With the rising costs of health care — some local business owners are concerned about how much money will be left in the province’s coffers for things like business investment, education and the environment.
With that in mind the Owen Sound and District Chamber of Commerce is welcoming a health care specialist to its annual general meeting tonight.
Guest speaker will be Michael Barrett, the CEO of the South West Local Health Integration Network who’ll be talking about the challenges of reducing wait times, access to doctors and improving the health of Ontario residents.
Chamber Manager Bert Loopstra says the connection to the business world is obvious when you understand the numbers.
Premier Dalton McGuinty recently said health care consumes 42 cent of every tax dollar and that’s expected to rise to 72 cents in the next 12 years.
Loopstra says that should be a concern to everyone — including business owners as there will be fewer dollars spent on things like tourism or infrastructure.
He says one of the biggest concerns for the Owen Sound Chamber is the lack of growth within the city limits.
The AGM is being held at the Best Western Inn on the Bay.