Advocacy

Throughout our history, the Guelph Chamber of Commerce has played an important role in bringing business and community leaders together to advocate to all levels of government for policies that further enhance the social and economic prosperity of our city. 

Read our advocacy work here

We advocate for Guelph businesses by:  

  • Establishing more effective business and government relationships. 
  • Increasing business engagement on pertinent issues. 
  • Pushing the needle on policy issues and holding stakeholders accountable. 

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Are you experiencing issues navigating Municipal, Provincial, or Federal Government processes? Is a certain issue impacting your business? Consider: 

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Our Current Priorities 

With the foundation of improving the cost and ease of doing business, the dynamic priorities of our non-partisan advocacy efforts are reflective of the needs of our membership and the wider Guelph business community. With the help of our membership and our partners at the Provincial and National Chamber Networks, we’re continually looking to advance Guelph as a leading destination to do business in Ontario by pursuing and enabling the conditions that create business success. 

Housing

Ensuring adequate supply of housing options from across the continuum to meet the current and future needs of our businesses and community through:

Workforce Development and Retention

Ensuring employers have access to and can meet the needs of the labor force through: 

  • Work with local partners to understand the needs of our local workforce 
  • Enabling talent attraction and skill development 
  • Connecting with new and young professionals 
  • Increasing sufficient affordable and accessible child-care options 

Healthcare

Healthcare is an essential component of a thriving economy/ business community. For our community to thrive we will advocate for: 

  • The needs of the Guelph- Wellington Ontario Health Team 
  • The needs of Guelph General Hospital 
  • Improved conditions and access to mental health supports for our unhoused community 

Infrastructure

Ensuring physical infrastructure is well maintained and enables the movement of goods and people for economic prosperity by: 

  • Assisting in the development of the movement of goods strategy 
  • Promoting regional connectivity 
  • Working with downtown revitalization and downtown success 
  • Advocating for increased transit connectivity and frequency to Guelph’s business parks 
  • Amplifying the need for infrastructure that enable growth and development 

Business Supports

Fostering an economic environment that meets the current and future needs of Guelph’s business community through: 

  • Promoting downtown business development 
  • An improved regulatory environment 
  • Providing sufficient programs for SMEs 
  • Reducing red tape 
  • Simplifying and creating a more efficient tax environment 

Climate and Energy

Meet the energy needs of our communities and climate imperative while promoting economic competitiveness, influencing long-term sustainability and resilience by: 

  • Promoting programs and incentives for sustainable practices 
  • Advocating for government assistance in facilitating the competitiveness of clean-tech processes