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9 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,D ecem ber 20,2018 insidehalton.com kids18-19Holiday Camps &Winter Academies Canlan Kids Skating & Hockey ICESPORTS.COM/KIDS Become your best at: OF PLAYER D EVEL OPMENT Foot & Health Clinic .com Farewell foot pain Our foot care starts with education. We treat all foot issues so you can live without pain & improve mobility. • Best Chiropodist / Clinic / Orthotics provider since 2004 • We put care & service first!  905 632 1414  728 Burloak (South of the QEW)905 632 1414 728 Burloak (South of the QEW) Pud bySteveNease Dear Santa, All we want for Christmas is to cut red tape for Oakville busi- nesses. Chamber members tell us that cutting red tape is a top priority. It is one of the best ways govern- ments can help business succeed. The Oakville chamber wants to help create an environment for business that improves the pro- cess of obtaining permits, licenc- es, rezoning, inspections and ap- provals to proceed with develop- ment, and improve the environ- ment for conducting business in Oakville. After all, businesses are the backbone of our economy. Their success is essential to our local economy and to Canada's growth. In fact, 99 per cent of all Canadian businesses are small, medium en- terprises (SMEs), contributing to over a third of Canada's gross do- mestic product (GDP). They cre- ate jobs and their success results in more money in municipal tax- es, which helps improve local communities. Entrepreneurs who run small businesses, fuel Canada's eco- nomic innovation and prosperity. Moreover, small businesses do not always stay small. Growing SMEs into larger companies helps Canada remain competitive in global markets. That's why the Oakville cham- ber will be actively working on our members' behalf with the Town of Oakville to make sure our local government under- stands how red tape affects them and what it really costs their busi- ness. Oakville's economy is ex- tremely important to the region, the province and the country. We will urge our local government to work with other municipalities to share what works when it comes to cutting red tape and removing unnecessary obstacles to busi- ness' growth. Our commitment to our mem- bers is that we will work with the Town of Oakville to push for more red tape reduction, a continued focus on service improvements, and encourage co-operation on cutting red tape with other gov- ernments - regionally, provincial- ly and federally. The end result will be a posi- tive environment that encourag- es business growth, which bene- fits the town and its residents through job creation and an en- hanced tax base. This is in every- one's best interest. The list: • Clarity of process and re- quirements • Accountability for timelines • Transparency and consisten- cy • Client-centric culture • Improved communications Sincerely, The Oakville Chamber of Commerce Faye Lyons is vice-president of government relations and ad- vocacy at the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. OAKVILLE CHAMBER WISH LIST INCLUDES LESS RED TAPE OPINION BEST WAY TO HELP BUSINESS SUCCEED, WRITES FAYE LYONS FAYE LYONS Column This visitor, a peregrine falcon, has dropped in at a downtown Oakville condo balcony a couple of times recently. If you have a photo of an interesting animal in your Oakville neighbourhood, send it and some details to kmiceli@metroland.com. Bob Nairn/photo FALCON FRIEND