Ontario Chamber of Commerce

10/08/2025

🌐 AI isn’t just for tech giants, it’s for every business ready to grow.

Canada leads in AI innovation, but adoption among small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is still lagging. On October 23, join us for a Skills Bridge webinar with the Diversity Institute, where we’ll explore how SMEs can overcome barriers to build AI capacity, boost productivity, and stay competitive.

Key areas of discussion will include:

▶ AI transformation in Canada
▶ Challenges faced by SMEs to build their AI capacity
▶ Responsible and ethical AI adoption
▶ Tools and initiatives to support SMEs to enhance their AI capacity and adoption.

Ready to unlock AI potential for your business? Secure your spot today: https://ow.ly/zfnN50X4pFB

CC: Diversity Institute - Toronto Metropolitan University

10/08/2025

⚡ What if Canada became a global energy superpower?

With a diverse energy advantage — including oil, natural gas, hydro, nuclear, and low carbon solutions — Canada has the resources, expertise and momentum to lead.

Unlocking this potential, however, requires the right infrastructure, including a national energy corridor that connects regions, strengthens domestic supply chains and expands access to international markets.

Moreover, keeping the current flowing and meeting rising global energy demands also requires streamlined regulations, strategic investment and continued collaboration.

Don't miss this electrifying panel on powering Canada's future at .

🎟 Secure your spot and get ready to lead across borders: https://reg.eventmobi.com/oes-25

10/07/2025

On October 16, join the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Diversity Institute for Inclusive Hiring Practices: Pathways to Employment for Immigrants webinar as we explore the employment barriers faced by immigrants and how SMEs can adopt more inclusive hiring practices to access new talent and drive growth.

Key areas of discussion will include:
✅ Canada’s changing demographics
✅ Newcomers’ experiences of discrimination
✅ Unemployment and underemployment
✅ SME perspectives on hiring immigrants
✅ Advice for managing the current backlash to EDI
✅ Tools and initiatives to support SMEs to adopt more inclusive hiring practices

Ready to access a diverse talent pool? Secure your spot today: https://ow.ly/aYSy50X1KaT

CC: Diversity Institute - Toronto Metropolitan University

10/07/2025

📈 Want to boost efficiency and reduce waste in your agriculture or food/beverage processing operations?

SMEs get access to digital twin training and a one-year license to industry-standard tech through the Seeding Digital Skills program. Led by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and industry partners, you’ll get:

✅ 12-week training with three hours of live instruction per week, valued at over $20,000 CAD.
✅ Up to $2,000 in stipends to support employee learners.
✅ A digital credential upon completion of the program.

Ready to level up your business? Register today at https://occ.ca/programs/seeding-digital-skills/

CC: Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (cahrc-ccrha), Food and Beverage Ontario, and Food Processing Skills Canada.

10/06/2025

With Premier Doug Ford set to meet with US governors and Prime Minister Mark Carney headed to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump, OCC President & CEO Daniel Tisch spoke with CBC Metro Morning this morning about what these developments mean for Ontario businesses.

10/06/2025

Are rural communities better than cities? 🤔

No matter where you stand, one thing's certain, both bring something powerful to the table.

In a time of rapid transformation, building bridges across communities, sectors, and borders ire more important than ever. That's why the 2025 Ontario Economic Summit is bringing together leaders from business, government, and academia—representing cities, towns, and rural communities across the province—to explore how we can drive prosperity together.

Join us November 18-19 for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's flagship event.

🎟️ Secure your spot now: https://reg.eventmobi.com/oes-25/register

10/04/2025

Looking for ways to streamline your food or beverage processing business? Seeding Digital Skills, the digital twin training program, brings the future of food production to your fingertips.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s right here, right now, ready to keep you ahead of the curve. What’s included? 12 weeks of self-paced training and a one-year license to Unity’s digital twin license, valued at over $20,000 CAD.

What are the possibilities of Digital Twinning?
🌱 Increase energy efficiency
🌱 Predict upcoming maintenance
🌱 Monitor sanitization efficacy
🌱 Test product and packaging changes
🌱 Positively impact your bottom line.

Whether you’re manufacturing animal food, dairy products, grain & oilseed, fruit & vegetable preserves, meat and seafood products, beverages, cannabis, etc., digital twin training empowers the future of food & beverage processing with smarter, faster, and more sustainable solutions.

Sign up for our free training, specifically for businesses in the agri-food sector. Registration for our upcoming cohorts is live on our website. https://occ.ca/programs/seeding-digital-skills/

&BeverageOntario

CC: Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (cahrc-ccrha), Food and Beverage Ontario, and Food Processing Skills Canada.

10/02/2025

Through the Skills Bridge platform, you can provide critical training for up to 10 employees to help future-proof your business.

Gain complimentary access to a curated catalogue of 65+ courses focused on key growth areas, including artificial intelligence, e-commerce strategy, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This offer for free, unlimited access is available Until the end of November 2025.
Invest in your company's greatest asset. Unlock your team's potential and sign up today.

Sign up today: https://skillsbridge.poweredbymagnet.ca/

CC: Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures, Diversity Institute - Toronto Metropolitan University, Magnet.

10/02/2025

Yesterday, Ontario’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, the Hon. Jill Dunlop, met with the OCC’s leadership team and joined our Chamber Network Town Hall to discuss the province’s approach to emergency preparedness and response.

Key initiatives discussed included:

✅ Ontario Corps – A growing network of over 3,000 trained volunteers supporting local emergency response and recovery efforts with a goal to expand to 10,000 volunteers.
✅ Community Emergency Preparedness Grant – Part of a $110M investment announced as part of the 2023 Ontario Budget, the grant provides $5,000-$50,000 to strengthen local resilience.
✅ Bill 25: Emergency Management Modernization Act – The most significant update to emergency management in Ontario in over 15 years, the proposed bill is aimed at building a stronger, more resilient province.

Minister Dunlop also encouraged chambers and businesses to explore opportunities to collaborate with Ontario Corps and leverage available resources to enhance community preparedness.

Thank you again, Minister Dunlop, for your leadership and for engaging in meaningful dialogue with our network. By working together and engaging chambers across Ontario, we can strengthen emergency response plans and ensure communities are better prepared for future challenges.

10/02/2025

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce stands with the Northern Corridor Chamber of Commerce and the communities of Kapuskasing, Cochrane and Hearst.

We welcome the Province of Ontario’s recent commitment of an additional $30 million to protect forestry workers. This funding is a critical step toward stabilizing operations and supporting thousands of families. We also recognize the commitments made by the federal government to transform Canada’s softwood lumber industry.

However, the idling of the Kapuskasing Paper Mill demonstrates just how urgent the challenges facing this sector are. This has had profound ripple effects across Ontario’s integrated forestry supply chain, including sawmill curtailments in the Northeast and a loss of 300 direct jobs. We urge both Queen's Park and Ottawa to work collaboratively and decisively to develop long-term solutions.

Together, we can safeguard the livelihoods of Ontario families and the competitiveness of Canada’s forestry industry.

10/02/2025

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce responds to emerging issues through letters and submissions to government decision-makers based on principled thinking and direct consultations with the .

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10/01/2025

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Get the latest updates from the indispensable partner of business. https://occ.ca/newsletter-signup