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Your source for business and chamber news in the Greater Kingston Area FEBRUARY 12, 2014

Vol. 3 NO. 2

Keeping tax time stress to a minimum: professional bookkeepers offer up some tricks of the trade By Hollie Pratt-Campbell hpratt-campbell@perfprint.ca

Christine and Charles Salvail, the husband and wife team behind CCS Bookkeeping, admit that a lot of stressed out business owners come through their door at this time of year. “What we find in the bookkeeping industry is that clients are reactive instead of proactive [at tax time]”, Christine notes. “They’re busy building their business. They’re busy going out and making their sales. They’re out doing what they know how to do. They don’t find the bookkeeping side of it as important until they get a letter from CRA saying ‘you’re being audited’ or ‘you have a tax return that’s due’, then all of a sudden they’re in a panic. So they’re in the accountant’s office or in my office saying “what do I do?” One time, a new client showed up at CCS’s Dalton Avenue office with five bankers boxes full of crumpled receipts and records. “He said, ‘I don’t know what to do with this’”, Christine recalls. Thankfully, Christine and Charles know exactly what to do – hence their company logo, “Your books are a mess! Don’t stress, call CCS!” The couple’s advice to business owners this tax season is essentially the same as it is all year round. They emphasize that keeping organized, thorough records of your income and business expenses is important all the time, not just at tax time. Even those pesky little receipts are essential, as credit card records that don’t indicate

specific purchases just won’t cut it. “A lot of people don’t keep their receipts,” Christine says. “We’ve seen business owners over the years actually end up declaring bankruptcy because they haven’t kept good records, they got audited and they couldn’t produce the receipts for the expenses so they were all disallowed.” “And they should photocopy every receipt,” adds Charles, noting that otherwise they’re in danger of becoming crumpled and faded, often to the degree of being illegible. Keeping proper records can also help businesses save money and sort out what they are able to claim on a tax return. Christine notes that claims such as vehicle expenses can greatly benefit a business, but owners need to be careful to sort things out properly. “Many people aren’t aware of vehicle policies and end up getting in trouble with CRA about the way they expense the vehicle,” she explains. “If you have your own vehicle and you’re using it for business purposes then you can claim mileage. But if you have a vehicle that’s in the company name and you’re incorporated, the vehicle’s in the corporation’s name, and if you’re using that for personal use that’s a taxable benefit.” She adds that depending on their financial status, many business owners may find it more profitable to pay themselves through dividends as opposed to a salary, as well as to explore savings options other than RRSPs. “A lot of people contribute to RRSPs, but there are different vehicles out

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there to save. RRSPs are not always the best vehicle to use. If you have a lot of debt in the company, it might be better to pay down those debts than it is to put into an RRSP. There are different types of ways to invest the money… But if you haven’t talked to your accountant then you don’t know what the best route for you to go is.” A business owner’s financial status and the decisions that will most benefit them become much clearer, Christine

explains, when books are organized and up-to-date. Those who don’t have the time or inclination to do this work themselves are advised to hire a bookkeeper. “At the time of the year when it comes to [our clients’] taxes, all the books are up-to-date, the numbers are there, they’ve kept up to date as to the profits and losses and taxes and by the time they go to an accountant it’s all done,” Charles says, adding that the

fee clients pay for CCS’s services is far less than hiring an account. “We prepare everything and by the time we get it to an accountant, the accountant doesn’t have to spend as much time on it, so [we can actually save them] money by doing that,” he says. To learn more about CCS, visit www.ccsbookkeeping.ca, call 613549-4227 or email christine@ccsbookkeeping.ca.

Christine and Charles Salvail of CCS Bookkeeping.

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Starting a new business is never easy, but thanks to the Summer Company program, young entrepreneurs can spend their summer turning their business dream into reality. That’s because 35 spots are available for Kingston youth to participate in the program, which helps young people establish a business and experience self-employment. “This is really an incredible opportunity for students. They learn skills that are transferable into their academic, personal and business life for their future. It’s just incredible how they mature and grow,� explains Rebecca Darling, Senior Business Consultant for the Kingston Economic Development Corporation, noting that extra funding has allowed the program to accommodate twice the number of students as in the past. Funded by the Government of Ontario and facilitated by the Kingston Economic Development Corporation the program is open to Ontario students 15 - 29 who are returning to school in the Fall. Last summer, 17 students participated in the program, established their own business and became bosses. “There were many success stories,� recalls Darling. One of those stories belonged to David Rakowski, who founded Kingston by Canoe. Rakowski, who enjoys history and the outdoors, decided to combine his two passions and offer unique historical tours around Kingston by canoe. “He hosted people from 28 countries around the world with his summer company Kingston by Canoe.� says Darling. Rakowski and all program participants receive an initial grant of $1,500 to put toward start-up costs and up to $1,500 upon success completion of the program. Program participants also keep their

business profits after expenses. But it isn’t just the money that they benefit from. Participants are also paired with business leaders in the community who donate their time to provide students with guidance on their business ventures. KEDCO staff also help participants every step of the way, from developing successful business plans, record keeping to understanding sales projections, notes Darling. “They also learn transferable skills like networking and how to engage, and for some of them public speaking because they are going out and making presentations,� she adds. “It then becomes up to them to choose how to leverage their acquired skills and how they will transfer these skills into their academic career, work career and employment.� KEDCO will be hosting monthly information sessions about the program for all interested students and parents. The next session date is Feb. 27 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. For a full list of session dates or to RSVP for sessions visit: kingstonentrepreneurs.ca/events. The deadline to register for Summer Company is May 23, however because of the competitiveness of the program and the limited number of spots available, interested students are encouraged to apply early. For more information about the program and the first steps of the application process visit: www. ontario.ca/summercompany. Then follow up with your program provider at KEDCO for next steps to develop your business plan. “It’s going to be an exciting year,� says Darling of the Summer Company 2014 Program. “We have 35 opportunities for self-employment and it is rewarding to see students mature, grow and get excited about their business.�

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Summer Company program helps young entrepreneurs turn their business dreams into reality

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Fresh, organic milk Local business owners react to minimum wage increase straight from the farm By Hiba Kesebi Reporter

By Hiba Kesebi Reporter

Kathie Groenewegen and her husband, Francis, have been dairy farmers all their lives, but a few years ago they decided to take their farming experience to the next level and open a creamery on their farm. The Limestone Organic Creamery opened its doors to the public in July 2012 and according to Kathie, it’s been a great success. “We have met so many people and so many neighbors we didn’t know. It feels like the way it should be,” she explains, noting that the location of their farm played a key role in the success of their business. Located on Sydenham Road, the Groenewegen farm is a 10 minute drive north from Downtown Kingston. “We would not have put the investment we did if we did not live in Kingston and were close to the city,” says Kathie. But it’s not just the location of their farm that makes their retail business so successful. The Groenewegens’ milk is processed in the farm and sold directly to the customer. In fact, their milk is so fresh that it will have traveled less than one food mile before reaching the store. Their customers notice the freshness, too. “They often tell us this is the best milk they have ever had,” notes Kathie. “Customers who visit us also find it nice to be able to enjoy a cup of milk while looking at the animals that the milk came from. “Selling the farm produce to the customer is the way to go. It eliminates the middle man, and leaves a little more money in the pocket of the farmer and the customer,” she adds.

Because they are selling directly to the customer, Kathie says they are able to keep the prices down and “make organic dairy products accessible for everyone.” The family decided to make the switch towards organic agriculture 14 years ago, and according to Kathy it’s the best thing they’ve done. “It has made farming more meaningful for us. We worry about where all the illness is coming from, and we worry about the ground water and the environment. We are trying to not add to the pollution problem,” she says. Their organic practices include having the animals go out to exercise every day, weather permitting, and not using pesticides or herbicides. They also don’t give the animals any antiobiotics or hormones, unless it is the only measure to save an animal’s life. “We are allowed to use them as a last resort to save an animal’s life, but it has to be recorded and the milk from that animal is not allowed to go to the tank,” Kathie explains. To keep their certified organic status, the Groenewegens undergo an inspection once a year, and have to document all farm practices. “It makes a world of difference in the animals, they are healthier and happier,” says Kathie. You can visit the Limestone Organic Creamery at 3127 Sydenham Rd. The store is open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Groenewegen’s can also deliver their products to your home. To visit their online store or to learn more about their farm business visit: http://www.limestonecreamery.ca.

When Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled the province’s new minimum wage increase from $10.25 an hour to $11 an hour, her announcement was received with mixed reactions. The 75 cent hike, effective June 1, will cost the average restaurant more than $9,400 a year, according to the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. Chris Fountain, the CEO of Pita Pit whose headquarters are based in Kingston, fears the hike may only encourage a price increase discussion and raise the cost of living for individuals who just received their minimum wage increases. “So it could end up being a net even for low wage earners - or even a net loss,” he explains, noting that the food industry is already hit with high input costs across Canada. “The clear winner is the government who gets higher taxation dollars – both on payroll taxes and HST,” he adds. According to Fountain, the average wage at corporate street-front Pita Pit locations is already over the new proposed minimum wage. He believes people deserve a fair wage for the skills they bring to a business, but feels there are other ways for the government to improve employability of individuals. These include providing tax incentives for businesses to hire the underemployed or under trained, having the lowest income bracket pay less in taxes to alleviate their day to day struggle as well as lowering the corporate tax base. In addition to increasing the minimum wage, the premier also put in place legislation that will ensure future increases be tied to inflation. These increases will be announced six months in advance.

Though Fountain is unaware what economic basis the initial 75 cents increase is based on he does agree with the decision to tie increases to minimum wage with the cost of living. According to Bill Stewart, an advocacy and policy specialist with the Kingston Chamber of Commerce, the chamber, which was involved in the decision process from the very beginning, lobbied to have future wage increases tied to the consumer price index. He explains that they are happy with provincial government’s decision. “It’s a reasonable, fair hike,” he says, noting that it is more realistic than the $14 hike some groups have been lobbying for. The Kingston and District Labour Council is one of those groups. The council, which is advocating for a living wage, is pushing for a $14 minimum wage. “Although we think it’s a step in the right direction to go the $11 an hour and the indexing, but it is not far enough,” says Lisa Marion, president of the council. Marion explains that people have the wrong image of minimum wage earners. “People have the idea that people who are working for minimum wage are young people. That is not the reality here in Kingston. The reality is it’s people who are trying to support families on minimum wage, often working two or three jobs, trying to have enough money to provide for their families.” According to Marion, raising the minimum wage my actually benefit businesses, because people will have more money to spend. “Every dollar that people are earning when they are in low wage jobs is being sent right back into the economy,” she explains. Marion says the council will continue to lobby for a $14 an hour minimum wage.

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Kingston Business Today - Wednesday, February 12, 2014 3

Out standing in our field

Forgive me, reader: in a few paragraphs I am going to lie to you. But it’s for a good cause.

By Aric McBay Columnist

Out Standing in our Field - I live on a mixed family farm on Howe Island with a vegetable operation that feeds 150 families and a dairy herd. We have a small flock of laying hens and (depending on the season) meat chickens, ducks and lambs. The mixed family farm looks a bit like the popular image of a farm, Old MacDonald style, though it isn’t very common right now. When I meet

people—especially people who aren’t farmers—they have a lot of questions about how things actually work for us. There’s a get-to-know-you game called “two truths and a lie.” It works like this: one person makes three statements about themselves, one of which is false. Their audience tries to guess which of the statements are real. So here are two truths and a lie about our farm in the winter. A) The water pipes in the barn are liable to freeze. B) Everyone gets to lay back relax for four months. C) We grow winter greens in our greenhouse. Did you guess? The lie, of course, is B. Winter (despite the fact that snow covers the field and there are no crops there to tend) does not offer much of a break for most farmers. Let me explain. Winter means very different things for different parts of the farm. For my partner, Emily, who runs the vegetable enterprise, winter does mean a slowing of pace.

When a hard frost comes around the beginning of November, the 22-week harvest season ends and the gardens are put to bed. Emily’s 60 hour work week reverts to a more reasonable 20 to 30 hour work week. Emily cleans up after the harvest season, tallies survey results from our members (direct customers) and does her bookkeeping. We plant some greenhouse crops and tend to stored root vegetables, work on indoor construction projects and generally try to catch up on anything that fell behind in the summer. By the time the new year rolls around, Emily is already hard at work organizing for the next growing season. She creates her new production plan and budget. She plots out the crops will be planted in each garden bed. She scours a desk full of seed catalogs and orders new varieties. She hires new staff. By February she is back to working 30 or 40 hours a week, a number that continues to increase as spring approaches. The situation in the dairy barn is much different. Rather than feeding themselves

on pasture, the cows need to be fed baled hay that was cut in summer. The milking and everything else dairy cows need still happen in the winter, but chores are done in freezing temperatures, ice, and snow. As Emily’s father, Peter, is fond of pointing out, the harvest season for milk for dairy farmers never ends. It wasn’t always that way. A hundred years ago, limited access to tractors meant that feeding cows hay over the winter was even more challenging. So dairy farmers reduced production once they snow began to fly, which cut down on labour and feed requirements. This meant less fresh milk was available for sale, so preserved dairy products like cheese and butter were very important. These were produced locally and in large quantity in the summer months; a century ago there were several cheese factories on Howe and Wolfe Islands, which is where much of the summer’s milk production went. Two or three centuries earlier, the difference between summer and winter for farmers was even more dramatic. Farmers in the colder parts of Europe,

like the French Alps, would more or less shut things down over the winter. Once they had collected their harvest they would slaughter many of the animals so they wouldn’t need to feed them over the winter, a main reason why we still have a tradition of feasting near the beginning of winter on holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. With limited food supplies and limited artificial light, they spent as much time as they could resting and sleeping, waiting out the long winter nights and trying not to spend unnecessary energy. The winter workload of vegetable farming does offer us some time for rest and reflection. It’s rare these days to have an occupation that offers some time to step back and truly consider how you are doing things, what went well and what could be improved before jumping back into the fray. It’s invaluable; it’s just not as much of a break as some people assume. Aric McBay is a farmer and author. He lives and works at an organic farm on Howe Island. For more about the vegetable CSA, visit rootradicalrows. com.

Consumer Trend Update

(Left) Over 120 local business owners and professionals attended the Chamber’s Consumer Trend Update with Pierre Cleroux, Chief Economist, BDC, at the Fort Henry Discovery Centre on January 22nd.(Right) (From left to right.) Kevin Coleman, BDC Kingston Manager and sponsor, and Pierre Cleroux, BDC Chief Economist and speaker, from the Consumer Trends Update luncheon, alongside Bill Hughes, Board Chair, Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Photos/Submitted

Take a break and make a winter visit

To Watertown & the 1000 Islands Plan a winter visit . . .

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Beat the winter blahs with a quick getaway not too far away. Inside, you can relax poolside, go to the movies, dine out, do some shopping, or take in a Watertown Privateers hockey game. Outside, ski and tube at Dry Hill Ski Area or visit the New York State Zoo. Whether you’re looking for family time with the kids or a romantic weekend, Watertown & 1000 Islands area hotels are offering great deals on fun packages at the best prices of the year . . . starting at under $100 USD per night.

By Mandy Marciniak Reporter

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is touring the country, looking for the support from local businesses and urging the government to invest positively in the industry. On Jan. 22, TIAC President and CEO, David Goldstein, spoke to a room of approximately 50 local business owners in Kingston about changes, both positive and negative, in the tourism industry in Canada and where the TIAC hopes to see future improvements. “This is the second year that, together with the Canadian Tourism Commission, we have done this town hall series,” explained Goldstein. “It is an opportunity for us to get out to parts of the country that we don’t always get out to and gives us an opportunity to share what we are doing at both a national and international level. It is really a chance for us to get a feel for the tourism industry across the country.” Kingston was the first of 15 stops on the tour and Goldstein emphasized the importance of working together, as an industry, across the country to promote positive change. “We are going to look at how the tourism business is doing nationally and how that affects us regionally and how we are going to work together, us in Ottawa and hopefully engage you on a local level to help us create the environmental change to improve the competitiveness in the Canadian tourism business.” While business has improved over the past few years, Goldstein explained that those increases do not come entirely from the tourism industry and especially not from international tourists coming to Canada. “The domestic travel of Canadians is quite strong, but what we have seen in the past 10 years is a huge shift in the customer base. Where we once saw a 60 per cent domestic and 40 per cent international split in terms of travel. We are now at 80 per cent domestic and 20 per cent international. Both the TIAC and CTC really feel like that is where we need to do some work and that is really the path forward for us.”

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Canada has been a leader in the field of international travel in the past and was ranked seventh in the world for international travel in 2002. That number has fallen significantly and Canada hit an all time low in 2011, ranked 18th, a low that Goldstein hopes was rock bottom. “We are doing well in terms of getting a stronger yield from visitors that are coming to Canada, but we really need the volume,” added Goldstein. “We need a nice mix between the number of customers and how much they are spending. International travel to the U.S. last year was up 7 per cent, so they are getting more than their fair share but we were only up 1.7 per cent.” Issues with passports and visas have affected travel to Canada in the past, but Goldstein added that more than 120 million Americans now have passports and visa issues are quickly becoming a thing of the past. At this point, Canadian tourism really needs some help from Ottawa in terms of public and federal policies. “We are the only G8 country that has reduced our marketing investment and we are the only G8 country that has pushed the entire cost structure of aviation onto the traveller and on top of all that we are the only G8 country that doesn’t provide a rebate, full or partial, to the individual traveller,” explained Goldstein, who urged local business owners to appeal to their local MP and MPP about changes to the tourism policies. “It’s not like we can’t get to the table to discuss federal and public policy issues, it’s that our chair has been pushed so far back from the table and we can’t even reach it.” At the end of the town hall meeting, Goldstein opened the floor to anyone with suggestions and questions. Many business owners and members of the industry contributed positively and Goldstein is hopeful that the rest of the town hall meetings will also be beneficial. “We really need to open up the dialogue and get people involved, that is the only way we will see positive change.” For more information on the town hall series and the TIAC visit www. tiac/travel

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Tourism town hall series comes to Kingston looking for support

Saturday, March 22, 2014 in support of:

To purchase tickets: go online to UHKF.ca/Founders; contact the Events team at 613.549.5452 ext 5916 or 5918 or email: events@uhkf.ca Presented by:

BREAK the stigma. JOIN the conversation. Let’s talk about something that is stealing our future: depression in youth. Six-time Olympic medallist Clara Hughes provides hope and inspiration for anyone battling depression. Join Clara and a handful of local experts for an evening of stories and sharing, with a focus on reaching out to support young people who are fighting depression right here in Kingston. Meet Clara and bring your questions about local mental health care services for youth for our expert panel. This event is part of Clara’s Big Ride for Bell Let’s Talk.

Proceeds from this event will be directed toward research into depression by Dr. Roumen Milev at Providence Care.

$12 for students $20 for adults $40 per family March 24, 2014 • 7 p.m. Ambassador Hotel & Conference Centre • 1550 Princess Street, Kingston Purchase tickets online at uhkf.ca/ClarasBigRide or call 613.549.5452 x 5916.

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University Hospitals Kingston Foundation 55 Rideau St., Suite 4 - Kingston, ON K7K 2Z8 613.549.5452 foundation@uhkf.ca www.uhkf.ca

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Kingston Business Today - goo.gl/n2ydw Wednesday, February 12, 2014 5

To RRSP or not to RRSP - that is the question

Political Breakfast Update

By John Evans

“It’s February and I need to make my taxes go From left to right, Kevin Moniz, CTO of Server Cloud Canada (event sponsor), Sam Rogers, away. How much should I put into an RRSP?� Board member, Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce, Mark Gerretsen, Mayor, City of Accountants’ phones are ringing off the hook Kingston, and Bill Hughes, Board Chair, Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce at the as many clients in panic mode are desperately Chamber Political Breakfast that was held Jan. 14 Photo/Submitted searching for solutions. For most, they will have

to pay or perceive that they will be paying too much tax. There is one truth: At this time, the RRSP is the only strategy available to significantly reduce a personal tax bill. That said, your accountant is not a financial advisor and professionally, cannot give you financial advice related to how much should be put in the RRSP. Your accountant, armed with reliable income tax data, can accurately estimate tax reductions which may occur on a certain amount of RRSP expenditure against the taxpayer’s marginal tax rate or, simply put, the amount of tax on the next $1.00 earned.

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You should be aware that if your sole motivation for the RRSP ‘annual scramble’ is the tax reduction feature, the better results begin when your income is greater than $43,561. And, if you do not utilize the amount of RRSP deduction available to you, the unused portion carries forward in its entirety to future tax years. Do remember that every RRSP contribution is immediately cash negative; at the top level you contribute $1,000 to reduce taxes by $460 leaving you at $540 cash negative. Be well advised that RRSPs are not Tax Avoidance vehicles; they are Tax Deferrals and part of the money sitting in your RRSP account really belongs to Revenue Canada which will, without doubt, collect it at a future date. If your RRSP is an integral part of a comprehensive retirement plan, then you should: Set it up after a diligent plan is devised with a financial advisor Take advantage of the annual review with your financial advisor to set or re-set your annual contribution; consider monthly installments Be aware that if your tax bracket, when you withdraw the RRSPs, is higher than when you contributed, you will end up paying more tax than you saved. The RRSP is not an investment. Choose the investment vehicle behind the RRSP with the advice and guidance of your financial advisor. Good RRSP Hunting! John Evans is a member of PEAK. He owns Padgett Business ServicesŽ in Kingston, specializing in all the taxes that affect small businesses: income tax, payroll tax, sales tax...any tax

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Top tips for successfully expanding to a new location and sales plans to HR practices to financial controls and will be a huge help in managing multiple locations. 4. Work hard to motivate and retain employees Keeping employees motivated is harder when they’re working in a different location, Ilan says. The solution is to communicate frequently with all the people in your team and use technologies such as video conferencing to stay in touch with staff in your new location. Organize weekly or monthly calls to share business results, goals and progress reports. 5. Be patient “Opening a new location costs money and you may feel pressure to earn your investment back as soon as possible,” she cautions. “Prepare to be patient. It often takes longer than expected to break even at a new operation.” Your venture may also take a toll on your existing business as your employees shift focus and get used to new roles. This is why it’s important to plan your move rigorously, including careful budgeting and lining up financing. Seeking impartial advice can make all the difference as you undertake an expansion project. A consultant can help with market research, preparing a strategic plan for growth and introducing operational efficiency changes and controls.

Keeping warm this winter could be a bit of a challenge. It might be a good opportunity to spend quality time snuggled up by the fire with your business plan. It does not matter whether you are an entrepreneur, senior manager at the enterprise level or admin staff at a charitable organization -- everyone sets goals, allocates resources and plans activities. And, those plans need a little TLC every once and a while. At the Chamber, we have been looking at our business plan. How do we create value for members? Are we successful at creating value? Are our resources allocated effectively? How do we communicate? What we have noticed is our members are changing - how you do business, how you communicate and how you get value from the Chamber. As a result, we are always working to align our resources and activities with your needs. In May we are running our first ever paintball networking event. This is a great new way to network, make new contacts and have a pile of fun. You may also now pay your membership monthly by credit card with no extra fees - an excellent way to get points on your frequent flyer credit card or to manage your tight cash flow. You can also expect to see new sponsorship opportunities -- more focused on the value they create for your business. These are only a few examples of how we are renewing our business plan to respond to changes in the marketplace. This winter, take some time to look over

HOME DECOR

PHOTOGRAPHY

Bill Hughes Kingston Chamber of Commerce Chair your own business plan - you might be surprised at what new ideas may come from it. Stay warm out there! R0012557259

Setting up in another part of town, a new region or a new country can produce huge benefits for your business, including more customers, better economies of scale and improved inventory turnover. However, expansion may also bring unexpected challenges. Lisa Ilan, senior account manager at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), offers five strategies to help increase your chances of success. 1. Focus on your personal management skillsManaging more than one location requires disciplined business management skills. “You can’t do it all yourself,” Ilan says. Have an objective look at your strengths and weaknesses. Identify those areas where your contribution is critical and those where you can delegate more responsibility to your team. 2. Develop a strong management team You need employees you can trust and rely on at your new location. Identify the best people in your company and build a strong team for your second location. If necessary, recruit externally. 3. Standardize your business processes It’s time to get serious about setting up standardized, repeatable processes and management controls across your operations. These can range from marketing

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News From the Canadian News From the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce 2014 Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness. President and Chief Executive Officer

The Canadian Chamber undertook this initiative two years ago to draw attention to the barriers that are holding back Canada’s progress and to urge all levels of government to act more swiftly to improve our country’s ability to compete globally. Since launching this initiative, in cooperation with our network of chambers of commerce, we have made great progress in furthering our competiveness agenda, particularly in addressing the barrier our members identified as being the greatest impediment to the success of Canadian business: the growing skills gap. The federal government and several provincial and territorial governments have also named this issue as the country’s biggest challenge. Addressing the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness will go a long way towards restoring Canada’s competitiveness. The Canadian Chamber is calling

on its own membership, on governments, on educators, on labour organizations, and others to tackle and overcome these barriers. Tolerating them is simply not an option. Effectively addressing these 10 barriers will sharpen Canada’s competitive edge and allow us to prosper in the global economy.  We have a choice. Either we act urgently to improve our competitiveness or we will pay a high price in lost jobs and prosperity. Working together, we’ve started to address these problems over the past two years. The challenge for 2014 is to build on this progress and start closing the gap between Canadian businesses and our international competitors.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce was encouraged by the Government of Ontario’s decision to tie future rate increases in the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as the Chamber had recommended to the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel in fall 2013. “Tying minimum wage to the CPI brings much needed predictability, transparency, and fairness to the entire process,� says Allan O’Dette, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Today’s decision is http://www.chamber.ca/advocacy/top-10-bar- a positive development for businesses who have long been calling for an end to politiriers-to-competitiveness/ cal interference in how we set the minimum For additional Canadian Chamber of Com- wage.� The Ontario Chamber also notes that busimerce advocacy and activities, please visit their nesses are pleased that the government is website: www.chamber.ca providing them with six months notification before a rate change can come into effect. However, the Chamber expresses disappointment in the government’s decision to hike the minimum wage rate to $11 an hour in the short-term. “While a bump in the minimum wage is not ideal for Ontario businesses, today’s outcome is better than almost any other scenario that the Ontario government has been considering, including a one-time hike to a $14 an hour minimum wage,� adds O’Dette. In its 2013 submission to the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce called on government to: tie the minimum wage to the provincial CPI; intro-

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duce increases to the minimum wage every two years; give businesses ample notification before a change in the minimum wage takes effect; and avoid a one-time bump in the minimum wage. The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce, along with several other Chambers across Ontario, have worked to provide a strong message to the Ontario Minimum Wage Advisory Panel about our wishes for changes to the way Ontario sets its minimum wage, and to express concerns over the impact of a sudden hike in the current minimum wage. In addition to a letter sent to the Advisory Panel from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) which bears the signatures of over 30 Chamber CEO’s, representatives from the Kingston Chamber also presented directly to the Advisory Panel when they held their recent consultations in Kingston. “We were able to echo many of the points included in the OCC’s letter about the need for a predictable, transparent and fair way to determine minimum wage�, said Kingston Chamber CEO Matt Hutcheon. “Further, we were able to include direct input from a number of local businesses we spoke to about how a sudden increase in the minimum wage would affect their business – staff cuts, reductions in charitable/community giving, increase in prices which hurt competitiveness, etc.� For additional Ontario Chamber of Commerce advocacy and activities, please visit their website: www.occ.on.ca

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By the Honourable Perrin Beatty

OCC Encouraged by New Predictable Process For Determining Minimum Wage

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Kingston chamber member information Air Interactive Media AIM mView Suite is a 4 tiered authenticated software that lets you Connect, Share, and Collaborate on any type of document, at anytime, anywhere, on any mobile and computing device. Website: www.aimmview.com Closets with PaNash Community Patient Transfer Website: www.cptg.ca Dianne’s Fish Bar Located steps from the waterfront, a classic east coast seafood shack meets Baja Mexico! From the sea: Lobster rolls, fish chowder, fish n’ chips & fresh oysters. Plus ceviche, fish tacos and more. From the land: Fried chicken, grilled steaks, burgers, salads & sandwiches. From the bar: Wine on tap! Craft beers, premium bourbon & tequila & a refreshing coastal cocktail list. Sustainable seafood choices, they are an ‘Ocean Wise’ partner. Website: www.diannesfishbar. com Heritage Financial Provides a variety of services including GICs, Mutual Funds, Seg funds, Annuities, Insurance, Critical Illness, Disability, RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, Self-Directed Plans TFSA’s, Portfolio Management and Analysis. Website: www.myteamfinancial. com Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP) Website: www.kipcouncil.ca Mapleston Benefit Consulting Mapleston Benefit Consulting creates a proactive and innovative approach that creates a flexible package for your people. Website: www.maplestonbenefits. com M. Losee & Associates This firm provides a full range of cost effective account & taxation services which include; general ledger maintenance, bookkeeping/accounting, full taxation service & QuickBooks training. Website: www.loseecga.com Palmer and Associates Executive search and career transition. Experienced in a variety of H.R disciplines, working confidentially with H.R. or senior management to assist recruitment of key individuals at all levels. Website: www.palmercareers.com Red Train RedTrain is a branding and marketing agency specializing in brand development, logo design and marketing solutions. Their expertise will take your company’s success to the next level. Website: www.redtrain.ca St. Lawrence Optometry Comprehensive eye care:oculovisual assessments, contact lenses & laser surgery, pre & post-op care, diagnostic testing for eye conditions, optical lab & dispensary for manufacturing & fitting eye wear.

Website: www.stlawrenceoptometry.com

Superior Printing Centre Superior Printing is a full service commercial printer servicing clients all across Ontario, Canada and globally. Unlike other online printers they thrive in meeting their clients custom printing needs. Website: www.superiorprintingcentre.com Suzane Medieros – Fashion Design Consultant Renewing Members:

1829810 Ontario Inc. Aaben Windows & Doors Ltd. Active Orthopedic Solutions Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board Alliance Wireless Communications Altair Electronics Ltd. Ambassador Hotel and Conference Centre AMJ Campbell Van Lines Andola Fibres Ltd. Andre & Sons - General Contractors Astoria Organic Matters Canada LP Aztech Associates Inc. Barrett Building Contractor Bath Fitter Bay Electric Beauty Supply Outlet Beehler Bros. Electric Ltd. Bell Canada Bell Media Kingston Benefits Consulting Plus Bickerton Insurance Brokers, A division of McDougall Insurance & Financial Bin There Dump That Black & Black Law Offices BMO - Bank of Montreal, Commercial/Private Client Services Centre BOTC Consulting Ltd. Business Development Bank of Canada Camera Kingston Canada’s Penitentiary Museum Cataraqui Cemetery Co. Cataraqui Centre Cataraqui Dental Centre CIBC Wood Gundy CLEAN FREAKS CMC Microsystems Collins Barrow SEO LLP, Chartered Accountants Collins Blay LLP Chartered Accountants Comfort Inn Commissionaires, The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area Concord Engineering Conrex Steel Ltd. Corcoran, Len Excavating Ltd. CorridAir Inc. Corus Entertainment Kingston Countrywide Kitchens Inc. Crawford Chondon & Partners LLP Cruickshank Construction Limited Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP Davies & Wyngaarden Chartered Accountants Decorum Design Delta Kingston Waterfront Hotel Dogwatch Hidden Fences Drake International Ltd. Earl Shaw Insurance Brokers Ltd. Engineering Seismology Group Canada Inc. Enhanced Homes Fabbro Mason Contractor Fort Glass Incorporated Frank’s Worldwide Moving Frontenac Auto Body Service

Frontenac Property Management Garrison Golf & Curling Club Gatestone & Co. Inc. Gilda’s Club Southeastern Ontario Gordon Estate Services Ltd. Brokerage. Gorway Green Acres Inn Guardsman Insurance Services Hiring Scripts Holway and Hutchinson Insurance Ltd. Homestead Land Holdings Ltd. HRC Business Centre Impact Pardons Plus Independent Planning Group Downtown Kingston Integraspec Kingston (Div. of Omnia Res. Investment) Interprovincial Insulation Inc. Jeff Byron Pumps & Water Treatment Inc. K.B. Home Insulation Ltd., K.B. Homes/K.B. Roofing/K.B. Van’s Mobile Wash K3C Community Counselling Centres Keystone Property Management Inc. Kids & Company KIMCO Steel Sales Ltd. Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises Kingston Accommodation Partners Inc. Kingston Brewing Company Kingston Community Credit Union Ltd. (Gardiners Rd.) Kingston Economic Development Corporation Kingston Frameworks Ltd. (Princess) Kingston Plate & Glass Kingston RV Centre KLC College: Healthcare, Business,

Education Knightstone Capital Management Inc. KPMG MSLP lia sophia jewellery Loewen/Kingston Window Centre M.W. Cotman & Associates Inc. Mammark Sales Ltd. Manley Financial Group Inc. Marlay Bedard LLP Martin’s Storage Mine Design Technologies Mino’s Take-Out & Dining Mortgage Brokers Kingston Murgor Resources Inc. Newman, Oliver & McCarten Insurance Broker’s Ltd Novelis Inc. Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) Ontario Mapping Co. Oosterhof Electrical Services Ltd. Pam’s Flower Garden ParaMed Home Health Care Parkington Corporation Peachtree Inn Pipe Specialties - Canada Potter’s Nurseries Ltd. Professional Investments Providence Care Qubit Systems Inc. Queen’s University, Advancement Raymond, Marc F. Opticians Rayner, S. & Associates Ltd. RBC Royal Bank, Area Office Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. Reid, James Furniture Ltd. Response I.T. Rideau Acres Resort Rigney Building Supplies Riveredge Resort & Conference Center

Rogers Authorized Dealer Rosen Energy Group Routes Adventures Royal Kingston Curling Club SafeStep Building Treatments Inc. Scotiabank (168 Wellington St.) Secker Ross & Perry St. Lawrence Cruise Lines Inc. Student Association of St. Lawrence College Sullivan, M. & Son Ltd. Sun Life Financial Suzanne Fast Design Swish Maintenance Limited TD Bank Financial Group/TD Canada Trust (94 Princess St.) TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice Templeman Consulting Group Inc. Templeman, Menninga LLP Thomson Jemmett Vogelzang Tim Hortons, J.E. Agnew Food Services Ltd. Treasure Cove Antiques Trim-Line of South East Ontario Trophy House TV Cogeco Union Gas Limited Upper Canada Office Systems Viner, Kennedy, Frederick, Allan & Tobias LLP, Barristers & Solicitors Waste Management Weehooey Inc. XCG Consultants Ltd.

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Innovation for Today’s Generation Sustainable Kingston Welcomes the Business Section to our Community! Kingston is a city that is a vital, dynamic and sustainable economic centre where research, innovation, investment, and business enterprises thrive together and where a variety of people want to visit, live, work, and do business. Developing a sustainable economy depends on building many relationships and partnerships with businesses, industry leaders, educational institutions, notfor-profit organizations, and the community at large. Our economy relies upon, and is built upon, a strong cultural, social, and environmental foundation. The Economic Pillar is focused on the attraction of new businesses and people to Kingston. This is critical to the city’s growth and sustainability and assists us in building a strong and vibrant local community. The retention of talented people in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Kingston are fundamental to achieving this. Existing businesses and the jobs they create, are critical components of a strong, sustainable economy. The intention of Sustainable Kingston is to educate, motivate and support partner organizations and citizens in establishing, implementing and achieving their sustainability goals in support of community sustainability in Kingston. Together we can achieve and be the difference that makes the difference.

Please check out our Green Building Symposium, May 6/7 on our website. Featuring Kingston’s many LEED buildings Find out how to become a Community Partner by visiting our website www.sustainablekingston.ca 10 Kingston Business Today - Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Rico Garcia Bachelor of Applied Economics ArtSci’ 2013 Queen’s University Kingston

Written by Anita Jack-Davies, PhD

This story is an excerpt from the Global Talent Local Business magazine, a publication which features newcomers from around the world who are making an impact on our local business community. This publication is the work of the Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP), which coordinates local efforts to make newcomers to Canada an integral part of a prosperous and vibrant Kingston. Rico Garcia is a Queen’s University student in his final year of an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree program, specializing in Economics and Global Development Studies. He came to Canada on a student visa in 2009 from Monterrey, Mexico and has applied for a work permit that will allow him to work in Canada for three years. He’s already landed a role as a Business Analyst with the management consulting firm McKinsey & Co, a position that awaits him upon his graduation from Queen’s. His dream is to attend graduate school. Rico wants to make the most out of his time in Canada, but plans to return to Mexico eventually. In the meantime he returns there once or twice a year. “I miss the family traditions, the food, and my parents.” In Canada, he spends time with what he calls his Canadian family”, who live in Sydenham, a village just north of Kingston, and he cherishes the many friends and acquaintances he’s made while studying at Queen’s. As a student in Mexico at the Foundation American School of Monterrey – a private international day school that specializes in providing students with a U.S.- based education – many of his teachers were Queen’s alumni who spoke highly about the university. Rico was drawn to their loyalty and ongoing affiliation with their alma mater, so Rico applied to study there after attending a summer camp Tweed, Ontario (where, incidentally, many of his camp counsellors were Queen’s students). Upon visiting the campus he was struck by its focus on

community and school spirit. Today, Rico is proud to be wearing the Queen’s jacket. “Once you graduate from Queen’s, you remain connected to the university.” He described Queen’s as being “large enough to offer a wide range of opportunities, but small enough to feel welcoming, making it easy to get involved” There is a sense of community, an ability to remain connected, and the ability to network with other Queen’s alumni.” Living in residence enabled him to overcome the challenges of an international student living away from home for the first time.He says the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) was instrumental in providing support when he applied for his work permit and in answering other questions he had as an international student. This past summer Rico participated in the Queen’s Summer Innovation Initiative. Offered jointly by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the Queen’s School of Business, the program enables students to foster and entrepreneurship skills imparted by faculty, entrepreneurs, and business experts. The student participants work in teams to create business ideas, and Rico was part of a creative trio that developed ChargeCentre.ChargeCentre.ca, a portable cellphone charging station – essentially, a brick-sized battery in an attractive wood case – that is offered to customers in local bars and restaurants. Each station can charge three cell phones at a time. Stations are housed behind the bar of the restaurants and customers can ask to use it at the dining table. Rico explained ChargeCentre allows customers whose cell phones have run out of a charge to recharge them at their table as they eat, drink or enjoy local entertainment. The product has been endorsed by local restaurants such as Jack Astors’, Nuevo Tango and The Keg, and the partners are pitching their invention to restaurants and bars nationally. What advice does Rico have for prospective international students? “Don’t be afraid to get involved right away” (Rico served as Chair of the AMS Board of Directors, where he oversaw all corporate services).“Canada is very welcoming, so try to make Canadian friends.” “Get involved in Canadian holidays like Thanksgiving and Canada Day.” “Subscribe to The Globe and Mail to learn about Canadian politics.” “Make friends with members of the local community,” he says. “Your culture is important and you will be able to share your culture in Canada.” Rico practices what he preaches. Each week, he and his brother air a radio show called “If the North were the South”, which features the best in Latin music on Queen’s campus station, CFRC, a show that is now run by his brother Max.

Your Social Media Address By Jennifer Baker

In today’s age it seems as though most companies are on some form of social media. There are literally thousands of platforms from which to choose. Initially, however, given its brand power in the marketplace, most companies gravitate towards the creation and ongoing maintenance of a corporate Facebook page. Next on the list is usually a LinkedIn professional profile, followed by Twitter. Bringing up the rear, and depending on the business, is Pinterest, Instagram, Google Plus, and Vine. If a company has chosen to maintain a profile on multiple social platforms, it is important that they develop and maintain a consistent presence. This means setting a standard image or logo for designated profile pictures and cover photos, as well as securing a branded URL. A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is also referred to as a web address. Just like your home has an address, so too do your social media accounts. For example: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferBakerCo is the address to my Facebook page, it allows users to easily locate account without having to search for it via Google or Facebook Graph Search. For companies who maintain multiple social media profiles, it is important that the URL is the same across platforms because it solidifies how users can connect with your brand. Rather than directing your customers to find you on Facebook at one address and

on Twitter with another address, develop a strategy to secure the same URL across all social media platforms. This will make it easier for customers to find your business online. There are some challenges that arise with this, including: character limitations, and uniqueness of the URL. In many cases the URL is limited in characters. For example, a Twitter URL can only be 15 characters. This can cause a challenge to many businesses that have a longer business name, as it requires businesses to get creative and shorten their name. When shortening your name, make sure it still resembles your business’ name, and does not create any offensive words or phrases in the process. Double check. Always. Social media URLs must also be unique. Just like only one website address can exist, only one social media URL for a respective platform can exist. If your business name is common, you may need to be flexible in securing your URL. Do some research on social media and figure out what is available, and what barriers you may need to work around. Once you’ve secured your social media URLs, include them on your marketing materials. If you don’t, it’s like saying to someone: “I’m on email.” but not providing your email address. Jennifer Baker Consulting provides one-onone personalized social media training, and corporate group training. Jennifer is located in Kingston and is a Director on the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce Board.

Thank you to our partners Business Mixer: Famous February Business Mixer Thursday, 20 February 2014, 04:30 PM – 07:30 PM

Chamber Workshop: Succession Planning for Business Owners Thursday, 6 March 2014, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Be part of the 2nd largest business mixer of the year. Start the year right and showcase your business, make new business connections or just renew old ones. Exhibitor space is available. Host: Kingston Banquet and Conference Centre, Days Inn Sponsor: Empire Life

A successful business succession plan should result in both a smooth continuation of the businesses after an owner’s departure and address the owner’s current and future personal concerns including: Minimizing taxes on the transition of the business to maximize their personal wealth for retirement; Tax efficient investment strategies to fund their retirement and maximize the value of their estate for their beneficiaries; and Proactively addressing potential conflicts among their beneficiaries and the use of trusts and multiple wills to minimize taxes. Venue: Innovation Park, Front Board Room Facilitators: Representatives from Collins Barrow SEO LLP, Assante Wealth Management, and Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP.

Chamber Workshop: Be Successful in Responding to an RFP Tuesday, 4 March 2014, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM Learn how to “be successful in responding to an RFP and win the work” you need! This event will continue to demystify the RFP process by explaining the processes of public procurement to open more opportunities for local businesses to be vendors. Venue: Ambassador Hotel & Conference Centre, Lisbon Room Facilitators: Representatives from Queen’s University, the City of Kingston and Shared Support Services Southeastern Ontario (3SO).

Chamber Workshop: Communicating Effectively on Twitter Thursday, 11March 2014, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM This seminar will introduce learners to best practices of communicating effectively on Twitter. Participants will also learn how to

create a tweet on a desktop and mobile device, as well as how (and when!) to respond to interaction. Venue: Innovation Park, Front Board Room Facilitator: Jennifer Baker, Jennifer Baker Consulting Chamber Workshop: Business Contracts Wednesday, March 19th, 2014 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

guest speaker, Cody Sorensen, Canadian Bobsled Team 2014, is presented by RBC. Host: The Harbour Restaurant Sponsor: Altair Electronics Speaker Sponsor: RBC Discover Success Breakfast Tuesday, 15 April 2014, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM

The subject matter of the seminar will be a discussion of some of the basic criteria that must be included in all contracts, an explanation of some common terms and best practices for several common contracts (sales contracts, employment contracts, and commercial leases) and a brief overview of effective methods of enforcing these agreements. The presentation will cover topics as they relate to both B2B and B2C businesses. Venue: Innovation Park, Front Board Room Facilitator: Pro Bono Students Canada, Queen’s Chapter

Join CKWS Newswatch @ 6 cohosts, Bill Hutchins and Julie Brown, as they interview local success stories in the business world. Learn how these visionary entrepreneurs have achieved their goals and the innovative ideas they practice which have helped them build internationally successful from right here in Kingston. This year’s guest speakers are Craig Clement, Co-Owner, Co-President and CFO, Hayabusa Fightwear Inc. and Chris Fountain, CEO, Pita Pit Canada. Host Venue: Donald Gordon Centre

Annual General Meeting Luncheon Tuesday, 25 March 2014, 11:30 AM – 02:00 PM

Member Showcase Chamber Mixer Thursday, 24 April 2014, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Join the Chamber for an update on the Chamber’s advocacy work and a presentation of our Audit Financial Statements. The

It’s better than a test-drive... Join the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce at Taylor Auto Mall for a Mem-

ber Showcase Mixer. If you haven’t had a chance to step into the great new showroom, check out Kingston’s exclusive GM dealership. Set your sights on the great offers while networking with the city’s business leaders. You can win some great prizes too as you “get it in drive” for spring. Host: Taylor Auto Mall Sponsor: Taylor Auto Mall Paintball Challenge Friday, 9 May 2014, 12:00 PM – 06:00 PM Join the Chamber and other members for a unique team building environment that is guaranteed to break down barriers between staff members, reduce stress in the workplace, all while providing safe and memorable fun! Sponsorship opportunities are available. Host: Ground Zero Paintball 25th Annual Chamber Classic Thursday, 19 June 2014 Join us for a great day of golf, networking and prizes. The Chamber Classic is celebrating its 25th tournament. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Host: Garrison Golf & Curling Club, CFB Kingston

Kingston restoration company sees potential in crumbling heritage building Reporter

One of Kingston’s long-abandoned heritage buildings could soon have a new lease on life. The city is moving ahead with plans to sell 9 North Street to a well-known local company that plans to stabilize and redevelop the site as future office space. A staff report to council February 4 recommends that Kingston-based ABNA Investments Ltd. be invited to submit a more detailed proposal to

“purchase, stabilize, restore and repurpose” the crumbling landmark. Located behind Rideaucrest seniors home, the two-storey limestone building at 9 North Street opened in 1908 on former railway lands along the Inner Harbour. Designed by renowned architect William Newlands, the 30 metre long by 18 metre wide industrial building was originally operated by Imperial Oil as a fuel storage depot until the 1960s. The derelict property was designated a heritage site in 1987, the same year it was acquired by the city. “In its current condition, the building

is structurally unsound,” according to an August 2013 building condition report by Commissioner Denis Leger, who noted portions of the floor and roof have totally collapsed. It’s also a Brownfield site contaminated with oils and metals. Last year, councillors began searching for a developer that could clean up, fix up and reopen the site. The price tag to do that may be hefty. An earlier staff report estimated a total restoration of 9 North Street would range between $3.5 million and $5 million. But there are potential benefits for investors.

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Its riverside location, only a 10-minute walk from the downtown, and rent revenues attracted two applicants in the Request for Information process: ABNA Investments and Options for Homes. “Staff has received the two submissions and determined that only ABNA Investments Ltd. has demonstrated that it meets the pre-qualification requirements,” according to the latest report to council by Commissioner Cynthia Beach. ABNA has extensive experience in heritage and restoration projects, notably its work on the Woolen Mill and the

are looking for work? have unsuccessful job interviews? consider a new career? want to start your own business?

Smith and Robinson building. The company’s vision for 9 North Street is to create “high end professional office space while showcasing many of the original construction features as possible.” City officials say the preliminary proposal would not impact plans to rejuvenate the nearby Doug Fluhrer Park nor the proposed Wellington Street extension. Under an ambitious timeline presented to council February 4, the city hopes to finalize its redevelopment plans with ABNA by June.

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