Peterborough Blogs
Voice of Business: The Chamber Wishlist For Ontario’s 2023 Budget
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While some businesses are leading our economic recovery and will be well-positioned for a potential economic slowdown, others continue to face significant challenges.
The Government of Ontario recently released the 2022 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review titled Ontario’s Plan to Build: A Progress Update.
As a Chamber of Commerce, we support the government’s emphasis on fiscally prudent investments targeted towards businesses and individuals in most need of relief. Directing assistance toward the specific businesses and sectors that most need it will help the government to focus on some key issues Ontario’s economy needs urgent action on, like healthcare.
For budget 2023, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce is urging the Province to introduce measures around:
Health: Develop a robust strategy to tackle the health human resources crisis (e.g., by leveraging technology and innovative scope of practice and patient care approaches). Implement Ontario’s life sciences strategy. Address the surgical backlog and deferred cancer treatments, diagnostics, procedures, and routine immunizations. Address the mental health action gap (including the opioid overdose crisis). Continue to expand virtual care and digital health. Support the aging population (e.g., through innovative models of care).
Housing affordability: Preserve and build affordable housing options along the housing continuum. Safeguard sustainable growth. Plan infrastructure around complete communities. Address regional challenges in housing supply. Attract and retain skilled workers. Streamline the development and permitting process.
Transportation and supply chains: Invest in land, air, rail, and marine infrastructure to support the efficient movement of goods and services, reduce gridlock, and protect against extreme weather events and other disruptions. Provide financial support to help small and medium-sized businesses adopt supply chain risk management and diversification strategies.
Transit: Support municipalities in filling transit gaps and adjusting transit services based on long-term changes resulting from the pandemic. Address gaps that have resulted from the withdrawal of regional bus service by expanding GO transit, partnering with the private sector, and re-establishing Ontario Northland transit service.
Broadband: Work with municipalities, the telecommunications industry, and local distribution companies to urgently address barriers to private sector broadband deployment (e.g., by exploring “dig once” strategies, future-proofing infrastructure, and identifying opportunities for better data sharing).
Procurement: Modernize broader public sector procurement to focus on long-term value creation over short-term costs. Introduce more flexibility in contracting arrangements to attract more investments. Help small businesses access procurement opportunities.
Energy planning: Adopt a more proactive approach to building transmission and distribution infrastructure. Optimize existing clean energy assets in the procurement and siting of new generation. Integrate low-carbon fuels and electricity solutions within the energy system.
Climate adaptation: Implement a climate adaptation strategy and commit to providing communities with adequate and sustained funding for climate resilience. Support the federal Task Force on Flood Insurance and Relocation.
Decarbonization: Support cleantech research and innovation at post-secondary institutions. Adopt a bold strategy for low-carbon exports. Support municipalities and businesses with electrification of their fleets. Fast-track investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Energy efficiency: Expand conservation and demand-side management programs that help reduce energy costs and consumption for households and businesses, with a focus on small businesses.
Small businesses: Help small business owners with succession planning as they age out of the workforce. Expand and scale small business digitization programs.
Municipal fiscal capacity: Commission an independent review of municipal responsibilities to assess which order of government is best placed to manage them. Undertake a comprehensive review of the province’s property tax system. Commit to funding all municipal services in which the Province controls some aspect of the operation (i.e. the pay-for-say principle).
Economic reconciliation: Support Indigenous partnerships, procurement, education, employment, and entrepreneurship by building on the innovative Three Fires Nations‐Ontario Southwestern Ontario Infrastructure and Economic Opportunities Table.
Cannabis: Provide a comprehensive update on the implementation of the recommendations in the Auditor General’s 2021 value-for-money report on the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation. Allow licence holders and retailers to enter into direct commercial relationships with each other to negotiate their own product mixes, prices and delivery terms.
Mining: Work with industry and Indigenous communities to develop critical mineral supply chains in Ontario. Further, streamline mining regulations. Increase the Ontario Flow-Through Tax Credit.
We’ve been through a lot of unprecedented situations and there’s no playbook for the path ahead. We’re on the road to recovery from a worldwide pandemic while heading into a possible global recession. What we need from Ontario’s government is a clear and predictable path toward long-term growth, productivity, resilience, and competitiveness.
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Forbidden Pleasures, Flash Freeze, Bob Gauvreau and Innovation Cluster
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Jane and Hal Elliott opened Forbidden Pleasures in 1989, 33 years ago.
Since then, the company has grown to three locations, the Market Plaza and the Brookdale Plaza in Peterborough and the Verne Plaza in Oshawa. The Elliotts are happy to announce the sale of the business to their daughter Kristen Destounis. Kristen has worked alongside her parents since the 90s and has contributed much to the growth and success of the stores. Jane and Hal would like to thank their loyal and diverse group of customers, as well as all of the staff over the years who have helped create a comfortable, safe and inclusive place to shop.
Freeze Dried Candy is a thing…
Billed as Peterborough’s newest and chilliest Candy Company, the Flash Freeze Candy Company recently launched with an exclusive distribution deal through Couture Candy. Couture Candy owner, Lisa Couture, is proud to be supporting another female-led local company and loves the new freeze-dried product, describing it as the biggest and most viral global trend in candy. Check it out at couturecandyptbo.ca or stop into the store at 386 George St. N.
Bob Gauvreau recently announced some big news, that Envolta, a cloud accounting firm originating in Ottawa, has joined the Gauvreau Brand.
Formed in 2012, Envolta is an innovative cloud-based accounting firm that serves the North America market with a heavy emphasis on utilizing the latest technology. With team members located across Canada, the combined team, which will continue under the Gauvreau name, now has over 80 team members, an experienced executive team, as well as partners for the Accounting, Tax, Law and Advisory arms of the business. As Bob says, ‘it’s go time.’
Congratulations to Mike Skinner and John Gillis, who recently announced their retirement from the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
With Mike as CEO and John as President, the Cluster has seen tremendous success, both as an organization, and as the launching pad for more than 300 companies, the creation of nearly 900 jobs, and an economic impact of $54 Million dollars. Successful in their own right, the cluster was a true labour of love for the pair, so a tip of the hat to Mike Skinner and John Gillis on a job well done. Watch for an announcement on a new CEO before the end of the year.
The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association Welcomes New President
/Garnet Northey passed the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA) presidential duties over to Mitch Cleary at PKHBA’s annual general meeting on Nov. 17.
Photo courtesy of The Peterborough and the Kawarthas home builders Association.
Cleary, of Century 21 United Realty is the fourth member of the Cleary family to be a PKHBA president.
Leo Cleary was part of creating the Peterborough Home Builders Association in the 1950s, one of the first in the province and served as the association's third president in 1958. Pat Cleary served as president in 1991 and Monique Cleary was PKHBA’s first woman president in 2019.
Northey, of Spotlight Home and Lifestyle, brought the Ontario Home Builders Association (OHBA)’s message of building more homes faster into Peterborough and the Kawarthas this past year.
Mitch Cleary says he looks forward to building on his family’s legacy and support for the Home Builders Association and residential construction in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes.
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Voice of Business: Highlights From Ontario’s Fall Economic Update
/Heading into another period of economic uncertainty, the Government of Ontario recently released the 2022 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review titled Ontario’s Plan to Build: A Progress Update.
As per the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), Ontario’s economic outlook remains uncertain against a backdrop of higher interest rates, inflation, labour shortages, and supply chain disruptions.
The OCC provided a thorough analysis of the economic update. Here are some key highlights for the business community:
Small Businesses the government announced plans to:
Propose $185 million over the next three years in income tax relief for small businesses by expanding the small business Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate. The new upper end of the phase-out range would be $50 million of taxable income (previously $15 million).
Automatically match property tax reductions for all municipalities that adopt the small business subclass.
OCC analysis: As small businesses grapple with inflation and economic uncertainty, support from the Province will help protect the sector from further closures and ensure they can continue to grow. Additional tax relief through the CIT is welcome as it will make scaling more cost-effective for businesses. Further, the matching of the small business property tax subclass should help incentivize more municipalities to roll out the program outside Toronto and Ottawa.
Other Business Tax Measures the government announced plans to:
Provide $675 million over three years to temporarily allow eligible businesses to expense up to $1.5 million per year for certain capital expenses.
Propose to expand eligibility for Ontario’s film and television tax credits to professional productions distributed exclusively online, and expand eligible expenses for the Production Services Tax Credit to include location fees.
OCC analysis: The proposed tax measures will encourage further business investment in Ontario, including in the tourism industry as it struggles to recover from the pandemic. We encourage the government to work with stakeholders on aligning further tax incentives around key opportunities for business investment in Ontario, such as zero-emission vehicles, clean energy, and mining.
Workforce Development the government announced plans to:
Provide an additional $30 million to the Skills Development Fund, prioritizing training programs that support people facing barriers to employment such as people with disabilities and Indigenous people. Funding will also support priority housing and infrastructure projects across the province.
Provide an additional $4.8 million over two years to expand the Dual Credit program to encourage more secondary students to take apprenticeship and technological education courses, as well as attract more students into the Early Childhood Educator career pathway.
Add additional services to the one‐window digital portal, launched in partnership with Skilled Trades Ontario.
OCC analysis: Widespread labour shortages coupled with ambitious provincial housing and infrastructure targets will require significant action toward workforce development, recruitment, and retention strategies. The OCC welcomes ongoing efforts to address gaps in the skilled trades and early childhood education, alongside opportunities to support greater workforce diversity and inclusion. While the Province continues to work with the federal government to increase Ontario’s allocation of skilled immigrants to meet the demand for labour across sectors (including health care), policymakers need to take further action to address skills mismatches and future workforce needs. This could include working with employers and post-secondary institutions to identify and promote in-demand skills and career opportunities, providing support for reskilling, upskilling, and micro-credentials, leveraging technology and bridging the digital divide.
Red Tape the government announced plans to:
Refocus its red tape reduction efforts toward attracting investment and job creation. This includes clearing provincial supply chain delays, accelerating industrial land approvals and permitting, supporting Ontario’s agri-food system, and removing interprovincial trade barriers.
Establish consultation groups with representatives from key industries to support these efforts.
OCC analysis: Regulatory modernization is one of the most cost-effective tools to boost economic productivity. We are encouraged to see the government signal a renewed focus on high-impact barriers such as permitting and interprovincial trade barriers, which are currently deterring investment in Ontario. Consultation with a broad range of relevant stakeholders will be critical to the success of these reforms.
Cost of Living the government announced plans to:
Propose to extend gas and fuel tax rate reductions so that the tax rates would remain at 9 cents per litre until December 31, 2023.
Propose to double the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) payment for all recipients (low-income seniors) for 12 months starting in January 2023.
Increase the monthly earnings exemption from $200 to $1000 per month for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients. For each dollar earned above $1,000, the ODSP recipient would also keep 25 cents of income support.
OCC analysis: Record inflation and ongoing affordability challenges continue to impact Ontarians, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. The OCC welcomes efforts to mitigate those costs in the short term with targeted support for the hardest hit populations, and encourages the Province to explore additional opportunities to improve the cost of living, including by reinstating the Basic Income Pilot Program to assess program costs and benefits for Ontarians. The OCC and our members also look forward to providing feedback on the development of a provincial portable benefits program, as well as forthcoming consultations related to a target benefit pension plan framework for Ontario.
Next week we’ll look at what’s missing from the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review and look at what will help create a clear and predictable path toward long-term growth, productivity, resilience and competitiveness.
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring The Refillery, Next Level Mobile, The Classy Closet and Royal Agricultural Fair
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Dan Fletcher and Kristie McIndoo recently opened The Refillery in Lakefield.
Located at 58 Queen St. across from the post office, Fletcher and McIndoo offer personal care products such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and skin care, home goods — such as reusables and soaps and a large selection of cosmetics — as well as lots of health conscious and environmentally friendly products to help you reduce your environmental impact. Stop in or check it out online at refilleryonqueen.ca or on Facebook and Instagram.
Next Level Mobile, your one-stop cell shop, recently moved to Lakefield.
Owner Angela Berkman opened at 41 Bridge St., just before you cross the Bridge going into Lakefield. Next Level offers android boxes and IPTV, cell phone and tablet buy, sell and trade, repairs, unlocking, accessories, cases, chargers, SIM and SD cards, Bluetooth and much more. Stop in, or google Next Level Mobile, your one-stop cell shop.
Sue Faris Liczkowski recently launched The Classy Closet by Sue.
Located at 25 Reid St. on the second Floor in Lakefield, behind the Stuff Store, Liczkowski offers upscale consignment clothing, jewellery, shoes, boots, wedding gowns and purses, as well as some men`s items too. The Classy Closet by Sue is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair had lots of winners from our area.
Robert and Jill Staples are making room on the Maple Syrup mantle for son Mark Staples who took first prize for his Maple Sugar, and Granddaughter Emily came home as the Youth Champion for Maple Syrup. Meanwhile, Diane Rogers of Doo Doo’s Bakery was all over the Butter Tart Categories and equestrian Kate Knapp won Reserve Canadian Champion in the Children’s Hunter Division. Congratulations to all!
Trent University Business Student Wins Pitch IT! Entrepreneurial Competition Title and $2,000 Prize
/Trent University business student Safiya Khaki wins Pitch IT! Student Entrepreneurial Competition with her business pitch through the Innovation Cluster’s FastStart Program.
Safiya Khaki is a Trent business student, specializing in finance. Photo courtesy of The Innovation Cluster.
Five finalists from Fleming College and Trent University pitched their innovative business ideas to a panel of local business professionals on Nov. 9 for the chance to win the title of Best Pitch and a $2,000 cash prize.
Khaki impressed the judges with the pitch of her business idea “BioStraw,” plant-based fiber beverage straws that are strong, biodegradable and do not dissolve and become soggy in your drink.
Winning a $1,000 prize and claiming the second place title is Fleming College student Sneha Pradeep, who is currently enrolled in the Wireless Information Networking (WIN) program.
Pradeep pitched her business idea Adjus, a social platform connecting users to a variety of cultural cuisine, recipes, clothing, events and more, offering a sense of familiarity and a greater sense of community to newcomers of Canada.
“Thank you to all the students, judges, and community members for getting involved in this great event,” said Lindsey Irwin, manager of the FastStart Program. “These students brought their A-game, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the future.”
The event was held at the Trent Student Centre (Symons Campus) through the Innovation Cluster’s FastStart Program. The program is designed to assist young entrepreneurs in their business plans, helping them to navigate the economy and bring their products and services to market.
Peterborough DBIA Launches Holiday Shopping Passports; Hosting Holiday Window Contest
/The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has launched its holiday season programs including Holiday Shopping Passports and Window Contest announced at the Venture North Building on Monday.
(from left to right) Terry Guiel, DBIA executive director; Jocelyn Gilmour, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourish visitor experience officer and Hilary Flood, DBIA communications and marketing manager kicking off the DBIA’s holiday. Every $100 locally spent is up to $48 stays in our community, compared to just $14 at big box stores according to the DBIA. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The passport returns is a rewards incentive program to shop and enjoy downtown Peterborough with 152 participating stores.
Last year’s program saw shoppers stamp more than $2.6 million worth of Holiday Shopping Passports. Each $10 spent earns a stamp and every filled card — of $200 spent — earns a ballot for a grand prize of a $1,500 Boro Gift Card drawn on Jan. 11. Early Bird Draws draw on Dec. 7, 14 and 21 where a $500 Boro Gift Card is being given out to one person on its respective day.
Free stamps are available at the Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitors Centre and the DBIA office.
“This year, we decided to launch both our Passport program and Holiday Window contest in tandem to really increase a sense of excitement and holiday ambiance in the downtown core,” said Terry Guiel, DBIA executive director. “Our small businesses put a lot of care and love into the holiday season to capture the magic and charm of in-person shopping.”
Photo courtesy of DBIA.
Shoppers can vote online for their favourite storefronts from Nov. 14 to Dec. 6. for the DBIA’s Holiday Window Contest with the theme as Winter Woodland. They can be seen online or in-person at downtown locations for the holiday displays.
The prizing for the winning stores are as follows:
First place: $1,000
Second place: $500
Third place: $300
Photo courtesy of DBIA.
The DBIA has partnered with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism to increase tourist shopping for the downtown core as out-of-town shoppers play a major role in the economic health of downtown according to the DBIA.
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism designed ‘The Peterborough HAULiday Gifting Getaway’ hotel package that offers visitors an opportunity to receive a $100 Boro Gift Card and a swag bag with local gifts. Tourists receive this when they book an overnight stay at any one of the participating hotels in the City of Peterborough between Nov. 14 and Dec. 23.
“We are excited to be working alongside our partners at the DBIA to support local hotels during a need period in the late fall shoulder season and to encourage increased spending in the downtown during the holiday shopping season,” says Joe Rees, director of tourism, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
The City of Peterborough is providing free two-hour parking downtown beginning Black Friday (Nov. 26) until the end of December courtesy of Wolfe Lawyers.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Kawartha Rentals, Memory Blvd, Sinders Bridal House and Heather Bradley
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Todd Fournier recently opened Kawartha Rentals & Detailing.
Located at 1951 Lansdowne St., just West of Brealey, Fournier has a small fleet, a mix of cars, SUV’s and vans, ready for daily rentals. All vehicles have A/C, remote starters, backup cameras and navigation. Kawartha Rentals also offers full detailing services, from a touch-up to an end-to-end clean and polish.
Jan Watson recently launched Memory Blvd, providing high-quality, customized stationery, photo gifts and wedding boutique items.
You can choose from a wide selection of special occasion invitations, stationery, cards, signage, promotional products for business marketing, photo books, calendars, albums and puzzles, customized home décor, clothing and bags.
Ottawa’s Sinders Bridal House recently expanded with a new location in Downtown Peterborough.
Located at 400 George St. at Hunter, sisters Meghan and Stacey offer designer wedding dresses, veils and accessories and services such as private rooms, bride support, wedding day dressing and more. Details and appointments are available online at sindersbridal.com or check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
I mentioned Heather Bradley’s new book - When We All Get Together a while back.
Bradley was just awarded a Silver medal Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Heather was chosen from over 1500 entries from 22 countries and picked up her award this past weekend in Traverse City, Mich. There is a celebration planned for this Saturday from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the main branch of the Lindsay Library.
Voice of Business: Fall Economic Statement Highlights Upcoming Business Supports
/Forecasting our economic future is challenging to say the least.
Economists are using phrases like “there’s no playbook for this.” It’s tough to find data on how global economies will react after going through years of global pandemic, a war in Europe, and record inflation that governments are trying to cool through measures that will likely lead to recession.
What we do know is that many of our current challenges aren’t going away in the short term and new struggles will likely arise in months to come.
On that note, the federal government’s Fall Economic Statement was heavy on supports and vision for building toward future goals.
You can read the full Fall Economic Statement here, but some key takeaways for the business community include:
Net-Zero
The Government of Canada is making it clear that our future lies in investments in reaching net-zero. This includes training the workforce for sustainable jobs, attracting private sector investment to projects that reduce emissions and drive innovation in technologies that help achieve Canada’s climate targets, investing in clean technology manufacturing, and building our critical mineral strategy to grow our economic with sustainably developed clean technologies and goods.
Additionally, the federal government plans to roll out a tax credit for investment in clean technology. This refundable tax credit of 30 per cent would offset costs for investing environmentally-friendly electricity generation, storage, heating equipment, industrial zero-emission vehicles.
Transportation
The government is taking action the National Supply Chain Task Force’s recommendations, including addressing regulatory issues to improve efficiency and resiliency of our supply chains, modernizing cargo and clearance inspection practices, improving data reporting and monitoring, and investing in improving access to our international gateways.
Innovation
The government plans to launch a Canadian Innovation and Investment agency to work to help new and
established Canadian firms innovate, commercialize research, and create new economic opportunities for workers and businesses in Canada. The government is also planning to modernize the National Research Council’s scientific infrastructure and help continue to propel Canadian innovation.
Infrastructure
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is providing $33.5 billion for public infrastructure across Canada. Under this program, provinces and territories prioritize and submit projects to Infrastructure Canada for review.
Immigration
The federal government is looking to boost immigration to 500,000 immigrants in 2025 with a focus on skilled labour sectors that are struggling with workforce shortages, including healthcare, manufacturing, and the building trades.
Taxation
The government is looking to create a Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive program, introduce a corporate-level 2 per cent tax that would apply on the net value of all types of share buybacks by public corporations in Canada, and reaffirmed its commitment to the global minimum tax on large corporations.
The quarterly economic statements are a tool to highlight the previous budget allocations in more detail while hinting at what is to come in the next year’s budget.
For the upcoming 2023 federal budget, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has set out some priorities for the federal government:
Increase Ontario’s allocation of economic immigrants under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, address the backlog of immigrants, and streamline recognition of foreign credentialing for sectors with pressing labour shortages.
Invest in supply chain infrastructure to address bottlenecks along the supply chain, especially at ports.
Protect Canada’s clean energy advantage by optimizing existing assets – such as nuclear and hydroelectricity – as well as incentivizing long-term investments in emerging technologies such as carbon capture and zero-emission vehicles.
Modernize regulatory frameworks to enable growth in industries like mining and cannabis.
Prioritize working with provinces and territories to remove barriers to interprovincial labour mobility and trade.
• Increase Canada Health Transfer Payments to meet the current and future pressures facing Canada’s universal health care system.
Reform the federal tax system to attract foreign direct investment, drive domestic business growth and innovation.
