Latest Updates
What is the BWA working on? Read our latest updates below to find out about Commercial Rent, Paid Sick Days and other advocacy efforts and events. Got an idea for a blog article or video? Get in touch.
Featured Article
Wealth Summit 2024
MDRNZE | Toronto Community Wealth Building SummitOctober 9, 2024 from 5:30 - 9:00pm | Trinity Common, Kensington Market "Community wealth building is an economic growth strategy; and the best roadmap for creating resilient, equitable neighbourhoods." Toronto's local...
The OSFI “Great Redirect”: Why Cheaper Loans Won’t Save Us Without Rent Reform
If your landlord doubles your rent tomorrow, does a "cheaper loan" from the bank solve your...
The Business Case for Investing in Canada Post
What Canada can learn from the UK's Royal Mail privatization - and why we should avoid it.Why...
We Are Hiring: Membership Growth Lead
The BWA is hiring a Membership and Outreach Manager to help grow our network in 2026.
BWA 2025 Holiday Market
Happy Holidays from Better Way Alliance businesses! We know shoppers want to make their spending count this season - not just bringing joy to their loved ones, but also Buying Canadian, Supporting Local, and helping Canadians be strong and free. That’s why we’ve put...
The Costco Effect: Why Good Jobs Are Smart Economics
How ethical employment practices can lead to sustainable growth and community well-being.When Costco opened a warehouse in rural Meiwa, Japan in 2023, a nearby noodle shop called Yamada-udon faced a crisis. Costco was offering starting wages of 1,500 yen per hour- 60%...
Better Way Alliance’s analysis of the federal Budget 2025
November 7, 2025 This week, the Carney government tabled its new budget - the first in this Prime Minister's term in office, and an important one given the challenges of tariffs, trade, economic slowdown and war. The Budget was framed as an offensive, take-charge...
The Fixed-Cost Crunch: Rent, Not Wages, Are Driving Costs for Toronto Small Businesses
As minimum wage increases in Ontario and other provinces this fall, BWA's new analysis reveals what's actually driving small business cost pressures. Our Fixed Cost Crunch report presents five years of comparative data showing that fixed costs - not wages - are...
A redesigned Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) will unlock efficient growth for Canadian SMEs
The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) needs an urgent overhaul to address today’s small business financing barriers. The program has not kept pace with the realities of rent volatility, succession risk, and constrained credit markets. It also fails to...
Better Way Alliance Submits SME-Focused Recommendations to Canada’s 2025 Budget
Toronto, ON — August 28, 2025 — The Better Way Alliance (BWA), a national voice for smarter local business policy, is pleased to submit its recommendations to the Canadian government as part of its official 2025 Pre-Budget Consultations focused on building a stronger...
June 2025 Newsletter | Better Way Alliance
Better Way Alliance | June 2025 Newsletter Let’s address the obvious: yes, we’re alive — and just crawling out from under our busiest, most fruitful Better Business Day (BBD) ever. After an intense advocacy push at Ontario’s legislature, both Lili and I took a step...
Better Business Day 2025 | Queen’s Park
Solutions from Ontario’s employers to stabilize small business growth, create good jobs - and build resilient local economies.Ontario’s small and mid-sized businesses are facing growing instability - rising rent, unpredictable utilities, an uncompetitive insurance...
Better Way Alliance Congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney; Calls for Bold Action to Stabilize Canadian Businesses
Toronto, ON — April 30, 2025 — The Better Way Alliance (BWA), a national voice for smarter local business policy, congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada on today’s election results - and extends congratulations to all newly...
Why commercial rent control is key to Canada’s economic sovereignty
25% tariff rates mean potential business closures. So do 25% (or more) rent increases. The Trump administration’s tariffs and threats are hurting many Canadian businesses. But there is an equally concerning threat closing main street doors and costing jobs:...