As the judges review the nominations, anticipa-tion continues to build for the Timmins Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Nova Business Excellence Awards, the region’s biggest celebration of entrepre-neurial achievement.

As Timmins’ biggest celebration of entrepre-neurial achievement, the Nova Awards help to rec-ognize business achievements across 15 categories. This year’s event will be held at the McIntyre Arena on Thursday, May 19, and will feature a “superhe-roes of business” theme in honour of the incredible feats Timmins entrepreneurs perform every day, according to Timmins Chamber President Kurt Bigeau.

“They might not be leaping buildings in a single bound, but Timmins’ business leaders help our community in countless ways, and the Nova Awards are a great way to applaud them,” said Bigeau.

“And as proof, we received many stellar nomina-tions this year for some truly worthy businesses, which represent a diverse cross-section of Tim-mins’ economy. I don’t envy our panel of indepen-dent community judges, which has the difficult task of choosing just 15 recipients, though it’s clear from our nominees that every one of them is worth cel-ebrating.”

Finalists will be personally notified on March 3 at their place of business by Chamber volunteers and staff, who will also present a small gift to com-memorate the special occasion.

Photographs of these visits will be taken through-out the day and presented online at the Chamber’s Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/Timmin-sChamber. Video will also be taken wherever pos-sible and displayed as part of the Nova Awards’ opening segment during the May 19 gala.

“This is the perfect opportunity for the commu-nity to highlight local business leaders whose pro-

fessional powers should be recognized with a Nova Award -- making them a member of the League of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs, if you will,” said Big-eau.

“So those who know someone who demonstrates business bravado or exceptional entrepreneurialism are helping us shine a light on their hard work with a nomination. Even the best can’t be celebrated un-less they’re nominated.”

As in recent years, CTV Television news person-alities will interview the event’s finalists, organizers and community champions on the Nova Awards’ own version of the red carpet. These segments will be broadcast live throughout the many flat-screen

televisions on display throughout the area, which serve to promote further conversation among at-tendees during the celebration.

Other examples of Timmins talent will be on hand throughout the event, in the form of locally produced hors d’oeuvres, snacks, and of course the superhero-themed décor, all of which is being sup-plemented by the hard work of countless volunteers who donate their time to make it all happen.

Tickets for the Nova Awards will go on sale March 21, 2016 at $120 plus HST, or a discount-ed price of $95 plus HST for Chamber members. Tickets can be ordered by emailing the Chamber at info@timminschamber.on.ca

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A TImmINs chAmbER of commERcE pUbLIcATIoNChamber prepares to celebrate business superheroes at 14th annual Nova Awards

Recipients to be honoured across 15 categories

The Nova Business Excellence Awards will once again celebrate the best of Timmins business at the McIntyre Arena on May 19. The 2015 event drew more than 600 attendees.

Finalists for the 14th annual Nova Business Excellence Awards will be announced March 3 for the following categories:• Northern College Service Excellence

Award• RBC Marketing Award• NorthernTel Productivity, Innovation &

Diversification Award• De Beers Canada Aboriginal Partnership

Award• City of Timmins Non-Profit Organization

Award• Collège Boréal Young Professional Award

(Under 40)• Caisse Populaire de Timmins New Busi-

ness Award (Under 2 Years)• BMT Insurance & Financial Services Busi-

ness Contribution to the Community Award (1-5 Employees)

• The Venture Centre Business Contribu-tion to the Community Award (6-20 Em-ployees)

• Eastlink Business Contribution to the Community Award (21+ Employees)

• FNETB Best Place to Work Award• TD Bank Group Business of the Year

Award (1-5 Employees)• Scotiabank Business of the Year Award (6-

20 Employees)• Northern Credit Union Business of the

Year Award (21+ Employees)• National Bank Lifetime Business Achieve-

ment Award

inside business2 - FEBRUARY 2016

Immediate action needed to protect future mining investment in Ontario: report

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Provincial and federal governments must take bold steps to position Ontario’s mining sector for success in the future, according to a major report released Dec. 1, 2015 by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

The result of extensive consultations with industry and partners throughout the Chamber network, Digging Deeper: Strengthening Ontario’s Mining Advantage contains several recommendations to address Ontario-specific challenges to ensure the competitiveness of the province’s mining sector.

“It’s crucial that all levels of government work together to ensure that Ontario remains a leading global centre for mining investment,” said Kurt Bigeau, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

“The incredible wealth of knowledge and experience here in Timmins, as developed over more than 100 years of mining, is just one of countless examples of how these investments strengthen our economy. Given the current challenges in global markets, it’s vitally important that governments act now to protect those advantages going forward.”

Among the report’s top recommendations is for the Governments of Ontario and Canada to increase investment in northern infrastructure, one of the key barriers to mining development in the province. Both levels of government have committed to large-scale infrastructure investment in the coming years. With renewed commitments to intergovernmental cooperation, the OCC sees a clear opportunity to coordinate investment and

unlock the potential of new mineral discoveries in Ontario’s North.

The report also urges government to take steps to reduce regulatory uncertainty, consistently cited as a top issue by mining companies as they look to invest or expand in Ontario. Specifically, the report pushes for the establishment of a resource revenue sharing framework between government and Aboriginal communities to provide certainty surrounding the benefits that these communities will gain from mineral resource development.

“Ontario mining is a real competitive advantage for the province, and our expertise in mineral production, finance, and innovation is in global demand,” said Allan O’Dette, President and CEO of the OCC.

“However, there are critical steps that the government must take to ensure the sector’s continued role as an economic driver in Ontario. We are calling on all levels of government to harmonize their efforts to ensure that mining investment continues to flow into Ontario now and in the future.”

Other key recommendations of the report include:• Increasing the Ontario’s flow-through share

tax credit from five percent to 20 percent extending the availability of the federal Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC), and creating an enhanced METC for remote projects;

• Increasing Ontario’s investment in mining research and innovation, and

• Leveraging the global demand for Ontario mining expertise to create new business

opportunities and drive growth.“The mining sector has a long history of bringing

benefits to communities across Ontario and with the right steps, it can continue do so in the future,” added O’Dette. “What the industry needs is a clear signal that the federal and provincial governments are committed to positioning Ontario as the premier destination for mining investment.”

To view the full report, please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiggingDeeper2015

This report came in advance of the Government of Ontario’s renewed Mineral Development Strategy (MDS), released on Dec. 11, 2015.

This represents a comprehensive 10-year plan, created with input from representatives of exploration and mining companies, prospectors, First Nation communities, Métis communities, northern communities, and environmental NGOs.

The plan’s stated vision is to ensure Ontario

becomes the global leader in sustainable mineral development and production. It also provides a blueprint for how the provincial government will realize that vision by building on industry’s well-earned global reputation and significant competitive advantages.

The strategy has four key strategic priorities and 10 key action items. It states that, to become the global leader, Ontario must ensure the sector is:•Competitiveandinnovativeby: - attracting jobs and investment - increasing mineral discovery rates - improving cost-competitiveness - fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship•Safeandenvironmentallyresponsibleby: - enhancing worker health and safety - protecting the environment now and for future generations•Efficientlyandeffectivelyregulatedby: - improving regulatory efficiency, predictability and transparency• Providing growth and prosperity for futuregenerations by: - enhancing Aboriginal voices and meaningful participation in economic development - establishing the necessary socio- economic conditions to advance major mining projects - developing the workforce of tomorrow

The renewal of the strategy is a key commitment of the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario, according to the province.

inside business FEBRUARY 2016 - 3

The Timmins Chamber of Commerce is tak-ing action to push the federal government to protect resource development in Canada and the communities that rely upon it.

At the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s (CCC) annual general meeting this fall, the Timmins Chamber successfully lobbied rep-resentatives of the country’s biggest business advocacy group to support a call by Timmins businesses to close loopholes in recent legisla-tion that could financially cripple the mining industry and Aboriginal communities alike.

Held in Ottawa, the event saw nearly 400 del-egates -- representing more than 200,000 Cana-dian businesses -- debating policies put forward by Chambers from around the country to de-termine the CCC’s top priorities for the coming year. Timmins Chamber President Kurt Bigeau was on hand to successfully lobby for Timmins Chamber members’ interests to be included among the CCC’s annual priorities.

This includes a policy resolution urging the federal government to quickly make changes to the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA). Passed in December 2014, this legislation was originally developed in response to reports that some foreign governments were improperly spending mining revenues generat-ed by Canadian companies. To address the issue, Canadian extractive industry partners worked collaboratively with the federal government to develop regulations requiring public disclosure of payments made to foreign governments, re-sulting in the ESTMA.

However, the federal government inserted measures into the final version of the legisla-

tion requiring the mining, oil and gas industries to also disclose payments made to Aboriginal groups and communities within Canada, begin-ning in June 2017.

While industry groups continue to embrace the concept of increased transparency, the man-datory inclusion of Canada’s Aboriginal groups within this legislation creates many complex questions which have yet to be fully addressed by the federal government. This includes concerns around the lack of meaningful consultation with Aboriginal groups leading up to the passage of ESTMA, which industry groups have argued to be necessary to ensure that any designated re-porting requirements are appropriate, and that Aboriginal interests are adequately considered. Without full and comprehensive consultation, the possibility remains that ongoing disapproval of these measures could place existing and fu-ture relationships between extractive companies and Aboriginal communities at risk.

This risk of harm to these relationships is heightened by the lingering fear among indus-

try partners and Aboriginal groups alike that the federal government will reduce funding for Aboriginal communities who have received pay-ments as disclosed under the ESTMA. From the Mining Association of Canada and the Prospec-tors and Developers Association of Canada to the Assembly of First Nations and the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, many have expressed concern around the lack of any pro-visions in the Act that would prevent this from occurring.

Any such clawback would effectively harm Aboriginal communities’ ability to benefit from resource development. Related agreements also often allow for much-needed enhancements to infrastructure and social programs that are oth-erwise not covered by federal payments.

“While the industry is supportive of enhanc-ing transparency, the clause within the Act re-quiring Canadian extractive firms to disclose payments they make to Aboriginal communities is very problematic,” said Bigeau.

“This loophole could severely harm Aborigi-nal communities’ ability to benefit from re-source development, while preventing industry from enhancing local capacity and infrastruc-ture. With 2017 looming, the clock is now tick-ing for government to help protect resource de-velopment in Canada and the communities that rely upon it by engaging in consultations and providing assurances that these situations will not come to pass.”

This policy, entitled Preserving Economic Benefits Under the Extractive Sector Transpar-ency Measures Act, was crafted in consultation between the Timmins Chamber’s Government

Regulation and Policy Committee, area busi-nesses, and a broad number of partners across Canada.

This includes the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Thunder Bay Chamber of Com-merce, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, as well as the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce.

“Extractive sectors like mining are major eco-nomic drivers not only for Timmins, but indeed for the rest of Canada,” said Bigeau. “The fact that Timmins’ policy saw such strong support is just one more sign that we must take steps to protect the strong financial impact generated by this industry in our communities and beyond.”

The Timmins Chamber was also successful in pushing a second member-driven policy at the CCC conference, urging the federal government to put in place a system that allows federal liens on long-standing derelict or abandoned prop-erties to be waived after a time. Without such a system – which exists for provincial or terri-torial liens – these properties often sit vacant for years, hindering development and bringing down property values.

Having adopted Timmins’ policy on ESTMA and federal liens, the CCC will use those ideas as part of its efforts to urge the federal govern-ment to enact change in the coming months and years.

To view the full versions of the policy that will now be championed by the CCC, please visit the Chamber’s website at www.timminschamber.on.ca, or view them directly at http://tinyurl.com/ESTMA and http://tinyurl.com/Federal-Liens

Timmins Chamber takes action to protect economic benefits of mining

Forestry sector drives Northeastern Ontario economic gains through 2016: reportAfter a year of contracting employment,

Northeastern Ontario will slowly begin to find its economic footing in 2016, though progress will lag behind much of the rest of the province, according to a new report released Dec. 8, 2015 by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Credit Unions of Ontario.

Released with support from the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Economic Update 2016 highlights how some commodity markets are beginning to find their footing, which is a positive sign for the Northeast. The Northeast Economic Region covers the districts of Cochrane, Timiskaming, Greater Sudbury, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Manitoulin, and Algoma, and is home to over 560,000 residents.

In particular, data shows that Ontario’s forest sector is experiencing gains, with overall forest products shipments climbing 12 percent in the first nine months of 2015, compared to the same period last year. A strengthening U.S. economy, a weak Canadian dollar, and a rebound in housing markets bodes well for forest products, including lumber.

“It’s heartening to note some positive movement in the forestry sector, which remains vital for Northeastern Ontario,” said Kurt Bigeau, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

“That said, the report indicates that the challenges being experienced by global mining markets will continue to put some strain on the region’s economy. This just further reinforces the need for governments to act now to protect the competitiveness of our resource sectors to ensure we remain a leading global centre for investment.”

Despite gains, any contribution from primary production will not kick in until 2017. In the interim, job growth will be very modest, with employment set to grow at a 0.4 yearly rate in 2016 and 2017. The industries contributing most to near-term economic growth are retail and

wholesale trade; health and social services; and other services.

After jumping to a projected 7.9 percent in 2015, little improvement is forecast in the unemployment rate over the forecast period as population outflows are offset by a modest rise in the labour force participation rate. The regional unemployment rate will fall to 7.5 percent by 2017.

“Ontario and its regional economies will grow at a moderate but faster pace through 2017 aided by favourable external factors such as the low dollar and interest rates and an improving U.S. economy,” said Helmut Pastrick, chief economist at Central 1 Credit Union. “Most regions will participate and contribute to Ontario’s improved economic prospects though differences exist among regions. Resource-based regions will be weighed down by poor metal markets.”

According to the report, the proposed Energy East Pipeline, which cuts across Northeastern Ontario, will also act as an economic driver, and will support more than $700 million in construction activity through to its expected completion in 2018.

While the region experienced strong housing sales in 2015 (7.8 percent residential sales growth), this activity belies underlying weakness in Timmins, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and North Bay, where average sales prices have slipped year-to-date. Average residential housing prices slipped in 2015, to $212,500, a decline of 1.7 percent.

The industries contributing most to near-term economic growth are retail-wholesale trade, health-social services, and other services. Construction contributes only marginally to forecast growth, while any contribution from primary production will not kick in until 2017.

Economic output from education services and public administration will be dampened over the period as the provincial government ramps up its efforts to balance its budget by 2017-2018 by controlling spending.

The investment outlook is mixed. Both public-sector and private-sector investment in non-residential building construction declined in 2015. Going forward, public-sector capital expenditures will remain constrained by fiscal restraint, while several major investment projects are expected to support private sector investment in the region over the next two years.

Moving forward, activity in the mining sector will be driven by the future path of metal prices. Little improvement in nickel, copper, zinc, and lead prices is expected until 2017, while gold prices are expected to be range-bound with a slight upward bias after next year.

According to the province-wide data, most other areas of Ontario will enjoy improving economic conditions in the coming year. Growth will be driven in part by an uptick in exports, the result of a stronger U.S. economy and a low Canadian dollar.

Government fiscal policy will also be a key driver, as federal and provincial infrastructure commitments will stimulate growth across a variety of sectors.

“Ontario businesses are helping Ontario emerge stronger from the downturn,” said Allan O’Dette, president and CEO of Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “However, our economy still faces significant challenges. In order to generate sustained economic growth, government must invest in infrastructure, close the skills gap, and ensure that input costs do not stifle investment or job creation.”

Download the full economic outlook at: http://tinyurl.com/EconomicOutlook2016

inside business4 - FEBRUARY 2016

Provincial government acknowledges, faces regulatory burden in a positive way: Ontario Chamber

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is encouraged to see its powerful advocacy work directly reflected in the government’s economic plans for 2016, as released Nov. 26, 2015, and which included detailed steps to address the cu-mulative burden facing Ontario businesses. Some of these priorities include:

The “Red Tape Challenge”, a strategy that en-courages Ontarians to submit comments and changes on those regulations that impact them. This will be overseen by a Regulatory Moderniza-tion Committee;

A Regulatory Centre of Excellence, which iden-tifies and champions best practices from around the world; and

A Government Modernization Fund to address the cost of modernizing outmoded regulatory pro-cesses.

In direct response to an OCC call to remove the Debt Retirement Charge from businesses, the gov-ernment has announced that they are doing so for commercial, industrial and other non-residential electricity users on April 1, 2018, nine months ear-lier than expected.

“The chamber network has made burden reduc-tion a priority, and the government has listened to our concerns on this issue,” said Allan O’Dette, President and CEO of the OCC. “There is more

that can be done, but this is an encouraging step towards alleviating the pressure on businesses, which will help drive Ontario’s economy forward.”

The province also responded to concerns sur-rounding environmental compliance approvals, pledging to reduce the time taken to review air and noise approvals by at least 50 percent within the next two years. After 2017, the government intends to implement a one-year service standard for high-er-risk approval requests. This will be coupled with a more transparent process for both applicants and the public to track applications and performance.

The OCC emphasized the economic importance of maintaining the industrial exception in the Pro-fessional Engineers Act, and the government has announced that it will permanently maintain this exception.Ontario Chamber encouraged by new trade clas-sification process recommendations

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is encouraged by the findings of the Dean Review and is calling on government to engage with em-ployers as it implements the recommendations outlined in the final report. Among its recommen-dations, the Review calls on the College of Trades to establish an independent panel to review clas-sification decisions.

“We welcome the Dean Review’s recommenda-tion to establish a new independent process for trade classification,” said Allan O’Dette, President & CEO of the OCC. “The use of independent ex-perts should ensure a strong and clear process that would yield lasting, credible decisions – decisions that are free from interference.”

Earlier this year, the OCC, together with cham-

bers of commerce and boards of trade from across the province, outlined its concerns with the Col-lege of Trades in a formal submission to the Dean Review. The OCC noted that in its current form, the College of Trades is not positioned to deliver on many elements of its mandate. Specifically, the OCC expressed its concerns with the bias inherent in the College’s trade classification review process.

“The Dean Review’s findings are the first of many necessary steps towards reform,” said O’Dette. “Going forward, the College needs to put a laser-like focus on promotion of the skilled trades among the province’s youth. Currently, nearly one in three employers are unable to fill a job because they cannot find someone with the right qualifica-tions. That gap must be filled.”

The OCC also noted that it will continue to press government on its members’ concerns around journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios and the ratio review panel process. While the OCC is encour-aged by the Dean Review’s recommendation that review panels be able to request their own evidence and research, it continues to express concern over Ontario’s high journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios, which it says exacerbate the province’s skills gap.

Ratification of Trans-Pacific Partnership key to Canada’s success in Asia: Canadian Chamber

Canada must seize the opportunity rep-resented by the rapid growth of the Asian

economy, and the next step is the ratifica-tion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce told the Canadian government in November.

“Canada is losing market share in the fastest-growing region of the world,” said Canadian Chamber President and CEO Per-rin Beatty. “Turning this situation around requires an ambitious trade strategy that plays to our advantages in areas like en-ergy, information and biotechnology, ad-vanced manufacturing and agri-food. The TPP covers all of these areas, and what we need to now is to put it in place.”

At the Canadian Chamber’s annual meet-ing in Ottawa last fall, delegates from chambers of commerce across the coun-try endorsed a policy resolution calling on Canada to implement the TPP and to expand trade ties with China, India and Southeast Asia.

The TPP eliminates nearly all tariffs on Canadian imports and exports with member economies. It provides predict-able market access for services, provisions for the movement of business people and rules on investment protection, intellec-tual property, e-commerce and state-owned enterprises that reflect Canada’s economic model. The agreement provides protection and safeguards for sensitive products and enforceable disciplines on labour and envi-ronmental standards, making it one of the most cutting-edge and sustainable trade agreements ever negotiated.

News from the Chamber network

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City spending should be focused on ensuring the municipality is properly prepared for the future -- in its services, staffing, and infrastructure -- while mak-ing the most of existing resources, according to the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

These ideas formed the core of the organization’s annual presentation, made by Chamber President Kurt Bigeau and its Municipal Affairs Committee Chair Christine Bender, in advance of the city’s ap-proval of the municipal budget, which is still ongoing.

This included a call for council to seriously con-sider implementing some of the recommendations posed in the municipal core services review, which was completed by consulting firm KPMG, and tabled at council last fall. The report’s recommendations include placing a tighter control on spending, guard-ing against inefficient use of public funds, developing various internal efficiencies, and avoiding duplication of efforts by City staff.

There are very clear options to prioritize municipal services, and while the Chamber has yet to explore them in detail, they represent a crucial opportunity to provide better value for taxpayer dollars, said Bigeau.

“Whether this translates to service reductions or private-sector partnerships, Council must carefully consider how City funds are most efficiently spent,” said Bigeau.

“In short, if it can’t provide real value for taxpayer dollars, Council must consider reducing or outsourc-ing that service. Now is the time for Council to begin to prioritize spending on services that make respon-sible fiscal sense, and to ensure that the City’s limited resources are spent as wisely as possible.”

These solutions will not address the municipality’s growing infrastructure issues, as costs surrounding water, sewer, and road maintenance continue to rise

an “alarming” rate. Bigeau acknowledged that City council has been diligent in attempting to tackle these problems; the Chamber would be fully supportive of any City effort to press the province to address provin-cial shortfalls in funding.

This kind of preparation is also in keeping with the Chamber’s request for council to carefully examine the various measures contained with reports com-missioned through the Timmins 2020 strategic plan but which have yet to see any substantive discussion by council. This includes the Housing Report, as well as the Culture, Tourism and Recreation Report, which

were submitted to council in 2014 but were discussed either briefly or not at all.

Similarly, Bigeau urged council to consider the state of the City’s finances when examining the remainder of the 2020 plan, and determine which elements most made sense to continue to pursue.

He added that remaining mindful of Timmins’ eco-nomic future was also important when looking at op-portunities to prepare the community for the impend-ing closure of Kidd Operations. As it will impact the entire community, the City would do well to develop further strategies to address this shift, and to begin to

prepare accordingly, he said. This includes engaging in creative approaches such as the proposed Glencore Impact Fund, which would use new growth assess-ment funding to help ease the effect that the transition will have on tax levels in the community.

These efforts are particularly crucial given the added budgetary pressures the City faces this and ev-ery year, though Bigeau cautioned against shifting the tax ratio onto the commercial and industrial sectors as an easy fix. Instead, municipal revenues should be enhanced by examining more creative solutions, said Bigeau.

“This does not mean business isn’t paying its fair share; rather, it is an indication that there are simply fewer businesses to shoulder the load. These busi-nesses serve as the backbone of the economy, provid-ing not only jobs and property taxes but also support for sports teams and non-profit organizations. They are tied closely to Timmins’ appeal as a great place to work, live and play, and we caution against further shifts in the tax burden.”

Every year, the Chamber’s presentation to council is assembled through an extensive process of consul-tation, with member input being provided through a wide variety of venues. This includes surveys, round-table discussions, several Chamber committees, and numerous one-on-one interviews conducted by Chamber staff. The finished presentation represents the majority view as expressed by members through-out that consultation process.

The Chamber makes every effort to be as inclusive as possible of its members’ views so as best to repre-sent their interests at all levels of government. Mem-bers who have business issues – municipal, provincial, or federal – that they would like to see addressed are encouraged to contact the Chamber.

inside business FEBRUARY 2016 - 5

Core services review, tax ratios key to Chamber recommendations for City budget

Timmins Chamber President Kurt Bigeau (left) and the Chamber’s Municipal Affairs Committee Chair Chris-tine Bender (left) spoke to City Council on Nov. 3 on behalf of the organization’s members as part of its annual input into the municipal budget process.

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inside business6 - FEBRUARY 2016

inside business FEBRUARY 2016 - 7

Nearly 300 members and their staff chose to cele-brate the holiday season with the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, which hosted its annual Member Holi-day Parties at the Days Inn Timmins on December 5.

This popular event is offered every year in order to provide Chamber members a chance to celebrate the season with their staff, with none of the hassle of planning, organizing, decorating, cooking, or clean-ing.

As always, this year’s evening featured dinner and dancing, as well as a silent auction, with tons of great prizes donated by member businesses. Most impor-tantly, participants received a visit from Saint Nick himself, and had an opportunity to have their picture taken on Santa’s knee.

A portion of the proceeds from the silent auction went to help fund post-secondary scholarships for local students through the Business Takes the Lead program.

Thank you to the following sponsors for making the evening possible.

Prize Donors:Alison RancourtCollège BoréalDays Inn and Conference CentreDr. Bill Chisholm OptometristsGatrem Contracting Inc.Gold Dust Event PlanningGosselin Law Firm Professional CorporationHampton Inn by Hilton TimminsHoliday Inn Express & Suites TimminsNational Bank of CanadaNorthern Ontario Appraisals Ltd.RBC Royal BankRogers Communications Inc. (Q92/KISS)Simply Done Right Bookkeeping and ConsultingTimmins Auto Glass Inc.Tisdale Plumbing Heating & Electrical

Members celebrate the holidays with the Chamber

For more photos of the Member Holiday Party, visit us at facebook.com/TimminsChamber

With its current immigration regime, Canada risks losing its competitive advantage in attract-ing highly-skilled international talent, says the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in a new re-port.

According to Immigration for a Competitive Canada: Why Highly Skilled International Tal-ent Is at Risk, the Express Entry system is not aligned with business needs, while restrictions to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are hurting many high-value sectors across the economy.

In the global competition for highly skilled talent, the government sought to improve the economic immigration system with the launch of the Express Entry application management system in January 2015. Yet, in an atmosphere of hyper-political reaction over temporary foreign workers, the government made policy choices that ultimately sacrificed the effectiveness of Ex-press Entry.

For the Canadian Chamber and its members who employ highly skilled international talent, the situation has become untenable and dismay-ing. The actual design of the system has had neg-ative effects across high-value growth sectors, from high tech to financial services to academic research. Policy approaches that were born of suspicion, negativity and reprisal were applied to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and then similarly and inappropriately applied to Express Entry.

All the resources that were dedicated to the

new system had a negative impact on the pro-cessing of temporary foreign workers. Express Entry became preoccupied with putting Canadi-ans into jobs instead of bringing much needed highly skilled talent to Canada to contribute to job creation, according to the report. For all the good work of government officials, the pro-grams are falling short of their goals and creating inefficiencies within departments.

“Government launched the Express Entry sys-tem a year ago to attract highly skilled talent, but we must now face the facts: it simply isn’t work-ing for employers. The original goal of giving employers more leverage was lost along the way, and this report highlights the consequences. Canada is losing ground in attracting the talent employers need,” said Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Com-merce, in a release.

“We’ve identified a series of improvements that can rapidly be put in place. We call upon the government to act before conditions worsen.”

The report reveals that current policies under-cut high-value growth sectors, from high tech to financial services to academic research. The pre-vious government’s changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the Inter-national Mobility Program have also hurt many sectors. As a result, Canada has invited far fewer highly skilled individuals to work here on a tem-porary basis. There has been a 40 percent drop in higher-skilled work permit holders between 2013 and 2014 and a 45 percent drop in posi-tive labour market impact assessments (LMIA) which are required for work permits since June 2014.

Chief among the missteps was the de facto requirement that a job offer be validated with a positive LMIA in order to achieve any certainty or predictability as to whether or when a foreign national will be permitted to apply for perma-nent residency.

Not only is the LMIA a test of whether there are Canadians available to fill a position, but the compliance, enforcement and penalty regime for employers with LMIAs is daunting and over-bearing.

The “Canada first” strategy for immigration has been subsumed by the “Canadians first” pol-icy of the TFWP. The concept of attracting “the best and the brightest” is missing in action as the competitive model of Express Entry is currently undermined by the protectionist policy embod-ied in the LMIA tool.

This report explores the experiences of em-

ployers who are attempting to bring in highly skilled international talent. It reveals that the employer’s role in selecting the most qualified and skilled talent, and thereby sending signals on labour market demand, has been thwarted. Immigrants’ economic outcomes will suffer if they do not arrive with job offers. The impacts of the roadblocks and delays that have resulted from the changes within the past two years are accompanied by suggestions for improvements in the short-term.

The new government can simply and effec-tively adjust the system to reinstate the demand-driven competitive focus that employers bring to immigrant selection. This involves taking a step back and reclaiming the opportunity for a truly competitive and effective immigrant selection model. It can adjust instructions and regulations underpinning Express Entry and also address key issues affecting high-skilled talent in the TFWP and the IMP as candidates for Express Entry.

“Highly-skilled workers don’t take opportu-nities away from Canadians, they help us create them,” said Beatty. “Canada depends on talented immigrants to boost our innovation perfor-mance, which is currently lagging behind many other developed countries. We can’t afford not to have the best process in place. As this report em-phasizes, changes are necessary. We are an opti-mistic and welcoming country. Let’s not let bad policies stand in the way of talented people com-ing here to contribute to our economic growth.”

inside business8 -FEBRUARY 2016

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Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation(705) 561-0848 Organizations and Non-Profits[www.cbcf.org] Our Vision:Creating a future without breast cancer.Our Mission:The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is Canada’s leading community-driven breast cancer charity dedicated to funding relevant and innovative re-search and supporting and advocating for the breast cancer community Our Values:Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is committed to advancing its vision and undertaking its work with: PassionWe are passionate about the work we do and the role we play in advocating for the breast cancer community. Our dedication to the cause inspires us to work effectively and continuously evolve to achieve the greatest impact. IntegrityWe are ethical, accountable and transparent in the work we do. We are continually striving to ensure that donors and the public can remain confident that their dollars are used wisely in carrying out our vision.RespectWe promote trust, collaboration and open com-munication to help create a positive community that maximizes the potential of all individuals. We strive to create an environment where problem solving and feedback are encouraged and valued.LeadershipWe are committed to serving as a trusted leader in the breast cancer community. As a resource in the areas of breast health and breast cancer, our posi-tions will always be informed, evidence-based and forward-thinking. CommunityWe recognize the invaluable contribution of our volunteers; whose dedication, support and com-mitment makes our work possible. Founded by a group of dedicated volunteers, we remain community-driven to this day. ImpactWe fund research and undertake initiatives that have the greatest impact and benefit for the breast cancer community. We are dedicated to leading the way in support of our vision of creating a future without breast cancer.

CMA Engineering Inc. (705)360-5525 Engineering and Architecture [www.cmaeng.com] CMA engineering Inc. has been incorporated since 1986 and has accomplished a number of projects in the manufacturing end of the forest products and mining industry, including (but not limited to) the conceptual design, engineering (mechanical, civil, structural and eElectrical), PLC/HMI program-ming, arc flash studies, equipment procurement, project management, construction management and start-up assistance of board plants (OSB, particleboard and MDF), sawmills, plywood mills, underground mines, concentrators, smelters and other specialty services.CMA engineering Inc. also offers a wide range of management consulting services for medium-size businesses and large corporations. CMA has done a number of feasibility studies, cost-benefit analyses, business planning, budget preparation and person-nel training. All our professional services are offered in both French and English.

Cochrane Temiskaming Children’s Treatment Centre (705) 264-4700 Organizations and Non-Profits [www.ctctc.org] The Cochrane Temiskaming Children’s Treatment Centre offers a variety of services and programs to children with physical, motor and perceptual-based difficulties.

DJB Align Boring Customs Limited (705) 269-4340 Manufacturing and Equipment Repair Our services include align boring, custom welding and bucket repair. We offer on-site welding for residential, commercial and industrial clients.

DMovers Construction & Trucking (705) 363-7709 Trucking and Freight At DMovers Construction & Trucking, we pride ourselves with the quality, fast and efficient service we provide to our customers. DMovers Construction & Trucking is equipped to transport your mobile office trailer or modular buildings to any remote location. We specialize in hauling, setting up, and any modification needed for your mobile homes, office trailers, dries, camps, or any modular buildings.For your construction needs, we offer a wide range of carpentry services for commercial and residen-tial.Our focus is to provide quality workmanship,

whether large or small, that is completed on sched-ule and on budget. Construction services include but are not limited to:Bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, cabine-try, trim repair and installation, deck construction, door installation and repair, drywall repair and installation, windows repair and installation, and general building maintenance. For a free quote, please contact us today.

Done Right Roofing (705) 269-7663 General Contractors We provide the following services: re-roof, new roof, roof repairs, roof inspections, seamless eaves-troughs, soffit and fascia, siding, windows, doors, blown insulation, chimney removal, skylights and general interior renovations. We offer a five-year written warranty on re-roof and new roof work-manship.

Functional Kinnection - Occupational and Rehabilitation Solutions(705) 360-1160 Physiotherapy, Chiropody and Chiropractic CareProvider of registered kinesiologist services, spe-cializing in occupational rehabilitation solutions. Services include:1. Occupational Rehabilitation Assessments: -Functional capacity evaluation (trained and certified in the Matheson System) -Physical demands analysis -Ergonomic assessment -Post-offer employment testing 2. Therapeutic Exercise / Physical Conditioning Services (exercise rehabilitation, fitness): -Assessment -Exercise prescription and progression -Supervised, individual sessions 3. Education Services (upon request): -Individual or group education (various topics including: exercise and chronic disease manage-ment, ergonomics, safe manual materials handling)

Humanagement (705) 365-8389 Consultants [www.humanagementsolutions.ca] Humanagement is a consulting and professional de-velopment firm focused on helping businesses and non-profits improve their bottom line by attending to the human aspects of business management. We offer highly customized team building, training, resource management, technology solutions, and coaching services.

Lady Nina (705) 221-3731 Amusement and Entertainment [www.psychicladynina.com] A Spiritualist and Psychic helping you find the answers to questions in your life. Tarot card, crystal ball and palm readings. Also available at my location: oils, crystals, incense and candles. Drop-ins are welcome; also available for corporate events and parties!Free parking.

Maid to Order Custom Cleaning Inc. (705) 360-3960 Janitorial [maidtoordertimmins.ca] Maid to Order Custom Cleaning Incorporated is a locally owned and operated janitorial cleaning business that provides excellent service and quality results for its clientele. Maid to Order has been established in Timmins since 1989.

Northec Construction Inc. (705) 531-3370 Mining Contractors and Suppliers [www.northec.ca] Northec Construction Inc. (a division of EBC Inc.) is a construction company operating in the mining field (tailing transportation, excavating, backfilling, blasting, etc).

Organo Gold (705) 267-2942 Drink Services and Supply [homebizpro.myorganogold.com] A global marketing and coffee distribution company based in Timmins. We assist and train home-based entrepreneurs in establishing their own healthy, gourmet coffee business in the trillion-dollar global health and wellness industry utilizing both tradi-tional direct sales and online marketing methods. We have a 25-year track record of success and have helped train over 40,000 people around the world.

The Working Class (705) 267-8225 Restaurants [http://www.facebook.com/theworkingclassbar]A refreshing breath to our city’s culture, The Work-ing Class is an intimate venue/billiards hall focusing on live entertainment. Available for private rentals, The Working Class offers services for staff parties, birthdays, anniversaries and much more. Please visit us at 180 Second Ave in downtown Timmins.

Timelined Consulting Inc. (705) 222-8463 Consultants [www.timelined.ca] At Timelined Consulting Inc. we specialize in the seamless implementation of change using world-renowned process improvement, change manage-ment and project management best practices to make your ideas a reality. We fully recognize the value of collaboratively working with our clients to combine your subject matter expertise with our experience in the application of best practices to make any change or new program deployment a true success. At our first meeting, we always look at understanding your vision or success, as this is how we measure our success.

Timmins Festival and Events CommitteeOrganizations and Non-Profits [www.timminsfestivals.com] Timmins Festivals and Events Committee (TFEC) is a non-profit organization aimed at consistently bringing quality, relevant and big-name musical entertainment to Timmins. Our goal is to increase the quality of life in our city by developing a high-quality entertainment scene. We plan on hosting a number of events and concerts throughout the year, and topping it off with a large outdoor festival each summer headlined by today’s best artists.Timmins Festival and Events’ main goal is to suc-cessfully plan, organize, and implement musical events and one large festival yearly. The committee will help develop and foster community spirit in the Timmins area and give a platform to local talent.

Tree Bandit (705) 262-0375 Yard Care [https://www.facebook.com/Tree-Ban-dit-135422609843179] Tree transplantation, dangerous tree removal, snow plow/removal.

inside business FEBRUARY 2016 - 9

Managing Editor: Keitha RobsonEmail: krobson@timminschamber.on.ca

Editor: Nick StewartEmail: policy@timminschamber.on.ca

Advertising Opportunities: Carmen SwartzEmail: info@timminschamber.on.ca

Published by:

Timmins Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 985, Timmins, Ontario, P4N 7H6

(705) 360-1900

Fax: (705) 360-1193

www.timminschamber.on.ca

Inside Business is an information package provided to members of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce and buinesses at large. The positions expressed in by-lined columns are the opinion of the subject editor and do not reflect the position of the Timmins Chmber of Commerce unless specifically stated. The Timmins Chamber of Commerce assumes no responsibility for statements or claims made by advertisers. “Inside Business” is published 6 times per year by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Issues are published quarterly. Closing date is the second Friday of the previous month. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.

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inside business10 -FEBRUARY 2016

Air Canada soaring on wings of change

Timmins’ future looks bright, says Mayor

Air Canada’s Kevin Howlett, Senior VP of Regional Markets, updated Timmins Chamber members on the company’s strategy for transformation and growth on Nov. 26, 2015 at the Porcupine Dante Club. From left to right: Kurt Bigeau, President, Timmins Chamber of Commerce, as well as Air Canada staff, including Kevin Howlett; Garbel Laforest, Manager (Timmins); Eric Bordeleau, Director Regional Markets; and Fitti Lourenco, Director Federal Government Affairs and Ontario.

The City of Timmins’ business community has much to look forward to in the coming months and years, said Mayor Steve Black during his first Mayor’s State of the City Address, held at the Days Inn this fall as part of Small Business Week. Mayor Black (seen here with former Timmins Mayor Vic Power) touched on such positive developments such as the completion of the core services review, a mining gap analysis, and Calabrian Corporation’s plans to build a sulphur dioxide production facility.

inside business FEBRUARY 2016 - 11

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A night for Wine, Women and Shopping

Celebrating Francophone business contributions

More than 90 women came out to the Porcupine Dante Club on Nov. 18, 2015 to enjoy the Timmins Cham-ber’s annual Wine, Women and Shopping event. With dinner and networking, the evening stood as part of the Chamber’s Women in Business series, and allowed participants to have an exclusive look at and shop for products offered by more than 15 local vendors.

To help celebrate the countless contributions that Francophones have made to Timmins’ business com-munity, the Timmins Chamber commemorated the 400-year anniversary of Francophones in the province by permanently erecting the Franco-Ontarian flag on its grounds this fall. The Chamber was the second location to add the flag in celebration, following Timmins City Hall.

inside businessFEBRUARY 2016 - 12

Lake Shore Gold digging for success

Recognizing Timmins’ best boss

Georges Quirion and Bill Belanger of J.L. Richards & Associates were named the 2015 winners of the Tim-mins Chamber of Commerce’s Best Boss contest, earning them a plaque and a $250 Tim Hortons gift card for the workplace. The winner was selected at random from various nominations by employees across Timmins. From left to right: Carmen Swartz, Manager of Member Services at the Timmins Chamber of Commerce; Bill Belanger; and Linda Venneri, franchise owner of Tim Hortons.

Celebrating great customer service

Donna Mongeon of Paul Ayotte Insurance Brokers was named the 2015 winner of the Timmins Chamber’s Customer Service Week contest, earning her a certificate and $100 cash, sponsored by Hampton Inn by Hilton Timmins. The winner was selected at random from local nominations. From left to right: Dan Ayotte, Paul Ayotte Insurance Brokers; Donna Mongeon; Liz O’Neill, Hampton Inn by Hilton Timmins; John Crescenzi, Hampton Inn by Hilton Timmins.

The outlook for Lake Shore Gold’s future is positive, said President and CEO Tony Makuch (middle right) at a Timmins Chamber Inside Their Business luncheon on Nov. 1. Hosted at the Porcupine Dante Club, the event saw Makuch outline the potential at Lake Shore’s Timmins West and Bell Creek operations. He later posed with students from Collège Boréal, alongside 2015-16 Timmins Chamber President, Kurt Bigeau (middle left).

Chamber members come together at quarterly meeting

Marc Lapalme of the Timmins Snowmobile Club chats with Timmins Chamber President Kurt Bigeau fol-lowing the Chamber’s Quarterly Membership Meeting and Holiday Social on Dec. 10. Held at the Working Class, the event allowed members to hear an update on the Chamber’s activities over the previous months; it also featured a presentation by the Timmins Festival and Events Committee, which highlighted their efforts to launch a summer music festival in 2016.