Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Are you a small business looking to boost your competitiveness? Get skills and knowledge your team can use via our Skills Bridge program.

Get FREE access to 60+ courses across 20 different learning pathways until the end of May 2026 and unleash your business potential.

Register your business today: https://skillsbridge.poweredbymagnet.ca/

Powered by Magnet, Skills Bridge was created by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Diversity Institute - Toronto Metropolitan University, and with funding from the Skills Centre and the Government of Canada.

Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce hosted our annual Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park.

Together, we will continue to advocate for policies that support business growth and prosperity across Ontario.

A sincere thank you to our partners Uber, Bruce Power, Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, Canadian National Railway Company, Rogers and the Waste Connections of Canada for helping make this day possible.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is excited to be hosting our 2026 Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park.

Together, we will advocate for policies that support business growth and prosperity across Ontario.

A sincere thank you to our Premier Partner Uber for helping to make this day possible.

Milton is experiencing rapid growth and transformation, evolving into a strategic hub for Ontario’s economy. With that growth comes both challenge and opportunity.

Last week, OCC President and CEO Daniel Tisch delivered a keynote at the Milton State of the Economy, focusing on the conditions businesses are navigating and outlining a path forward to support growth and long-term success.

Following his remarks, Daniel joined Robert Hogue, Assistant Chief Economist at RBC, and Todd Letts, Interim President and CEO at the Milton Chamber of Commerce, for a panel discussion on what businesses need most right now and how communities can translate growth into lasting economic competitiveness.

During his visit, Daniel and OCC Director of Public Affairs Andrea Carmona also met with Kristina Tesser-Derksen, MP for Milton East—Halton Hills South, and Robbie Grewal, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Town of Milton, to discuss local business, internal trade, Canada's Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank, and opportunities for continued collaboration through the Chambers of the Federation initiative.

Thank you to the Milton Chamber of Commerce for the invitation and for hosting a timely and important discussion.

The OCC welcomes the release of Ontario’s defence industrial strategy framework as an important step toward strengthening the province’s industrial capacity, supply chains, and economic competitiveness.

As allies accelerate investments in defence and resilience, the province is well-positioned to become a more significant player in the sector.

“A made-in-Ontario defence industrial strategy will strengthen Ontario’s competitiveness, productivity, and long-term economic growth,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

He added: “Today’s announcement signals that Ontario understands the strategic and economic importance of this sector, and that government and business must work together to scale innovation, strengthen supply chains, and attract investment.”

Read the full statement here:

Ontario Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Ontario’s Defence Industrial Strategy Framework | OCC (TORONTO — May 29, 2026) — The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) welcomes the release of Ontario’s defence industrial strategy framework as an important step toward strengthening the province’s industrial capacity, supply chains, and economic competitiveness.

Tariff changes have created uncertainty for businesses trading with the U.S. — but they may also present an opportunity.

With IEEPA tariffs struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, businesses may now be eligible for refunds. At the same time, Section 122 tariffs are in effect for a limited 150-day window, adding another layer of urgency for those engaged in cross-border trade.

If your business has been impacted by recent U.S. tariff measures, now is the time to understand what’s changed, what it means, and what steps you can take next.

Read more in this blog post from Peacock Tariff Consulting: https://occ.ca/how-section-122-tariffs-could-benefit-you/

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Laurentis Energy Partners an Advocacy Member!

A commercial subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, Laurentis leverages its decades of nuclear knowledge and experience to deliver solutions to clients around the world.

Learn more at https://www.laurentisenergy.com/

Across Ontario, businesses are raising the bar through bold leadership, innovation and impact.

The Ontario Business Achievement Awards are now accepting nominations to recognize business excellence across six-award categories:

🏆 Beyond Borders Business Award
🏆 Accessible Employment Award
🏆 Creative Industries Award
🏆 Diversity and Inclusion Award
🏆 Excellence in Innovation Award
🏆 Sustainability Award

Learn more about the awards and submit a nomination today at https://occ.ca/obaa-nominations

Nomination fee: $250 + HST per nomination

Nominations close June 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

At the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, we know empowered employees are central to a healthy, resilient and high-performing organizational culture — and to retaining talent for the long term.

Over the past year, we continued to build a resilient, high-performing team by investing in new senior and specialized hires tailored to support our members. We also achieved a 96% full-time employee retention rate.

Click the link below to download the OCC Impact Report 2025 and learn more about how we’re elevating our organizational capacity to empower people, growth and performance.

Read here https://occ.ca/occ-impact-report-2025/

Need help up developing the skills you need for your business to succeed?

Until the end of August 2026, access 60+ FREE Skills Bridge courses on everything from AI and digital skills to human resources and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Register your organization here: https://skillsbridge.poweredbymagnet.ca/

Powered by Magnet, Skills Bridge was created by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Diversity Institute - Toronto Metropolitan University, and with funding from the Future Skills Centre and the Government of Canada.