News Release

Business communities across Toronto-Quebec City Corridor support Via Rail’s HFR project Ottawa, October 10, 2024 – A coalition of 5 chambers of commerce and boards of trade in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor are urging the Government of Canada to move ahead with VIA’s High Frequency Rail project. In a letter to Transport Minister Anita Anand,…

Ottawa Board of Trade Unveils Transformative Action Plan for Downtown Ottawa Ottawa – May 22nd, 2024, – Today, the Ottawa Board of Trade, in collaboration with the Canadian Urban Institute is thrilled to announce a landmark initiative that promises to revolutionize downtown Ottawa and the region.   The Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda aims to reimagine…

Chamber: Productivity Must Be Front and Centre in Ontario’s 2024 Budget Ottawa Board of Trade and Ontario Chamber Releases 2024 Provincial Budget Recommendations   (Ottawa – March 14, 2024) – Ontario’s economic prosperity is threatened by inflation, infrastructure backlogs, regulatory barriers, skills gaps, and fears of a slowing economy. To address these challenges, the Ottawa Board…

Driving Change: Tackling the Shift to Low-carbon Fleets in Ontario (Ottawa– December 7, 2023) – Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario. While there is a growing shift toward electric and hybrid passenger vehicles, businesses face unique challenges when it comes to transitioning their medium- and heavy-duty fleets. In an era…

COMMUNITY LEADERS LAY GROUNDWORK TO BUILD UP DOWNTOWN OTTAWA Ottawa, ON – There is an immediate need to transform Downtown Ottawa into a diverse, resilient, and vibrant urban center. The Ottawa Board of Trade’s Downtown Summit held on November 23, 2023, brought key stakeholders together to refine their united goal – and all agree, the…

The Robust Indigenous Economy Makes Economic Reconciliation an Urgent Business Imperative (Ottawa – November 23, 2023) – Taking action on economic reconciliation has tremendous value for Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses alike, enabling opportunities for shared economic prosperity and long-term business success. Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), and…

Small and Medium-Size Businesses Face Outsized Challenges Due to Mental Health “Echo Pandemic” (Ottawa – October 17, 2023) – Ontario’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing the negative effects of declining employee and community mental health as a result of what experts are calling the mental health “echo pandemic.” Today, the Ontario Chamber of…

Small Businesses at the Heart of the Innovation Economy (Ottawa – October 16, 2023) – Small businesses have always been the backbone of Ontario’s economy, a driving force behind innovation and economic growth in the province. These resilient enterprises generate new ideas, create jobs and foster community resilience. This year, the theme of the Ottawa Board…

Unlocking the Potential of Public Procurement in Ontario (Ottawa – September 13, 2023) – The impact of public procurement is far-reaching, influencing economies and societies at large. Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released Power of the Purchase Order: Modernizing Public Sector Procurement in Ontario. The report, curated in response to ongoing consultations with…

Addressing Ontario’s Housing Affordability Crisis Requires All Hands on Deck Ontario Chamber Brief Highlights Key Recommendations to Meet Ontario’s Current and Future Housing Needs   OTTAWA, July 5, 2023 — Housing affordability has become a pressing issue impacting communities of all sizes across Ontario. High housing costs are limiting the buying power of households, impacting…