Regional Chambers of Commerce advance housing policy at provincial AGM

At the 2023 Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) AGM, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC), Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce, Guelph Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and London Chamber of Commerce successfully advanced a joint policy resolution on the development of housing.

“Housing is not just a social issue, it’s a business issue,” said Lindsey Hendriks, Executive Director of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. “As housing costs and rents are driven up, that means upward pressure on wages and prices, and the more expensive housing becomes, the harder it is for our employers to compete in the labour market. More money spent on rent means less money spent in the rest of the economy. The cost of housing has become a critical issue for our community and our Chamber.”

Each year, the OCC holds a policy resolution debate at which local chambers can propose resolutions which, if successful, will become part of the provincial chamber’s advocacy platform for the next three years. As such, it is a powerful tool for local chambers to get their priorities on the provincial agenda.

“The resolution calls on the Government of Ontario to work on the next stage of housing legislation,” said GNCC CEO Mishka Balsom. “We are looking for policies to support densification and inclusionary zoning that will permit better use of land and create more housing units, while making investments in infrastructure and services to support them.

“We are also asking for clarity around the loss of municipal revenue from development charges on affordable housing. We definitely need more attainable housing, but we cannot afford the loss of municipal services that might result from this policy.”

The Ontario Chamber has also recognized housing as a key issue for Ontario, and is currently spearheading its own housing initiatives, of which this resolution will now be a part.

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Niagara, the largest business organization in the region and the second-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,500 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to growing and sustaining the economic prosperity of our community by serving, connecting and representing our members. We are a non-profit, membership-driven organization which supports and represents over 200 local businesses, civic organizations and tourism-based businesses in the Town of Lincoln.

Contact:
Mishka Balsom, CEO, GNCC: Mishka@gncc.ca or 905-684-2361
Lindsey Hendriks, Executive Director, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce:
lindsey@lincolnchamber.ca or 905-563-5044