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Northern Ontario and Sudbury are essential to the province’s economic prosperity, says the president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

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Daniel Tisch Echevarría made the observations last week at the 129th Annual General Meeting of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

“When you sit in Toronto, you see a lot of data,” Tisch said. “When asked if businesses in the province have confidence in them, they say yes.

“What excites me is a diamond in the data. Research has shown that Northern Ontario holds real opportunities. Mining is important to Ontario’s economy. What is produced here is essential to our economic future.

“The critical mineral sector, the sustainable EV (EV) supply chain…Sudbury and the North hold the keys to the future of Ontario’s manufacturing sector.

So much so that Tisch said the Ontario Chamber of Commerce will soon add a mining policy council to its list of councils.

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Tisch, who works at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Toronto, said: “Our office is more like ducks; seems calm, but think about everything that is happening.

“Our advocacy theater is mainly provincial. We are constantly developing policies. There are five policy councils which include infrastructure, energy, health, workforce and now AI. We will launch one on the mining sector next year.

Asked if this mining council was driven by Sudbury influence, Tisch smiled. “Everything we do is based on some form of collaboration. No idea has only one parent.

“We still have meetings with the provincial government. We have seen historic investments. Infrastructure is a key element.

Tisch also acknowledged that transportation is an “important piece of this puzzle” and mentioned an important project for Sudbury.

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He highlighted the need to complete the widening of Highway 69, which connects Sudbury to Toronto. “Let’s put pressure on the government as hard as possible. I think we still have 68 km (of widening) to go.

“The completion of this work is essential to the efficient movement of goods…the safe movement of people.” »

Once completed, the highway will be expanded to four lanes, up from two, between the city and Toronto. There is no deadline for completing the final stretch of a project that was first promised in 1991.

Additionally, Tisch told chamber members he knows municipalities are struggling with substance abuse issues. In fact, Greater Sudbury has one of the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths in Ontario.

“We must continue to work to alleviate this terrible crisis that has emerged in so many Canadian cities. How can we solve this problem? We work together.

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However, Tisch’s message to the audience was primarily focused on optimism.

At the end of the dinner and the AGM, after the table discussions and exchanges, Tisch observed: “Frankly, what struck me was the consideration, the support and the kindness in this room . They may be competitors outside of this room, but they come together, support each other and work together.

“In 2024, Northern Ontario is the most optimistic region in Ontario. I have to come back.

The Chamber’s AGM was held at Bryston’s on the Park, which many say is the ideal venue for Chamber dinners: good size, good atmosphere. It’s been a favorite place for years.

Tisch said he was excited to attend the AGM and add a visit to Sudbury to his first year in office. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce website summarizes his accomplishments and states that Tisch is “known internationally as an expert in corporate communications, public policy, community engagement, crisis management and reputation management.” .

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Geoff Hatton, former speaker of the Greater Sudbury Chamber, met with Tisch at a previous meeting in Toronto. “He’s a fantastic speaker,” Hatton said. “I met him on a visit to Queen’s Park. It is important that he is here in Sudbury.

Trevor Lalonde, the new president of the Sudbury Chamber board of directors, agrees. “I met him too. He is a strong advocate for business. The right guy for the role. He’s really smart. He is able to connect all the jobs and all the industries…this is a good opportunity for him to learn more about Sudbury.

“It’s astonishing that he has already visited 30 chambers (of commerce) across the provinces. He has a unique perspective. He listens very well…understands the importance of the mining sector.

In an interview with The Star, Tisch said: “I’ve only been in this role for nine months. I will come to Sudbury as often as possible. I have a speech prepared, but I will be able to adapt when I read the room.

“My main theme is obviously why it’s important to be a member of your local chamber of commerce. We don’t just represent big businesses…we represent all businesses.

Later, he reminded the audience that 90 percent of all businesses in Canada are small businesses.

“I was last here on a road trip to a fishing lodge in the Kenora area,” he added. Yes, I brought my children. We naturally stopped in Sudbury. My youngest son loves Science North.

The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible with funding from the federal government.

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