Policy Updates & News 275 results

Hamilton Anchor Institutions publish a letter of support for the LRT and BLAST Rapid Transit networks

· by Huzaifa Saeed

Yesterday, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce joined leaders of nine other pillar institutions in the City to sign a joint letter urging City Council to continue implementing the city’s rapid transit plan, starting with the B-Line light rail transit (LRT) line and A-Line bus rapid transit (BRT) line.

Full text: March 21, 2017

To: His Worship Mayor Fred Eisenberger, City of Hamilton, And Members of Hamilton City Council

Hamilton, Ontario

Dear Mayor Eisenberger and Members of Hamilton City Council,

As anchor institutions in Hamilton, we believe in the transformative potential of a robust transit system, including both traditional and rapid transit, for the health and prosperity of our city.

Read More

Media Release: Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to Appear Before House of Commons’ Standing Committee on International Trade re: Steel Industry

· by Huzaifa Saeed

Hamilton, ON, March 20th, 2017: On March 21, 2017 (3:30-5:00 pm) the Hamilton, Sault Ste. Marie and the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce will provide testimony at the House of Common’s Standing Committee on International Trade on its study concerning the Canadian Steel Industry’s Ability to Compete Internationally.

The invitation from the federal government is an outcome of efforts over the last few months to elevate the challenges facing the steel industry across Canada, and especially within these three communities.

Read More

Membership call to action: Business case for an additional LRT stop on Bay Street

· by Huzaifa Saeed

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has been a longstanding advocate for the importance of the B-Line LRT project as a city building asset and economic development tool to revitalize and grow the downtown core.

Through our LRT Task Force, we have been a leading voice in evidence-based advocacy since 2012, not just for the business case behind the project itself, but also towards conditions that will maximize the economic impact of the project.

Read More

Media Release: Inaugural Ontario Economic Report Forecasts Outlook for Local and Provincial Economy: Hamilton Chamber of Commerce

· by Huzaifa Saeed

Hamilton, Ontario, February 8th, 2017: Today, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released the inaugural Ontario Economic Report (OER), a landmark agenda aimed at shaping and informing future public policy. The OER includes entirely new economic analyses that demonstrate the difficult economic environment faced by Ontario businesses and consumers in 2017.

Read More

Media Release: Health Sustainability Most Important Issue for Ontario Voters While System Confidence Wanes: Ontario Chamber of Commerce Survey Results Reveal

· by Huzaifa Saeed

Hamilton, February 7th, 2017: Today, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is releasing Health Transformation: An Action Plan for Ontario, which includes new and exclusive survey data from two of Ontario’s top research firms that polled both OCC members and all Ontarians.

Read More

City of Hamilton LRT Subcommittee endorses the Chamber’s proposal for an additional Bay Street stop

· by Huzaifa Saeed

Monday, January 30th: Today, the City of Hamilton LRT Subcommittee passed a motion to formally endorse a proposal by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce for an additional stop within the B-line LRT project at King and Bay Street.

We believe the stop would act as a catalyst for a dramatic increase in transit-oriented development around a prominent downtown node that is currently underperforming its potential, with over 270 degrees of parking lots and low-density development. 

Read More

Federal Government looking to tax Employer Health Benefit plans: Canadian Chamber of Commerce Campaign

· by Huzaifa Saeed

The federal government is considering taxing employer-paid health and dental benefits within the next budget. In addition to hundreds or thousands of dollars that would be added to Canadians’ tax bills, it also means that many employers will no longer provide coverage to employees.

The non-taxation of benefits, then, is as much a subsidy to employers as it is to employees, allowing companies to net pay their workers more than they could otherwise.

Read More

Bay Area Economic Summit: Planning in High Gear for 2017

· by Whitney Eames

Pieces are coming together for the third Bay Area Economic Summit (BAES), a marquee leadership initiative of the Hamilton and Burlington chambers of commerce hosted in partnership with our respective municipalities and myriad additional supporters._mg_8771

The purpose of the summit is to deepen cooperation between Hamilton and Burlington with a view to promote the Bay Area as a key component of the Greater Golden Horseshoe mega region and beyond.

Read More

Video By
Christoph Benfey

Photography By
Reg Beaudry

Website By
Dunham