In this challenging and constantly changing business environment, the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce want to support our Members by providing relevant and up-to-date information. This includes government announcements and support programs, resources, webinars, surveys, and other important updates.
This is a collaborative email to share information that applies to our Memberships at large, sent on behalf of the Grimsby Chamber, Lincoln Chamber, and West Lincoln Chamber.
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Town Hall with Finance Minister Rod Phillips and Sam Oosterhoff |
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Thank you to everyone who attended the virtual event, and special thanks to Sam and Minister Phillips for taking the time to speak to our members here in Grimsby, Lincoln, and West Lincoln. We appreciate your engagement with our communities!
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2020 Budget - Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover
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Earlier this month, the Minister of Finance announced Ontario’s 2020 Budget, with a focus on pro tecting health and safety, while promoting economic support and job recovery.
The Budget presents $4.8 billion in new supports to build the foundation for a strong recovery fuelled by economic growth. Highlights include:
- Making additional investments of over $680 million over the next four years in broadband infrastructure which, combined with its prior commitments, increases Ontario's investment to a historic nearly $1 billion to ensure communities across the province are connected.
- Bringing more jobs to Ontario with a comprehensive plan to address the job-killing high costs of electricity, saving medium-size and larger industrial and commercial employers about 14 and 16 per cent respectively, on average, on their electricity bills (at an additional expense of $1.3 billion over three years).
- Reducing property taxes on job creators and levelling the playing field by lowering high Business Education Tax (BET) rates for over 200,000 employers, or 94 per cent of all business properties in Ontario, to a rate of 0.88 per cent. This is creating $450 million in immediate annual savings and representing a reduction of 30 per cent for many businesses currently subject to the highest BET rate in the province.
- Responding to requests from local governments by proposing to provide municipalities with the ability to cut property tax for small businesses and a provincial commitment to consider matching these reductions. This would provide small businesses as much as $385 million in total municipal and provincial property tax relief by 2022-23, depending on municipal adoption.
- Ending a tax on jobs for an additional 30,000 employers by proposing to make permanent the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption increase from $490,000 to $1 million. With this additional relief about 90 per cent of employers would pay no EHT, saving them $360 million in 2021-22 that could be reinvested in jobs and growth.
- Committing to provide Ontario residents with support of up to 20 per cent for eligible Ontario tourism expenses to encourage them to safely discover Ontario in 2021, the year of the Ontario staycation.
- Connecting workers in the tourism and hospitality sector and others most affected by the pandemic to training and jobs with an investment of $180.5 million over 3 years, including a skilled trades strategy, an additional $100 million of dedicated investments through Employment Ontario for skills training, a redesigned Second Career program, and $59.5 million to acquire in-demand skills.
- Providing $500 million over four years to make government services more reliable, convenient and accessible through the Ontario Onwards Acceleration Fund.
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Applications are now open for the Main Street Relief Grant to help eligible small businesses with 2 - 9 employees with the cost of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The grant is part of efforts by the Ontario government to support small businesses with the unexpected costs of PPE.
To be eligible, your business must have two to nine employees and be in one of the following sectors:
- Retail
- Accommodation and food services
- Repair and maintenance
- Personal and laundry services
Eligible small businesses will receive one-time grants of up to $1,000.
To apply for the grant, you will need to submit receipts or proof of costs for PPE purchased since March 17, 2020. This includes:
- Gloves, gowns, face shields, eye protection, masks, sanitizer, sanitizing wipes
- Thermometers, temperature monitors or cameras
- Physical changes, including the installation of hand sanitizer stations and plexiglass dividers
- Signs to guide or inform customers and employees
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Workplace Safety & Prevention Services |
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Reading Recommendations for Promoting a Safe Workplace |
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The pitch: two invisible threats simultaneously infiltrate local communities. Unsuspecting residents spread disease as they go about their daily business. Everybody is at risk; nobody is immune. While this sounds like it could be a horror movie, it’s actually a worst-case scenario if seasonal influenza (flu) converges with COVID-19.
Ask anyone you know three things we can do to protect ourselves from Coronavirus and they might rattle off a list likely longer than that: social distancing, handwashing, mask, gloves etc. Ask the same question regarding mental health and you just might get a slower response. And a far shorter list.
Who could have foreseen how quickly Canadians would adapt to wearing face coverings? They’re everywhere on city streets, in shops, and in workplaces where physical distancing isn’t always possible. It’s one thing to get in the habit of wearing face coverings. It’s another to know all about how to properly care for, use, handle and dispose of them. Our experts have some advice.
When the pandemic began, many workplaces that were not open to the public applied a simple solution to the issue of visitors: no visitors allowed. But as the pandemic persists, this strategy may no longer be sustainable.
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Niagara Workforce Planning Board |
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Share Your Experiences in Retail
Niagara Workforce Planning Board (NWPB) is currently working with the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce and Literacy Link Niagara to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Niagara’s retailers.
We are looking to speak with local businesses to help understand how they are sustaining operations through this pandemic, addressing new challenges and opportunities, and leveraging e-commerce to support physical retail.
We will be taking the messages, frustrations, and successes that we hear to help develop a community action plan which promotes sustainable employment and best practices in the retail sector.
If you are interested in telling us about your experiences, please reach out to NWPB’s research associate Kevin McPhillips at kevin@nwpb.ca or 519-701-5695.
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Free Advertising for Local Merchants |
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Free advertising program for 100 local merchants to keep their brand top of mind and encourage everyone to shop locally this holiday season. |
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Contact Your Local Chamber |
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Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
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Lincoln
Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
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West Lincoln
Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
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This email was sent by on behalf of the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce, which consists of the Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and the West Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. You have received this email because you subscribed to our newsletters; your email address will not be shared and will be used only for these updates.
You may unsubscribe from receiving these emails at any time.
Please contact your local Chamber if you have any questions or concerns.
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