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Timmins Chamber garners support for policies

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has taken an official position of support for six Timmins-developed policies.
timmins_chamber
Timmins Chamber of Commerce

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is supporting the policies born of six key regional issues put forward by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

Timmins Chamber representatives attended the OCC annual general meeting May 4-7, during which they lobbied for support on the following issues:

  • improving Indigenous postsecondary educational opportunities;
  • reducing permitting delays related to mining exploration;
  • clarifying the duty to consult;
  • addressing the impact of climate change on the Far North winter road network;
  • conducting socioeconomic impact studies prior to divesting Crown corporations; and
  • ensuring the use of scientific data and socio-economic impact studies in the development of conservation plans under the Endangered Species Act / Crown Forest Sustainability Act.

These Timmins Chamber policies have now become official policy positions of the OCC, which will use these positions to push the government for change.

“This is a significant victory for Timmins businesses, and our regional economy as a whole,” said Christine Bender, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, in a release.

“The Ontario Chamber is the province’s most influential business advocacy group, and the adoption of our policies in Sarnia means that the organization will actively lobby for these positions with the provincial government over the next three years. In other words, Timmins Chamber members’ concerns will be heard at the highest levels as a result of this success, which is crucial to help protect our business competitiveness.”

The full versions of the policies that will now be championed by the OCC are available at www.timminschamber.on.ca or www.tinyurl.com/OCC-AGM-2017.