-1.png?upscale=true&width=800&upscale=true&name=BWA-%20LOGOS%20(4)-1.png)  We sold out (not that way) Take a break from chomping on Halloween candy to read up on news from our network. In October, we co-hosted our first-ever Community Wealth Building Summit, MDRNZE! It was a smashing success. Over drinks and a tasty buffet dinner, we heard from business owners, community land trusts, and organizations re-imagining how to build a better Toronto. We sold out with over 60 people in attendance at Trinity Common in Kensington Market! Read on for a full account of how it went down. What’s in this newsletter:A boost to minimum wages falls too short MDRNZE event re-capWelcome new BWA Members!BWA in the news A new fellowship with Social Capital Partners highlights our work on commercial rent Workforce-issues conference season continuesCity of Toronto adopts key BWA recommendations in their 10 year economy + culture strategic plan.  Federal AI Adoption Funding Available The Federal government has launched a new funding program for businesses and non-profits to adopt AI technology.0% loans are available to scale up new technology in your biz. See if you qualify .png?upscale=true&width=520&upscale=true&name=ZENSURANCE%20(1).png) Search the Gov’t Grant Database With the end of 2024 in sight, we figured now is a good time to remind you that there are still Federal government grants out there! Try out their easy to use tool and see if you qualify for any. Use the Tool to Find $$$ The government says October’s minimum wage hike is a win – but is it? The provincial minimum wage in Ontario increased from $16.55 to $17.20 per hour on October 1st. According to the Ontario Living Wage Network, the increased minimum wage in Ontario is “still lower than the livable wage in every region in the province.” According to the OLWN, the lowest liveable wage in Ontario is $18.65 per hour, still over a dollar short per hour to afford housing, food, and basic bills. In the Greater Toronto Area, the minimum hourly wage required is $25.05. It’s causing adult children to move back home and families to consider using food banks. Food bank use in Ontario has risen by almost 40% since last year, with more families turning to assistance than ever before. The BWA isn’t the only ones to say that higher minimum wages would benefit more than just workers. Employers and employment agencies are now seeing the benefits of paying workers a bit more to make life liveable and retain employees. Workers paid at minimum wage are likely to leave for a very small raise, because it’s too hard to make ends meet otherwise. The minimum wage also rose in October in PEI, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and in September in the Northwest Territories. With rent increases, heightened material costs, and employee wages going up, we deeply understand how crunched many businesses are right now. The last years have been challenging for many. If you need a second opinion on your employment packages or any initiatives you’re working on, we’re here to help. Here’s what happened at MDRNZE Our first Community Wealth Building sparked a lot of interest from people with a huge diversity of backgrounds. But let’s start at the beginning – what is Community Wealth Building and why did we need to host a summit about it? “Community wealth” is a community-focused economic approach that keeps wealth circulating in communities, keeps jobs local, gives neighborhood folks a voice in how their community operates, and keeps local assets in the hands of local people. We’re seeing too many businesses being displaced from our communities and replaced by chain stores owned by shareholders who don’t live in the community. We know there are great people in Toronto who are working to reverse this trend, so we invited them in to have a conversation (and called it MDRNZE, a play on “modernizing” the economy). At our summit, we heard from business owners – Paola at Bode Spa & Sugarmoon Salon and Yoga, Harrison from HOVR, Shamez at Drom Taberna & La Palette – about their business models that put people first. They’re experiencing success because customers, investors and employees believe in what they are building and the social cohesion they construct through their work. We heard from Chloe Brown, a city-builder who leads by example. She’s finding new ways to organize businesses and governments to foster an inclusive city where inequality is significantly lessened. The smart Community Land Trust (CLT) folks – Anyika at Little Jamaica CLT, Dominique and Zack at Kensington Market CLT – helped us see how becoming collective property owners lets us have a hands-on role in the development of our communities. Want to directly support Kensington? Buy a community bond – they start at $500. You earn a little bit of interest and get paid back your principal amount after 3 years. The Better Way Alliance team talked about rental policy levers that could have a massive effect on the longevity of our favourite independent small businesses and prevent the chainification of our beloved neighbourhoods. We have a 4-minute short film out about it!Watch the Bill of Rights film here  NEW BWA MEMBERS  Welcome Bodé Spa for Men & Sugarmoon In September we connected with Paola Girotti – the founder of Bodé Spa for Men, Sugarmoon Salon & Sugarmoon Yoga. After a few in-depth conversations about her businesses, their mission, and employment practices we welcomed all 3 on board. Along with that, Paola generously sponsored our MDRNZE summit on October 9th! Personal services like the ones provided at her business can often be low-wage work, sometimes for cash at less than minimum wage. Paola’s commitment to the Living Wage & other employee benefits has made them a leader in employee retention & happiness. Since founding the first location over 20 years ago, Sugarmoon has grown to 8 locations across Ontario. We’re glad to have all 3 businesses as new members in the BWA – and we know Paola is going to be an exceptional champion at Queen’s Park in 2025! .png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=New%20Member%20-%20Template%20(1).png) BWA Loves Breweries! During a chat with BWA member odd duck’s owner Jon Rennie earlier this year, Counterpoint Brewing came up. For years they’ve championed fairness for workers & developed a multitude of community outreach events. From live music (their Tiny Taproom series) to collabs with other breweries and community leaders in Kitchener-Waterloo – we knew we had to talk. And we’re glad to welcome Counterpoint as a new member of the BWA this month too! If you’re in the KW area, make sure you take a visit to their taproom and enjoy a solid brew.  BWA in the news The minimum wage hike in Ontario made headlines because it’s frankly still much too low to afford a dignified life in every city around the province. BWA Director Lili Camacho and member Anita Agrawal, owner of Jewels 4 Ever, tell CityNews TV why higher minimum wages are important for small businesses. Beloved Toronto bookstore Presse Internationale is closing thanks to a $4000/month rent hike. Lili Camacho talks to CityNews about how this is possible and what should be done about it – pronto! A new fellowship showcasing commercial rent Our girl Lili Camacho was invited to join Social Capital Partners‘ first group of Fellows to amplify our work on commercial rent and inclusive economies. Lili joins a seriously impressive group of thinkers and doers who are working on various initiatives to make our economies work for the people who live in them. As part of the Fellowship, Lili will be publishing new writing pieces that focus on commercial rent solutions to bring the matter to people’s attention. Together, SCP and Lili are hoping to make waves provincially in advance of Ontario’s 2025 election, and in other jurisdictions as part of an agenda that works for small business owners. We are super excited for the opportunity to increase visibility of our work and push for change with the support of Social Capital Partners! To find out more, visit https://www.socialcapitalpartners.ca/fellows  City of Toronto Adopts key BWA recommendations Over 2023/24, Aaron served on the City of Toronto Economic Action Plan Panel. With the city in a deep deficit and facing rising costs for residents, debt and everything in between – the City pulled together 30 business & non-profit leaders to find solutions. Strong main streets & quality jobs are top priorities for the city and we’re glad to see them adopt key elements of both our Business Case for Ethical Employment & Commercial Renter Bill of Rights into their strategy. Read the full report.  We’re talking everyone’s ears off about decent work Aaron has continued his road trips around Southeastern Canada as autumn saw a bajillion – ok, three – more workforce conferences. Hospitality, tourism, retail and trade industries are raising the alarm of a workforce crisis. And our messaging is resonating across these sectors – we’re certain that the “crisis” can be mitigated by offering workers an attractive work package. And with the news about minimum wages scarcely making ends meet, an attractive employment package isn’t too hard to imagine as the best way to attract the talent your business may need. The most-affected industries are known for paying low wages in Canada. Workers chose to leave these industries in favour of better-paying sectors during the pandemic, and they haven’t returned. Wages that make it easier for workers to pay their bills and live close to work make a huge difference. When a worker is paid a very low wage, it’s easy to understand that they’ll jump ship with a raise of even a few cents – even if they like their employer. We recommend a wage that makes it more comfortable to live on – and a living wage if it’s possible for the business – and some perks like paid sick days, stable schedules, and a work culture that is rewarding and engaging. In the trades and food sectors, creating a respectful workplace and focusing on inclusion is also making a difference. Operators in these sectors are listening. More and more employers are trying this approach and seeing that it’s reducing their turnover and associated costs. We’ll keep telling stories to influence change. And we’ve got big plans for new tools next year that can help more businesses create great workforce programs! |
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