Established in 1991, ONEIA is the business association representing the interests of the environment industry in Ontario. Our network of thousands of contacts includes key people at environmental technology, product and service companies, law, investment and insurance firms, institutes, universities and governments. Through their innovation and experience in Ontario and around the world, Ontario’s environment industry provides market-driven solutions for society's most pressing environmental problems.

While our industry is diverse, ONEIA provides a place where a variety of companies, entrepreneurs and other organizations in the environment field can come together to work on common concerns, share information and explore business opportunities.  Through ONEIA, they can work towards a society that understands and values the contribution that market-based solutions make to our environmental problems.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

To be held on February 16, 2012.
Please click here for details and agenda.

February 28 - Networking Breakfast with Environment Commissioner Gord Miller

The Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA) is pleased to present a special breakfast with Ontario Environment Commissioner Gord Miller.

To read more, please click here. To Register, click here.

Tax credits, procurement, grants and networking - all in one place!

Networking and business development - all in one place. Just one of the many things that ONEIA does for its members and the sector.

Selected presentations presented during the January 26th ONEIA Breakfast will be posted shorty.

2011: The start of a shift in how Ontario views the environment and cleantech sector?

An analysis by ONEIA Executive Director Alex Gill

To read the analysis, click here and feel free to add your comments in our blog or send us an e-mail at info@oneia.ca.

Alex Gill is the Executive Director of ONEIA and can be reached at agill@oneia.ca or through LinkedIn.

POST GLOBE Conference, Toronto

From March 18 to 20th, 2012, Toronto will play host to the biennial “Post-Globe” conference that will bring together hundreds of Canadian and international environmental and cleantech businesses.  Scheduled for the Sunday to Tuesday that follows Globe 2012 in Vancouver, the Toronto conference offers practical business intelligence and networking and is not to be missed!  This year promises to be the best conference yet and will feature:

- Discussions with corporate leaders
- Practical sessions on three key themes: The rise of water, Environment and         cleantech trends, and Sustainability for today’s business.
- Networking and business development matching for companies seeking to explore other markets. 

And for international professionals, a sponsored tour of Niagara Falls and Ontario’s wine country, as well as a day of site visits of innovative Canadian companies.  Registration for international delegates is complementary but limited – so reserve your space now!

REGISTER HERE

Guests can book a room at the rate of $169.00. Please follow the information:  Reservations phone #: 1-800-905-0667.  Ask for Post Globe.

To book a room CLICK HERE . Group Code on-line: PLCPLCA

Note that the last day to book at the group rate is February 27, 2012

MOE discusses approvals reforms with ONEIA members

On October 25, representatives of the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) offered an advance look to ONEIA members of extensive changes that are coming to the environmental approvals system on October 31.  In a members-only webinar, MOE staffers walked participants through their plans to shift the approvals system into a more streamlined approach. 

Click here for a copy of the presentation.

To become an ONEIA member and participate in future members-only briefings, please click here.

ONEIA EBOB discusses post-election landscape

What does a minority Liberal government mean for Ontario's environment and cleantech firms?  That was the central question addressed at ONEIA's post-election Environmental Business Opportunity Breakfast (EBOB) on October 20,  Attendees from a range of firms listened to a lively panel debate that featured Angie Brennand from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Paul Norris from the Ontario Waterpower Association and Colin Isaacs from CIAL Group.  Panelists agreed that the pace of environmental policymaking will slow considerably as the government avoids controversial issues, but agreed that some major issues (e.g. waste diversion, approvals reform, renewable energy) will have to move forward.  Colouring the new mandate will be a backdrop of fiscal restraint and economic uncertainty.  ONEIA's advocacy committee will address these and other issues in its ongoing work, so stay tuned!

Living in interesting times; what the election result means for Ontario's environment and cleantech companies

Well, that was interesting. All across Ontario, political watchers are waking up this morning to the news that the McGuinty government has been reelected, but with just 53 seats, leaving them one seat short of a majority.  This gives Ontario its first minority government in decades.

What will this mean for Ontario’s environment and cleantech sector? Read more...  or place a comment on our Blog page.

ONEIA partners with OWMA and others on waste issue letter to party leaders

ONEIA has joined with the Ontario Waste Management Association and five other organizations to jointly write to the Premier and other party leaders to ask for details on their positions with respect to waste diversion, recycling, producer responsibility and related issues.  See the response of the Liberals, Ontario PCs  NDP and Green Party

WE HAVE MOVED.....

ONEIA's new address is:

Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA)
215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 410
Toronto, ON  M5T 2C7
(416) 531 7884
info@oneia.ca

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Companies discuss new directions in waste policy

A capacity crowd of environmental businesspeople packed the Ontario Trade and Investment Centre on August 25 to discuss where Ontario might go with respect to waste policy.  Hosted by ONEIA in partnership with the Ontario Waste Management Association and the Municipal Waste Association, the event featured two European experts in the field - Ton Holtkamp and Herman Huisman.  A copy of the presentations is available on ONEIA's Slide Share channel.

To view the presentations:

Click here for Ton Holtkamp's presentation.

Click here for Herman Huisman's presentation.

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ONEIA golf day a success

ONEIA's annual afternoon of golf and business networking on July 20 was well-received by all attendees.  Almost 100 environmental business people attended, with many members joining for a morning briefing from MOE prior to an afternoon of golf.  The day was capped off with a visit from the "animal ambassadors" from our charity partner, Earth Rangers and a BBQ steak dinner with awards and door prizes.  Strata Soil continued their winning streak, taking the top performance prize with a group score of 14 under.  The runner-up was a tie between teams led by Bruce Greenberg and Dave Wallace.  For photos of the event, click here.  

And mark your calendars now for next year's event, which is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 18.

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ONEIA elects new board chair

The Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA) elected Derek S. Webb, vice-president of Guelph-based Biorem Technologies, as its Chair at a recent board meeting.  Read more...

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Ontario environment firms optimistic but wary about prospects

Ontario's environment and cleantech companies are largely optimistic about its prospects for the future, but is still wary of possible problems in the form of market demand, regulatory problems and financing, according to the first iteration of the "Environment and Cleantech barometer."  The Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA) asked companies across the province about such issues as their general outlook, optimism about business prospects and factors that they feel limit their growth.  

"This largely reaffirmed what we at ONEIA hear every day in our dealings with companies across Ontario," said Alex Gill, the Association's Executive Director.  "We know that our companies are good at what they do and can do well in any market, but factors beyond their control often get in the way."

In the survey, companies cited such issues as regulatory uncertainty, financing and "uncertain market demand" in their opinions on their future prospects.

To see a summary of survey results, CLICK HERE. 

And stay tuned as ONEIA regularly reaches out to talk with companies across Ontario about the business of the environment in Ontario.

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Environment Industry Day 2011

EID chair's remarks to industry

Environment Industry Day 2011 featured a number of speeches and remarks from the Minister of Environment and Deputy Minister of Environment - and even a surprise appearance by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.  But some of the most heartfelt remarks came from the Industry Chair of the day, John Dragasevich, CEO of Filter Innovations, as he introduced Deputy Minister Gail Begg's luncheon speech.  To read John's remarks, please click here...

CLICK HERE to view some pictures of the day.

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ONEIA releases "Still Ready to Grow" report at Environment Industry Day 2011

ONEIA continued its tradition of offering common-sense policy advice to the province when we released a landmark public policy document at our 11th annual Environment Industry Day.  The "Still Ready to Grow" report offers a straightforward road map that encourages government to adopt pro-growth policies for the environment and cleantech sector.  Among its recommendations are stronger support for the modernization of approvals process in the Ministry of Environment, a commitment to green purchasing, and an approach that will encourage winning conditions for all companies and not see government trying to pick winners and losers.  To download a full copy of the report, click here...

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"Turning Brown into Green" a hit with Brownfields firms

Approximately 80 companies attended ONEIA's Brownfields business development forum on March 3, 2011 at Toronto's downtown Hyatt hotel.  The event was ably chaired by ONEIA's Brownfields Committee co-chairs, Janet Bobechko (Blaney McMurtry) and Cecile Willert (EcoMetrix) and presented in conjunction with the federal IRAP program.  The event offered an afternoon of sessions on new technology and business opportunities in this growing field, followed by a forum on funding programs in the field and a networking reception for participating companies.  Click here to see the participants list. 

Click here to view some pictures of the day.

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ONEIA commits to green purchasing standard

As part of our ongoing work with the Greening Greater Toronto Initiative, ONEIA has signed a commitment to the group's green purchasing standard.  Among other things, the standard will see ONEIA buy from suppliers that have committed to environmental standards.  For more information on the group and its work, please click here.

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ONEIA and the environment community mark the passing of Errick (Skip) Willis

It is with great sadness that the volunteers and staff at ONEIA learned today that Errick (Skip) Willis had passed away after complications from cancer surgery.  It is difficult to fully sum up the huge contribution Skip made Canada's environment industry and to ONEIA.  Read more...

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ONEIA analysis: Why do governments persist in picking winners and losers

Click here to join us for discussion on our new blog page.

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ONEIA presents to standing committee about Bill 72: Water Opportunities Act

Alex Keen, chair of ONEIA's Water Subcommittee, and Alex Gill, the Association's  executive director, appeared before the Standing Committee on General Government on October 18, 2010 top present our position on the Water Opportunities Act. Read more...

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ONEIA analysis: Ontario names new environment minister
On August 18, the provincial government named John Wilkinson as the new Minister of Environment.  What does this mean for Ontario's environment industry?  Read ONEIA's analysis ...

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ONEIA featured on BNN

ONEIA was in the national spotlight recently, as the Association's executive director was featured on Business News Network's "Business of Green" series. Check out the interview at http://watch.bnn.ca/clip308379#clip308379

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Post-Globe 2010 spotlights Ontario and international environment businesses

From March 28 to 30, ONEIA was proud to organize and host Ontario's premier international environmental business conference - Post Globe 2010. Chaired by Anton Davies, Vice-president of Guelph consulting firm RWDI, the event brought together more than 200 Canadian and international business people. More....

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ONEIA analysis: Getting beyond the rhetorical tug of war at Copenhagen

December 14, 2009. Lost in all of the rhetorical spin around the Copenhagen Summit is a simple idea that, if embraced, will benefit Canadians, the environment  - and our environment industry: In addition to being an issue of great moral and scientific importance, climate change is the single biggest business opportunity facing Canada right now. And we need to capitalize on it. More....

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ONEIA and Deloitte release report on growth possibilities of environment industry

ONEIA and Deloitte Consulting have released a landmark report that examined the barriers to growth faced by Ontario environment firms.  This widely-read report captures the concerns of firms across the province and has been received by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. More....