the conversation changes, with people from Baffin Island to Vancouver Island to Cape Breton Island all taking part. Surprisingly, there are some themes that are on the mind of all sizes of communities across our great land.

This year, many provinces and territories have been involved with elections from coast to coast to coast. In Guelph, our Chamber of Commerce held 9 discussion forums within the past year with federal, municipal, and provincial candidates. That’s a lot of discussion. Voting was a full time occupation for engaged citizens in Guelph and elsewhere. Lots of election topics were the same or similar across Canada, and related to what type of communities we are helping to build.

Chambers provide non-partisan support, or argue against policy, rather than arguing politics. The 320 delegates at this year’s Canadian Chamber AGM discussed and debated 62 federal policy resolutions from the 192,000 businesses we represent for the current sitting of parliament. On everyone’s mind this year was how we become more competitive in the world market?

Canada has a great education system, wonderful healthcare, an outstanding standard of living, and yet we have slipped to 20th in the OECD in GDP output per person. While multiple interpretations about what has caused this slip can be made by economists, our discussions came to two conclusions:

We need to develop our workforce, including skilled trades and management, and
We need to embrace the use of technology with all sizes and types of businesses.

Locally, the Guelph Chamber of Commerce Workplace Development Committee, Industrial Committee, and Technology Committee are all discussing how to implement improvements in our workplace and in our use of technology. The GCC Program Committee is preparing events to present topics to help businesses be aware of resources in our community to continuously improve. Membership Services ensures the Chamber represents a broad range of business sizes and types. Our Advocacy Committee prepares policy presentations to three levels of government. And over all, the Board of Directors sets the strategy for the Guelph business community.

Success is not an accident. It takes the work of an entire community to build on our strengths and provide support where needed. To join in to this national, provincial, and local effort you can become a member of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. Please visit www.guelphchamber.com under “Join the Chamber”, or call our office at 519-822-8081.