Senior Political, Business and Not-for-Profit Leaders to Develop Bold Ideas that Tackle Province's Top Economic Challenges at the Ontario Economic Summit

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON, Oct. 27, 2015 /CNW/ - The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is hosting the 12^th annual Ontario Economic Summit from October 27^th- 29^th in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Summit brings together business and government leaders, industry experts, academics, and innovators from across the country to provide solutions to Ontario's economic challenges. Among this year's attendees are Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, and a number of Ontario cabinet ministers.

"Sectors of traditional strength are still recovering from the economic downturn," said Allan O'Dette, President & CEO of the OCC. "These challenges necessitate urgent – but thoughtful – responses from government. We'll spend the following days helping government craft those responses."

This year's Summit theme, Accelerating Growth: Creating the Conditions for Success, explores how the public and private sectors can work together to create the conditions for further economic growth in Ontario and Canada. Summit organizers have brought in experts from a number of countries to address a wide range of topics, including best practices in helping start-ups and small medium-sized enterprises scale into larger corporations, the opportunities provided by big data, and successful strategies to create jobs in emerging sectors.

"The Summit takes place at a pivotal time for Ontario and Canada," said O'Dette. "Ontarians are eager to see how their new federal government will work with their provincial counterparts and Ontario businesses to address our province's challenges, including increasingly fierce global competition for investment, markets, and talent." This will be the first time since the federal election that senior leaders will come together to collaborate about Ontario's economic future.

In addition to the Summit, over the course of each year the OCC's Economic Leadership Series facilitates the development of regional and sectoral priorities that inform our economic strategy for Ontario. Leaders join together to drive a collective economic agenda based on five key priorities outlined in the OCC's economic agenda for Ontario, Emerging Stronger. As Ontario's business advocate, the OCC works tirelessly to ensure that our province's economic challenges remain top of mind for both our provincial and federal governments.

• Download the Ontario Economic Summit agenda at www.ontarioeconomicsummit.ca
• Watch Ontario Premier's session LIVE at www.globeandmail.ca
• Follow the Summit on Twitter @OES
• Watch sessions on demand on YouTube at www.youtube.com/OntarioChamber

SOURCE Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Media Contact: Rachel Strong, Senior Communications Advisor, T. 416.482.5222 ext. 2470, E: [email protected]