The past 12 months have been the most interesting and turbulent times in recent economic history! Many people have questions about how to leverage the current economic reality and plan for long term success! The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce is once again able to offer its members another exclusive member benefit. In order to provide our members with cutting edge knowledge from industry experts, we are pleased to offer members a special opportunity to register in advance at a preferred and exclusive member rate for the Money Summit: How To Plan and Prosper In Times of Economic Uncertainty, to be held on Friday September 25th, 2009 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. 

To find out how you can receive your member discount, click here. 

In response to the announcement made on June 28th by Ontario’s Infrastructure Minister suspending the RFP process for new nuclear power for Ontario, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce wrote Premier Dalton McGuinty and Prime Minister Stephen Harper voicing its extreme concern by this decision and strongly urged it not to delay this decision. The loss of this build is devastating to the Ontario and Durham economy, impacting the construction industry, suppliers and manufacturers, transportation and our local university.
Click here to see a copy of the letter 

Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce President, Dave Hare, and Chamber CEO Bob Malcolmson recently attended the 97th Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in Orangeville. Over 150 delegates from Chambers of Commerce and the business community from across Ontario gathered to set the policy direction for the coming year. During the policy session the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce presented three of the seventeen resolutions for debate. All three were approved.

The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce applauds the long-awaited federal decision to create a Canada Port Authority (CPA) to operate the Port of Oshawa. On May 21, 2009, Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird, announced his governments intention to create a Canada Port Authority (CPA) to operate the Port of Oshawa.

Sgt. Colin Shaw
Durham Regional Police, Centralized Oshawa Problem-Based Response Unit (COPR)

Since our last newsletter, the COPR unit, in conjunction with our community resources, has continued with our very successful downtown initiative. The results have been astonishing over an eight week period. There have been 157 arrests, 301 criminal charges, 75 public intoxication arrests, 127 provincial charges, and 286 street checks. Numerous drugs have been seized, including marihuana, crack cocaine, opiates and ecstasy tablets. $38,445 worth of drugs and currency has been seized as proceeds of crime.

The 2009 edition of our popular annual Membership Directory and Buyer’s Guide is HOT off the press and distribution of the 6000 copies is underway. The Membership Directory/Buyer’s Guide is being mailed to our members and member representatives. The Buyer’s Guide section has been shipped to all businesses on the Canada Post business drop in Oshawa and Clarington.

This directory has two special features attached to it. First, the directory sets a new environmental standard for the Chamber. It is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This certification ensures that the directory’s production is in harmony with environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forest.

With the serious toll the recession continues to take on our economy and particularly given the reports that many American states and municipalities are denying Canadian companies a chance to bid on infrastructure projects, it’s not surprising to increasingly hear of calls for our provinces, territories and municipalities to discriminate against foreign suppliers. In particular, the Canadian Auto Workers Union is mounting a concerted campaign to have local councils adopt “Buy Canadian” policies that would limit the ability of foreign suppliers to compete for contracts.