Also covering Bill 148’s proposed changes to labour laws

NEWS RELEASE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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The Ontario Government’s Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, introduces very significant changes to our province’s employment legislation.

It includes a swift increase in the minimum wage by more than 30 per cent to $15/hour in less than eighteen months and also introduces new proposed rules for vacation time, on-call work, equal pay for temporary and part time workers, scheduling and emergency leave days.

The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce has arranged two town hall forums and is inviting businesses, associations, government agencies and representatives, unions, social justice groups and interested individuals to take part and share their feedback on the proposed legislation, their concerns or their support.

The feedback and discussion generated through these town halls will help better inform all participants of the level and types of concerns and / or support that these proposed legislative changes have locally.

Taking part in the town halls will be: the Sault Ste. Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Sault Ste. Marie Member of Provincial Parliament, Ross Romano.

The town halls are scheduled for: Thursday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both sessions will take place in Council Chambers at the Civic Centre, 99 Foster Dr.

The town halls will include a short presentation by the OCC. There will be a limited number of presentation spots available to local businesses, associations, interested groups and individuals that wish to present.

Presentations will be five minutes in length and time will be allowed following each presentation for questions. Presentations must be scheduled in advance by contacting the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce at 705-949-7152.

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