Advocacy and Policy Achievements

The Ottawa Board of Trade is the voice of business and a key economic partner in the National Capital Region. Our mission is to cultivate a thriving world class business community. One that drives affordable, inclusive, and sustainable city building.  We are champions of Ottawa as the best place to live, work, play, learn, visit, and invest.

 

In 2023, the Ottawa Board of Trade (OBOT):

• Issued a call to action to all levels of government, residents, and businesses to join OBOT as we declare downtown Ottawa transformation a top priority and to work with stakeholders to Build Up Downtown Ottawa and create a roadmap to transformation for downtown core.
•  Hosted a Downtown Summit that brought key stakeholders together to discuss how we can transform and build a downtown core that will serve the next generation.
• Ongoing engagement with key partners, including Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, RGA, Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, OCCBIA, United Way of Eastern Ontario. Ottawa & District Labour Council and political leaders at all levels of government.
• Hosted a housing affordability roundtable discussion for Eastern Ontario, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC). The outcomes of those discussions contributed to the policy brief Home Stretched: Tackling Ontario's Housing Affordability Crisis Through Innovative Solutions and Partnerships.
• Continued work with the Canadian Global Cities Council along with Chambers and Boards of Trade in the largest cities across Canada with a focus on economic growth, downtown revitalization, and internal trade barriers.
• Worked with the OCC and Ontario Chamber Network to release six policy briefs including but not limited to, Mind the Gap: Addressing the Mental Health and Addictions “Echo Pandemic” in Ontario, Sharing Prosperity: An Introduction to Building Relationships for Economic Reconciliation in Ontario, and Unlocking the Potential of Public Procurement in Ontario.
• Ongoing meetings with volunteer business leaders serving on our board of directors as well several committees and councils, including the Advocacy, Economic Development, CEO, SME, EDI and Ambassadors Corps.
• Supported the Mayor’s Economic Partners Council along with key stakeholders including Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, and RGA.
• Hosted several events designed to inform, inspire, and recognize business leadership including, City Building Summit, Talent Summit, Post-Budget Breakfast, Ottawa’s Economic Outlook, CEO Talk, Ottawa Business Growth Survey, Women, Wit & Wisdom, and monthly Mayor’s Breakfasts.
• Celebrated Ottawa’s business community through the Forty Under 40 awards which recognizes the top young business leaders in the region and the Best Ottawa Business awards, our city’s biggest celebration of local businesses.
• Raised over $26,000 for our next generation of leaders through the Ottawa Network for Education’s JA program at our Forty Under 40 Gala and annual Networking Golf Tournament.
• Helped to raise $18,000 for the Shepherds of Good Hope through the Ottawa is Open for Business event hosted by Constitution Square and Canderel in partnership with OBOT, Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa, and the Shepherds of Good Hope.
• Shared information, resources and promoted member businesses through our website, newsletters, and on social media platforms.
• Published two Capital Magazine editions in partnership with TAAG to promote Ottawa’s unique value proposition, to highlight local business and leadership, and to drive opportunities for alignment and create synergies.
• Joined the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and over 280 industry associations across Canada in sending an open letter addressed to Minister Freeland urging the government to extend the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayment deadline.
• Contributed to the OCC and CCC’s agendas through advocacy campaigns, events, and conferences, including policy debates, annual meetings, and Advocacy Day series.
• Presented and participated in meetings, events, interviews, and roundtables, including but not limited to the Downtown Revitalization Taskforce, City of Ottawa Economic Development Plan, and discussions led by elected officials.
• Continued to promote and encourage members and Ottawa residents to support local businesses through initiatives such as the #BuyLocalOttawa campaign and Fansaves, our member-to-member marketplace.
•  Ongoing support for key local initiatives, including Hire Local, a consortium of four local post-secondary institutions and stakeholders.

 

In 2022, OBOT:

• Led Build Up Ottawa, a municipal and provincial elections initiative that informed candidates and voters about the priorities of the business community through candidate interviews, events, and a Mayoral Debate hosted in partnership with the United Way East Ontario and the Ottawa and District Labour Council at Carleton University.

• Advocated all levels of government for the Downtown Ottawa Business Relief Fund which provided up to $15,000 and other supports to downtown businesses impacted by the prolonged demonstrations in February 2022. 

• Engaged local business in key discussions related to relief and recovery policies and programs; informed decision makers of key issues through a series of letters, calls and meetings, including while advocating for transparent, evidence-based decision making in response to the pandemic. 

• Distributed 317,755 individual rapid antigen tests to over 2,000 businesses in Ottawa in partnership with Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, Health Canada, Ministry of Health, Canadian and Ontario Chambers as well as local businesses: TCC Canada and Trexity. 

• Partnered with Ottawa Tourism to develop and promote a comprehensive workforce confidence program, including webinars, training series, and resources, including POST Promise and Rapid Antigen Testing.
• Supported the Mayor’s Economic Partners Council along with key stakeholders including but not limited to Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, OCCBIA and RGA. 

• Continued work with the Canadian Global Cities Council along with Chambers and Boards of Trade in the largest cities across Canada with a focus on economic growth and recovery, downtown revitalization, and internal trade barriers. 

• Ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, including Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, RGA, Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, OCCBIA and political representatives at all levels of government. 

• Ongoing meetings with volunteer business leaders serving our board of directors as well several committees and councils, including the Advocacy, Economic Development, CEO, SME, EDI and Ambassadors Corps. 

• Ongoing support for key local initiatives, including Hire Local, a consortium of four local post-secondary institutions and key stakeholders. 

• Presented and participated in meetings, events, interviews, and roundtables, including but not limited to City of Ottawa Economic Recovery and Rebound Plan, Ottawa Tourism Destination Stewardship Plan, Airport Community Council, and discussions led by elected officials. 

• Continued to promote and encourage members and Ottawa residents to support local businesses through initiatives such as the #BuyLocalOttawa campaign and Fansaves, our member-to-member marketplace. 

• Hosted several events designed to inform, inspire, and recognize business leadership including Best Ottawa Business Awards, City Building Summit, Talent Summit, Post-Budget Breakfast, and monthly Mayor’s Breakfasts. 

• Celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Forty Under 40 awards which recognizes the top young business leaders in the region, through a series of events, including an Alumni party at BDO and the annual Gala. 

• Hosted several events at member businesses aimed at connecting Ottawa’s business community, including “5 Connections at 5”, “Business After 5” and a Holiday Cocktail. 

• Hosted over 250 business and community leaders at a sold-out golf tournament raising awareness and funds for the Ottawa Network for Education’s JA program. 

• Shared information, resources and promoted member businesses through website, newsletters and on social media platforms. 

• Published two Capital Magazine editions in partnership with the gordongroup to promote Ottawa’s unique value proposition, highlight local business and leadership, drive opportunities for alignment and create synergies. 
• Contributed to Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Chamber of Commerce agenda through advocacy campaigns, events, and conferences, including policy debates, annual meetings, and Advocacy Day series.