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Join us for a great evening at a very unique destination in Quinte West. The Old Church Theatre is located less than 10 minutes from Trenton. View Map here.
Enjoy light refreshments, cash bar and door prizes.
Please click here to RSVP so we can prepare for you!
Nominations for the Board of Directors closes this Friday, CLICK Here if you need more information or would like a nomination form sent to you.
Notice: There will be a vote on proposed changes to the Chamber bylaws, these changes will be to sections 39, 40 and 48. There will also be the addition of three new articles dealing with Protection of Directors; Conflict of Interest and Dissolution. If you would like to receive a copy of the by-laws with the proposed changes prior to the meeting please CLICK HERE.
Regional Chamber Luncheon - Emerging Stronger in Ontario
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce issued Emerging Stronger 2013 in January of this year. It surveys the progress that business, government, and civil society have made over the past year. It identifies the challenges we still face, and sets out the tangible steps we must take to ensure that Ontario emerges stronger from this period of economic transition.
Hear Josh Hjartarson, Vice President, Policy and Government Relations at the Ontario Chamber discuss how the recommendations in Emerging Stronger offer a policy road map for the next several years.
Today, we issued a report entitled $50 Million a Day. In our report, we highlight how Canada’s lack of infrastructure is preventing Canadians from maximizing their potential benefits in energy markets.
The fastest growing markets for oil and gas now lie in non-OECD nations; however, Canada cannot respond to this opportunity as it lacks the infrastructure to get energy to tidewater and overseas. This lack of market access has cost Canada as much as $50 million a day. Jobs, tax revenues and other economic benefits are all at stake.
Oil and gas, its transportation and its environmental and social impacts have become one of the most pressing policy debates of the last few years. $50 Million a Day lays out key facts every Canadian needs to understand about the issue. It is time to have a balanced discussion about what it means to be an energy nation in the 21st century. At the Canadian Chamber, we are committed to having this discussion and will kick it off during International Trade Day on Oct. 29.
Ontario's public sector employers are facing unfair restrictions for tendering construction contracts. As a result, municipalities are unable to get the best bang for the taxpayer's buck when they tender for construction projects.
Public sector employers, specifically municipalities, are treated as businesses under Ontario's Labour Relations Act, 1995. As a result of this classification, the Ontario Labour Board has been applying collective-bargaining rules for construction companies to municipalities and school boards.
A private members bill is currently being debated in the Ontario legislature. Bill 73: Fair and Open Tendering Act would amend the Labour Relations Act so that municipalities would no longer be classified as 'construction employers'.
The current system, which is unfair and costly, must change. It has created monopolies in some of the province's largest municipalities, including Toronto, Hamilton, and Sault Ste. Marie. These monopolies limit the number of companies who can be considered for jobs, and in doing so restrict otherwise qualified candidates from bidding on work. The system stifles competition and often results in unnecessarily high infrastructure costs.
Fair and open tendering would free public employers, like municipalities, from constrictive agreements that prevent them from maximizing tax dollars. Public employers should be able to openly tender projects to all eligible bidders. This approach would allow public sector employers to operate more efficiently and foster economic growth through greater competition.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THIS?
Input your details into the following letter and email it your local MPP.
So much is happening this fall so plan on being part of it!
Quinte Business week is a celebration of business in the Quinte Region. The 4 Regional Chambers (Quinte West, Belleville, Prince Edward County and Brighton) have got together to bring you a week packed full of workshops, seminars, amazing speakers and networking.
We are starting off the week with a luncheon at the National Air Force Museum and an amazing speaker "General Rick Hillier"
Open House & Registration Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 pm Trenton Curling Club 293 King St.
FREE CURLING INSTRUCTION for all levels of experience...from the beginner to anyone wanting to improve their skills!!! Everyone Welcome!!! Tues. Oct. 15th to Fri. Oct. 18th 7 pm to 9 pm Trenton Curling Club 293 King St.
If you have any questions, please contact
Thanks so much.
Glenda Bruynson Manager, Trenton Curling Club (613) 392-5244 www.trentoncurlingclub.ca
Ministry of Labour to conduct Employment standards Blitz
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR MEMBERS FROM THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR MINISTRY OF LABOUR TO CONDUCT EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS RETAIL SERVICES BLITZ
From October to December 2013, the Ministry of Labour will conduct an employment standards blitz focusing on retail services. Examples of businesses that would be included in the blitz are:
• Gas stations • Convenience stores • Grocery stores • Outlet stores • Stores located in shopping malls and strip malls
These inspections will focus on employment standards related to public holidays, vacation pay, hours of work, overtime, and the posting of the mandatory "What You Should Know About the Employment Standards Act, 2000," poster. Although these are the focus, violations of other employment standards will be addressed if identified.
The goal of these inspections is to ensure compliance with the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and its regulations, and to educate employers about their obligations.
Blitz Focus The following is a summary of some of the key employment standards issues that officers will focus on during the blitz: • Public Holidays • Vacation Pay • Mandatory Display of the Employment Standards poster • Hours of Work • Overtime
The ministry produces educational resources in 23 languages in addition to English and French. To access their multilingual resources visit Ontario.ca/EmploymentRights.
Workplace parties with questions about their employment standards rights and responsibilities can call the ministry's toll-free number and receive service in 23 languages at 1-800-531-5551. ________________________________________
October 1 is National Seniors Day, an occasion to honour and celebrate seniors for the valuable contributions they have made, and continue to make, in our communities, workplaces, and families. This year, I am inviting businesses across the country to help celebrate seniors in their workplaces and communities. For example, offer a seniors’ discount, create a storefront display, or lead an event to shine a spotlight on the seniors who are actively engaged in or around your workplace.
National Seniors Day builds on many other measures introduced by the Government of Canada, including the commitment to support the well-being and quality of life of seniors by providing them with the information they need to help them stay active, engaged and informed. To further demonstrate this commitment, the seniors.gc.ca website has been recently redeveloped to include a new Information for Seniors portal that brings together a variety of federal, provincial/territorial and municipal resources about relevant programs and benefits. And more recently, as part of Economic Action Plan 2013, our Government proposed to better protect seniors in a variety of areas, including financial services, housing and health.
On October 1, we encourage you to join with the federal government’s efforts to celebrate the seniors in your life. Individuals, community leaders, municipalities, colleagues and businesses everyone can get involved!
• Thank and celebrate a senior's ongoing contributions by sending them an electronic personalized postcard. • Display posters to mark the day. • Organize a National Seniors Day event using our new Do-it-Yourself Guide found at seniors.gc.ca. The guide also includes sample event products such as a news release, media advisory, speech and messages for social media and radio.
Looking for more ideas on how to celebrate National Seniors Day? Visit seniors.gc.ca for further information, ideas, and materials for the activities mentioned above.
Whichever way you choose to celebrate National Seniors Day, join us in thanking older Canadians for helping to build our country and celebrate their on-going contributions!
Sincerely, The Honourable Alice Wong, P.C., M.P. Minister of State (Seniors)
During the month of October Highland Shores Children’s Aid and the Quinte Children’s Foundation, along with Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario, will be raising awareness around the issues of preventing child abuse and neglect through the Purple Ribbon Campaign.
This year, CASs in Eastern Ontario are joining together to promote Community Dress Purple Day on October 18th. Our hope is to get the general public, local schools, businesses and our community partners wearing purple on that day to show their support of child abuse prevention and to help raise awareness about this important issue.
This simply requires that you dress in purple or wear a purple item on this day. The Quinte Children’s Foundation, the fundraising arm for Highland Shores Children’s Aid, also have purple ties and scarves available for sale if you would like to purchase them in order to participate on October 18th. As well, the Foundation have for purchase purple hockey tape for those who play hockey, or have children who do, and wish to wrap their hockey sticks for the month of October.
We hope you will consider participating in Community Dress Purple Day on October 18th.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions or if you would like to purchase purple ties, scarves or tape.
Sincerely, Lisa Thompson 613-962-9291, ext. 2305 Child Abuse Prevention Month Committee Member
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