The Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce

The OCC is seeking your help understanding how businesses feel about red tape in the province. The government has committed to decreasing the red tape burden on business, but requires clear input from the business community in order to translate this commitment into noticeable changes. Right now the majority of businesses across the province continue to be negatively impacted by obstructive government regulations.

Some of the corporations and local chambers from our network have formed a task force to discuss the unresolved issues with red tape in the province. With this information the OCC will be preparing a policy report with suggestions to the government on how to better adapt regulations to the needs of business. The task force has come up with six guiding principles that bring attention to both the flaws with the existing system and how that system can be improved. These principles will provide the framework for the policy report.

Through this e-mail we are opening up the discussion to you and your members in order to ensure that all businesses, small and large, Northern and Southern, have an opportunity to make their views heard. The attached form contains a breakdown of the six guiding principles that will be included in the report, and provides a space at the end of each section for businesses to add their own comments. At the end of the form, businesses are free to add anything that they feel is missing, and share their own stories about red tape, which will be featured in the report.

Each response we receive will be factored into our report, and will allow us to provide guidance to the government on how it can make regulations work for the business community. The deadline for responses is Friday September 3rd 5:00pm.

Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise on this issue. We will be sure to provide you with a copy of the final report, and keep you updated about our progress.

Go to this link to participate: https://fd8.formdesk.com/ontariochamberofcommerce/red-tape-survey
 

(Fort Erie) August 16, 2010~  The Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce, in keeping with itsmission to promote education, was pleased to present eight local students with $500 bursary cheques on Sunday, August 15 at Bridgewater Country Club.

The Chamber’s Bursary committee reviewed more than 25 applications and with generous financial contributions from Friendship Trail Bed & Breakfast, Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 230 Ridgeway, Dean Demizio State Farm Insurance, and Canadian Niagara Power Inc. /FortisOntario, were able to offer four additional bursaries this year.

The cheque presentation was held at a special brunch with family and friends held in honour of the deserving students which was made possible from table sponsorships from Meridian Credit Union,  TD Canada Trust, Brock University, District School Board of Niagara, Lakeshore Catholic High School, Niagara College, and the Business Education Council. Special guests in attendance included Mayor Doug Martin, MPP Kim Craitor, and Anna Annunziata on behalf of MP Rob Nicholson who presented special recognition certificates and pins to the students. 

Pictured from left to right are Chamber President Stephen Passero, MPP Kim Craitor, Drew Hampel (RCBHS), Victoria Serafini (RCBHS), Kelsey Kett (Lakeshore), Alexander Foreman (FESS), Jessica Wallace (Lakeshore), Jessica Fickel (FESS),  Lee van Brussel (FESS), Alannah Aliberti (FESS), Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2010
For Youth By Youth – Making a Difference in the Health of Our Communities

Engaging youth in programs, services, and events is a never-ending challenge – too often, adults do the planning without including youth and end up with less than satisfactory results. The issue of youth engagement is the impetus for our project titled the Bridges Community Health Centre Youth Health Promotion Strategy: a peer-led, youth engagement approach to enhance the health of youth in Fort Erie, Port Colborne, and Wainfleet. Funded in part by Niagara Region through the Niagara Prosperity Initiatives, the project focuses on finding solutions for engaging youth in issues related to health and poverty and creating a strategy to enhance the health of our youth.
Bridges Community Health Centre (CHC) hired four part-time youth health promoters - Grade 11 students from Port Colborne and Fort Erie - to lead the development of the youth health promotion strategy for our catchment area, which will include priority setting, action items, and the creation of a set of youth-friendly service guidelines. To engage local youth in the process, the youth developed a “youth voice” survey tool and are using a variety of avenues to seek youth input, including attending events and festivals, visiting local community partners providing services to youth such as the Job Gym, holding their own rock concert in Port Colborne, and posting an on-line version of the survey on survey monkey. The on-line survey can be accessed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/33NMF5H.
In the fall, the youth health promotion team will hold some focus groups to further develop the strategy and plan for one or two youth health promotion initiatives to be held in the Three Bridges and Fort Erie North neighbourhoods, two of the seven priority neighbourhoods identified to receive Niagara Prosperity Initiatives funding for 2010.

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Bridges Community Health Centre is funded by the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network. Community Health Centres meet the needs of their communities through the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services with a focus on health promotion and community development.

Media Inquiries can be directed to:
Rhonda Barron
Bridges Community Health Centre
Email: rhonda.barron@bridgeschc.ca
Phone: (905)871-7621 ext. 2226
Fax: (905)871-9135