Photo Caption: (L-R) SBOT President and CEO Anita Huberman, Policy Manager Jasroop Gosal, and Industry and International Team Chair and Governor, and new BC Chamber of Commerce Chair debating policy at the BC Chamber of Commerce Convention in Prince George.
– ARTS INVESTMENTS NOT A PRIORITY TO BC CHAMBER BUSINESS DELEGATES
Yesterday, BC Chamber of Commerce business delegates passed 14 out of the 18 policies submitted by the Surrey Board of Trade, defeating two motions brought forward on arts investments. Additionally, they defeated a resolution on social and emotional learning, and a government policy asking to ensure we enhance multilateral international relationships with other countries to advance technology innovations.
“We are extremely disappointed with the decision of the delegates to not prioritize arts investments, enhance innovation and collaboration globally, and support social and emotional learning in the education curriculum,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “We are pleased that the other 14 government policies were adopted.”
Policies that passed that the Surrey Board of Trade wrote or co-wrote are:
- SUPPORTING URANIUM AND THORIUM EXPLORATION FOR BC’S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
- ENSURING OLD GROWTH PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY STRATEGIES SUPPORT BC’S REGIONAL ECONOMIES AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES
- FLOODS – AN EMERGING ECONOMIC THREAT REQUIRING ACTION
- POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT
- CANADIAN ENERGY INNOVATION & SUSTAINABLE FINANCE
- CRITICAL MINERALS – CRITICAL FOR EVERYTHING FROM CLIMATE TO NATIONAL SECURITY
- CHILDCARE
- SINGLE USE PLASTICS
- LITERACY LOST – CANADA’S BASIC SKILLS SHORTFALL
- WORKSAFE BC – REFUND OVERFUNDED SURPLUS TO EMPLOYERS
- COST OF PROLIFIC OFFENDERS ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY
- EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: ENHANCING PREPAREDNESS & PREVENTION
- RIDESHARING NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO ALL OF BC
The co-sponsored resolution with other chambers of commerce/boards of trade is:
Policies that were defeated are:
- WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP BY ADDING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS TO EDUCATION
- FORTIFYING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PROTECTING CANADA’S TECHNOLOGICAL ASSETS
- ART EDUCATION INVESTMENTS
- REVITALIZING THE ARTS INDUSTRY – A MODERN MASSEY COMMISSION
The Surrey Board of Trade will engage with provincial and federal government representatives to advance all of their policies.
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Anita Huberman, 604-340-3899, anita@businessinsurrey.com
