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The most shocking security threat to your small business P Paaggee 66
Business succession strategies P Paaggee 1144 The Focus AUTUMN 2012 |1
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WORKING FOR YOU
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Mark Your Calendar
2012-2013 Chamber Directors
Chamber PUB NIGHT Tues., Dec 4, 2012 5:30 – 7:30pm Location: Fergus Legion Branch 275 Everyone Welcome!
Christmas Open House Thurs., Dec. 6, 2012 3:00 – 7:00pm Location: Chamber, 400 Tower St. S Come by for some good cheer!
Janet Harrop
st
Lynne Bard
President
1 Vice President
nd
2
Joal Suraci Vice President
Business After Hours Wed., Jan. 9, 2013 5:30 – 7:00pm Location: Blown Away Glass, Elora Space limited to 20, please RSVP to the CW Chamber
Paul Walker
Michael Weinstein
Barney Tracy
Secretary Treasurer
Past President
Director
Peter Mohr
Allan Teal
Terry Godreau
Director
Director
Director
Mayor’s Breakfast Wed., Jan. 30, 2012 7:30 – 9:00am Topic: Accomplishments and future plans for the Township of CW Speaker: Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj Location: Grand River Raceway Captain’s Quarters
Aileen Hawkins
Garth Green
Director
Director
Chamber Staff
Roberta Scarrow
Heather Andrews
General Manager
Membership & Administration
The Focus AUTUMN 2012 |3
CONTENTS CWCC Board of Directors and Staff ....................................... 3 Presidents Piece .................................................................... 5 Member Article: THE MOST SHOCKING SECURITY THREAT TO YOUR SMALL BUSINESS ..................... 6 Member Article: IT’S FLU SEASON ....................................... 7 Member Article: THE NEW WHMIS ....................................... 8 Member Profile ....................................................................... 10 Pictures of Chamber Events & Participations ......................... 12 Member Article: FOOTWEAR FOR THE WORKPLACE ........ 13 CRA SERVICES FOR BUSINESSES .................................... 13 Member Article: BUSINESS SUCCESSION STRATEGIES ... 14 Welcomes & Renewals .......................................................... 15 ELIMINATING THE PENNY ................................................... 18 Member Discounts ................................................................. 19 Business News ...................................................................... 20 Member Article: AGE, IT’S NOT JUST A NUMBER ............... 21
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION:
Heather Andrews PHOTOGRAPHY:
Bill Longshaw, Heather Andrews, Roberta Scarrow ADVERTISING AND SALES:
Advertising@cwchamber.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Janet Harrop, Roberta Scarrow, Terry Godreau CONTRIBUTORS:
Ontario Chamber of Commerce Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Garth Green, Melissa MacFarlane, Randy Mullin, Terry Godreau, The Business Guide, Peter Mohr, Royal Canadian Mint, Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health, Peter Mohr SUBSCRIPTION AND BACK ISSUE INQUIRIES:
Roberta Scarrow – TheFocus@cwchamber.ca SUBMISSION POLICY:
Proposals and articles are accepted via mail or email c/o Editor – The Focus. Please do not send originals. Contributors are welcome to include a head shot and a 40 word author’s bio. If not received, we will use author’s name, business name and contact information as a credit line. FOR PERMISSION AND REPRINT REQUESTS
Heather Andrews – TheFocus@cwchamber.ca PUBLICATION OF:
Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce 400 Tower Street South Fergus, Ontario N1M 2P7
MISSION STATEMENT The Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce is a memberdriven organization that:
Serves as a catalyst for business growth through networking and educational opportunities. Acts as an information resource for local business. Promotes local business, the community and the Chamber.
The Focus is a quarterly membership benefit publication of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Advertising content and the views expressed herein are those of the contributors and do not constitute endorsement by the Chamber. Copies are available through the Publisher. The Chamber cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur and has the right to edit material submitted. The Chamber will not accept advertising with competitor comparison claims and has the right to refuse advertising that is deemed to be false, misleading, or inappropriate.
Front Cover – Downtown Elora, Ontario; PHOTO BY BILL LONGSHAW PG. __ – PICTURES OF CHAMBER EVENTS & PARTICIPATIONS in order from left to right:
We are a volunteer organization supported by over 350 local business and professional people such as yourself. Your participation in the Chamber helps make Centre Wellington a more rewarding place to live, work and play.
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Pub Night, Brew House on the Grand – August 2012 Pub Night, Shepherds Pub – September 2012 Breakfast Speaker – September 2012 China Group – September 2012 Members Networking Breakfast – September 2012 Touring China – September 2012 St. Andrew Mill in Fergus, Ontario Historic Elora Mill, Ontario
PRESIDENT'S PIECE The leaf raking is almost done and a few flakes of snow have been seen flying around in the community. The fall season is a reorganization time for a lot of groups with the return to school and the return to more “normal� working patterns. The Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce staff and Board of Directors continue to work on projects and strategies to help businesses within the municipality. The Board had a strategic planning session to look at the direction and mandate of the Chamber. The results of the planning session created priorities for the Chamber. All activities the Chamber endeavours must have a goal of i. ii. iii.
Providing a Community Service Provide a service to Membership, or Retain or Grow Membership
With these goals in mind the Chamber continues to investigate new member benefits, ribbon cuttings for new and expanding businesses, education sessions for small business, networking opportunities for members to meet other businesses within the community, work with the municipality to spur economic development for the business community by job/business creation within the municipality, and directing owners/public and tourists to businesses in the community and a continued presence within the community to build relationships. The Board of Directors is a very diverse group of business minded individuals from the community with an interest in contributing to the community for the betterment of their individual businesses and the community. The phrase that a strong community fosters a strong business community can be reversed depending on your perspective, with both aspects being equally as important. If you are an individual with a business of from 1 to 500 employees and you want to learn about whom lives in our business community and strategies to help your business get involved with the Chamber. I am always amazed by who I meet and what I learn at the Chamber. Janet Harrop President Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce
The Focus AUTUMN 2012 |5
THE MOST SHOCKING SECURITY THREAT TO YOUR SMALL BUSINESS Member Article
Hopefully by now you realize you need to keep a close watch over the security of your PC and other devices (or you’re smart enough to hire us to do it for you). Either way, cybercrime is BIG business, and small business owners are seen as the low hanging fruit by attackers who are looking for easy-to-steal financial data, passwords and the like. Some do it for profit, others do it for fun. But there’s a much bigger threat to small business data security that can not only portend to leak your information out to the masses, but can also corrupt or erase data, screw up operations and bring everything to a screeching halt. What is it? Surprisingly, it’s your employees. “Human error” is the #1 leading cause of data loss, system failure and virus attacks. In some cases, it’s an innocent “Ooops! I deleted it.” Other times it’s a malicious act of revenge from a disgruntled employee who didn’t get the raise they wanted or simply feels taken advantage of. Recently, a disgruntled employee working for oDesk, a third party content management firm, leaked Facebook’s highly detailed rulebook for flagging inappropriate posts. This document contained shocking guidelines
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regarding sexual content, death and disfigurement as well as racially charged content. Apparently, sexual acts should be blocked, but crushed heads are okay. The above incident, while a problem, is a mild case. Often employees seeking revenge will steal and post client data, financials or other competitive information online. In some cases, they sell it. Other times, employees delete critical files to either cause harm to the organization or to cover their tracks. And when it’s your client’s data that gets stolen or compromised, you have a major PR nightmare to deal with aside from the costs and problem of recovering the data. At a minimum, first, make sure you back up all critical data remotely. Second, monitor employee’s usage of data. Simple content filtering software can detect not only when employees are visiting inappropriate sites, but also detect if they delete or alter large amounts of data–all signs that something could be amiss. And finally, it’s worth a little bit of money to find a good employment attorney to help you craft various policies on using and accessing confidential information. Article written by Terry Godreau of Planet CPU
IT’S FLU SEASON Member Article
You’re going to feel downright rotten. Your symptoms will include chills, cough, fever, nausea, diarrhea, muscle aches and fatigue. You may need to spend the next 7 to 10 days at home to recover. This is the scenario you’ll be facing if you get this season’s flu. Can you afford to take the time off work? If you get the flu and have to take sick days, you will factor into the 1.5 million Canadian work days lost to the flu each year. That’s a lot of lost productivity that affects the bottom line for Canadian businesses. There is good news. You can protect yourself, your family and your colleagues from the flu by getting the flu shot. You’re busy, but it’s worth taking an hour now to get the flu shot because it could save you from a week or more of lost time from a potentially serious illness. If you are thinking you can ‘tough it out’ if you get sick this flu season, keep in mind that you could pass the flu along to the people you care about. By getting the flu shot you also help protect people who are most at risk of serious complications from the flu including young children, seniors, pregnant women and people with an underlying health condition. The flu shot is free and is available from your doctor, qualifying pharmacist or at a Public Health flu clinic. Check www.wdgpublichealth.ca for clinic dates, locations and hours. Beyond flu season, Public Health is also interested in the overall health of your employees. Whether you are a large or small business, there are many good reasons to invest in the wellness of your work force. Health issues in the workplace impact the employer directly and also impact families, communities and the healthcare system. Public health units in Ontario are mandated to support organizations to promote health. If you need help to implement a workplace wellness program, visit www.wdgpublichealth.ca and download the free Workplace Action Plan. For more information about Public Health’s workplace wellness programs, contact pat.gardner@wdgpublichealth.ca.
Be Seen Place your Business Advertisement here, and reach over 450 potential customers. Included is a link to your website! Call the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce today! 519-843-5140
The Focus AUTUMN 2012 |7
THE NEW WHMIS Member Article
GHS, another acronym that will be added to the health and safety scene, stands for Globally Harmonized Systems of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. WHMIS GHS has been a long time coming to Canada with the implied belief that it will make a positive difference to Canada’s occupational health and safety. GHS promises to promote regulatory efficiency, ease of compliance and make WHMIS less complex for organizations, workers and governments – especially those who need to comply with many different systems in different countries – by providing a consistent standardized system. The benefits of the new system, as outlined, are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Promoting regulatory efficiency Facilitating trade Easing compliance Reducing costs Providing improved, consistent hazard information Encouraging the safe transport, handling and use of chemicals Promoting better emergency response to chemical incidents, and Reducing the need for animal testing
With GHS coming into force, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) will be replaced by Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). The new SDSs will need to be obtained when GHS becomes implemented. As a result, new and revised training procedures and programs will need to be developed.
Within the GHS, there are two major elements: 1. Classification of hazards a) Physical b) Health c) Environmental 2. Communication of hazards and precautionary information using safety data sheets (SDSs)
continued on following page…
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The following are target dates for implementation of GHS: Canada
Unlikely to be in place before 2013
US
Final ruling became effective May 26, 2012
Key Dates:
Europe
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Training by December 1, 2013
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Comply with all modified provisions – June 1, 2015
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Updated alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication programs and additional employee training for newly identified physical and health hazards – June 1, 2016 GHS adopted January 2009 with certain regulations extended to June 1, 2015 with a two year transition period
Other changes that employers can expect with the new system include:
SDSs will have a 16 section format verses the current 9 section format of the MSDSs Supplier labels will contain new pictograms and signal words – “Warning” or “Danger” Classification of chemicals will be affected with potentially (not confirmed) more specific names for its hazard classes and will also maintain some of the current classifications Employers may receive MSDS and SDS for same products until transition is complete Employers should prepare for training requirements under GHS Suppliers should prepare now to meet SDS under GHS for exported products and start process for products shipped within Canada ready for GHS.
To ensure that safety is not compromised, a key area will be training of workers that will need to understand both current WHMIS and WHMIS after GHS. They will need to learn new elements, such as pictograms, the difference in label requirements, new hazard class names, hazard statements and new signal words etc. For more detailed description of these proposed changes, visit CCOHS.ca. It is not recommended that companywide training be undertaken until GHS has been implemented in Canada. With the US well on their way, Canadian companies need to be prepared for the changes coming soon. With that said, companies should focus on understanding what GHS is all about, as well as becoming familiar with the new classification of products under GHS. Lynne Bard is President and Senior Consultant of Beyond Rewards Inc, a preeminent human resources, risk management, safety, health and training consulting firm based in Guelph & Fergus, Ontario. For more information on this topic contact Lynne at info@beyondrewards.ca.
The Focus AUTUMN 2012 |9
MEMBER PROFILE THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER For the past 45 years, this local, family run business has served businesses of Wellington County. In 1968, the Fergus Area Shoppers news was started by William Adsett, which soon converted to the Wellington Advertiser. Early on, the business ran from the back seat of his Chevrolet Impala, with its eager owner doing the selling, bookkeeping and layout. Soon thereafter, space was leased in downtown Fergus. As it grew and became accepted as an economical option for advertising, news was added making it more attractive to readers and businesses alike. In many respects the free distribution model for a community newspaper was pioneered here in Wellington County. Recent statistics suggest it is the 5th largest independently owned newspaper in Ontario. Forty-four employees and forty-five years later, the business has a lot to be proud of. David Adsett is what you would call a “down-to-earth, community focused entrepreneur.” He began working with his father and Wellington Advertiser when he was only 11 years old. David has experienced every role in the News Publication business. From editing to printing, he has done it all. This experience has helped him to humbly, yet professionally grow the paper to a huge distribution of 40,000 homes, carried by 25 local drivers and 126 local dedicated carriers, as well as many drop box locations in surrounding areas. Much of the growth occurred once they moved into their Gartshore location, allowing them the luxury of space and the ability to accommodate larger, more state-of-the-art equipment. Since then, the business has experienced growth year after year. There were doubters. Many who thought this great paper would become a paid distribution, but the Adsetts would hear nothing of it. How did they do it? Hard work, persistence and high involvement in the community they were servicing. By developing a relationship with the community and the businesses that serve it, the Adsetts have grown a win-win model that provides the best news to its readers while offering the best value to businesses who advertise. Continued on following page…
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Providing the best news comes from a team of 5 editorial staff accumulating over 80 years of combined experience and a “family-like” team that backs them. They do their best to involve everybody in the community. This year they were able to have a member of their staff present at every Remembrance Day Service in the distribution area. Businesses who advertise in the Wellington Advertiser have the choice of Print Ads, Classifieds or Inserts. They have a spectacular team who can help you realize your ad, from conception to design to print. In fact, since acquiring Fergus Printing recently, the team can help you design and/or print anything from Flyers, Envelopes, Posters, Business Cards and more. They can handle large or small jobs, and always ensure that you’re ending up with a quality product that exceeds your expectations. The Wellington Advertiser, with the largest distribution of most local publications, was the first to go “online”, sharing their local news on a website before other newspapers in Wellington. Their website is always kept up-to-date, providing Wellington County with immediate access to local news and events. They even feed instant news to a growing fan base of Twitter followers. The Wellington Advertiser will be offering advertising opportunities on their site in the near future. With tens of thousands of visitors each month, this offering will surely prove to be a great value for businesses that want to get in front of the community. During his many years as a Centre Wellington Chamber member, David feels the best part of being involved with the Chamber has been associating with like-minded, community focused business people. “Working together at building a better business community for our members makes being a member well worthwhile.” The Wellington Advertiser is located at 905 Gartshore Street in Fergus. Their “Print Shop”, Fergus Printing is located at 653 St.David Street in Fergus. You can visit their website at www.WellingtonAdvertiser.com. Follow @WellyAdvertiser on Twitter.
CHAMBER PLUS NETWORKS TESTIMONIAL "CPN has provided a great opportunity to connect with business people in the Centre Wellington area, develop lasting relationships and trust, and learn valuable information about other businesses and the community. There are regular client referrals occuring which would not happen without CPN, and we really do have fun as well! I recommend it to anyone looking to expand their network of contacts and can commit to meeting every week for a great breakfast." - Roger Hicks, Dominion Lending Centres - Equity Financial Group, Guelph
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CHAMBER PHOTOS
Pub Night – Brew House on the Grand
Thanking Breakfast speaker Dave Adsett
Networking Breakfast attendees
Pub Night – Shepherds Pub
Chamber China Group 2012
China Tour
12 | w w w . c w c h a m b e r . c a St. Andrew Mill in Fergus
Historic Elora Mill
FOOTWEAR FOR THE WORKPLACE Member Article
Everyone has different ideas on what they are looking for when it comes to quality, comfort, and style. Some require a certain look for the workplace, others are more interested in all day comfort – and then there’s price! Here are a few important things to think about when buying your next pair of shoes or boots for work:
It’s important to have enough room in the toebox to move your toes freely A flat stable base will offer more stability and comfort Look for something that is adjustable over the instep (top of the foot). Our feet can swell throughout the day and having the adjustability will offer more comfort. Keep in mind almost everyone has one foot larger than the other, always try both shoes on before leaving the store. Buy the pair that fits your larger foot, don’t try fitting to the smaller one.
Other things of interest:
We have many different types of insoles that offer comfort, cushion and arch support for most foot ailments – sometimes the right insert makes all the difference. Wear shoes made of leather not man made products for your workshoe – leather breathes properly. Rotate your shoes every day, or even during the day. This allows your shoes to dry out and breathe. I change mine at lunch time most days – it feels great to get into some fresh shoes! Wash and dry your feet every day and keep your toenails trimmed – they can cause a lot of discomfort if too long. I wear merino wool socks all year, light ones in the summer and a heavier knit in the winter. They wick away the moisture and keep you comfortable all day. They are a more costly option, but well worth the investment.
We all spend a lot of our day on our feet at work, you owe it to yourself to invest in proper fitting, good quality shoes. Having the right pair of shoes or boots will make you feel better at the end a long day and improve your well being. Article written by Peter Mohr, President of Shoetopia Footwear.
CRA SERVICES FOR BUSINESSES The way Canadians file their income tax returns is changing, and the Canadian Revenue Agency is changing to meet their expectations. The CRA has more services than ever for you to manage your account, make your payments, and get the information you need. These services are safe, easy to use, secure, and available at your convenience, in the official language of your choice. We know your time is valuable—save time, go online! Visit www.cra.gc.ca/businessonline. T h e F o c u s A U T U M N 2 0 1 2 | 13
BUSINESS SUCCESSION STRATEGIES Member Article
Family-owned businesses employ 4.5 million Canadians, and account for more than 45 per cent of Canada's Gross Domestic Product, according to estimates from the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise. Yet only about 30 per cent of family businesses (no matter how successful) continue into the second generation. And just a scant 10 per cent make it to the third. Why such a high level of attrition? Two significant roadblocks lie in the minefield of tax law and in the often complicated dynamics of family relationships. Succession planning is critical for owners and their families to overcome these obstacles. The key to accomplishing a successful transfer depends on the recruitment of skilled outside advisors, in particular lawyers, accountants, bankers, investment specialists and estate planners. This will become even more important with the general aging of the Canadian population. With the first baby boomers in their 50s, that means that more family businesses will be passed on during the next two decades than ever before. Think Ahead Long-term planning is the usual hallmark of successfully passing a family business to the next generation. There are two key areas that need to be considered: 1. The owner's goals. For any succession plan to work, the owner has to make some fundamental decisions about his or her future role in the company. For instance, the owner must decide whether to retire completely, continue on a part-time basis, or maintain active control for as long as possible. If the decision is to retire, a timetable has to be drawn up and a strategy developed for passing on managerial control. Some owners feel strongly that the business should remain in family hands. Others are happy to extract the best possible price from the sale of the business and then distribute some or all of the proceeds to their beneficiaries. If the owner wants the business to remain in family hands, the focus shifts to those in the younger generation who might be considered as owners and managers of the enterprise. 2. The younger generation's capabilities. Often there are some family members who are more interested in carrying on the business than others. Sometimes these family members are already involved in the business and are capable of managing it. If not, consideration must be given to how long it will take the intended successor (or successors) to gain the necessary experience and confidence to take over the helm. It may be that, in the interim, outside managers are needed to keep the firm healthy until younger family members can assume appropriate responsibility. Assuming there are interested and experienced relatives waiting in line, the issue then turns to just how the business can be transferred. continued on the following page...
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Pay special attention to tax The options in creating a business succession plan are many and varied. Developing an appropriate plan requires detailed input from those with expertise in tax law, property law, corporate law, family law, wills and trusts, valuations, and insurance. Tax planning needs to be dealt with carefully. The rules change frequently, and Ottawa has become more vigorous in trying to maximize taxation revenues. It is important to consult with a tax expert who will ensure all of the corporation's issues are dealt with in a tax-effective way upon death of an owner. Five ways to succession success Often the seeds for failure of a family business in the next generation are sown by those in charge today. Here are five tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes: 1. Involve younger family employees - Refusing to consider new ways of looking at the business often discourages the development of successors. 2. Be open to suggestions - Some owners refuse to discuss details of the business with anyone. If they can't solve a problem, it stays unsolved, perhaps seriously compromising the company's efficiency. 3. Consider non-family management - Sometimes focusing on the career paths of children can limit the contributions of talented non-family members of the business. 4. Delegate responsibility - When the current owner insists on making all the decisions there is no real depth of management. By giving other employees responsibility now, you help to develop their management skills and give them a sense of ownership in the business. 5. Don't insist on equality - Extending management opportunities, ownership, and control to all children regardless of competence or interest can harm the company. Fairness can be achieved through other means. CHECKLIST 1. Start early and put a long-term plan in place. 2. Recruit a team of experts who can look at every aspect of your business, including estate planners and investment specialists. 3. Remember to include your business banker on your team of experts. Maintaining a strong banking relationship will be important in the potential financing of the buyout and for the continuing operation of the business. 4. Be realistic about the younger generation: is there anyone truly capable of managing the business successfully? 5. Get evaluations from outsiders you trust, and listen to them. Article submitted by Randy Mullin of RBC Royal Bank: 519-835-7511, randy.mullin@rbc.com. T h e F o c u s A U T U M N 2 0 1 2 | 15
THANK YOU RENEWING MEMBERS Almost Anything Wood Ariss Valley Golf & Country Club Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington Cheer On! Inc. Citslinc International, Inc. Cork Restaurant Inc. Dalton Associates Elora BIA Epiphany EPIX Fergus Devils Junior C Hockey Fifth Avenue Collection Jewellery Grand River Physiotherapy The Ilott Group Impact Physiotherapy & Performance Jammed Lovely Junior Achievement Guelph-Wellington Liberty Tax Service Loney & Associates Lopers Electric Michael Cressman Salon Northern Lights Canada Oxy Acres B&B Pryde Truck Service Ltd. Richardson GMP Sew Fancy Inc. Shaw Music Shield Security Southern Belles Catering St. David Street Dentistry St. George Bed & Breakfast Sterling Promotions Inc. Thistlebrae B&B True Auto Care The Wellington Advertiser Wellington Standard Condominium Corp. 149 Wright & Associates Financial Services
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS WR DESIGNS - THE FLOWER CO. Full service florist - funerals, weddings - all occasions. Permanent blooms, green & blooming plants. Local and worldwide delivery. Contact: Wendy Ryckman, Owner/ Head Floral Director 196a St. Andrew Street East Fergus ON N1M 1P8 519-843-7161 info@wrdesigns.ca www.wendyryckman.ca
BARROW FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC You and your family are the focus at Barrow Family Chiropractic. It is Dr. Angela’s passion to help you and your loved ones learn about the healing power of your body, take control of your health and live out the life you have been destined to live. Contact: Angela Barrow, Owner/Family Chiropractor 62 Conservation Trail Belwood, ON N0B 1J0 519-820-3081 drabarrow@everus.ca
SHEPHERD'S PUB Restaurant/Pub with 13 beers on tap! Contact Kim White & Sara Salmona, Co-Owners 8 West Mill Street Elora ON N0B 1S0 519-846-5775 kim@shepherdspub.com sara@shepherdspub.com www.shepherdspub.com
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
FERGUS COUNTRY SENSE CountrySense, a new country supply store in Fergus caters to those who enjoy a country lifestyle. We offer a full selection of pet, birding, hardware, farm, hunting, safety and workwear, lawn and garden, equine and animal health. We also supply A & I Products and a selection of locally made solid wood furniture. Contact: Julia Whalen, Co-Owner 680 Gartshore Street Fergus ON N1M 2W8 519-843-1999 www.countrysense.ca
THE GRAND FM92.9 Centre Wellington's only radio station! Your source of local information, news and classic hits. Contact Vic Folliott, Morning Show Host 198 St. Andrews Street W. - Suite 200 Fergus ON N1M 1N7 226-383-9290 info@thegrand929.com www.thegrand929.com
WRECKLESS ERIC Wreckless Eric is a cozy licensed cafe in Elora, Ontario. Come and enjoy our fabulous brewed coffee or specialty drinks, a snack or lunch! We try to use local, organic, seasonal products as much as possible and to offer lots of Gluten free and vegan options! Contact: Laura Halford & Mike Scott, Owners 90 Metcalfe Street Elora ON N0B 1S0 519-342-6450 laura@wrecklesseric.ca www.wrecklesseric.ca
FERGUS FASHION Fergus Fashion is located downtown Fergus. We sell Ladies and Men's clothing at rock bottom prices. Store hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00am - 6:00pm Saturday from 10:00am - 4:00am. Sunday-closed. Contact: Lori Butt, Owner/Manager 170 St. Andrew Street East Fergus ON N1M 1P8 519-787-2641 fergusfashion@gmail.com
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ELIMINATING THE PENNY On July 30, 2012, the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, officially announced that the Mint will stop circulating pennies as of February 4, 2013. This transition date will not require new production of pennies, as the existing supply available for circulation is sufficient to cover that period. In Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government of Canada announced it will eliminate the penny from Canada's coinage system. Over time, the penny's burden to the economy has grown relative to its value as a means of payment. It costs the Government of Canada 1.6 cents to produce each new penny. The estimated cost to the Government of Canada of supplying pennies to the economy is about $11 million a year. Due to inflation, the penny's purchasing power has eroded over the years. Today it retains only about one-twentieth of its original purchasing power. Given its declining purchasing value, some Canadians consider the penny more of a nuisance than a useful coin. While the cent will remain Canada's smallest unit for pricing goods and services, the Royal Canadian Mint will no longer distribute pennies as of Fall 2012. The penny will retain its value indefinitely and can continue to be used in payments. However, as pennies are gradually withdrawn from circulation, price rounding on cash transactions will be required. In removing its lowest denomination coin, Canada will follow on the successful 18 | w w w . c w c h a m b e r . c a
experiences of many other countries, including Australia, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. While consumers can continue to use pennies indefinitely, Canadians can redeem pennies at their financial institutions. The Government of Canada encourages Canadians to consider donating them to charities. What it means for businesses Businesses do not need to update cash registers for rounding, since prices and the final total payment will still be set at onecent increments. GST/HST will be calculated on the pre-tax price, and not the rounded price. When customers do not have exact change, it is only the final total for cash payments that must be rounded. Electronic payments, such as credit and debit cards, will not be rounded and will still be paid to the nearest cent. Consumers can continue to use pennies for cash transactions indefinitely and businesses are encouraged to continue to accept the coin as a means of payment. Businesses are expected to round prices in a fair, consistent and transparent manner. Rounding guidelines will be adopted by all federal government entities for cash transactions with the Canadian public. Experience in other countries that have eliminated low denomination coins has shown that fair rounding practices have been respected. continued on the following page...
Rounding A rounding guideline that has been adopted in other countries, and that will be adopted by the federal government for cash transactions with the Canadian public, is: The calculation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on purchases, whether for cash or non-cash transactions, will continue to be calculated to the penny and added to the price. It is only the total cash payment for the transaction that will be rounded.
Source: http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/eliminatingthe-penny-6900002
CURRENT MEMBER DISCOUNTS TD Merchant Services Low rates on Visa 1.59% | MasterCard 1.64% Interac Direct Payments $0.069 per transaction. Contact Steve Wand at 519-884-6895, steve.wand@td.com
Group Insurance For Extended Health Care, Group Term Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Best Doctors access, Dental Care, Disability Coverage and/or Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage – this plan is for you! Contact Barney Tracy at 519-820-1283, btracy@groupbenefits.on.ca
Esso Business Card Program cost saving program of 3.5 cents per litre of fuel. Click here to apply: http://www.essofleetoffers.com/CHAMBER
Ostic Insurance Member to Member discounting for Home and Auto Insurance for qualifying Chamber Members, Employees and Retirees. Contact Tom Waind, twaind@theosticgroup.com or www.theosticgroup.com
Bell Mobility Choose from two different Chamber Plan options, Blackberry & PDA Data pricing available, as well as Mobile Internet Stick Plans. Contact Dennis Dinesh at dennis.dinesh@bell.ca, 1-888-282-4499 x 5322.
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BUSINESS NEWS CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ONTARIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Canadian Businesses discuss new opportunities for services trade and investment liberalization
Ontario Addresses Rising Public Sector Labour Costs
Washington, DC, September 19, 2012 — The Canadian Services Coalition (CSC), an affiliate of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, is in Washington, DC today to take part in the in the 2012 Global Services Summit.
On Thursday September 20, 2012, Ontario’s Minister of Finance announced a cap on compensation for managers in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and the Broader Public Service (BPS).
“This summit marks a significant turning point for international trade in services.” said Michael Landry, Vice President Corporate Development, Manulife Financial and Chair of the Canadian Services Coalition. “We are seeing a genuine interest in an international services agreement and real opportunities to negotiate greater market access and investment protection for Canadian services companies. CSC’s participation today further solidifies Canada’s role in these important discussions.”
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is supportive of the newly announced cap on compensation, and is on record in calling for a long-term public sector compensation restraint strategy.
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Posted on September 20, 2012
Any serious plan to return to fiscal balance in the medium-term must address Ontario’s labour costs. As it stands, the Ontario government spends roughly 50 cents of every taxpayer dollar on salaries and benefits for workers in the broader public sector. That represents roughly $55 billion annually. The government also needs to look at other ways to reduce costs including allowing businesses more opportunities to deliver services. The Chamber is currently studying this issue and will be releasing recommendations in early 2013 on how the government can do just that. source
AGE, IT’S NOT JUST A NUMBER Member Article
As much as we like to pretend it doesn’t happen, ageism occurs in the selection and hiring process. Both young and old face the challenge of predisposed ideas about their dedication and ability to perform in a job. But like any other stereotype, we must work to put these generalizations out of our mind. One bad apple really doesn’t ruin the bushel. Youth are often thought of as unmotivated, unwilling to learn, and unreliable. Perhaps as an employer you hired a person in their early 20s and found them to be just so. But what about the company across the street whose business is thriving with their roster of 20something staff? They don’t seem to have issues of absenteeism and low morale. Maybe it seems you had the bad apple fall in your lap. Don’t let this one bad experience put a bitter taste in your mouth because it is important to recognize. that there are plenty of hardworking and eager youths who deserve a chance. And what about hiring older workers? Common thoughts are that they can be hard to work with, are set in their ways, won’t adapt very well and can’t perform
on the job with speed and dexterity. Just like with youth, this stereotype holds little ground. Before making any rash decisions to exclude a candidate from the ‘yes’ pile, consider their experiences and what they have to show. Chat with them a little to learn more about them, how they work, and what motivates them. Request to follow up with references to see what they have to say. Afterall, the best person for the job may be the guy who finished high school last year, or the woman who was forced into early retirement but isn’t ready to stop working yet. Help remove ageism from the workplace by remembering that you were once 20, and if you aren’t yet, you too will be over 60 – would you want someone counting you out of the running simply because you’re the ‘wrong age’? Submitted by Melissa Macfarlane with Northern Lights Canada, Employment Resource Centre. For more information on how to select and retain a winning team, connect with Northern Lights Canada at 519-787-0051.
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Contact Us Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce 400 Tower Street South Fergus, Ontario CANADA N1M 2P7 Phone: (519) 843-5140 Fax: (519) 787-0983 e-mail: chamber@cwchamber.ca website: www.cwchamber.ca
General Manager: Roberta Scarrow email: rscarrow@cwchamber.ca Membership & Administration: Heather Andrews email: membership@cwchamber.ca 22 | w w w . c w c h a m b e r . c a