Quality Education for All: Ensuring Ontario’s Future Prosperity Response to the Rae Review Discussion Paper Higher Expectations for Higher Education
The Toronto Board of Trade believes the postsecondary education system in Ontario is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Universities, colleges, career colleges and the apprenticeship system are all interconnected with the purpose of educating Ontarians so that they may become contributing members to our province and our communities. Without a skilled and educated workforce, our economic and social fortunes will fall, hurting the vibrancy and competitiveness of our city, our province and our country.
Letter to Hon. Robert Rae, Advisor to the Premier and Minister, Postsecondary Education Review Secretariat, December 17, 2004 (pdf file – 60 kb)
Report, Higher Expectations for Higher Education, December 2004 (pdf file – 302 kb)

Creating Wealth for All:  2005 Federal Pre-Budget Submission
The cities agenda is not solely about Toronto but, like it or not, Toronto and its well-being is at the heart of Canada’s economic and social competitiveness. As the economic engine of Canada, Toronto currently provides the federal and provincial governments with over $35 billion a year in tax revenue which is used to fund health care, infrastructure, social programs, and hundreds of other government programs that Canadians across the country rely upon. These contributions depend on the continued prosperity of Toronto, which can only be ensured with continuing attention and support from governments.
Submission to the Federal Government, November 2004 (pdf file – 185 kb)
Highlights of the Toronto Board of Trade's 2005 Federal Pre-Budget Submission, November 2004 (pdf file – 29 kb)
Media Release, November 25, 2004 (pdf file – 39 kb)

"Towards a New City of Toronto Act"
In order for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ontario to be economically and socially successful, Toronto must be successful. The Toronto Board of Trade believes that a new City of Toronto Act, incorporating relevant amended sections from the Municipal Act, 2001, must reflect that fact. Ontario’s largest urban region must be able to compete in its struggle with other city regions for people, capital and ideas. Toronto must be provided with the fiscal, administrative and accountability tools to compete globally and generate economic prosperity for the rest of the province.
Letter to the Hon. John Gerretsen, M.P.P., Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (pdf file – 78 kb)
Submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Review of the City of Toronto Acts and the Municipal Act, November 2, 2004 (pdf file – 128 kb)

"Places to Grow: Better Choices. Brighter Future" – Response to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal's Discussion Paper
The Toronto Board of Trade supports the provincial government's proactive approach to growth management, but would like to move beyond the stage of discussion and witness concrete action on infrastructure investment and the necessary legislative changes required to counter sprawl.
Submission, to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, September 24, 2004 (pdf file – 377 kb)

Single Securities Regulator
The Toronto Board of Trade believes that there is broad industry support for a single regulator and a single code for securities legislation. We believe that your government, working with the Ontario Securities Commission, must actively pursue the creation of a single securities regulator with other provincial and territorial governments.
Letter, to the Hon. Greg Sorbara, M.P.P., Minister of Finance, September 22, 2004 (pdf file – 158 kb)

"Providing Choice:  A Consultation Paper on Ending Mandatory Retirement" - Response to the Ministry of Labour
The Toronto Board does not support changing the current rules respecting mandatory retirement.  However, in the event that the government does decide to proceed with these changes, the change should be implemented in a way that reduces the negative impact on businesses, particularly small business owners.
Letter to the Hon. Dalton McGuinty, M.P.P., Premier of Ontario, and the Hon. Chris Bentley, M.P.P., Minister of Labour, September 24, 2004 (pdf file – 362 kb)

Property Tax Policies for 2005 and Beyond:  Response to the City of Toronto's Public Consultations
Toronto’s uncompetitive tax rates on business, though by no means a new problem, are contributing to a rapidly mounting crisis for the city’s economy.   Toronto is steadily losing jobs (37,000 lost jobs over the past three years) and investment to our GTA neighbours.   Punitive tax rates on commercial and industrial property owners and their tenants put them on an un-level playing field. Our city’s finances, and residents’ quality of life, are at further risk as tax-paying businesses flock to lower-taxed jurisdictions, eroding the assessment base.
Letter to His Worship Mayor David Miller, August 25, 2004 (pdf file – 80 kb)
Submission (pdf file – 145 kb)

Provincial Planning Reform Submission
The Toronto Board of Trade is pleased to respond to the Ministry’s consultation documents:  Planning Act Reform and Implementation Tools; the Provincial Policy Statement; and Ontario Municipal Board Reform, as a vocal advocate for policies and actions that support sustainable and competitive growth.
Letter to the Hon. John Gerretsen, M.P.P., Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, August 25, 2004 (pdf file – 35 kb)
Submission (pdf file – 131 kb)

Bill 100, the Electricity Restructuring Act
The Toronto Board of Trade supports many of the provisions of Bill 100, such as creating the new Ontario Power Authority and expanding the powers of the Ontario Energy Board, but the Board is concerned with lack of emphasis on competition.
Letter to the Hon. Dwight Duncan, M.P.P., Minister of Energy, August 16, 2004 (pdf file – 170 kb)

Support for the Province’s Greater Toronto Transportation Authority
The Toronto Board of Trade supports the government’s commitment to establish a Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, and provide it with the legislative power and financial resources to reduce gridlock and improve the GTA’s transportation infrastructure.
Letter to the Hon. David Caplan, M.P.P., Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, and The Hon. Harinder Takhar, M.P.P., Minister of Transportation, August 13, 2004 (pdf file – 113 kb)

Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership
The Toronto Board of Trade extends it congratulations on the provincial government's recent decision to rescind the sunset provision with respect to the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.  The Board is a strong suporter of the the OTMPC in its current form as an independent public private partnership that is tourism industry led and market research driven.
Letter, to the Hon. Jim Bradley, M.P.P., Minister of Tourism and Recreation, August 4, 2004 (pdf file – 127 kb)
Response from the Hon. Jim Bradley, M.P.P., Minister of Tourism and Recreation, August 20, 2004 (pdf file – 71 kb)

The Province’s Energy Vision Statement
The Toronto Board of Trade believes that the reliability and adequacy of Ontario’s electricity supply is critical to the economic outlook of the province. The Board agrees with the general direction outlined in the Electricity Vision Statement.
Letter to the Hon. Dwight Duncan, M.P.P., Minister of Energy, June 10, 2004 (pdf file – 76 kb)

Federal government announcement of May 20… concerns with money for Toronto’s waterfront
The Toronto Board of Trade wants to commend the federal government for taking an active interest in Toronto’s waterfront, including sharing the view outlined by Dennis Mills, M.P. on May 20, 2004. However, we have some concerns with the announcements made on May 20.
Letter to the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, M.P., Prime Minister, June 2, 2004 (pdf file - 112 kb)

Response to Ontario’s 2004 Budget
The Toronto Board of Trade is disappointed the Ontario’s 2004 Budget did not propose measures to improve the fairness of Toronto’s property tax system or reduce the onerous burden the current system places on commercial, industrial and multi-residential property owners.
Letter to the Hon. Greg Sorbara, M.P.P., Minister of Finance, May 28, 2004 (pdf file - 115 kb)

Response to the City’s 2004 Development Charges Background Study
The Toronto Board of Trade asks the city to maintain its exemption of commercial and industrial properties from development charges. “Charging an upfront development charge would attract little or no revenue, and would further discourage business development…”
Submission, May 12, 2004 (pdf file – 106 kb)
 

Bill 26, the Strong Communities Planning Amendment Act
The Toronto Board of Trade believes the land use planning system needs reform and commend your government’s efforts to introduce improvements. However, the Board also believes that Bill 26 will complicate the planning process.
Letter to the Hon. John Gerretsen, M.P.P., Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, May 12, 2004 (pdf file – 47 kb)

Focus on Cities:  2004 Ontario Pre-Budget Submission
The Board of Trade has argued for several years that cities – Toronto in particular – are at risk. Toronto’s ability to continue contributing resources to the federal and provincial governments is being jeopardized by neglect and under investment.
Commitments and promises are good first steps. But they are not enough. The Board of Trade has had Enough of Not Enough. The Ontario government must move past the rhetorical assurances on urban issues and take action in the 2004 provincial budget to ensure our cities thrive. The Toronto Board of Trade has set out several recommendations that it would like to see reflected in the upcoming provincial budget.
Budget Submission to the Province of Ontario, April 2004 (pdf file – 96 kb)
Speaking Notes, February 2004 (pdf file – 50 kb)

Response to:  The Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal’s “Building a Better Tomorrow” Discussion Paper
Sustainable infrastructure planning and development has been a long-standing policy priority of the Toronto Board of Trade.  We are pleased to provide the Toronto Board of Trade’s responses to some of the questions put forward in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal’s “Building a Better Tomorrow” discussion paper.  The Toronto Board of Trade supports the government's efforts in developing a plan for utilizing innovative infrastructure financing and procurement tools.
The Paper, April 2004 (pdf file – 287 kb)

Response to the final report of the Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force
The Toronto Board of Trade supports the general direction proposed by the Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force’s final report. The Board believes that Ontario’s electricity market should be structured to best meet the needs of all consumers, business or residential.
Letter to the Hon. Dwight Duncan, M.P.P., Minister of Energy, March 30, 2004 (pdf file – 50 kb)

Five-year fiscal plan for the City of Toronto
The Toronto Board of Trade believes that a longer-term plan will allow the city to forecast both operating and capital pressures and determine which programs and services are priorities from a broader perspective.
Letter to Ms. Shirley Hoy, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Toronto, February 5, 2004 (pdf file - 34 kb)

2004 Municipal Budget – A Pivotal Time for Action
Toronto is Canada’s economic engine and every order of government must ensure the fundamentals that make Toronto vibrant and competitive are in place. To help us continue to carry this message to the federal and provincial governments, the Board of Trade is asking that Council play a leadership role in reinforcing Toronto as the nation’s financial and economic capital.  Read the Toronto Board of Trade's budget submission to Toronto's City Council.
Budget Submission, April 2004 (pdf file – 180 kb)
Deputation to the Joint Policy and Finance and Budget Advisory Committee by Elyse Allan, President and CEO, March 30, 2004 (pdf file – 44 kb)

Support for a "Cities" Agenda
Toronto remains woe-fully under-funded to meet short-term needs and long-term city building requirements. Read the Toronto Board of Trade's letter to the Prime Minister outlining our framework for government action regarding the Toronto Transit Commission, affordable housing and waterfront redevelopment.
Letter, January 23, 2004 (pdf - 74 kb)