April 5, 2016 – On Monday, April 4, Natalie Sims, Chamber President and Nancy Shaw, CEO and General Manager of the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, were among the delegates representing the interests of business at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park.
This full-day event brought together leaders from Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade from across Ontario. Together, the representatives met with politicians, key political staff and senior government officials to address policy priorities for Ontario’s business community.
Key issues included transit/transportation infrastructure, ORPP implementation, regulation, electricity pricing, skills development, broadband infrastructure and Employment Standards changes.
In addition to individual meetings, the day included an expert panel on advocacy best practices with prominent cabinet ministers including Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment, and Infrastructure; Hon. Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities; Hon. Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation and Hon. Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance.
The day concluded with a closing reception with MPPs including cabinet minister and Pickering/Scarborough East MPP Tracy MacCharles. Premier Kathleen Wynne, PC leader Patrick Brown and NDP leader Andrea Horwath addressed the crowd in turn and all three leaders praised the Chamber network and highlighted the value of the Ontario Chamber’s Emerging Stronger reports in shaping public policy in the province.
OCC Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park provided an excellent opportunity for the GOCC to move our advocacy agenda forward with key decision makers in Ontario.
