2017 Pre-Budget Submission to the Government of Ontario /

In light of the CRTC’s recent declaration, Ontario has the opportunity to bridge the broadband gap and promote competitive access to the next generation of fiber optic networks. [...] According to comparative analysis from countries around the world on major infrastructure projects, the potential cost savings from an open tendering process indicates that construction costs fell by an average of 20 to 25 percent as the number of bidders increased from two to fifteen.12 Therefore, a change to the Ontario Labour Relations Act would improve the value and impact of provincial and fe [...] The Government of Ontario needs to examine such possibilities in the GTHA, and must begin evaluating the benefits and positive economic and cost saving impact of consolidating the GTHA’s transportation and transit networks into one GTHA transportation authority. [...] Business owners stress that the cost escalation that results from this approach acts as a direct constraint on business’ ability to invest in the human and physical capital required for growth.15 To address these concerns, the OCC is committed to working alongside government throughout the policy process to develop regulations that are both responsive to the public interest and contribute to the e [...] Therefore, the OCC makes the following recommendations in order to improve the conditions to allow municipalities to thrive and meet the needs of their residents.