THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce is joining with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and leading employer groups who are calling on the Government of Ontario to reject several proposals under consideration in the Interim Report of the Ontario Government’s Changing Workplaces Review. Ontario’s business community is concerned that many of the policy options under consideration by the Special Advisors could have a profound impact on the relationship between employees and employers in every workplace in Ontario, including Thunder Bay.
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is currently undertaking a review of the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Standards Act through its Changing Workplaces Review. The Review has been tasked with examining key workplace trends, including the increase in non-standard working relationships such as temporary jobs, involuntary part-time work, and self-employment.
“At a time when the costs in Ontario are rising, government must consider the impact that these changes will have on Ontario’s competitiveness and workers,” said Charla Robinson, President of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. “Any changes to labour and employment legislation will have implications for Ontario’s economy, and that’s why it’s time for all of Ontarians to identify barriers to growth and recommend changes that will give businesses and their workers room to grow.”
The interim report of the Special Advisors is a large document that contains hundreds of options to the legislation that guides Ontario’s workplaces. The options laid out and that are presently being considered by the Special Advisors will impact nearly every aspect of the relationship between employers and employees, as well as the ability of Ontario businesses to create jobs and grow the economy.
“Thunder Bay’s employers acknowledge that work is changing and that employees need to be protected,” continued Robinson. “However, in an effort to solve one problem, we don’t want to impose more challenges. One-size-fits-all solutions, like many outlined in the interim report, could remove the flexibility that many of Ontario’s employers and employees enjoy.”
Keep Ontario Working is an initiative of the leading employer and sector associations in the province, who are working together to motivate employers and employees alike to take a more active interest in the Changing Workplaces Review. The Keep Ontario Working initiative is calling for:
- Targeted reforms that address specific areas of concern rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to recognize the diverse needs of the workforce.
- Increased investment in education for employers regarding labour regulations.
- Stronger enforcement of existing labour laws.
- Evidence-based policy through a cost-benefit analysis and economic impact analysis of any changes the government proposes.
The Keep Ontario Working initiative is comprised of the province’s leading employer bodies, including:
- Ontario’s Chamber and Board of Trade Network
- Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services,
- Canadian Franchise Association
- Food & Beverage Ontario
- National Association of Canadian Consulting Businesses
- Ontario Forest Industries Association
- Ontario Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Association
- Restaurants Canada
- Retail Council of Canada
- Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
For more information on the Keep Ontario Working initiative, visit www.KeepOntarioWorking.ca
