(Oshawa – April 4, 2024) – As Canada grapples with global economic headwinds and declining competitiveness, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has released its 2024 Federal Budget Submission, with proposals to support higher productivity, more innovation, and sustainable, inclusive growth.
“The Greater Oshawa area’s businesses are persistently grappling with the repercussions of workforce deficits, rising prices, and fiscal instability,” stated Steve Conaby, 2024 president of the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. “It is imperative that the 2024 Budget of Canada acts as a catalyst for restoring faith within businesses throughout Ontario, supporting industries that have borne the brunt of fiscal upheavals, fostering a sense of stability, and constructing a foundation for equitable and enduring economic expansion.”
The OCC’s 2024 Federal Budget Submission includes recommendations for:
- Empowering Canada’s workforce by working with northern, rural, and remote communities to attract and retain workers, addressing uncertainty in Canada’s post-secondary by engaging in productive conversations with provinces, territories, and educational institutions to clarify how the cap on international student enrollment aligns effectively with the established trusted institution framework, and reforming the Employment Insurance system.
- Cultivating competitiveness and inclusive, sustainable growth by building upon existing debt-relief options for small-and-medium sized enterprises in sectors needing it most, attracting competitive investments in low-carbon energy and adaptation, and taking meaningful action on economic reconciliation with Indigenous people, nations and communities.
- Building strong foundations through infrastructure by addressing Canada’s affordable housing crisis through partnerships and innovative solutions, recommitting to deeper market and non-market housing affordability along the housing continuum, and taking immediate action on a robust nationwide infrastructure strategy, including investments in clean technologies, supply chains, transit, and broadband.
- Investing in resilient, healthy communities by addressing human health resources shortages, collaborating with industry and key stakeholders on plans for national dental care, pharmacare, and the national strategy for drugs for rare disease-modifying treatments, and prioritizing investments throughout the life sciences ecosystem.
“Canada’s competitiveness problem can only be solved through increased productivity and innovation,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the OCC. “This is why the Ontario Chamber of Commerce calls for Budget 2024 to prioritize measures that attract private sector investment, support a healthy and skilled workforce, and build the infrastructure Canada needs for sustainable prosperity.”
READ THE OCC’S FEDERAL BUDGET SUBMISSION HERE
About The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce: Established in 1928, The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce advocates for a dynamic and engaged network of businesses working together to advance the economic and social well-being of the Greater Oshawa Community. The Chamber provides a platform for local businesses to connect, collaborate, and succeed through advocacy, various programs, events, and initiatives.
About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC’s mission is to convene, align and advance the interests of its members through principled policy work, value-added business services and broad engagement to drive competitiveness and inclusive, sustainable economic growth in the province.
For more information about the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.OshawaChamber.com. To learn more about the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.OCC.ca.
