Advocacy and Policy Achievements

In 2021, the Ottawa Board of Trade (OBOT):

• Launched a new Strategic Plan with four pillars: advocacy, economic growth, and membership with a focus on diversity and based on the values of collaboration, determination, future thinking, integrity, and passion.
• Engaged local business in key discussions related to relief policies and programs; informed decision makers through a series of letters, calls and meetings, including identifying issues facing business and recommendations on program changes.
• Continued working with the Mayor’s Economic Partners Council along with key stakeholders including but not limited to Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, OCCBIA and RGA.
• Continued working with the Canadian Global Cities Council along with Chambers and Boards of Trade in the largest cities across Canada with a focus on downtowns, recovery, and international trade.
• Ongoing meetings with the Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce and key politicians and stakeholders at the provincial and federal levels of government.
• Ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, including Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, RGA, Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, OCCBIA and local political representatives.
• Ongoing meetings with our Board as well as local business leaders and volunteers through several committees, including the SME Council, CEO Council, Talent Committee, Economic Growth Committee, Environment and Sustainability Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
• Ongoing support for key local initiatives: Skills Catalyst led by Carleton University and Hire Local led by a consortium of four local post-secondary institutions.
• Launched a new member marketplace using the platform of local start-up, FanSaves, to encourage member to member support and buying local.
• Hosted several townhalls, webinars and meetings with key business, community and government leaders including but not limited to Mayor Watson, Dr. Etches, Minister Lisa MacLeod, Minister Merilee Fullerton, Minister Bethlenfalvy, Minister Mona Fortier, and Minister McKenna.
• Presented and participated in meetings, events, interviews, and roundtables, including but not limited to City of Ottawa Economic Recovery and Rebound Plan, Ottawa Tourism Destination Stewardship Plan, Airport Community Council, and discussions led by elected officials.
• Continued advocating for transparent, evidence-based decision making in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic including the promotion of vaccine uptake through the Faster Together and This is Our Shot! campaigns.
• Hosted several events designed to inform, inspire, and recognize business leadership including Best Ottawa Business Awards, City Building Summit, Small Business Summit, Talent Summit, Post-Budget Breakfast, CEO Talk, and monthly Mayor’s Breakfasts.
• Partnered with the Ontario Chamber and several local leaders from the City, Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa and OCOBIA to deliver a multi-media #BuyLocal campaign during the holiday season and beyond.
• Partnered with Ottawa Tourism to develop a comprehensive workforce confidence program, including webinars, training series, and resources, including POST Promise and Rapid Antigen Testing.
• Partnered with City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, and Invest Ottawa to create an Ottawa Ambassador Initiative to make it easy for anyone to promote Ottawa through a new portal at cometoottawa.ca.
• Distributed over 270,000 individual rapid antigen tests to 2,000 businesses in Ottawa in partnership with Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, Health Canada, Ministry of Health, Canadian and Ontario Chambers as well as local businesses: TCC Canada and Trexity.
• Partnered with Ottawa Public Health to align and amplify key messages regarding Covid-19 and delivered the Business Reopening Workshops in partnership with OPH and OCOBIA.
• Shared information, resources and promoted member businesses through website, newsletters and on social media platforms.
• Hosted a sold-out golf tournament with modifications to ensure safety, facilitate networking and provide an outdoor day of fun and exercise.
• Led a federal elections initiative to inform candidates and voters about the priorities of the business community.
• Published three Capital Magazine editions in partnership with the gordongroup|TAAG to promote Ottawa’s unique value proposition, highlight local business and leadership, drive opportunities for alignment and create synergies.
• Contributed to Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Chamber of Commerce agenda through advocacy campaigns, events, and conferences, including policy debates, annual meetings, and Advocacy Day series.

In 2020, OBOT:

• Engaged local business in key discussions related to relief policies and programs; informed decision makers through a series of letters, calls and meetings, including identifying issues facing business and recommendations on program changes
• Joined the City of Ottawa Economic Partners Council with key local stakeholders including but not limited to Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism and OCCBIA
• Joined the Canadian Global Cities Council with Chambers of key urban areas across Canada, including Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax
• Met weekly with the Ontario and Canadian Chambers of Commerce and key politicians and stakeholders at the provincial and federal levels of government
• Met weekly with key stakeholders, including Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, RGA, Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, BIAs and local political representatives
• Met weekly with our Board of Directors as well as local business leaders and volunteers through several committees, including but not limited to SME Council, CEO Council, Talent Committee, Economic Growth Committee, Environment and Sustainability Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
• Met with stakeholders on key local initiatives: Ottawa Festivals, Ottawa Employment Hub, Skills Catalyst, Making It In Manufacturing, Ministry of Labour, Hire Immigrants, Building LeBreton
• Presented at events, interviews and roundtables, including the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, City of Ottawa Economic Partners Update
• Worked with stakeholders on key issues including elimination of internal trade barriers and women’s issues
• Hosted several townhalls, webinars and meetings with key business, community and government leaders including but not limited to Mayor Watson, Dr. Etches, Minister Lisa MacLeod, Minister Merilee Fullerton, Minister Mona Fortier, Minister Mary Ng, Minister McKenna, MP Marie France Lalonde
• Partnered with corporate leaders on programs that highlighted and supported local, small and medium enterprises, including the Business Hotline, Facebook Grants, Canadian United and the City of Ottawa Buy Local Campaign
• Partnered with Chambers across Canada and national associations to roll out the POST Promise to encourage business, consumer and workforce confidence
• Partnered with Ottawa Public Health to align and amplify key messages regarding being COVID Wise and COVID Kind and deliver the Business Reopening Workshops along with the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas
• Shared information and promoted member businesses through newsletters (over 70) and on social media platforms (over 3,500 posts)
• Launched business programs: Ottawa Business Peer Groups, Recovery Activation Program and Trade Accelerator Program
• Hosted a broadcast called Ottawa Stronger Together to celebrate local business and recognize Ottawa’s Top Forty Under 40
• Hosted a sold-out golf tournament with modifications to ensure safety, facilitate networking and provide an outdoor day of fun and exercise
• Launched the sixth annual Ottawa Business Growth Survey with Ottawa Business Journal and Welch LLP; hosted an event with keynote guest Michele Romanow
• Launched Capital Magazine, Ottawa’s Business Magazine, with a focus on Diversity and Inclusion.
• Conducted about 150 one-on-one meetings with OBoT members for onboarding, maximizing their memberships and addressing key issues
• Launched the #OttawaNEXT portal to help businesses overcome information overload about COVID-19, economic recovery strategies, and what support is available: ottawanext.ca

We are YOUR Ottawa Board of Trade: Advocating, Building, Championing, and Driving RESULTS that help businesses launch, pivot, recover, grow, and thrive.