Over a two-day BC Chamber of Commerce Convention this past weekend – May 28 and 29 – the Surrey Board of Trade called for action from Provincial and/or Federal Governments.
“We received significant support, however, the BC Chamber of Commerce delegates do not believe some pertinent issues are a priority for business, and as such, voted against these policies,” said Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade. “The Surrey Board of Trade will continue to advocate for those policies.”
“Even though the Surrey Board of Trade can advocate on its own to the various levels of government, it is always helpful when we receive support of our leadership-oriented policies by other chambers of commerce and boards of trade.”
Of the 31 policies submitted by the Surrey Board of Trade, 27 received support, four were defeated, and one will be referred to the BC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to be adopted or rejected.
WINS:
1. CARBON EMISSIONS: IMPROVING GLOBAL EFFORTS THROUGH PROVINCIAL COLLABORATION
2. ELECTRIC CHARGING SOLUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS NEEDED
3. ENABLING NET-ZERO GOALS THROUGH OFFSETS & INNOVATION
4. PLASTIC DRINKING BOTTLES – HOW TO INCREASE MORE P.E.T PLASTIC RECYCLING
5. SOLVING THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK COMPLIANCE BOTTLENECK
6. BC INVESTMENT FUND NEEDS BOARD OF TRADE/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INDUSTRY
7. CYBER SECURITY AND HEALTHCARE
8. IMPROVING CANADA’S CANNABIS REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT TO ACHIEVE POLICY GOALS
9. CREATING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR CANADIAN BROADCASTERS IN A DIGITAL AGE
10. MAPPING CANADA’S TRAINING PROGRAMS TO SKILLS AND JOBS
11. ADDING FITNESS CREDITS AS MEDICAL EXPENSES ON TAX RETURNS
12. WORK FROM HOME HERE TO STAY – CRA NEEDS TO MAKE THE T2200 SHORT FORM PERMANENT
13. CREATING BUSINESSES AND JOBS WITH THE BLUE ECONOMY
14. CANADA-US RELATIONS COMMITTEE NEEDS BUSINESS CONSULTATION
15. USE EXISTING TRADE LAWS TO BENEFIT CANADA’S INTERESTS
16. THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY
17. RESOURCE INDUSTRIES – A CRITICAL INGREDIENT IN THE POST-PANDEMIC RECIPE
18. VETERANS: AN ASSET TO ANY WORKFORCE
21. PROTECTING THE NATIONAL ECONOMY BY MANAGING THE LOWER FRASER RIVER
22. USING PROPERTY TAX REFORM TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION
COLLABORATED POLICIES:
23. BLUEPRINT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUCCESS
24. NATURAL ASSETS – DOLLAR VALUE TO GREEN SPACES
25. TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT
LOSSES:
1. BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE – AN OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE THE INSURANCE ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
2. UNIVERSAL PHARMACARE IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS
3. THE RENEWED BUSINESS CASE FOR UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME
4. DECRIMINALIZE AND REGULATE NON-MEDICAL USE OF ALL DRUGS
REFERRED TO THE BOARD:
A NEED FOR A LONG-TERM POST PANDEMIC STRATEGY FOR THE AIR TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY
“The BC Chamber of Commerce, as the provincial business organization, will join us in advocating for our approved policy perspectives with the BC government.”
The BC Chamber AGM and Conference is held in a different BC community each year but for the last two years they were digital. The event is the largest annual business policy-building forum in the province. Every year, member chambers/boards of trade of the BC Chamber of Commerce develop and submit policies for the consideration of their peers. This year, 70 policies were forwarded and voted on at the AGM policy session.
-30-
Anita Huberman, 604-634-0342, anita@businessinsurrey.com
