The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has launched the Accessibility Works website and online compliance toolkit, www.accessibilityworks.ca, to help Ontario businesses become aware of and comply with Ontario’s new customer service standard. The toolkit is comprised of 2 sections—an overview of the customer service standard and its requirements, and a self assessment tool to analyze the users’ knowledge of the standard upon completion of the training module.

Mickey Mouse makes people laugh, but behind that lovable mouse is a well-oiled business machine. More than 300 people took advantage of a rare opportunity to take an exclusive look at the “business behind the magic” from Walt Disney World© Resort insiders during a daylong “Disney’s Approach to Business Excellence” program held Thursday, September 23 and a 90 minute “Disney’s Approach to Quality Service” seminar held on Friday, September 24th at the Holiday Inn Oshawa Whitby Conference Centre in Oshawa. PHOTO: Program facilitators from the Disney Institute Steve Sweet (left) and Mark Matheis (right) present John A. Walker, president of the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, with a plaque of appreciation for hosting the “Disney’s Approach to Business Excellence” seminar held at the Holiday Inn Oshawa Whitby Conference Centre on Thursday, September 23, 2010.

Municipal elections are being held across the province of Ontario on October 25, 2010. In this election you will be voting for the offices of Mayor, Regional Councillor, Local Councillor and School Board Trustees. Our government has a responsibility to serve communities; our collective responsibility is to ensure that they do it well. As readers and subscribers to this newsletter, we are champions of diversity and inclusion. Actively participating in the democratic process, and promoting opportunities to share power with people who haven’t shared in it in the past, is our collective responsibility.

The Durham Economic Prosperity Conference will be held on Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Ajax Convention Centre. As a gathering of influential and diverse leaders, attendees will work together to develop solutions and uncover new opportunities for growth. The Committee is pleased to have a very distinguished line up of speakers scheduled, with CBC Dragons’ Den host Dianne Buckner as the facilitator for the Conference. This event is by invitation only, visit www.durhamprosperity.org for details.

Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) discovered all Durham Region has to offer at Durham Day at Queen’s Park on September 27.  MPPs had the opportunity to learn about Durham during the legislative assembly’s lunch recess. Agriculture, education, energy, innovation, manufacturing and tourism in Durham were showcased through displays, videos, presentations and a savoury Durham-grown lunch.

Oshawa’s VIA Rail service is on track to receive major improvements as part of VIA’s Corridor Improvement Program—the largest-ever improvement and investment program in the 153-year history of passenger rail service in the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto triangle.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Report
The Canadian Chamber wrote to Minister Flaherty to express its deep concern over reports that the government may be called upon to permit the maximum allowable increase to Employment Insurance (EI) premiums - 15 cents/$100 for employees and 21 cents/$100 for employers—to come into effect in January 2011 after a two-year freeze. Such an increase would have significant negative implications for the 420 chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Canada that are members of the Canadian Chamber network and for the 192,000 businesses they represent. Click here to view the letter to Minister Flaherty. Visit www.www.chamber.ca for more information from Canadian Chamber of Commerce

CKDO and Durham Business Groups to Host Live Election Debates. Concerned about how tax increases would impact your business or yourself personally as a property taxpayer? Find out how municipal election candidates would address these and other issues by tuning in to live debates on CKDO 107.7FM/1580AM Radio. The Durham Region Association of REALTORS®, Durham Region Home Builders’ Association and the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce have teamed up with Durham Radio Inc., owner of CKDO Radio to bring you the debates.

Thursday, September 16, 2010 is set for the 15th Annual Business Excellence Awards to “Celebrate Business”. Chamber President, John Walker is pleased to announce the 2010 recipients of the prestigious Business Excellence Awards are: “Business Excellence”—Perry Mechanical Inc., Oshawa, and Northwind Solutions, Oshawa; “Civic Pride”—Oshawa Generals Hockey Club, Oshawa; “Innovative Technology”—Durham College, Durham Region; “New Enterprise”—Victory Cigars, Oshawa; “Business Person of the Year”—Mr. Keith Miller, of W.B. White Insurance Brokers Limited, Oshawa.

The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce has always supported a timely resolution to the future of Oshawa Harbour and welcomed the news that the Government of Canada, the City of Oshawa and the Oshawa harbour Commission have worked collaboratively to reach an agreement that is a Win-Win-Win for all parties and further that the Government of Canada is investing in major improvements to the Port of Oshawa that will boost the Port as an attraction for families and visitors and support new jobs and business opportunities in the region.

This current news of an additional $10 million along with announcement by Minister Flaherty last year of the $9.2 million in federal funding over two years for environmental assessments and remediation of harbour marina lands and the west wharf and the creation of a Canadian Port Authority (CPA) announced by the Minister Baird is a good start to rejuvenating Port Oshawa. In a letter to Minister of Transport John Baird in 2009, the Chamber identified the environmental cleanup and future governance model of the harbour as two important priorities. It felt sufficient funds needed to be allocated for the environmental cleanup of the marina and caveated lands.

The Chamber believes Oshawa’s deep water harbour, 1 of only 18 in Canada, offers significant economic benefits to existing business and has the potential to attract new businesses to Durham Region. The Chamber  supports industrial, recreational, commercial and residential uses at the port and over the past decade, has shared that position with numerous transport ministers.

For full details on the agreement and for other information, visit www.oshawa.ca/harbour.

The June 2nd announcement of the phasing of Highway 407 through Durham, with the first end of link terminating at Simcoe Street in Oshawa, came as a surprise to the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.

In a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty on June 25, 2010 the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce thanked the Premier and the Ministry for announcing the extension of Highway 407, as a good start and noted its extreme disappointment that the parameters for completion of the highway had changed without any dialogue or input from the Durham community which has worked so diligently and in good faith over the past ten years on the completion of the Highway 407 extension to 35/115.

The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce feels the public and business community have been mislead by the Ontario Government, adding to hear the announcement through the media was not right.

Click here for the complete letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty [PDF]

Click here for a copy of the response from Premier Dalton McGuinty [PDF]

Submitted by HOBB & COMPANY, Chartered Accountants & Tax Specialists
Businesses may want to consider delaying the purchase of goods and services that are subject to PST until after July 1, 2010 to take advantage of eligible ITC’s, for example, office equipment and furnishings. As the 8% provincial component of the HST may be recoverable, overall operating costs will be lower. Some consumers will be expecting to see cost adjustments to lower their costs. Consider the impact of HST on your pricing competitiveness.

HST Implementation Checklist

Harmonized Sales Tax: Overview of the Ontario HST presented by Cathie Rogan, CGA, Hobb & Company