The Prince George Citizen

What are the features of this Ford?

Business groups look forward to industry-friendly policies, seek details

- Aleksandra SAGAN Citizen news service

Incoming Ontario premier Doug Ford promised a businessfr­iendly government during the provincial election campaign, but now industry groups want the details about what that is going to look like.

“Now what we want is definition of the mandate,” said Rocco Rossi, president of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Because it’s not enough to say, ‘We’re open for business.’ What is the plan for business?”

Ford, a first-time candidate in provincial politics, promised during the campaign to eliminate red tape and regulation­s, lower hydro rates and fight a federally-mandated carbon tax. He also pledged to cut the corporate tax rate from 11.5 per cent to 10.5 per cent.

Rossi said the chamber of commerce is looking forward to working with the government to put the meat on the bones of the proposals.

The Canadian Manufactur­ers & Exporters was encouraged by some of Ford’s proposals, including his pledge to lower hydro bills by 12 per cent.

“Ontario manufactur­ers – whether you’re a food processor, or fabricator or assembler – you’re paying among the highest electricit­y rates in North America,” CEO Dennis Darby said.

When companies look at where to invest capital, Ontario looks like a difficult jurisdicti­on with a lot of headwinds, including those high electricit­y costs, he said, and it appears they are not investing and re-investing in the province. “Electricit­y is a key part of that.” The tech community is also anticipati­ng working with the new government.

The Council of Canadian Innovators, which is comprised of CEOs from the country’s fastestgro­wing tech companies, plans “to remain active in advocating for support of domestic highgrowth tech companies with the newly elected leaders,” executive director Benjamin Bergen said in a statement.

The council is hopeful the new government will work with these companies to help them access more of the capital, customers and talent needed to grow, he said.

Industry groups also pointed to Ford’s promise to retract a Liberal-government mandated minimum wage increase to $15 in the new year as good news.

The outgoing Liberal government already increased minimum wage from $11.60 to $14 an hour as of Jan. 1, 2018. The increase prompted some businesses to raise prices and cut staff hours and employee benefits. Some large, national operators said they would turn to increased automation to offset rising labour costs.

Restaurant­s Canada, which represents 30,000 businesses in the food service industry, is one group that opposed the fast pace of changes and is happy with the change of direction promised by Ford.

“The time frame that (the Liberal government) imposed on us was very harmful to the industry,” said James Rilett, vicepresid­ent of central Canada for the group. He added Restaurant­s Canada is not opposed to a $15 minimum wage, but wants to be careful in how the province gets there.

It’s a sentiment echoed by the Auto Parts Manufactur­ers’ Associatio­n.

“When you move so quickly and you shock the system, you also shock the available labour pool,” president Flavio Volpe said.

Most auto parts manufactur­ers offer starting pay above $15 an hour, he said, but when the entrylevel floor is raised, those companies would also have to raise their wages.

“We’re glad maybe we’re going to pump the breaks a bit here,” said Volpe.

But even that Ford promise requires more details, said Rossi.

Ford has indicated he may increase minimum hourly wages by 25 cents for each year of his fouryear term or tie future increases to inflation, Rossi said.

Ford, a first-time candidate in provincial politics, promised during the campaign to eliminate red tape and regulation­s, lower hydro rates and fight a federally-mandated carbon tax.

 ?? CP PHOTO ?? Ontario premier-elect Doug Ford speaks to the media in Toronto on Friday, after winning the Ontario provincial election on Thursday night.
CP PHOTO Ontario premier-elect Doug Ford speaks to the media in Toronto on Friday, after winning the Ontario provincial election on Thursday night.

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