Ontario Chamber of Commerce Report Launch: Small and Medium Size Employers (SMEs): Skills Gaps and Future Skills

Small Business Too Big to Ignore- Breaking the Skills and Digital Divide
The COVID-19 crisis is having a devastating impact on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), charities, and not-for-profit organizations in Ontario.
 
SMEs are the backbone of the Canadian economy, accounting for more than 90% of jobs in the private sector. Yet they face critical labour shortages, skill gaps and challenges related to access to broadband that threaten their competitiveness.
 
Join us on Thursday, October 15 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm for the launch of the report “Small and Medium Size Employers (SMEs): Skills Gaps and Future Skills”, a Skills Next project and a collaboration between the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Diversity Institute, Public Policy Forum, Future Skills Centre, followed by an exciting panel conversation to deep dive on some of these critical issues facing small business. Skills Next is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.
 
Event Overview:
Report presentation by Wendy Cukier, Diversity Institute Founder, Academic Director, WEKH and Research Lead, Future Skills Centre & Ashley Chalinor - Vice President of Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
 
Followed by an exciting panel conversation on the future of skills:

• Andria Barrett - President and CEO, Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce
• Lesley Gouldie - President and CEO, Thornhill Medica
• Melissa Hardy-Giles - Owner, ORIGIN
• Jennifer Turliuk - CEO, MakerKids