Volume 3 Issue 1 | January 22, 2017
Business in the County
In This Issue
Message From the Chair
Maximize Your Membership
Have Your Say
Business in Your County
Provincial Business Updates
Federal Business Updates
Upcoming Events
Our Partners
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2018 New Year's Levee. It was truly a pleasure to start off the new business year with our members and the business community. As always, DBOT looks forward to continuing to work with the community to ensure that the voice of business is well represented in Dufferin.

If you have not had an opportunity to complete the EmployerOne Survey, I encourage you do to so before the closing deadline (January 31st). This survey helps to identify critical workforce issues in Dufferin.

In addition, be sure to reserve your spot at the 2018 Industry Luncheon. This year's keynote presentation by Steve Paikin, host of TVO's current affairs program "The Agenda with Steve Paikin" is one you surely do not want to miss!
Pete Renshaw, Chair
Dufferin Board of Trade
Maximize Your Membership
Member to Member Discounts
The Dufferin Board of Trade Member 2 Member Discount program offers discounts from proud DBOT members for their fellow members exclusively!

There are over 25 discounts available to members!
M2M Discount Highlights
Bell Store - Totally One Communications
DBOT Members have access to discounts on Bell Business products; mobility, internet, landline & TV. 
Booklore
10% off on regular priced books.
Affinity Programs
The Dufferin Board of Trade offers many exclusive savings for members; everything from office supplies to shipping rate discounts!

Save money with your membership!
Affinity Program Highlights
Purolator
DBOT Members can now save more on a dependable package delivery service with Purolator
Purolator offers discounts starting at 25% on Purolator Express® and Purolator Ground®
CCV Insurance
As a Dufferin Board of Trade group member, you qualify for exclusive discounts on car and home insurance with Economical Select.You may also be eligible for savings in addition to your group discount, especially when you bundle two or more policies.
EmployerOne Survey
It is the time of year again when the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin asks businesses to provide insights into what is happening in our local labour market. We use this valuable information and share it with over 30 Partner organizations including Job Developers, Educators, Economic Developers, Industry Associations and Business Support Agencies to help shape programming related to local workforce development.

Click here to take the Survey
2018 Headwaters Tourism Award Winners Announced
  
The Orangeville Town Hall Opera House was filled with tourism and community leaders on the evening of Tuesday, January 16th for the annual Headwaters Tourism Awards. The building was still abuzz after a full day of learning at the first provincial Rural Tourism Symposium that brought together rural tourism organizations and businesses from across Ontario, as well as federal and provincial tourism leaders, to raise the profile of rural tourism in the provincial and federal framework.
 
The Headwaters Tourism Awards, an annual evening of celebration, honoured those tourism businesses and individuals who, during 2017, exemplified excellence.

Fostering good business partnerships is a key role of the Dufferin Board of Trade. DBOT was proud to present the Tourism Partnership Award to the deserving recipient - Lavender Blue Catering !

2018 Industry Luncheon With Keynote Speaker, Steve Paikin

Join us for the 2018 Industry Luncheon on February 22, 2018 at the Best Western Plus Orangeville Inn and Suites for an afternoon of networking, a delicious meal, and keynote presentation by Steve Paikin, host of TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin. 

Steve Pailin will be discussing themes from his book  Bill Davis, Nation Builder and Not So Bland After All. In his book, Paikin documents the life and work of Ontario’s 18th premier, Bill Davis. Commonly referred to as a modern day Father of Confederation, Davis is known for his influential work on the community college system, TVOntario and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

The 2018 Industry Luncheon is hosted in partnership by the Rotary Club of Orangeville, Greater Dufferin Home Builders Association and the Dufferin Board of Trade.
Think Local Photo Draw

It’s time to show off how you #ThinkLocal! DBOT is looking to see how you and your team #ThinkLocal at your business!

The Dufferin Board of Trade Photo Draw will be on January 31st 2018 , to enter follow the steps below:

  1. Take a photo with the Think Local sign (download) or photo frame (DBOT Office)
  2. Post the photo on Facebook or Twitter, tag DBOT, and use the #ThinkLocal or #OurDufferin
The winner will be selected via random draw and will be announced on the DBOT facebook and twitter.


Entry deadline January 30th, 2018 11:59 PM.

Prize: 2 tickets to the Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club game on February 3, 2018 in Toronto.

Click here for full details.
Further Offset Measures Needed in Upcoming Budget to Keep Ontario Competitive
On January 15, 2017, the Dufferin Board of Trade, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) provided the Ontario government with 11 recommendations for the upcoming provincial budget that will help businesses manage costs and secure the province’s competitive advantage.

The submission, presented to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, calls on the government to implement taxation reforms and smart infrastructure and transportation spending to maximize growth and benefit all regions of Ontario.

As the cost of doing business in the province continues to increase, and Ontario employers take on one of the largest wage increases in recent history, Ontario’s Chamber Network is recommending the government reinstate the scheduled corporate income tax rate from 11.5 per cent to 10 per cent. The submission also calls on the harmonization of the Business Education Tax across the province, as well as targeted reductions to the Employer Health tax.

Read the full submission and all 11 recommendations   here.
Bank of Canada Interest Rate Increase: The Canadian Chamber Urges Caution

Following the Bank of Canada announcement of a 0.25 per cent increase in the prime lending rate, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce urges the Bank of Canada to be cautious about future increases.

While Canada’s economy is strong, The Canadian Chamber remains concerned about slowing growth as we look ahead in 2018 and into 2019. Further rate increases motivated in part by government policies that drive up the cost of living could negatively impact consumer spending, as well as the housing market in Canada.

This would only exacerbate existing challenges facing Canadian businesses, including those that the Canadian Chamber has consistently identified, such as the need to address the increasing regulatory burden on companies, the uncertainty about the future of NAFTA and other important trade agreements and opportunities, and the persistent lag in business investment across the country.
How to Hire Employees
January 29 @ 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Alder Street Recreation Centre, 275 Alder Street 
Orangeville, Ontario L9W 5H6 Canada

Nicole Gervasio of HCI HR Consulting will present strategies to hire and retain the best employees. Nicole will discuss recruiting, interviewing, and employee orientation as well as the right way to dismiss an employee.

Click here to learn more.
Industry Luncheon
February 22 @ 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Best Western PLUS Inn & Suites, 7 Buena Vista Drive 
Orangeville, Ontario L9W 0A2 Canada

Hosted in partnership by the Rotary Club of Orangeville, Greater Dufferin Home Builders Association, and the Dufferin Board of Trade. The 2018 Industry Luncheon welcomes keynote speaker Steve Paikin, host of TVO's flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin. 

Click here to purchase tickets.
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