(Toronto – October 28, 2025) – As businesses across Canada deal with a shaky trade landscape and a delicate North American economy, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is urging the federal government to transform Budget 2025 into a pivotal moment for Canada’s economic future.
In its proposal to the Government of Canada, the OCC emphasizes the need for a national plan aimed at fostering private-sector growth, removing obstacles to competitiveness, and making bold investments in infrastructure and workforce development.
“At times of historic challenge, a great budget both sends a signal and sculpts a strategy,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Budget 2025 can do both – signalling that Canada is open for business, eager for investment and committed to competitiveness – with a fiscally sustainable plan to achieve these goals.”
The OCC’s recommendations highlight four main areas:
Driving a competitive business and trade environment: Supporting high-potential firms, eliminating trade barriers, speeding up clean and affordable energy initiatives, enhancing Indigenous economic partnerships, and encouraging business investment in artificial intelligence and productivity. Advancing healthy, sustainable communities: Improving credential recognition and immigration pathways for medical professionals, increasing investments in the biomanufacturing sector, using the Strategic Innovation Fund to attract global companies, and ensuring robust medical supply chains. Unlocking qualified, diverse talent: Aligning immigration policies with current labour market needs, creating more opportunities for skilled newcomers in rural areas as well as modernizing Employment Insurance to provide better incentives to work. Building growth-enabling infrastructure: Fast-tracking housing projects through collaboration across sectors, boosting access to purpose-built affordable homes while launching an organized national strategy focused on clean energy solutions, digital connectivity, resilient supply chains and transit.
“Budget 2025 can’t be just a fiscal plan; it must be a blueprint for a future led by private sector growth,” Tisch added. “In the right climate, Ontario’s business community will deliver results.”
Read the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Federal Budget Submission here.
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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is Canada’s largest provincial chamber with significant influence and serves as an essential partner for businesses. As an independent non-profit advocacy organization offering member services, it represents a network of 60,000 members. The OCC brings together businesses and local chambers to promote inclusive growth that benefits Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities.
For more information, please contact:
Andrea Carmona
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
andreacarmona@occ. ca | Mobile: (647) 234-0255
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Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
andreacarmona@occ. ca | Mobile: (647) 234-0255
Source link
