Norm Miller is interested in how to make local businesses run smoother.
Specifically, he wants ideas on how to reduce red tape that typically bogs small companies down when dealing with various levels of government.
Miller was on a tour of Parry Sound-Muskoka this week talking to small businesses and held a roundtable to look at ways to reduce unnecessary regulations with an eye to being true to the new slogan, Ontario is Open For Business.
Tuesday he visited Kropf Industrial in Seguin. The company manufactures hydraulic boat handling equipment, floating dock systems and floating aquaculture pens.
“Kropf is a perfect example of a local manufacturer that has created a great business right here based on the products that are needed in this area,” said Miller in a press release. “While their products are shipped all over, their location here in cottage country means many of the products made in their 24,000 square-foot facility are used at local marinas and other businesses.”
Wednesday Miller was joined by Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, MPP Michael Parsa. They met with a dozen local business owners to discuss how the government could make it easier to run a successful business in Ontario.
“It was a great discussion and I learned about a lot of regulatory issues that are impacting businesses and job creators here in Parry Sound-Muskoka,” said Miller. “I will be following up on these ideas with the ministers responsible and I am confident we can cut some of this red tape.”
Miller admits one of the big issues in the area is the lack of a big labour force in construction-related fields. This shortage of skilled labour can be helped with an amendment to the apprenticeship system proposed in Bill 47, the Make Ontario Open for Business Act he says.
Miller’s tour of small businesses followed his second annual survey of businesses in his riding. He sent the surveys to 3,000 businesses in the area and he will be using some of those responses in his attempt to streamline running small companies in the area.