MUSKOKA LAKES: “In the Ontario budget, we want to see action on pre-budget recommendations by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) that our Chamber supports, including treating tourism and broadband like real economic infrastructure and better support for our municipalities,” says Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Norah Fountain.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Ontario budget, Fountain (below) is sharing key recommendations of the OCC pre-budget submission and what they could mean for business in Muskoka.
“First, this submission reflects many of the pressures we see every day in Muskoka and yes, across all of Ontario,” says Fountain, “including labour shortages, housing gaps, rising costs and the strain on small, seasonal economies. It also points to areas Ontario should act on that could directly benefit Muskoka.”
Notably, the OCC submission calls for tourism, arts, culture, and sport to be treated like real economic infrastructure. For Muskoka businesses, Fountain says the following recommendations will also be of interest as they call for:
– Better access to rural funding programs to support events, marketing and business growth
– Recognizing broadband, housing, and health care as core business issues, not side issues
– Regional solutions for workforce shortages, including immigration and training that reflect rural needs
– Support for small business adoption of technology can help improve productivity and competitiveness
At the same time, municipalities are under growing strain, and we need to advocate for them as well, says Fountain. Townships are being asked to fund community renewal while dealing with interconnected challenges like mental health, addictions, homelessness, and in some areas, struggling downtowns.
The submission states Ontario needs to rethink how municipalities are funded (reducing reliance on property tax) and to invest in community revitalization through arts, culture, sport, and tourism, especially in rural locales. “Bottom line: The right issues are on the table,” says Fountain. “Now the focus, despite economic uncertainty, must be on turning these recommendations into real investment reflecting the realities of rural and cottage country economies.”
Read the full Ontario Chamber of Commerce Submission here: https://occ.ca/our-publications/2026-ontario-provincial-budget-submission/