February 13, 2020

MP Michael Barrett

Member of Parliament for Leeds- Grenville-Thousand Island and Rideau Lakes

68 William Street

Suite 205

Brockville Ontario

K6V 4V5

Dear MP Barrett

We, the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, representing over 400 employers in our community, are writing to you regarding the blockades occurring across Canada to ask you to work with the provinces and law enforcement agencies to bring an end to the ongoing disruptions of public services and particularly to restore all rail services immediately.

In addition to preventing access to public transportation for tens of thousands of individual Canadians, these disruptions severely limit the movement of perishable foods and other consumer items, grain, construction materials and propane for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. We are deeply concerned about the damage to the Canadian economy, the unfair denial of access to transportation services for Canadian citizens, and the undermining of the rule of law.

These illegal blockades, which also affect the movement of natural resources like timber, aluminum, coal and oil, will take an increasing toll if the government does not act decisively to restore order. Factories and mines may soon face difficult decisions about their ability to continue operations, and the damage to Canadian supply chains will extend beyond our borders and harm our reputation as a stable partner in international trade.

A rail disruption of this magnitude constitutes an emergency for the Canadian economy. On behalf of the over 400 businesses represented by the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, we urge the government to act without further delay.

Sincerely,

Pamela Robertson

Executive Director

Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce

February 11, 2020

The Honourable Rod Phillips

Minister of Finance

Frost Building South, 7^th Floor

7 Queen’s Park Cres

Toronto, ON M7A 1Y7

Re: Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce – 2020 Budget Consultations

Dear Minister Phillips,

The Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce has been the Voice of Business since 1906 and advocates on behalf of over 400 members in Brockville and area. As Brockville’s business advocate, we would like to submit our recommendation. A thriving business environment creates conditions that allow business owners to create more wealth and invest more in their local communities. These investments mean more services and programs that build strong, healthy, and prosperous communities.

We also find in some situations; East Ontario is not hear as other areas in Ontario. We appreciate the time you have taken to visit several places in Ontario throughout the Budget Consultations. We are pleased to provide the Government of Ontario with a few recommendations.

--Tax Competitive

Small businesses make up 98 percent of all Ontario businesses and 30 percent of Ontario’s provincial GDP, yet they face several obstacles to growth. As a result, Ontario has a smaller proportion of large firms relative to US states with similar industrial compositions. This limits the productivity and competitiveness of our province. Larger firms take advantage of economies of scale, invest heavily in research and development, and generate proportionally greater export value and GDP.

Ontario’s scale-up challenge is partly a result of a tax system that does not incentivize small business owners to seek out opportunities for investment and growth. Restructuring some of these taxes could boost overall productivity at little or no cost to government. In particular, the current structure of the Small Business Deduction (SBD) means companies are faced with a substantial rise in their corporate tax rate when their annual income increases above $500,000.

We encourage the Province to exempt businesses’ incremental income (additional earnings over the previous year) from the Corporate Income Tax in a given year. With this exemption in place, firms that are growing can reinvest more into their businesses. Eligibility could be restricted to target higher-growth firms by setting a threshold minimum rate of income growth over the previous year.

Helping Business Stay competitive in small jurisdictions/ Eastern Ontario

Sustained investments are needed to expand, maintain, and upgrade broadband infrastructure across Ontario. Overregulation makes this more expensive and disincentivizes telecommunications providers from making those investments.

There are many examples of provincial regulatory barriers that make it more expensive than necessary for providers to install new broadband. Some of these barriers relate to providers’ ability to access passive infrastructure, such as hydro poles. Hydro One’s distribution network spans 123,000 circuit kilometers, serving 1.4 million customers in Ontario, many in rural areas of the province. This offers a unique opportunity to leverage existing infrastructure to deliver broadband services.

Access to transportation infrastructure can be similarly problematic. Since construction is one of the main cost components involved in expanding fibre networks to rural communities, one option to save on construction is to lay conduits for fibre parallel to highways and railways while they are under construction or maintenance. While this “dig once” approach has been used in some communities within Ontario, it has yet to become standard practice.

Helping attract Labor into small jurisdictions / Eastern Ontario

The ability to recruit and retain talent is critical to our members’ competitiveness. The most effective way for workers to attain job-relevant skills training is through experiential learning opportunities, which provide job seekers with hands-on education in real workplaces. Increasing the number of experiential leaning opportunities would not only provide employers with a more capable workforce able to meet timely and job-specific needs, but also give individuals the chance for greater economic mobility.

Also, other items of concern are Residential development and controlling of the deficit. 

We look forward to hearing the outcomes of the province wide consultation in the 2020 Budget.

Sincerely,

Pamela Robertson

Executive Director

Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce

February 5, 2020

The Aquatarium Board of Directors is actively seeking an energetic community leader who has non-profit board experience and will help guide the organization as it grows. 

You will be excited to join a hard working team and be able to dedicate your time and energy to attend board meetings, participate in committee work and be an Aquatarium ambassador in the community for a multi year term. 

www.aquatarium.ca

We are interested in hearing from you if:

You have been a leader on a non-profit board and are ready to bring your experience and insight to this organization

You are an experienced fundraiser and enthusiastic about sharing your skills

You have experience in finances and/or accounting

You have knowledge of biosciences 

Please email a biography of yourself and why you would be interested in joining our board to vicechair@board.aquatarium.ca by February 28, 2020



I am pleased to provide you with information about the 2020 Summer Experience Program (SEP).

The Summer Experience Program provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations and First Nation communities to create career-related summer employment opportunities for students.

The summer employment positions must focus on activities supporting key sectors within the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries and the Citizenship and Immigration Division of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

SEP employment opportunities must offer training, work experience and skills transferable to the general workforce and to future careers. The positions must focus on activities that support the key sectors of citizenship and immigration, tourism, culture, heritage and sport and recreation.

Please review the Summer Experience Program Guidelines and Terms and Conditions for information on the various Ministry priorities, to assess your organization’s eligibility and to familiarize yourself with the specific program criteria for hiring a summer student. 

FYI: Tourism priorities for SEP positions:

• Work in the tourism sector to attract new tourism investment and provide support to tourism regions, sector associations and Indigenous tourism organizations.
• Support product development, marketing, workforce development and investment attraction programs and services.
• Provide tourists with educational, cultural, recreational, and entertainment experiences and opportunities.
• Establish policies and programs that support tourism development throughout the province, 365 days a year.

All applications must be submitted online, in either English or French through Transfer Payment Ontario.

The deadline to apply for the 2020 Summer Experience Program is Thursday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or e-mail if you have any questions or require clarification.

Technical support related to the Transfer Payment Ontario please contact Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) Client Care:

• Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
• Toronto: (416) 325-6691
• Toll Free: 1-855-216-3090
• TTY/Teletypewriter (for the hearing impaired): 416-325-3408 / Toll free: 1-800-268-7095
• Email: TPONCC@ontario.ca

Best regards,

Blair Harris

Regional Development Advisor I Regional and Corporate Services Division

Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries I Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility

51 Heakes Lane, Kingston, ON K7M 9B1

Phone: (613)-531-1184 Email: Blair.Harris@ontario.ca

Please contact me if you require this email or any of the attached materials in an alternate format.

Employment and Social Development Canada opened its annual call for applications for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2020 today. We will be accepting applications between January 30 and February 24. 

CSJ 2020 – Are You Ready?

Are you ready to:

• create quality work experiences for youth?
• provide youth with opportunities to develop and improve their skills?
• respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers?

If yes, then read the Applicant Guide and submit an application!

Remember: The Applicant Guide has detailed information on how you can demonstrate the quality of your proposed job placement. It will help you to:

• include your supervision and mentoring plans,
• demonstrate your safe, inclusive and healthy work environment
• show how you’re ready to provide youth with opportunities to develop the job skills they need.

Apply Now

For more information:

Click: www.canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs

Call: 1-800-935-5555 (ATS: 1-800-926-9105)

Visit: a Service Canada Centre

Moving Beyond Compliance as a Privacy Policy Motivator

Over the next 18 months, Canadian businesses can expect to see changes in Canada’s privacy laws. In particular, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada will likely be granted more enforcement powers. The government sees compliance enforcement as incentive to business to build trust in the digital economy, but there are more compelling business reasons to consider a robust approach to privacy. Building trust to protect brand value, securing assets from theft or exploitation, using trust as a differentiator and to encourage investment are important elements of a privacy strategy.

The digital economy has enabled companies to exploit value from and monetize behavioral data. These products and processes combined with the growth of brand value are seemingly created from nothing – capital without capital. They are the basis of the intangible economy, where sweat equity and ingenuity are the asset. In some industries, intangible assets account for as much as 85% of the company’s value and brand value accounts for as much as 30% of a company’s overall value. An emphasis on protecting privacy helps to foster trust which ultimately protects a brand’s value. The two pillars of building and maintaining trust are taking an ethical approach to the use of personal information and having a robust digital security regime that actively engages the most up to date tools and processes to avoid the perils of a cyber-breach. Recognizing the value of privacy and security as a core component of a growth strategy will also help compliance take care of itself.

This Data Privacy Day, we encourage you to learn how to protect your business by being privacy aware. Learn more here.

Invitation to attend “High Water Talk”, Brockville Ontario

DATE: Monday, February 3rd, 2020, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Brockville Arts Centre

Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River reached unprecedented levels in 2017 and 2019, causing severe flooding and erosion along the shores and wetlands. While we are all hoping for the best, the 2020 flood forecasts for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River demand our attention.

United Shoreline Ontario will be hosting an education event regarding water levels, Lake Ontario Water Management Policy (Plan 2014), and Emergency Flood Preparedness on February 3rd, 2020 at the Brockville Arts Centre. This event will feature formal presentations from invited speakers, as well as an open forum for the public to ask questions, speak about their experiences and share their thoughts.

MEDIA RELEASE:  JANUARY 15, 2020

BCC WELCOMES NEW GENERAL MANAGER

On behalf of the Brockville Country Club (BCC) and its Board of Directors, we are very pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jason Walmark to the position of General Manager effective February 10, 2020. Reporting to the BCC Board of Directors, Jason will have complete responsibility and accountability for the execution of operations and member services with a view to continue to grow the Club’s member value while enhancing the viability of the BCC as the premier recreational facility in Brockville and area.

Currently a resident of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Jason will be returning to Eastern Ontario where he had held various management positions at the Rideau View Golf Club in Manotick, Ontario – Food & Beverage Manager, Clubhouse Manager, and Assistant General Manager. He also gained invaluable experience in the food and beverage industry at Fairwinds Resort & Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Course, and Best Western 108 Resort & Golf – all of which are located in British Columbia.

Jason brings a strong passion for the golf club management industry to his new position as the BCC General Manager. His experience, leadership skills, industry knowledge and invitational personality will be instrumental in moving the Brockville Country Club forward in this new decade. The Board of Directors and members of the Brockville Country Club are pleased to be welcoming Jason, and his wife Stephanie, back to Eastern Ontario.

Ted Broome, BCC President remarked, “After an extensive executive search, we were fortunate to discover that Jason Walmark’s skills, experience, personality and enthusiasm were a perfect fit for the role of General Manager at our Club. We look forward to entrusting the leadership of our staff to Jason as we open this next decade with a passion for improving an already successful product.”

Special thanks to Chris Puddicombe for his hard work and dedication as the Brockville Country Club General Manager for the past year.  The BCC membership wish Mr. Puddicombe all the best as he returns to the retirement lifestyle that he only briefly knew before becoming the GM at the Brockville Country Club.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

David P. Dargie - Vice President: Brockville Country Club

(M) 613.803.5260 (Email) david.dargie@bell.net

MPP Steve Clark delivered his annual update from Queen's Park on Jan 6, 2020 to the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce membership. Thank you to Tony Hicks - The Camera Guy for videoing the update. 

December 6, 2019

Pamela Roberston
Brockville Chamber of Commerce
3 Market Street West Suite 1 Brockville , ON K6V 7L2

Dear Pamela:

On behalf of the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada (CACC), I am pleased to tell you that your chamber’s application for reaccreditation has passed the Council’s examination and your Chamber has been accredited for a period of three years – 2020-22.

A link to electronic logos is included with this email for use in promoting your status. Please note that the logo has been updated and there is also a version with a new tagline “the standard in Chamber excellence.” You’ll see that the link also connects you with a page with accreditation logo usage guidelines. You are encouraged to incorporate the logo into your marketing/branding materials.

On behalf of the Council, congratulations on your achievement. You are part of a group of elite chambers of commerce in Canada that can verify to the business community locally and nationally that your organization is run in a strategic and professional way and has reached the standard in Chamber excellence.

Sincerely,
Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada
Shelley Morris

cc:Trevor McPherson, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Hagen, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER ACCREDITATION COUNCIL OF CANADA
700-177 Lombard Ave., Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5 accreditationcc.ca

Members of the Council Alberta Chambers of Commerce : Atlantic Chambers of Commerce : British Columbia Chamber of Commerce : Canadian Chamber of Commerce : Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec : Manitoba Chamber of Commerce : Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce : Ontario Chamber of Commerce : Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce : Yukon Chamber of Commerce

Click on the link to see what the criteria for the Brockville and District Chamber of Commece (we are a medium Chamber) 

Welcome to our New Members from Oct  to the end of December  2019

Sundeck Tanning Studio 

Brockville and District Shrine Club 

Dentistry@1000 Islands 

Click on each New Member to go directly to there websites