Menu

Surrey Board of Trade Receives Support for 27 out of 31 Policies Submitted at BC Chamber of Commerce Convention

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

19.  BC LOBBYING ACT 2020 – IMPLICATIONS FOR NON-PROFITS, SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS & CHAMBERS/BOARDS OF TRADE

20.  MINIMUM WAGE TIED TO CPI

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

26.  CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLAN ON BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

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