Today the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Mowat Centre and Leger Marketing released a new report entitled Emerging Stronger: A Transformative Agenda for Ontario. The report addresses many areas of economic opportunity that OES participants have considered at our annual Summit as we collectively seek opportunities that can boost Ontario’s competitive edge in a turbulent and complex global economy.  Please take a look at the paper and share your own thoughts in our comments section below.

For 100 years, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has championed an economic vision for this province and advocated for a more competitive Ontario. Developed in partnership with The Mowat Centre and Leger Marketing, Emerging Stronger: A Transformative Agenda for Ontario outlines a strategic plan for how to best leverage Ontario’s competitive advantages into greater prosperity.

This economic vision serves as a foundation for dialogue with government and civic leaders about opportunities for progress and what Ontario needs to do, but most importantly, what Ontario can become.

Priorities

Emerging Stronger: A Transformative Agenda for Ontario is the result of consultation with Ontario’s business, government and civic leaders (including non-profit, Aboriginal and labour). The priorities identified by these leaders include:

1. Fostering a culture of innovation and smart risk-taking in order to become a productivity leader
2. Building a 21st century workforce through workplace training, utilizing newcomers’ skills and apprenticeship reform
3. Restoring fiscal balance by improving the way government works
4. Taking advantage of new opportunities in the global economy
5. Identifying, championing and investing in our competitive advantages

Thanks to business, government and civic leaders, the Chamber Network and participants of the Ontario Economic Summit who lent their voice to the shaping of this economic vision for Ontario.

Delegates left the 8^th Annual Ontario economic summit with a clear call to action: to empower Ontarians to be smart consumers of healthcare and energy.

We have what it takes in Ontario to maintain and gain leadership in the world: the innovation, the education, the leadership and the talent. We are respected, embraced internationally and effective – sometimes more so in international markets than here at home.

But we need to move faster.

Business, labour, the public sector and non-profit organizations need long-term, thoughtful and enabling policy, and the stability of policy direction to complete what they have started.

After two days of dialogue, strategy sessions and networking, 200 delegates left The Fairmont Royal York Hotel with new knowledge and a commitment to move Towards Ontario’s Next Great Era.

The Summit ended with a willingness and energy among delegates to move forward together in new and innovative ways. “We have work to do, but not many places offer the advantages that exist here in Ontario, said Mary Jo Haddad, President & CEO of SickKids, and Ontario Economic Summit Co-Chair.

Jan Dressel, President and CEO of Soventix Canada and Janeen Stodulski, President and CEO of PowerWatch tackled the issue of smarter power at the 8th Annual Ontario Economic Summit.

Mr. Dressel discussed the challenges of delivering smarter energy sources into Canadian homes. He identified infrastructure as the major impediment to the widespread use of alternative energy. He cited the introduction of the Smart Grid, a system that enables communication with technological devices, as an example of an innovative device that has the potential to overcome energy distribution challenges.

Ms. Stodulski emphasized consumer education as the pathway to energy conservation. According to Ms. Stodulski, the key to lowering energy consumption is education. She discussed the challenge of getting the Canadian market to buy into this idea. In contrast, India and Europe saw the advantages of monitoring individual energy use as a means of reducing energy waste. “We need to be better, smarter and more economical,” said Ms. Stodulski.

She acknowledged the province of Ontario as trendsetters in development, but noted our consumers are hesitant to buy into innovative technologies.

However, to fully integrate support for the green movement, cooperation is needed between business, government and public. Business brings about innovation and the government supports it through legislation and stable policies, thereby encouraging greater public usage of green energy.

Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Star Publisher, John Cruickshank sat down for a conversation on the final day of the 8th Annual Ontario Economic Summit.

Premier McGuinty began the conversation by addressing the current economic crisis in Europe and the United States. When asked about cut backs by Cruickshank, he answered that instead of cutbacks, his government will be implementing reforms.

McGuinty maintained his stance on the importance of health care and education. He discussed the need to adopt new innovations in health care. This included using smart phones, telephone calls to Doctors, house calls and the introduction of a healthy home innovation tax credit that will benefit seniors and provide accessibility in their own homes.

The Premier expressed that Ontario is a province of manufacturing and innovation, pointing specifically to cars and the BlackBerry.

His cabinet aims to increase the evolution of green cars, create an infrastructure for them and commit to their innovation. The prices of renewable energy sources are currently decreasing and proving a cost effective, innovative and productive alternative.

The innovation of Ontario and of its young people was highlighted during the ‘In Conversation’.

The Premier believes that a commitment to renewable technologies needs to be made. Sharing optimism for the future of Ontario, Premier McGuinty said, “We know where the world is going to go and we can either follow or lead, and Ontario is choosing to lead.”

PC Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath also spoke at the 8th Annual Ontario Economic Summit.

The third and final day of the 8th Annual Ontario Economic Summit opened with a keynote address by Stephen Snyder, President and CEO of TransAlta Corporation, who discussed the balance needed between providing a stable supply of energy and addressing environmental concerns.

Mr. Synder stated that the availability of reliable, low cost electricity is one of the biggest drivers for economic health and wealth.

Ontario’s main electricity challenges focus around keeping up with an increased demand for service, while trying to account for the environmental impact of CO2 emissions. Mr. Snyder advocates a four-step action plan to address these concerns. “No single fuel source can provide the silver bullet solution to the province’s electricity needs,” he said.

He calls for a portfolio approach, whereby diversification to a wide range of energy sources (including wind, solar, coal, geothermal and natural gas) creates a balance that allows the electricity industry to not be dependent on one source, while guaranteeing improved service levels. The phasing out of coal as an energy source, he adds, is the largest single change in the province’s energy history.

Technological innovation, according to Mr. Snyder, paves the way to the future with CO2 capture and reduction leading the way. He expresses his desire for Canada to be a leader into the research and development of new energy solutions, with a global focus.

Mr. Synder also stresses the importance of a stable government policy and the need for all stakeholders (community, government and industry) to work together for efficient change, stating “we need to move from confrontation to cooperation.”