Compliance Week at the Whitby Chamber of Commerce

December 19, 2017

Copper Branch filled with guests for breakfast beside a photo of Karl Baldauf at Fair Workplace Summit Part 2

The last week of November was compliance week at the Whitby Chamber of Commerce with two breakfast panel events positioned to keep membership informed.

Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act Summit Part 2: Are you ready?

More than 50 local professionals came together over breakfast to ensure they are aware of the implications of this legislation and can begin building strategies to run their business within its confines. Providing the WCC’s guests with valuable information was a dynamic panel of experts, including Karl Baldauf, Vice-President of Policy & Government Relations at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC); Corette Miller, Owner of new initiatives HR consulting inc.; and Ian Johncox and Stephanie Miner, lawyers from Mason Bennett Johncox.

Panelists shared information about the legislation and some mitigation strategies. Baldauf also highlighted Steering Through Change, a handbook created by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to help businesses.

“We will remain vigilant, but we rely on you for feedback and ideas,” said Baldauf. “It’s about building successful ecosystems for businesses and communities. That’s why it’s important for us to have this discussion today, to create opportunities despite the challenges that exist.”

Connect Breakfast: AODA compliance for 2018:

On November 29, members gathered in Brooklin at Copper Branch for the last Connect Breakfast of the year to discuss the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilites Act (AODA). Panellists included Louie DiPalma, Director, SME Programs & Global Growth Fund Contact, Ontario Chamber of Commerce; Michele Cotton, Accessibility Coordinator, Town of Whitby; and Denise Laframboise, Mortgage Agent, TheRedPin Mortgage Brokerage – The Mortgage Architects. With the deadline of December 31, 2017 for businesses with more than 20 employees to file an Accessibility Compliance Report, panellists shared numerous resources for business owners:

“You are required to file a report. You are not required to file a report with 100 per cent compliance,” reminded Cotton. “It’s better to file and explain your current efforts towards compliance than to not file at all.”