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Bill 148 will hurt small business: Sudbury chamber

Chamber of commerce launches awareness campaign
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Bill 148 proposes a series of dramatic changes to labour and employment legislation, including increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour by January 2019, increases to vacation and leave entitlements, new scheduling obligations and temporary work regulations. (Supplied)

The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce has launched an awareness campaign around Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, to help businesses understand the impact it could have on them.

This awareness campaign follows the recent release of the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis’s (CANCEA) report on the economic impacts of Bill 148. 

"CANCEA’s independent analysis found that Bill 148 puts more than 2,200 jobs at risk in Greater Sudbury alone and creates a $23 billion challenge for Ontario businesses," said a news release from the Sudbury Chamber.

Bill 148 proposes a series of changes to labour and employment legislation, including increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour by January 2019, increases to vacation and leave entitlements, new scheduling obligations, and temporary work regulations. 

"These amendments will bring new costs to business, put thousands of jobs at risk, and threaten Greater Sudbury’s economic prosperity," said the release.

The chamber is encouraging businesses to visit sudburychamber.ca/bill148 so they can learn more about this legislation and what they can do to tell provincial policy makers about their concerns. 

“It’s critical that all businesses in Greater Sudbury understand how Bill 148 could impact their operations,” said Michael Macnamara, Chair of the Board, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.  

“Businesses need to be aware so they can contact their MPPs or the Premier to tell them how the unintended consequences of the Bill will affect their enterprise. This legislation will touch every business and result in negative consequences to our economy.”

The chamber will be hosting an event on Friday, Sept. 8 that will educate employers on the proposed changes and what it will mean for their business. The chamber is asking businesses to contact it with examples of how Bill 148 will affect them.


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