Sault chamber keeping close eye on upcoming provincial budget
The provincial government is poised to unveil its budget Thursday.
Ensuring the needs of the north are met in the fiscal plan is at the top of the wish list for the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.
Strengthening ties with and supporting the biggest employers in the Sault is the main focus of the local chamber.
Officials said much of the local economy is tied to Tenaris and Algoma Steel.
“Two large employers that are exposed to the impacts of importation from non-market economies,” said Rory Ring, CEO of the chamber.
“If we can have the province support us in those particular endeavours, that (would be) beneficial to making Ontario and northern Ontario a competitive place to do business.”
More than 90 per cent of Sault chamber members are small businesses. Ring said they have different needs from the provincial.
Most important is predictability, with a follow-through at Queen’s Park.
“I need to know where I’m going in the next three to five years,” Ring said.
“I need to know what policy is going to look like, what legislation is going to look like, and I need to be able to plan ahead. Because we’re deploying capital -- and that’s long-term capital, whether it’s from own cash resources in the business or it’s from borrowed capital.”
A government that has promised to cut red tape needs to allow the municipal government to do so, added the chamber head.
“You need to lend support to the municipality. It really is the municipality that deals with a lot of the frontline red tape issues, and that’s created through the Municipal Act.”
Ring said changes to the Act would allow the government to establish creative policies that could lessen the tax burden on the commercial and industrial sectors, without passing those taxes to residential taxpayers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.