THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN MISSISSAUGA
VOLUME 14 ISSUE 4 FALL 2019
8
29
30
UPCOMING
CANADA’S NEW
TAKE
REGIME
OUTSIDE
EVENTS
TRADEMARK
SUSTAINABILITY
5
THE
ENGINES OF OUR
ECONOMY
www.mbot.com
@mbotontario
BUILD THE RIGHT EXPORT PLAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS WITH EXPERT RESOURCES, ADVICE, AND HANDS-ON MENTORSHIP
Average growth of 42% in export sales one year after participation
More than 85% of participants have entered new markets including China, India, Mexico, Japan, U.K., Italy, Sweden, U.S. to name a few
Nearly 90% of participants declared themselves better prepared to do business internationally upon completing the program
“Trying to get to this point on our own would have been near impossible or extremely time consuming. We now have partners that are keen to help us, and a well thought out export plan that has been reviewed by experts. We feel we are now really set up for success! I would definitely recommend the program to anyone thinking about export.” – PATERSON COMPOSITES
To attend the first TAP Mississauga Session you must be available to participate in 4 full days of training and mentorship
To attend the first TAP Mississauga Session you must be available participate in 4 full days of training and mentorship on the following dates: on the to following dates:
- 2-Day Workshop (Step 1): October 21, 2019 & October 22, 2019 - 2-Day Workshop (Step 1): October 21, 2019 & October 22, 2019 - Export Plan Day October 2019 - Export Plan Day(Step (Step 2): 2): October 28,28, 2019 - Expert Mentoring 3):November November - Expert MentoringDay Day(Step (Step 3): 27,27, 20192019
[YOUR SPONSOR LOCKUP GOES HERE] All sessions will be held Homewood Suites by Hilton 6430Blvd., Edwards Blvd, Mississauga, ON2H7 L5T 2Y3 All sessions will beatheld at Hilton Garden Inn Toronto-Mississauga. (Traders), 100 Traders Mississauga, ON L4Z
NATIONAL PARTNERS
PROGRAM CREATORS
905.273.61511 | bbutt@mbot.com | www.mbot.com
Contents Articles
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VOLUME 14 ISSUE 4 | FALL 2019
18
Don't Become a Network Horror Story
22
Curling: Make your next Team Building event a Memorable one
27
Moments & Milestones
29
Canada’s New Trademark Regime
30
Take Sustainability Outside
32
Are You Sure Your Employee Resigned?
34
Successful Planning Starts Much Earlier Than You Think
CEO & EXECUTIVE SERIES
FROM THE
CORNER OFFICE OCT. 30
24-25 PAST EVENTS
COVERAGE
TED MOROZ
PRESIDENT
..........................
In this issue
..........................
Details on Page 20
05
Chair’s Message
12
MBOT Referral Program
07
President’s Message
20
New Members
08
Upcoming Events
26
Affinity Savings & Discounts
10
The Political Round Up
35
Committees & Forums
TOP TEN REASONS TO JOIN MBOT WHY
MBOT
NETWORKING Connect & meet over 1,500 businesses & professionals
ADVOCACY At all levels of government contributing to a healthy economic environment
EVENTS
DISCOUNTS
Be seen, be heard, be noticed! Make connections & referrals
Member 2 Member offerings, discounts, think globally - act locally
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN MISSISSAUGA Established in 1961, Mississauga Board of Trade proudly serves as a the Chamber of Commerce for the sixth largest city in Canada – the third largest city in Ontario. Mississauga Board of Trade represents all businesses in Mississauga. MBOT’s large, diverse and active membership has made us one of the most vibrant business associations in Canada. As the “Voice of Business” we advocate on policy issues that impact local business at all levels of government, and are influential in helping to shape policy decisions. MBOT also offers a wide variety of valuable business services and professional development programs, networking events and marketing opportunities, to help business grow, prosper, and get connected. Publisher: David Wojcik President & CEO ceo@mbot.com
AWARENESS
LEARNING
Brand your business, elevate your presence & get recognition
Professional development, technology, management & leadership skills
PARTNERSHIPS
COMMITTEES
Build relationships, clients & referral partners
Volunteering to network, share knowledge & enhance personal branding
Design & Layout: Bahaar Sachdeva bsachdeva@mbot.com
ADVERTISE
DIRECTORY
Quarterly Magazine, Annual Business Magazine & Membership Directory, MBOT TV, Website & E-bulletins
Use MBOT print & online Directory to shop for products & services and member-to-member discounts
Advertising Inquires: Sonia Ojha, Hiliary Jewer & Solange Barcena advertising@mbot.com
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FROM OUR CHAIR
THE
ENGINES OF OUR
ECONOMY
o
Jim Molyneux 2019 MBOT Chair MNP
ur city plays a pivotal role in driving the Ontario economy. With over 90,000 businesses employing 438,000 people, Mississauga continues to grow and provide opportunities for people from all backgrounds. While we are home to many multinational firms, entrepreneurs and local businesses are the engine behind the tremendous growth our city has seen.
Our networking and partnership opportunities help established businesses make connections and prepares them for the next step in their business journey. A strong network is vital as it provides business owners with the support they need now as well as the necessary connections down the line when they look to sell their business and retire.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, we understand the impact entrepreneurs have on our region and we are fortunate to have supported their work for nearly 60 years.
Behind the scenes, our advocacy and government relations efforts make it easier for businesses of all sizes to operate within Mississauga and throughout the province.
Today’s dynamic business environment can prove challenging for local businesses, and that’s where we come in. We’re proud to support entrepreneurs at every stage of the business cycle. Our events and resources provide start-ups with a roadmap to success, prompting them to ask questions about their business plan and how it aligns with their goals.
We understand that the business landscape is always changing, and that’s why our team prides itself on being agile and adaptable. We’re always looking for fresh opportunities to support entrepreneurs in their growth, empowering them to take our city to new heights and challenge the status quo. Let’s see where we take our incredible city. CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
05
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CREATING THE WORKPLACE OF THE
FROM OUR PRESIDENT
FUTURE
“Focus 2040” was a competition of post secondary students. Competitors were asked; What would the workplace look like in the year 2040? The ideas proposed were nothing short of brilliant. One competitor predicted a global repository of resumes. Does this sound like something Linkedin has accomplished? Or is there a more robust platform yet to come. A repository of resumes that would translate into any one of the estimated 6,500 languages spoken in the world. Another suggested that workers of the future would work on several different projects at any given time and would not be bound to one employer. It sounds like the worker of the future is being driven by an entrepreneurial mindset which in turn is driven by the millennial mantra; If you can’t teach me something new or challenge me with opportunities, I’ll leave and find it elsewhere. This philosophy gives way to a “short term” millennial employee. No longer can employers depend on team members joining when they graduate and staying until they receive their gold watch and retirement celebration. This opens up a discussion of preparing our workplace for the workforce of the future. Millennials want flexibility, opportunity, feedback and a company with a purpose. Pouring these asks into a workplace cauldron, will conjure up agita within the most seasoned business owner. Obtaining nirvana may not have staff maffick throughout the office, but it will give you an edge when recruiting and retaining talent. Let’s start with flexibility. Creating flexibility for your team does not happen organically. It takes planning, persistence and perseverance. Try this little quiz and see if you’re ready. Answer True or False to the following. Be candid. No one is grading the results.
1. MY TEAM HAS ACCESS TO THE MOST CURRENT TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE. (All
systems are less than two years old) Productivity grinds to a halt when staff are saddled with outdated, inferior and redundant systems. You must equip your team with the best (not the most expensive) technology you can find and maintain. This may include hiring an external IT support company to provide on demand support.
2. MY TEAM CAN COMMUNICATE AS IF THEY WERE IN THE OFFICE. This
may mean something as simple as forwarding an office phone to a cell phone. However, to be most efficient and truly give your customers the service level they deserve and provide your team with the best options available, you may consider moving to a VOIP or similar hard wired system. A virtual communication system that does not depend on your team’s location and can provide phone, text, file sharing and live meeting conferencing with video, will boost your teams efficiency to new heights.
3. MY TEAM CAN ACCESS CRITICAL INFORMATION TO PERFORM THEIR TASKS WHEN WORKING REMOTELY. This requires information to be stored in the “cloud” or available by remote access (VPN) on your corporate servers. The cost of cloud storage has drastically reduced over the past few years. If you can bring yourself to move to a paperless organization and get past not being able to visit your server room several times a day and pat a black box on the head to bring you comfort, you may be ready.
4. MY TEAM KNOWS EVERYONE’S STATUS ON PROJECTS. Teams of two or
more need this information in order to function remotely. In many organizations, every task turns into a project. Every function has a process and repetitive tasks are modified on the fly over time. Adopting a team based project manager will help your team stay up to date with latest developments on projects and provide comfort for anyone needing to take over a task in the event of that “hit by the bus” moment. You can use excel, but there are many on the market now that range from free to thousands of dollars per year. A few to check out are, Monday.com, Slack and Teams by Microsoft.
5. MY TEAM HAS CLEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
This may be the most difficult task for you to assess and create as a leader. As the saying goes; If it can’t be measured, it can’t be managed. Think of every revenue line item. Think of every cost line item. Break those down to responsibility
David Wojcik President & CEO Mississauga Board of Trade
and accountability. What are your corporate goals and how does your team contribute to reaching those targets. This may take weeks, months or years. It will require building reporting systems driven by your technology or by manual input. You and your management team will need to be persistent and consistent when communicating and administering this area. Monitor, evaluate, modify then rinse and repeat. This is an ongoing responsibility that the leader must champion.
6. I BELIEVE MY TEAM IS PRODUCTIVE WHETHER I’M IN THE OFFICE OR NOT.
You and your management team need to transcend to the mindset of trusting your team and believing they are productive, even when you can’t physically see them. Once you attain this step, which can be monumental for those boomers out there, you’re on your way to building a workplace of the future. One that will attract great talent that knows you respect their skills and trust them to perform. All this while providing your team with the flexibility to seize tranquility and work-life balance. Well, at least that’s the dream. These are a few of the many preparation steps. The execution is just as challenging and equally important. If you truly want to achieve great results, you need to hire for attitude, train for aptitude ,create an environment for success and provide the best tools possible. Also remember, the people that got you here, although amazing individuals, may not be the people to get you there. Achieving your workplace nirvana or have your team maffick through the office (when they are physically there), may not happen immediately, but you’ll be infinitely closer than you are right now.
CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
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UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR Event Details & Registration: www.mbot.com OCTOBER
Wednesday
02
Wednesday
09
Tuesday
15
Membership Matters 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. MBOT office
NGen Young Professionals Speed Networking 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Keg Heartland
Good Morning Mississauga (GMM) 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Dixie Curling Club
2019 Live Federal Election Debate
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. University of Toronto Mississauga
21, 22 28 Tuesday
22
Wednesday
23
Thursday
24
Wednesday
30
08
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Wednesday
TAP- Canada Trade Accelerator Program 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn (Traders)
This Is How Its Done Breakfast with Lana Duke Women's Leadership 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Lionhead Golf and Country Club
Breakfast with Hon. Laurie Scott
Minister of Infrastructure 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. BraeBen Golf Course
Annual Small Business Week Showcase 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Renaissance by the Creek
From the Corner Office with Ted Moroz, President of The Beer Store CEO & Executive Series 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Markland Wood Golf Club
NOVEMBER
Friday
08
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Wednesday
27
Membership Matters
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. MBOT office
Professional Development Series
Topic: Digital Transformation Resized For Your Business 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Four Points Mississauga Meadowvale
Good Morning Mississauga (GMM)
Wednesday
04
Wednesday
11
Wednesday
11
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Wednesday
DECEMBER Membership Matters 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. MBOT office
Chairs 2019 Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mississauga Convention Center
2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mississauga Convention Center
7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Lionhead Golf and Country Club
2019 Business Awards of Excellence 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mississauga Convention Center
TAP- Canada Trade Accelerator Program 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Homewood Suites
CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
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THE
POLITICAL ROUND UP MISSISSAUGA BOARD OF TRADE
MBOT IS THE VOICE OF BUSINESS AND IS HERE TO CONNECT, CHAMPION AND ADVANCE THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.
LOCAL & REGIONAL In Mississauga, we have two levels of municipal government – the City of Mississauga and the Region of Peel. Voters choose a Mayor and eleven Ward Councillors who represent us on both levels of government. MBOT’s role is to keep an eye actively and constantly on these governments and participate fully on issues where the interests of the business community are affected. 10 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
Regional Governance Review The Provincial Government named a two-person task force to examine Regional Government in Ontario including the Region of Peel and its three local municipalities including the City of Mississauga. The Panel concluded its study on May 21, 2019 and will make recommendations to the Provincial Government by the end of June. The mandate of the advisory body is to provide expert advice to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and to make recommendations to the government on opportunities to improve regional governance and service delivery. The Mississauga Board of Trade Board of Directors approved
a position that, should the Government of Ontario dissolve the Region of Peel government, that the City of Mississauga should become a single-tier, stand-alone municipality. The Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing announced at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in August 2019 that no announcements on municipal governance would be made until November.
Municipal Accommodation Tax/ Tourism The City of Mississauga introduced a four per cent Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) effective April 1, 2018. Council approved the new tax which will apply to stays for a continuous period of 30 days or less in a motel, hotel, lodge, inn, bed and breakfast, dwelling unit or any place that provides accommodation. Online private short-term rentals such as Airbnb and HomeAway are also subject to the MAT. It is estimated that this tax will generate close to $10 million per year of which 50% must be dedicated to a recognized tourism organization. MBOT continues to advocate for full transparency for the use of this money and for full involvement of the industry stakeholders (hotels/motels) in determining where MAT money should be spent.
adopting the City of Philadelphia model which has a much higher credit (up to 80%) and a grant program for property owners to offset the capital costs of storm water retrofits. Credit Valley Conservation is working on a storm water program in the Southdown District of Mississauga bringing 13 property owners together on a joint storm water management program. This could be a significant turning point in the storm water program through the use of the Drainage Act and property owners sharing resources and property access. Finally, City staff are working on a report to go back to Mississauga City Council this Fall on improvements to the programs that will entice more commercial property owners to perform on site retrofits in order to qualify for the credit program. Increasing the level of the credit to improve the capital pay-back would be a welcomed improvement to the program. To better understand and qualify for the rebates, please go to http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/stormwater/charge.
Mississauga Climate Change Action Plan
The City has already begun to spend the non-restricted portions of the MAT on things like supporting local festivals and special events. MBOT would prefer to see a plan on the allocation of this money rather than one-off ad hoc activities and that they demonstrate that they generate tourists and overnight stays in Mississauga.
The City of Mississauga is developing a Climate Change Action Plan to help minimize and prepare Mississauga for the impacts of a changing global climate. A draft plan was released in June 2019 for further stakeholder engagement with a final plan going before Mississauga City Council in later this Fall.
The City of Mississauga is now working on creating its own Tourism Agency and consulting with stakeholders on the make-up and mandate of this organization. MBOT is insisting that the Board of the new agency to made up of tourism stakeholder businesses, especially the hotel and motel sector, and ensure the agency is not operated directly by the City.
The Plan will include both corporate and community-wide actions to reduce or offset the impacts of climate change. It will also prepare the city for possible future climate scenarios.
Mississauga Storm Water Charge The City of Mississauga continues to charge a levy to all residential and commercial properties based on the size of its hard surface footprint. This disproportionately affects businesses and partially subsidizes homeowners.
On June 19, 2019, City Council passed a motion declaring a climate emergency in Mississauga. The motion outlined the City’s commitment to taking action on climate change and directed staff to develop and bring forward a climate change action plan to Council for approval by the end of 2019. MBOT is actively involved as a stakeholder in this to ensure the voice of business is included in the plan’s development. MBOT is a non-voting participating member of the City of Mississauga Environmental Action Committee.
City Council has approved an increase to the levy in 2019 of 2% bringing the charge to $106.10 per billing unit up from $104 in 2018.However, the City of Mississauga does have a credit program for commercial properties so that they can be rebated up to 50% of the levy if they perform improvements on the property that reduces or eliminates the flow of storm water into the municipal system and improves the quality of the storm water (reduces pollutants).
Airport Corporate Centre
The Mississauga Board of Trade is also working with both the Credit Valley Conservation and Toronto Region Conservation Authorities to help larger property owners on ways to retrofit their properties in order to qualify for the credit program. A proposal is being developed to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Fund.
Recently, MBOT met with the Hon. Kinga Surma, Associate Minister of Transportation to discuss the concerns over traffic and transportation in the ACC and the need for a direct link from the area to Toronto Pearson airport. MBOT expressed its support for the continuation of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and a direct link into the airport.
MBOT is also asking the City of Mississauga to consider
Pearson is also proposing a major transit hub on their lands
The Airport Corporate Centre (ACC) is the largest employment zone in the City of Mississauga with more than 750 businesses and employing more than 32,000 people. That represents 3.4% of all businesses in the city and 7.7% of all employees. On average there are 42 people working per business in the ACC district.
CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
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known as Union Station West. This project would link air, rail and road very effectively to encourage greater use of public transportation.
Cannabis Retail Stores The City of Mississauga decided at its December 12, 2018 Council meeting, that it will opt out and not allow privatelyoperated cannabis retail stores in Mississauga. MBOT believes that this was a short-sighted decision and that Council, now armed with the success of the roll-out of cannabis stores throughout Ontario, should re-consider its decision. Neighbouring cities like Brampton opted in and now receive about $600,000 per year from the Provincial Government to help pay for regulation enforcement and policing costs.
Development Charges By-law The City of Mississauga has approved a new Development Charges By-law. The new rates came into force on June 19, 2019. While development charges for Mississauga are generally in the middle range in the greater-Toronto area, it is becoming much more expensive to develop and build in Mississauga.
New Mississauga Economic Development Strategy Being Developed The City of Mississauga is developing a new Economic Development Strategy. The five-year strategy focuses on attracting businesses, employment and investments opportunities to Mississauga. “While the success of our last strategy resulted in Mississauga becoming a city in demand, the reality is that a lot has changed in the world of business and in our City over the last ten years. If we want to remain competitive, create jobs and attract global business and talent, we need a strategy that will build on our success and propel Mississauga into the future,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Every day, we create 27 new jobs in our city, and we are quickly becoming known as a hub for innovation, and the home to growing tech, and film and television sectors. At the same time, we continue to grow our life sciences, advanced manufacturing, clean tech, finance, and food and beverage sectors into leading clusters in Canada. Our City is magnetic and I’m confident this new strategy will position us to seize these opportunities for future growth while ensuring we remain one step ahead of the competition.”
12 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
Downtown Mississauga Plan in the Works The City of Mississauga is creating a downtown for today and tomorrow. To do this, the City is developing a new guiding document called the Downtown Strategy. This Strategy will build on the success of the downtown core and provide direction for the future. It will reflect what people want to see – a vibrant place to live, work, learn, be entertained, raise a family and most of all, choose to be. The Downtown Strategy seeks to set a vision and plan for Downtown Mississauga by answering the following questions: • What are the downtown’s strengths? • Where are the opportunities? (e.g. to make it easy to live, work, play, shop, gather and learn in the Downtown) • What are our needs and aspirations for the downtown? • What is our vision for the future and what actions will get us there? The Strategy will build on the Downtown21 Master Plan (2010) - a plan that first outlined a vision to transform the downtown from "suburban to urban" and laid the foundation for the current downtown core. For more information on the Downtown21 Master Plan, please visit www.mississauga.ca/ downtown. MBOT will be actively engaged in this review and advocating for a strong balance of office and commercial development along with residential. The City of Mississauga has also approved a Community Improvement Plan for Downtown Mississauga which is hoped to spur on new commercial development in Mississauga’s City Centre.
MISSISSAUGA BOARD OF TRADE
CHAMBER REFERRAL PROGRAM
Consider referring a business who could take advantage of benefits, savings and programming MBOT has to offer. For details, please contact:
Trish Desimone
IDENTIFY
referrals@mbot.com 905.273.6151 x 240
SUBMIT GROW
Connect, Champion & Advance
PROVINCIAL MBOT works very closely with our partners at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) on issues with the Ontario Government. Our Committees work hard looking at resolutions, policy documents, government announcements on consultations to ensure the voice of Mississauga businesses is advanced on provincial issues. Members of MBOT are automatic members of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the OCC, please visit www.occ.ca
Prompt Payment Regulations in Force The Government of Ontario recently announced an essential next step to the full implementation of a first-in-Canada prompt payment regime to support jobs and growth in the construction industry. This regime will help cut through red tape, help create and protect jobs and attract investment to the province. The implementation of these changes will prevent payment disputes from delaying work on construction projects, speed up the payment process and reduce time and money spent on litigation for businesses. This adjudication system brings into force a new process that will give people and businesses a cost-effective and efficient alternative to settling payment disputes in court. Starting October 1, 2019, subject to applicable transition rules, parties to construction contracts and subcontracts will be able to receive a binding decision from an experienced construction adjudicator in approximately six weeks, a process that could take months or even years in the court system.
Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
New Small Business Minister Appointed Premier Doug Ford has appointed Brampton South MPP Prabmeet Sarkaria as the Associate Minister of Small Business & Red Tape Reduction. Minister Sarkaria will work in the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade & Job Creation with a specific focus on small business issues and red tape reduction. The Mississauga Board of Trade hosted Minister Sarkaria at a breakfast event on September 6, 2019 highlighting the importance of this new role.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce Releases Report on Regional Economic Development On September 12, 2019 the Ontario Chamber of Commerce the Mississauga Board of Trade released a new report, The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies. The report outlines how government of all levels can work with industry to unleash the potential of Ontario’s regional economies and reinforce the competitiveness of the province as a whole. “We are only as strong as our weakest link and our ability to prosper depends on the strength of our different regions. Economic and population growth rates in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Ottawa have far surpassed those in other areas of the province,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Our communities – and the province as a whole – risk falling behind if we do not leverage the rich and diverse competitive advantages of our local economies.” The Great Mosaic: Reviving Ontario’s Regional Economies examines the opportunities and challenges faced by different communities across the province and offers a framework for thinking about the present and future of Ontario’s regional economies.
The Government of Ontario has formally signaled Ontario's support to modify the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) to allow federal, provincial and territorial governments to independently remove unnecessary restrictions to internal trade. The CFTA has over 100 pages of exceptions maintained by Parties that distort and block the flow of trade across the country. Many of these exceptions are outdated and act as unnecessary barriers for businesses.
“We urge policymakers to take a modern and comprehensive approach to economic development by leveraging the existing competitiveness advantages of Ontario’s regions, and implement deliberate strategies to support long-term growth in communities across the province,” added Rossi.
The proposed amendment to the CFTA contains safeguards to ensure that any modifications made to existing exceptions do not result in new barriers or restrictions for businesses from other Parties.
•
Ontario, along with Alberta and Saskatchewan, continue to encourage other jurisdictions to join efforts to make Canada Open for Business and take concrete steps to further reduce or remove barriers that obstruct the nationwide flow of trade.
The OCC’s report makes 17 recommendations to strengthen the well-being of Ontario’s regions. Key takeaways include:
•
The most cost-effective way to drive economic development is to cultivate talent, trade, and infrastructure. Governments should make it a priority to upgrade transportation and energy networks, modernize their regulations and business supports, offer dynamic education and training opportunities, and encourage labour mobility. Building regional capacity for innovation is fundamental to productivity and growth. This means improving commercialization and technology CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
13
•
adoption, strengthening regional innovation centres, expanding broadband internet access, and facilitating cluster development. Modern governance of economic development should empower a wide range of stakeholders including businesses, post-secondary institutions, and not-for-profit organizations outside government. Regional collaboration, economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and the use of data are all critical to mobilizing local assets.
Provincial Legislature The Ontario Legislature is adjourned until October 28, 2019.
FEDERAL MBOT members are also members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) which is the national voice of business to the federal government. MBOT staff and committees examine issues and resolutions of the CCC and provide Mississauga’s input. More information on the CCC is at www.chamber.ca.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Calls to Bring Back Fee Fairness User fees play an important role in how departments and agencies are funded. Like taxes, they affect the competitiveness of businesses that pay them. The federal government replaced the User Fees Act with the Service Fees Act in the 2017 federal budget. The legislation was included in the omnibus budget bill, meaning it received far less parliamentary debate, committee study or public scrutiny than it would have as standalone legislation. Unfortunately, Health Canada’s 2017 attempt to dramatically increase fees for drugs and medical devices, gave no consideration to business competitiveness impacts and reinforced industry concerns about the federal shift on fees. 2020 will mark three years since the passage of the Service Fees Act and given the hasty implementation of changes to federal cost recovery rules, we have examined how the government and Health Canada specifically have exercised these new authorities. The full report is available at http://www.chamber. ca/media/blog/190912-bringing-back-fee-fairness/ BringingBackFeeFairness.pdf or visit www.RegulateSmarter.ca.
14 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
General Election A General Election has been called for October 21, 2019. Canadians will elect local Members of Parliament to serve in the 43rd Parliament of Canada. The City of Mississauga has six federal electoral districts – Mississauga-Lakeshore, Mississauga East-Cooksville, Mississauga-Malton, Mississauga-Streetsville, Mississauga-Erin Mills and Mississauga Centre
Vote Prosperity 2019 In preparation for the Federal Election, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Network across Canada has developed the Vote Prosperity Platform to make all the political parties aware of the issues facing business in the country. More information on this platform is available at www.platformforprosperity.com.
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Landlord representation— all property types—office, industrial, retail, build-tosuit, land and multi-family
–
Portfolio review and analysis Valuation and appraisal Benchmarking Transaction management Asset rationalization Mergers and acquisitions Workplace solutions Acquisitions and dispositions Property tax services
Partnership. Performance. Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (Ontario) Inc., Brokerage
Acquisitions Asset management Portfolio strategy Capital repositioning
Debt Capital Services – – – –
Permanent and construction Structured finance Portfolio mark to market Mezzanine & bridge financing
– – – – –
Project management Property and operations review Property/facility management Financial reporting Lease administration Operations consulting Portfolio management
– – – –
Integrated services coordination Transaction management Optimization strategies Portfolio lease administration Project coordination and reporting
THURSDAY
NOV. 14 TICKETS & TABLES:
A BOARD O UG A
WWW.MBOT.COM
F
BUSINESS AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
ADE TR
MISSI SS
5:00 PM - 9:30 PM MISSISSAUGA CONVENTION CENTRE
2019
#MBOTAWARDS THANK YOU SPONSORS:
TO ALL NOMINEES! BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR:
Bertine Jerry | Global Unified Solution Services Inc. Carmela Zita Kapeleris | Kapeleris Real Estate Group Caroline Irving | Sky Zone Mississauga Chris Doyle | Port Credit Academy of Martial Arts Jay Mandarino | CJ Graphics Inc. Kris Shah | Baylis Medical Company Mohamad Fakih | Paramount Fine Foods Nabarun Chaudhuri | iSmartStudent International Inc. Peter Lewis | Homewood Suites Toronto Mississauga Ushvinder Bhatia | Xccelerata Whitney Joy Smith | The Smith Investigation Agency
ALL OTHER CATEGORIES: Air Riderz Arthur Murray Mississauga Dance Studio Aversan Inc. Baylis Medical Company Boys and Girls Club of Peel Carolyns Model and Talent agency Centre for Education & Training Chantler Packages Inc. CIM Solutions Inc CJ Graphics Inc. CJ's SkatePark Clean Meals Inc. Connecting Dots Behavioural Services Inc. CPR Cell Phone Repair Mississauga CPR Cell Phone Repair Oakville CSA Security Inc. DiPaolo Machine Tools Feely Music Gate Gourmet Global Unified Solution Services Inc. GO Logistics Inc. GTA Mold Removal Haywood Hunt and Associates Inc. Heart House Hospice Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale Homewood Suites by Hilton Toronto/Mississauga Hydrogenics Corporation INNOVA Integrated Wellness Centre Insuranceland iSmartStudent International Inc. Jesco Gas Services Inc. John Brooks Company Kapeleris Real Estate Group, Remax Katika Integrated Communications inc Kellogg Canada Inc.
Keyser Mason Ball LLP (KMB Law) Kingsbriedge Matters Kit Care Corporation La Villa Bakery and Cafe Lange Transportation Li-Cycle Lisgar Development Ltd. LOGIX Data Products Inc. Love this House Master's Seo Dynamic Taekwondo MHI Canada Aerospace, Inc. Monte Carlo Inns Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga ON Nightingale Corporation Ontario Impex Of Canada ORTECH Consulting Inc. Pallett Valo Peel Halton Workforce Development Group PLASP Port Credit AMA Prism Care Corporation Quota International Sky Zone Mississauga SOTI Inc. North America Splitstream Consulting Inc Start2Finish Surgically Clean Air Inc. The Green Organic Dutchman The Mississauga Food Bank The Musket Transport Ltd. The Smith Investigation Agency VG Engineering Inc. Vipond Inc. Weston Forest Xccelerata
WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT AWARDS RECEPTION
MEMBER TALKS
DON'T BECOME A NETWORK HORROR STORY In recent years, security horror stories haunt the news. These threats can be frightening to businesses of all sizes, but especially to small businesses that don’t usually have the means to recover from an attack of large magnitude. The fact is, when your network’s security protocols are left unmonitored and without uniform standards, well-meaning users can make unintentional threats to your data. Read below for some unnerving examples of how your colleagues may be putting your company at risk of a security breach.
because they address known security issues and flaws in the software. Leaving them out-of-date creates a window of opportunity for hackers to access your confidential information. Did you know you can set updates to run automatically at a time that won’t interrupt your users? (i.e. after hours or on the weekend)
4. “Backup” to the Future
1. Attachment Attacks
Don’t play “trick or treat” with your email. Email attachments can hide viruses, spyware and even open the door to remote hacking. By having professional spam filtering and anti-virus in place you can thwart these malicious threats. Train your colleagues on how to spot a fake so that even the most convincing phishing emails don’t stand a chance.
2. Post-it Note Passwords
Do you see your colleague’s passwords on post-it notes? Do you use the same (or similar) passwords for all of your system and application accounts? Does your password make Time Magazine’s list of the Top 25 Worst Passwords? Easily guessed or found passwords can be just as risky as having no password at all.
3. Deserted Updates ................................................ Stephanie Baird LOGIX Data Products Inc. ................................................
18 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
Remind Me Later – sound familiar? System updates can be annoying to many end-users. However, ignoring these updates for too long can leave more than tumbleweeds rolling through the holes in your network. Updates are important
Backups are often not thought about until they are desperately needed. It is near impossible to retrieve your data without a preestablished data recovery plan, but there is hope! Frequent and tested backups can mean the difference between being down for minutes, versus hours or even weeks. If set up correctly, backups can also protect against ransomware attacks – without having to pay the attackers a dime.
5. Idle IT
Even if you are taking the above precautions, you may find that some end-users disable them without your knowledge. They may think running backups and antivirus software slows down their computer, or that firewalls limit their internet access. It is important to not only have IT policies in place, but to also monitor their status. Keep the conversation open with your colleagues so they understand why these security measures are there in the first place.
Factoring with J D Factors … A quick and simple process used to improve cash flow and eliminate bad debts What Our Factoring Programs Do For Our Clients: • Improve Cash Flow and Reduce Credit Risk • Utilize the credit strength of their customers to
J D Factors has been turning Invoices into Cash for over 25 years
MEMBER TALKS
CA$H FOR INVOICES!
help create a strong credit standing of their own
• Have ready and available cash to pay
Why J D Factors?
suppliers and efficiently grow the business
• Cash for Invoices within 24 hours • Strong Reputable • No Up-Front Application Fees • Competitive Rates • Free Credit Checks on your Customers • Non-Recourse (Credit Guarantee) Programs • Real Time Reporting—Online Access
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Professional Development IT PAYS TO KNOW
Taxable Benefits & Allowances: Reduce Costs and Risk of Audits Marty S., CPM - Member, Ontario Region
Providing employee benefits and non-cash incentives can be a win-win for employers and employees. But correctly managing and administering these benefits requires more finesse than many employers may consider. Employers, and payroll, human resource and accounting professionals can benefit from the Canadian Payroll Association’s (CPA’s) wealth of resources, including the popular Taxable Benefits & Allowances seminar. At the outset, employers should be aware that there is a difference between taxable benefits, allowances and expense reimbursements, which are often categorized as employee benefits. Each category requires understanding of federal, provincial and territorial legislation and regulations and entails unique administration. The CPA’s Taxable Benefits & Allowances seminar reviews these important aspects and explores key concepts used by Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec to evaluate taxability and assess more than 40 common benefits, including automobile allowances, loan and stock options, gift cards and more. With over 25 Taxable Benefits & Allowances seminars between now and the end of June, there’s bound to be one near you. Stay Current Stay Compliant
Register online today at payroll.ca. Register early and save - Early bird rates available two weeks prior to the seminar. payroll.ca
CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
19
CEO & EXECUTIVE SERIES
FROM THE
CORNER OFFICE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
PRESIDENT
TED MOROZ OCT. 30
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM MARKLAND WOOD GOLF CLUB
JUNE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Aquarian Global Inc. Belfor Property Restoration CAA - Mississauga Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Ergotech Solutions Inc. Feely Music Ferguson, Grant FORTE Labels & Shrink Sleeves Inc. IP Centric Systems Jodh Toor Consulting Kit Care Corporation Let's Get Together Level Up Global LinkMentalHealth Martin & Wright Insurance Brokers McWhirter, Sandy TD Wealth Financial Planning The Printing Klub TK Wealth Ventures Ltd. Virtual Galaxies Xccelerata
JULY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
407 ETR Bush Marketing Canada Food Choice CIBC - Alternate Solutions Group/Capital Markets Fully Managed Inc. Hilton Garden Inn (Traders) Horizon Express Canada Hyatt Place Toronto Mississauga Infinit Global Labs Look Local Mississauga MaidPro Mississauga Mohawk College Enterprise Prudent Analytics and Management Services Ltd. Select Taste Corporate Catering Tangri Ins & Financial Group Inc. TechReset Tint World
20 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
NEW MEMBERS OF MBOT
AUGUST • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Art Gallery of Mississauga CIBC - Business Banking Department Coach the Mind Commerx Costco Wholesale (Dundas) FCL Fisker Customs & Logistics FedEx Express-Sales Hygiene Performance Solutions KKP Meyerside Lange Transportation and Storage Ltd. Mapletech International Consultants Inc. PACE Security Corp. Prism Care Corporation Quota International Techlogiks Canada Inc. Turtle Jacks Erin Mills Town Centre
MEMBER TALKS
Management services and management consulting for your hotel.
Associated brands:
7045 EDWARDS BOULEVARD., SUITE 300, MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA – L5S 1X2
T: 905.565.1200 • F: 905.565.1211 • INFO@CROWNHOTELS.CA
HOSPITALITY & ASSET MANAGEMENT WWW.CROWNHOTELS.CA
FOLLOW US ON
MAKE YOUR NEXT TEAM BUILDING EVENT A MEMORABLE ONE Fall is officially here. The leaves have started to change. The weather has become a little cooler and the days are getting a little shorter. For the curlers, it’s time to come out of hibernation. It’s time to grab their brooms, lace up their shoes, and begin another season at Dixie. Curling may be our forte and we welcome everyone to our club, but it’s not the only thing we have to offer. We have lots of space where you can host a variety of functions. But here are the top 3 reasons why you should host your next team building event at Dixie. #1 It’s Fun and Different Curling is a sport that engages all participants. From throwing a stone to sweeping one, your heart will be pumping from the get go. Yes, your body will feel the burn, but did you know that curling will also engage your brain? There’s a reason people call it chess on ice! #2 Your team is going to want to do it again and again This is a true and simple fact. Several corporate companies will book their event a year in advance because they had a blast curling at Dixie. Companies keep coming back to us
22 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
MEMBER TALKS
CURLING
because our number one goal is to ensure that everyone who steps on the ice has a great time from start to finish. Your team members will be talking about the event for days. #3 Start and end the work day with us You can make a day of it at our club. Start your day with a meeting and add a little curling in between. It’s a two hour break you won’t regret. Our onsite caterer, Select Taste, will be more than happy to help you set a menu that will keep you satisfied throughout the day. Whether your team is party of eight or a party of 48, we are ready to give you a memorable curling experience. This season, Dixie will be introducing Corporate Wednesdays. Please give us a call for more information, we’re more than happy to tell you more about it. If Wednesdays don’t work, feel free to contact us via phone or email. We’re always ready to work with your company on selecting a date and time that works for both us and especially you. So, hurry hard and come on down to the Dixie Curling Club for your next team building event!
THE WORLD’S MOST 1 SECURE PRINTERS 59%
of organizations
reported a print-related data loss incident in the past year.2
11%
of security incidents
reported by organizations over the past year were print-related.2
Whether it’s a malicious cyberattack, an accidental internal breach, or regulatory and legal noncompliance, the cost of resolving a security breach can be huge. Costs can include fines, loss of business, class action suits and perhaps more importantly, damaged reputation. Network firewalls are insufficient security measures. Organizations need to fortify end points behind the firewall, including network printers. Contact your Quantum representative today to find out how HP’s PageWide Managed MFPs and Printers are transforming networked printers from vulnerabilities to strongpoints. Only HP printers can claim “World’s Most Secure”. Call Quantum Document Solutions today. Phone: (905) 615-8778 Toll Free:1 (888) 437-0403 Sales@quantumdocument.com
1 Based on HP review of 2018 published security features of competitive in-class printers. Only HP offers a combination of security features that can monitor to detect and automatically stop an attack then self-validate software integrity in a reboot. For a list of printers, visit http://hp.com/go/PrintersThatProtect. For more information: http://hp.com/go/printersecurityclaims 2 Quocirca Global Print Security Study, Louella Fernandes, January 2019.
MINISTER SERIES
MIN. PRABMEET SINGH SARKARIA
EVENTS AT A
glance (GMM) MONTHLY NETWORKING
Meet up to 100+ potential business clients, partners and suppliers before the start of your workday!
Book your t Speaker Spo
at Please contactm or info@mbot.cox 210 905-273-6151ility. for availab
24 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
Features: Hot Buffet Breakfast Networking | Business Card Draws Business Profile Presentations.
....................................................................................................................................................................
GOOD MORNING MISSISSAUGA
ASSOCIATE MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS AND RED TAPE REDUCTION
.....................................................................
SUMMER PARTY
AFTER-HOURS NETWORKING SOCIAL
CALL FOR EDITORIALS!
t nec n o otc b m #
MBOT is accepting submissions for articles for our quarterly magazine. Unpublished, original and business related information, between 400-450 words. For more information, please contact Bahaar Sachdeva, Brand & Communications Manager at bsachdeva@mbot.com or call 905.273.6151 x 230.
SERIES
Features panel speaker from a particular industry with a focus on issues and topics that can help further your business objectives and goals.
Topic: Scaling Your Business .....................................................................
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS MONTHLY ORIENTATION
Complimentary to both new and current members looking for a refresher and designed to make sure you are making use of everything that your Board of Trade has to offer and to expose you to some of the important privileges that come with membership.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NGEN 'S SOCIAL EVENT
CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
25
$DISCOUNTS AVINGS
EXCLUSIVELY FOR MBOT MEMBERS
&
GROUP HEALTH BENEFITS
MBOT Offers: Discounted member rates for document certification for exporting of goods.
AFFINITY PARTNERS:
INSURANCE
GAS DISCOUNTS MERCHANT RATES COURIER SERVICES OFFICE SUPPLIES HOTELS & CAR RENTALS TELECOM
Many ble!
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26 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
Visit www.mbot.com and login to the members only portal to take advantage of these great savings and discounts available with your membership.
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MR. RON & BARBARA SYPHER
Ron and Barbara met one night in 1959, during a friendly bowling competition with their colleagues. Ron, the St. Catharines native grew up in the Niagara Peninsula and gravitated to Toronto as he established his career with the Toronto Dominion Bank spanning just over 40 years. Settling in the SheridanHomelands, Ron and Barbara raised their children, and are grandparents to three. Both as members of the Clarkson Road Presbyterian Church, Barbara
spent 30 years volunteering with the Church Community Volunteer group. The volunteer group supports local senior residents with their transportation to medical appointments who are unable to utilize the public transit. Barbara worked in the admin office and Ron was a driver. Barbara enjoyed her volunteer work and had extended her acts of kindness to a fellow Church member, Dr. Ruth Hussey, the driving force behind a 14-year-long public campaign that resulted in the successful acquisition of the Rattray Marsh. If you enter Rattray Marsh from Old Poplar Row, you’ll see a large stone that is a monument to Dr. Ruth Hussey which reads, “Because of her, Rattray Marsh is ours”. Prior to her passing in 1984, Ruth had failing eyesight, and although warmly accompanied by her guide dog Belle, Barbara Sypher spent time with Ruth to read to her books, the newspaper and her mail.
MEMBER TALKS
Moments & Milestones
Ron retired in 1994, and embraced retirement with pursuing his passion for art. Ron has been involved in the arts all his life. While children were out engaging in sports, and other activities, Ron was happy to sit comfortably at home drawing. He never took formal lessons, and is self-taught. He joined the Mississauga Art Society and began teaching both teenagers and adults at the Springbanks Art Centre to expand their portfolios and build on their artistic confidence.
Ron’s subject matter is versatile, and the majority of his work is inspired from photos. Every painting is an original. You can spot his pieces from afar as they beam beautifully with vibrant colours and showcase gorgeous Canadian scenery. His framed artwork has been featured in multiple shows as well as at Credit Valley Hospital. Ron looks forward to starting up his art program at Walden Circle Retirement and engaging in a new artistic pursuit! ................................................ Ashley Rebelo Marketing Manager Walden Circle Retirement Community ................................................
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Inquiries, Feedback & Suggestions:
Contact Managing Editor, Bahaar Sachdeva at bsachdeva@mbot.com
The Right Fit Matters At Pallett Valo LLP we give you what you need, not what you don’t. With our flexibility and the right expertise in a variety of business law areas, we provide you with a legal solution that is tailored to suit you – all without compromising service or quality. If you want legal representation that’s just the right fit for you, try on our Right Sized ThinkingŽ.
ONTA
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CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
Your Authority For: Business Law • Commercial Litigation • Commercial Real Estate Construction • Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring Employment & Labour • Wills, Estates & Trusts
Right-sized ThinkingŽ • 1-800-323-3781 • pallettvalo.com
• Expanded Definition of Trademark: The
definition of a trademark is now expanded to include for the first time non-traditional marks such as holograms, moving images, scents, tastes, colour alone, and texture. Such non-traditional marks must be distinctive at the time of filing in order to be registrable.
• Adopting Nice Classification for Goods and Services: As of June 17th, goods and
services in new trademark applications (and pending applications filed before June 17th but no yet advertised) must be classified in accordance with the Nice Classification system which categories all goods and services under 45 different international classes. This brings Canada in line with most other industrialized countries.
• Increased Filing Fees: Government filing
fees on trademark applications increased with the implementation of the Nice Classification, namely $330 for the first class and $100 for each additional class of goods and services. These filing fees are calculated at the time of filing. (Under the old regime there was a flat rate filing fee of $250 regardless of the number of goods and services).
• Use Requirement is Removed: Previously,
an applicant had to rely on use of the applied-fortrademark in Canada, or proposed use in Canada, or use outside of Canada when filing a trademark application. As of June 17th, this “use” requirement is removed. Use of the trademark in Canada still remains relevant for entitlement and enforcement purposes.
• Declaration of Use No Longer Required:
Filing a Declaration of Use is no longer required for new applications filed after June 17th, and for those pending applications that have been allowed before this date. - For those applicants who filed an application under the old regime based on “proposed use” in Canada and who have not yet used the trademark in Canada with all the goods and services listed in their pending application, they no longer need to file a Declaration of Use. This means they may obtain a registration without limiting the scope of the goods and services in their application.
• Canada adopts the Madrid Protocol:
Canada is now a party to the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid Protocol enables Canadians to seek trademark protection in a number of countries by filing a single international application with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The system offers a simplified application process and cost savings for
MEMBER TALKS
CANADA’S NEW TRADEMARK REGIME foreign filings. Under the Madrid Protocol, Canadians need to first have a “home-country” application. - Consider filing Canadian trademark applications for your key trademarks and thus have “home-country” applications filed which can be relied upon to take advantage of the Madrid Protocol.
• Divisional Applications Possible: It is now
possible to divide applications in Canada which will be of strategic advantage during the prosecution and oppositions.
• Letters of Protest: Parties may file letters of
protest against pending applications filed by others in order to raise arguments against registration. For the first time, parties can raise objections with the Trademarks Office against applications for conflicting marks early in the examination stage before advertisement.
• Registration & Renewal Changes: - Term now 10 years: The term of registration is now 10 years (reduced from 15 years under the old regime). - Timing for renewal: A request to renew a trademark application can now only be filed within six (6) months before or six (6) months after expiry of the registration. - Increased Renewal Fees: The government fee to renew a registration increased to $400 for the first international class of goods or services and $125 for each additional international class. Previously the renewal fee was a flat rate of $350 (online) regardless of the number of goods or services. The renewal fees are calculated at the time of renewal. When renewing, the goods and services in the registration must be classified by the registrant in accordance with the Nice Classification system.
CONCLUSION
Pallett Valo LLP can assist businesses interested in obtaining trademark registration for their trademarks in Canada and abroad. We can help businesses take advantage of the new opportunities and to navigate the complexities of Canada’s new trademark regime.
.................................... Ahmed Bulbulia Lawyer Pallett Valo LLP ....................................
CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
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MEMBER TALKS ............................................ Deborah Kenley Senior Coordinator, Greening Corporate Grounds Credit Valley Conservation ............................................
TAKE SUSTAINABILITY OUTSIDE
Science proves our climate is changing. So is the corporate landscape. Business leaders now realize corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiatives are linked to business success. While some environmental sustainability practices are now common operating principles, there are still opportunities for innovative thinkers to capture the competitive advantage by setting new standards for what it means to do good business.
CONVENTIONAL CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY
Since the late 1990s, companies have increasingly integrated operational sustainability measures into their business plans. Practices like reducing waste and energy consumption provided businesses with tangible, measurable goals that were easy to implement with near immediate results. Today, many businesses are choosing to use the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide their sustainability strategies.1 But a recent study reveals companies have found it difficult to turn their commitment into
Credit Valley Conservation’s Greening Corporate Grounds, the City of Mississauga and the Mississauga Board of Trade challenge businesses to think outside the box when it comes to corporate social and environmental sustainability.
actionable strategy. They lack the tools and guidance to transform sustainable action into bottom-line benefit.2
environment and their community.
CONSIDER TAKING YOUR NEXT CSR INITIATIVE OUTSIDE
Credit Valley Conservation’s Greening Corporate Grounds program helps businesses create CSR solutions with sustainable landscaping. From vision to implementation, we work with businesses to determine the best opportunities on their properties to achieve long-term social and environmental value. Members of the Mississauga Board of Trade have a unique opportunity to participate in the program, receive one-on-one guidance and up to $5,000 of design services for free. Visit cvc.ca/gcg-mbot for more information.
Companies big and small have opportunities to contribute to SDGs on their own properties. Improving water quality, taking climate action and protecting, promoting and sustaining our land-based ecosystems directly benefit the environment and local communities. Businesses can effect change and build resilience by practicing sustainable landscaping and building green infrastructure on their corporate grounds. From planting trees to installing permeable paving, they can reap the hard and soft bottom-line benefits of sustainably managing the spaces directly outside their office or warehouse. By taking the lead in on-site in-the-ground sustainability, companies can lower conventional property maintenance costs, reduce employee turnover and build reputation and customer loyalty by demonstrating their commitment to the
ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?
1 Ingram, George, May Nguyen, and Milan Bala. “How corporations are approaching sustainability and the Global Goals.” Brookings Up Front, January 8, 2019. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2019/01/08/ how-corporations-are-approaching-sustainability-andthe-global-goals/ 2 McGill, Alan and Louise Scott. “From promise to reality: Does business really care about the SDGs?” SDG Reporting Challenge. PwC. 2018. https://www.pwc.com/ gx/en/sustainability/SDG/sdg-reporting-2018.pdf, p. 7.
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MEMBER TALKS
ARE YOU SURE YOUR EMPLOYEE
RESIGNED?
Employees are hired, and employees resign. These are typical events in any employment relationship. Of course, we help employers with hiring, interviewing, and employment contracts. We also help employers with the end of employment relationships. An interesting case has been released by Ontario's highest court is prompting us to ask any employer who calls: “Are You Sure Your Employee Has Resigned?” The case that was just released is called English v. Manulife Financial Corporation, 2018 ONCA 612. It centres around a 10-year employee who resigned, but then wanted to take back her resignation. The Facts The plaintiff in this case was a 66-year-old Senior Customer Relationship Manager (Group Savings and Retirement) and was earning $128,000 including bonus and benefits. To note, at some point in 2015, Manulife decided that it would convert its information to a new computer system starting in January 2016. On September 22, 2016, the employee delivered her resignation letter to her supervisor because she did not want to be involved in the upcoming computer transition (mentioned later on): Dear Clive, This will serve formal notice that I will be retiring effective December 31, 2016. I have enjoyed working at Standard Life/Manulife for the past 10 years very much, and want to thank you very much for all your support during my tenure. I especially want to express my gratitude for all your support and understanding during my very difficult times in 2012 and again in 2015. I will entertain a part-time position, two or three days per week, should be possible (sic), but I understand if it is not. Again thank you so much for everything. Sincerely, Elisabeth English A person reading that letter would reasonably assume that the employee clearly intends to retire in about three
32 CONNECT | 2019 ISSUE 4
months. There was no evidence that the employee was forced to retire or resign from employment. At a follow up meeting to discuss this letter, the employee’s supervisor asked her whether she was “sure” that she wanted to retire. Apparently, the supervisor said that that she could rescind or reconsider her resignation. So the employee felt she could rescind her notice of retirement at any time, right up until the end of December. The employer started to reallocate the retiring employee’s work. All was well Importantly, in October 2016, Manulife said it would delay that computer conversion to some time in the future. So in October 2016, after hearing the computer system roll-out would be delayed (and only one month after the employee resigned), the employee decided she would rescind her retirement notice and continue working. But she never confirmed this in writing. After about a month (and probably while the employer received legal advice), the employer confirmed that it had accepted the employee’s resignation and would not continue to employ her after December 31. The employee then sued her former employer for 16 months of pay. The Outcome On a motion for summary judgment, the lower level judge found that the resignation was clear and unequivocal, and once accepted by the employer, she could not take it back. In the event he was wrong, the judge found that 12 months would be an appropriate notice period taking into account the employee's age, tenure, and type of position. However, the Ontario Court of Appeal disagreed with the lower level judge. The general rule in employment law is that an employee’s resignation must be clear and unequivocal (just like a termination). The Court of Appeal decided that this particular resignation was not unequivocal, given the circumstances in which she presented it to her employer. The employee provided enough evidence to show that she was not entirely ready to retire: she said the real reason behind the retirement was the computer conversion; she was told by her supervisor that she could change her mind; and importantly, when the computer conversion was
cancelled, the employee immediately spoke to the same supervisor to take back the resignation (and that supervisor did not indicate it would be a problem). The fact that the resignation-cancellation was not in writing was not an issue for the Court of Appeal. Ontario's highest court found that this particular resignation was actually equivocal and permitted by the employer (through the actions of the supervisor). Since the employer didn't keep the employee in the workplace, the employee was awarded the 12 months of pay for reasonable notice of termination. How This Impacts Your Business Even where an employer thinks a resignation notice is clear, there are circumstances that can put that into doubt. Clarity is key, but so is reasonableness. It is always important to take the entire context of a situation into consideration before making any big decisions, like keeping a long term employee out of the office. For this employer, proving a resignation was clear and unequivocal was difficult (and no doubt costly since it went through two levels of court). Here, there were several factors that pointed towards a more reasonable solution: we had an older and tenured employee employee who perhaps felt forced out of her job with the change to a new computer system. We hear this a lot from employers and employees. What was the important factor was that a representative of the employer stated that the employee could take back her resignation, and the employer did not immediately raise a concern that the employee couldn't stay on after her resignation notice ran out. The employer was seen so condone the cancellation of the resignation notice. If an employer wants to accept a resignation, it needs to act decisively and reasonably: (1) have a clear policy on resignation for supervisors and upper management, and follow the policy, (2) confirm the resignation in writing, and (3) determine whether you really need to have the employee remain in the workplace until the end of the resignation notice period. You should double check that your employment contracts clearly allow the employer to waive the resignation notice period; if it does not, the employer could simply pay out the period of resignation notice and wish the employee well.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION RESIZED FOR YOUR BUSINESS
March of the Machines: Harnessing Productivity Tools and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate your business Presented by MBOT Professional Development Committee
An interactive event spotlighting 2 of MBOT’s foremost authorities on Artificial Intelligence for Small Businesses and the Efficient/Effective use of Automated Productivity Tools to step-change your business.
Matthew Gray
Andy Bush
Founder/CEO Mind Surface
Owner Bush Marketing
MISSISSAUGA BOARD OF TRADE’S
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES
Friday | 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
NOV. 8
Four Points by Sheraton Mississauga Meadowvale
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STARTS MUCH EARLIER THAN YOU THINK Many business owners believe they have plenty of time to create a successful plan for the future of their businesses. Most commonly, owners think that if they give themselves a few years, they can transform their businesses into whatever they need them to be: whether that means bigger, more valuable, or more easily sold/ transferred. Each business is different and each owner has different goals, but one thing is clear: You likely need to start your planning earlier than you think. Beginning your planning long before you intend to leave your business often lets you choose the conditions of your exit. For example, let’s say that one day, you’d like to sell your business for as much money as possible. To do so, you must know what your current business value is. You must know which factors give your business its value. You must know what the market for a business like yours is and anticipate any flaws potential buyers might find during due diligence. The same concept is true if you hope to transfer your business to family members or employees. You’ll likely need to determine whether your targeted successors can successfully run the business, along with whether they are even interested in ownership. You may need to construct plans to keep key employees with the company as and after you exit it. You’ll probably want to determine how long it will take for your successors, who are unlikely to have much money, to cash you out for your share of ownership. If you wait only until you are ready to exit the business to figure these things out, you may not give yourself enough time to address issues. This can prolong the time you’re in your business, which can lead to poor performances or burn
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out. There are many things to consider, but we recommend a three-step process to begin.
1. Set your goals
Setting your goals long before you’re ready to implement plans gives you a target to aim at. The most important goal to set is achieving financial security. Unless you know what it will
take for you to leave your business and never have to work again (unless you choose to), all of the other details surrounding your planning become moot. Once you’ve determined how much you’ll need to achieve financial security, you can decide when you’d like to leave the business, how much money you want (not need) after you leave, and to whom you’d like to leave it (e.g., an outside third party or an inside management team).
2. Account for your resources
Knowing what you currently have makes it much easier to determine what you will eventually need. Consider accounting for all of your resources, including the value of your business and any non-business assets. Many owners have a general idea about the resources they have, but when planning for future success, general ideas often aren’t precise enough. Accounting for your resources with precision
3. Install Value Drivers
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provides time for you to close any gaps between the resources you have and the resources you need. If you wait only until you’re ready to implement plans to start accounting for your resources, you may prolong the planning process beyond your wishes or find it difficult to achieve your goals at all.
Value Drivers are things that increase the value of your business to an objective buyer. For example, regardless of whether you intend to sell your business to a third party or transfer it to an insider (e.g., family), the new owner will likely expect your business to run smoothly without you. If it doesn’t, you may be expected to stay in your business until the business can run without you. One Value Driver that can address this threat is a nextlevel management team. A next-level management team, by definition, allows the business to run smoothly without its owner. Another important Value Driver is a documented process for sustaining cash flow. Documentation allows new owners, managers, and key employees to maintain the company’s profits after you’ve left. Without written and easily understood processes, cash flow can become a game of chance, and few buyers want to take chances when buying a business. If you’d like to talk about when the right time to start planning for you is, please contact us today. Based on your goals and resources, you can begin to create a road map for the business future you desire.
........................................................... W.R. (Bill) Black CExP™, CFP®, CEA®, CIM® President/Exit Planner Exit Planning Group ........................................................... The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not legal, tax or financial advice. For information regarding your particular situation, contact an attorney or a tax or financial advisor. The information in this newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, tax or financial advice.
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