On September 23, 2020, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, delivered the Speech from the Throne to open the second session of the 43rd Parliament and outline the government’s agenda. 

The Throne Speech announced the Government's intent to create 1-million jobs in Canada. The speech also included a number of announcements impacting business and workers:

The plan also pushes for the creation of a national childcare program and promised targeted support for women and black entrepreneurs.

As of Friday, up to 60 pharmacies in Ontario will begin offering COVID-19 testing by appointment only, with further locations coming online in the coming weeks. This initiative will expand testing capacity well beyond the province's 150 assessment centres.

Individuals must follow all public health measures when going for a test, including wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, and frequent handwashing. Anyone feeling ill on the date of their appointment should stay home and re-schedule the test.

Click here for a list of the assessment centres in Ontario. No pharmacy locations have been named for Ajax/Pickering at this date.

On September 29, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual General Meeting and policy resolution debate.

These resolutions were developed and submitted by our network of chambers of commerce and boards of trade. During the debate, resolutions will be discussed before voting delegates are asked to adopt, defeat, or refer the resolution to the Board of Directors for further study.

Policy resolutions adopted at the AGM will become part of the Ontario Chamber’s advocacy agenda

for the next three years

Click here to view the 2020 Proposed Policy Resolutions.

The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade has partnered with the Toronto Region Board of Trade and World Trade Centre Toronto to bring our members the Recovery Activation Program (RAP). This new initiative is designed to help businesses improve their digital capacity, and build their network through curated programs that will help them take the next step toward their digital restructuring.

Participants start this process by completing the Digital Needs Assessment, which will gauge their digital competencies against industry benchmarks and allow course experts to connect them with the program that is best suited to their needs.