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Promoting the need for a more ‘connected’ Ontario to help businesses succeed was the central focus at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s recent 2026 Annual General Meeting and Convention.

Held at the historic Fairmont Chateau Laurier in downtown Ottawa, the conference (April 23-25) brought together more than 80 delegates, along with 150 attendees representing 60 Chambers from across the province to network and debate and approve policies to help businesses. This year’s theme was Ontario Connected: Business Without Borders.

“The Ontario Chamber AGM provides Chambers the chance to work together as a collective entity to help bring about legislative changes that will benefit all businesses throughout the province, not just one particular region,” says Cambridge Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Greg Durocher, who attended along with Board Chair Murray Smith and Incoming Board Chair Travis Dyk.

“We need to have a unified voice as an organization and this is pivotal, especially now, in helping to create the certainty businesses need as Canada continues to navigate trade talks with the U.S.”

It was a sentiment shared by Ontario Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Daniel Tisch, who stressed the need for a solid growth strategy.

Businesses facing challenges

“Our annual Ontario Economic Report shows we continue to face challenges,” he told delegates, referring to the OCC report released at the end of February. 

The report found only 23% of businesses are confident in the Ontario economy, down slightly from last year’s 26%, but far stronger than during the pandemic and its inflation highs. It also showed that in 2026, businesses are also slightly more confident in their own prospects than they were a year ago (52%, up from 49%). Confidence is lowest among small businesses (20%), and higher among mid-sized and large businesses (34 and 35% respectively).

“Resilience is not a growth strategy, and the past year has really shaken us awake,” he said, adding the combination of alignment and ambition are working in Canada’s favour when it comes to trade. “Our relationship with the U.S. business community remains incredibly strong, despite all the politics.”

During a ‘fireside chat’ Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy, talked about the ‘all Canadian’ approach when it comes to trade and boosting are own economy.

“Most businesses would agree CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement) is a good deal,” he said. “But we also need to focus on protecting Canadian jobs at the same time.”

Louis talked about the need to keep reducing red tape to ensure businesses can keep investing. He noted that 70% of sales within Ontario are from among the 90% of Canadian businesses who are SMEs.

Transportation an economic policy

“The co-operation and momentum are there,” said Louis.

Momentum was something MP Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, touched on during his ‘fireside chat’ while stressing the need for strengthening Canada’s infrastructure. 

“Canada has everything it needs to succeed but at the end of the day nothing really matters unless we can move more goods and services to people,” he said, telling delegates of the $12 billion impact congestion around the GTA causes.

“Transportation policy is economic policy, and we can’t move ahead as a country if don’t up our game around railways, ports and highways. This is not a dress rehearsal; the play is on now.”

He noted the need to continue to invest in major projects and to recognize the ‘anxiety’ of the moment surrounding the constant political pressures coming from the Trump administration.

“Elbows up is not just a slogan, it’s a real thing,” said Kelloway, adding the importance of continuing to diversify with other trading nations other than the U.S. “This is not a normal time. It’s not the time for reflection because we’ve done that. This is a time of urgency and anxiety and the time to get stuff done.”

Internet affordability an issue

But stronger infrastructure is not the only focus when it comes creating a more conducive environment for businesses thrive. The need to improve Ontario’s digital economy by removing connectivity gaps is also imperative.

Delegates were reminded at an information session that reliable broadband and cellular coverage in Ontario still falls below levels needed for all businesses to seize on technologies of the future.

“For a lot of small businesses, it’s not about having access but it’s the affordability,” said Brent Arnold, Partner at INQ Law, and Board Chair of The Canadian Internet Society. 

He, along with John Cameron, Director of Post-Acquisition Integration at Telus, spoke about the issues facing Ontario’s digital landscape and the need for more cost-effective solutions.

“The digital divide is becoming an AI divide,” said Arnold, noting how costly internet service is in Canada compared to other countries and the fact much of Ontario falls under the CRTC’s internet performance targets. “This is a railway that runs through every house in the country. We should think about fibre as a national building and shovel ready project.”

Policies approved to help businesses

This year 33 policies were approved by the delegates covering a wide variety of issues that can directly affect businesses including education, tax reform, homelessness, mental health and addictions, transportation, infrastructure, and manufacturing. These policies now become entrenched in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Compendium to guide its ongoing advocacy work at Queen’s Park.

Delegates supported the following two policies presented by the Cambridge Chamber

1. Creating ways to retain and attract more women to the skilled trades sector:

This policy outlines a series of recommendations including a call for the Province to partner with industry to market careers in skilled trades by continuing to promote or enhance existing programs that target young women, such as ‘Jill of All Trades’.

As well, mandate a form of compensation (i.e., tax credit) for employers and industry partners to make anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training mandatory to complete an apprenticeship, and instigate a dialogue with employers and industry partner organizations and unions to set specific leadership targets for women on job sites. And finally, have the Province work with the Federal Government to identify the potential of sharing costs in the development of a pre-delivery benefit prior to the onset of regular maternity benefits to assist those women in specific skilled trades who face a known criteria of physically hazardous factors in their workplace.

2.  Removing barriers to boost Ontario’s labour pool and creating opportunities for businesses to prosper:

This policy encourages the Province to reform how employment assistance programs and mechanisms (i.e., Employment Ontario and OW/ODSP Common Assessment) are being promoted to skilled OW/ODSP recipients seeking opportunities for employment to ensure potential candidates are incentivized to make informed decisions for their long-term career goals, effectively enhancing Ontario’s labour pool. As well, it also calls for a form of remuneration (i.e., tax credit) to employers to provide provincially mandated training, such as WHMIS, and their associated costs as well as covering expenses for on-site training and equipment, like work boots and uniforms.

The Cambridge Chamber co-sponsored the following policies which received support from delegates:

Provincial metal recycling framework

-  This policy aims to create a standardized framework to close jurisdictional gaps, protect critical infrastructure, and create a level playing field. This framework could include outlining definitions of high risk and prohibited materials, licensing expectations, and core enforcement tools such as reporting and verification.

Improving the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program to strengthen the province’s workforce

-  This policy aims to reverse Ontario’s blanket rejection of skilled trades stream applications and conduct case-by-case assessments. Fraudulent applications should be investigated and rejected individually, without penalizing legitimate applicants or the employers who depend on them. It also advocates for the federal government to extend work permits and facilitate permanent residency options for skilled trades workers who are already employed full-time in Ontario businesses.

More support to Ontario’s small landlords to strengthen the rental housing market

- This policy supports a full modernization of the Residential Tenancies Act to reflect today’s rental market, reduce red tape for small landlords, and create a more predictable rental system that supports labour mobility and business competitiveness.

Take back responsible for Ontario’s health and housing system

- This policy calls for the province to restore systems to provide adequate primary care access & housing stability and to support communities managing this crisis by reducing administrative barriers to funding.

Addressing the need for a framework for "Social Procurement” policy in Ontario's municipalities

-  This policy calls for the province to collaborate with Ontario municipalities to create a standardized provincial social procurement framework that is compliant with trade agreements and designed to reduce administrative burden.