Participants in the 20 Journeys Exhibit launch include back row, from left BBOT CEO Sheldon Leiba, BBOT President Linda Ford, MPP Linda Jeffrey and Elizabeth McIsaac, Executive Director TRIEC. Front row from left, Sharon Quigley, Bramalea City Centre; Evelyn Myrie, Executive Director Peel Newcomer Strategy Group and Janet Menard, Executive Director Human Services Region of Peel.

20 Journeys is a traveling exhibit of powerful photographs and stories of immigrants entering the Canadian labour market. It details the experiences of skilled immigrants, their journeys to achieving success, and the programs and employers that have shared in their milestones. The exhibit features immigrants from India, Sri Lanka, China, Columbia, Ghana, Greece, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, the UK and the Ukraine.

At the exhibit launch event, Sheldon Leiba, CEO of The Brampton Board of Trade, stated that “nowhere is the importance of effectively including skilled immigrants in the labour market more important than in the City of Brampton where we attract a large and growing pool of skilled and talented immigrants that want to contribute to our workplaces and community”. Leiba further emphasized that “the integration of newcomers should be a priority for any local business that wants to grow or compete both in the local and global economy.”

Elizabeth McIsaac, Executive Director of TRIEC commented that “20 Journeys reflects the experience of many immigrants who bring valuable skills, education and talent to the Toronto region each year”, further adding that “the intent of the exhibit is to help broaden public awareness on the benefits of including newcomers in our economy.”

Other speakers at the exhibit launch and reception included: Evelyn Myrie, Executive Director of the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group; Janet Menard, Director of Human Services for the Region of Peel; and, Linda Jeffrey, MPP for Brampton-Springdale and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

The exhibit was on display at the Bramalea City Centre from February 12 through to February 24.

The Brampton Board of Trade developed the “Skills Without Borders” program to raise the awareness of employers about the increasing need for skilled labour to sustain our economy and the opportunities to capitalize on the contributions of skilled immigrants to meet those needs. In 2007, The Ontario Chamber of Commerce presented its prestigious “Chair’s Award” to The Brampton Board of Trade for the program. For more information visit www.skillswithoutborders.com.

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Budget falls short on tax relief

The Brampton Board of Trade was pleased to see the federal government present a budget that addresses some key interests of the Ontario business community, including debt reduction, infrastructure, creation of an Employment Insurance Financing Board, and education and training. However, it did not go far enough to further stimulate economic development through tax relief. >click here to read on

“This is a budget that business in our community will likely be indifferent about,” says Brampton Board of Trade President Linda Ford. “The continued commitment to balancing the budget, debt reduction, infrastructure investments, and other productivity initiatives to support our economy is encouraging, but more is needed on the tax front to bolster business and our economy.”

While recognizing the necessity for fiscal prudence in times of economic uncertainty, addressing Canada’s high tax levels must remain high on the list of Government priorities. “Tax relief for business stimulates new investments that increases productivity, creates jobs, and makes our businesses more competitive,” says Ford. “Similarly, reductions in personal income taxes create a higher incentive to work for low to modest income workers, and at higher tax brackets will keep talent working in Canada.”

The government’s extension of the accelerated capital cost allowance for manufacturers was welcome news, particularly in Brampton where there is high concentration of manufacturing companies.

The Brampton Board of Trade has also been a strong advocate for increased support to municipalities. “The permanent sharing of federal gas tax revenues with municipalities to meet infrastructure needs is good news for rapidly growing communities like Brampton that are experiencing significant challenges in addressing transportation and traffic gridlock issues,” says Ford.

As “The Voice of Business”, The Brampton Board of Trade represents the interests of 1,200 businesses in and around the Brampton community.

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By all accounts, the economy is the topmost concern in 2008.

Unlike 2007 when many people, including some economists, were blindsided by the magnitude of events like the subprime crisis and the soaring Canadian dollar, today there can be little uncertainty as to what lies ahead. Call it the triple threat: a US recession (certain to occur or already here, depending on the definition), a high Canadian dollar and soaring energy costs. Private forecasters agree it will mean weaker economic results and slower job growth across the country in 2008, with Ontario being harder hit due to the dominance of the export-oriented manufacturing sector.

The question is what will we do with this knowledge? Will we continue to allow ourselves to be buffeted by the economic storm, or will we aggressively seek calmer waters? Though solutions will not be easy to come by or short term in nature, the time has come (if not, long since passed) to take significant steps to confront this economic reality.

2007’s big newsmaker, the Canadian dollar, reinforced a simple fact: that we are dangerously reliant on the U.S. market.

This reliance has evolved naturally from our geographic proximity to the largest consumer market in the world. The degree to which Ontario has relied on the U.S., however, is staggering. In 2006, nearly 90% of our exports were destined for the United States.

By comparison, Michigan, like Ontario, a jurisdiction dominated by the auto sector, sent only 59% of its exports to Canada. And in neighbouring New York, that number drops to 21.3%.

While I certainly wouldn’t suggest that we abandon our trade with the U.S., I would point out that our trade with other jurisdictions is miniscule by comparison.

Ontario’s vulnerability to the vagaries of the U.S. was apparent long before the subprime crisis in 2007. Consider 9/11 for instance. Suddenly a border that had once facilitated relatively free-flowing trade, was a chokepoint of our economy. And long after the days of high anxiety, confusing and prohibiting border restrictions prevail, continuing to damage trade and tourism.

Now add the strong Canadian dollar and our economic dependence on the U.S. is more precarious than ever.

Canadians have often been accused of being too humble and of failing to promote our strengths. Canada, for instance, has many natural advantages in terms of infrastructure development. Our vast country has forced us to develop superior infrastructure, whether it be telecom, construction, engineering, or architecture.

And yet, who’s building the roads, bridges and telecommunication networks in the emerging economies? Not Canadians. And with a few notable exceptions, Canadian firms are absent from international consortia for global capital projects.

It’s time to develop an export culture that looks beyond just our southern neighbours. Governments, both federal and provincial, can help to instill this culture and create a business environment which supports trade development. While business must critically assess global opportunities.

A diversification strategy is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity.

And so while we look ahead to a year of continued depressed economic activity south of the border with reverberations here in our own backyard, business and government must work in concert to position Ontario as a major player on the international stage.

We have an opportunity in 2008 to create an export culture that allows us to compete with the best and win. The future is clear. We must choose to meet it head-on

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