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Table of Contents 

What's New @ bcchamber.org

• Policy & Positions Manual
• Public Affairs Newsletter
• BC Lions - Special Discount for BC Chamber Members

Provincial News

• Bill 14 - Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace
• Tradestart - Export business training for small businesses
• British Columbia outlines requirements for heavy oil pipeline
• BC-wide metal theft law came into force July 23
• Total victory for BC and Canada on softwood lumber

National News

• Community Infrastructure Improvement Program - Request for Submissions

July 15, 2012

The business of aging - Vernon Morning Star
The BC Chamber of Commerce recently collaborated with the Ministry of Health to create a comprehensive guide that provides information on how to create an environment within businesses that is safe, comfortable and welcoming for seniors.

July 11, 2012

Policy & Positions Manual

The 2012-2013 BC Chamber Policy & Positions Manual is now online.

The Manual represents the interests of businesses across the province, and is devoted to developing healthy, vibrant and sustainable communities. The manual contains informed opinions and policy statements adopted by Chamber of Commerce members during the policy session at the BC Chamber's 60th Annual General Meeting held in Penticton, BC, May 24th and 26th, 2012.

Download the entire Manual  (PDF) or Browse the sections online.

Public Affairs Update Newsletter

• Latest - Issue 23

• Back issues here

BC Lions - Special Discount for BC Chamber Members

BC Chamber members will receive a discount for tickets to the BC Lions - Saskatchewan Roughriders game on August 19th, 2012.  Please refer to the flyer for more details. 

Policy Prioritization - Task Force Signup

Following adoption of a new prioritization process the BC Chamber is looking for volunteers to participate in our Policy Prioritization Working Groups. These groups will advance the development of comprehensive policy papers on the 5 priority themes adopted at the 2012 AGM in Penticton.

The themes are Local Government, Skills and Labour, Finance and Taxation, Resources and Energy.

Membership in each of these working groups will be open to Chamber members and their business members.  Please download the Terms of Reference and the Signup Sheet for more information.

To volunteer for a Working Group please forward the completed signup sheet to Neal Wells via email at nwells@bcchamber.org or by fax to 604-683-0416, attn: Jon Garson.

Micro Business Training Pilot Program

The BC Chamber is excited about the August 1st launch of the Micro-Business Training Pilot Program. Under the MBT program, eligible micro-business owners can receive up to $1500 for general business training in a variety of areas such as Bookkeeping, Marketing & Sales, Management, Computing, Websites & Social Media.

To be eligible for the MBT program, employers must have fewer than 5 employees, have no post-secondary training, be a BC resident, entitled to work in Canada and be 19 years of age or older.

More information and the program launch will be forthcoming next month.

BCCC Appointment Notice - Director of Membership Relations

The BC Chamber is pleased to announce the appointment of Lori Climenhaga to the position of Director, Membership Relations effective August 1st, 2012.

Lori brings a variety of helpful experience to this position having spent in excess of 12 years working with WCG International in meaningful and valued relationship roles with most of the chambers throughout the province, in particular on programs such as Business Works and Job Wave.  She has an excellent level of knowledge of the BC Chamber Network and their operations, and a keen understanding of the challenges faced by chambers as they undertake their mandate to serve the needs of members.

Bill 14 - Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace

The British Columbia Government recently passed amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act (Bill 14) which will significantly impact employers. These amendments came into effect on July 1, 2012. The amendments expand workers' compensation to include diagnosed mental disorders caused by bullying or harassment. Employers will also be required to have formal prevention policies for harassment and bullying.  Continue reading

Tradestart - Export business training for small businesses

Whether you realize it or not you are already competing internationally.  Small businesses that export have the potential to increase sales and revenue, their ability to compete domestically, and allow them to diversify their markets to decrease single market dependence.

Tradestart is a new innovative program delivered by Small Business BC to help small and medium sized enterprises in British Columbia become export ready. Tradestart provides export training to businesses and communities across British Columbia on a variety of topics, including region and industry-specific workshops and seminars, one on one export business training, keynote addresses and international market research.

For more information please contact Doug Taylor at 604-779-2963 or taylor.doug@tradestart.ca

British Columbia outlines requirements for heavy oil pipeline consideration

VANCOUVER - As part of ongoing work to participate in and monitor the Joint Review Panel on the Northern Gateway Project, the government of British Columbia today outlined five minimum requirements that must be met for the province to consider the construction and operation of heavy oil pipelines within its borders.

As set out in the heavy oil policy paper, Requirements for British Columbia to Consider Support for Heavy Oil Pipelines, the BC government is calling for 5 requirements to be established.

BC-wide metal theft law came into force July 23

VICTORIA - Canada's first provincial metal theft law and regulations come into effect Monday, July 23, with identification and reporting requirements designed to limit the resale market for stolen assets and ensure thieves are identified and prosecuted.

Government News Release

BC Chamber Metal Theft Policy - Another success created by the Chamber Network

Total victory for BC and Canada on softwood lumber

VICTORIA - Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell [has announced] British Columbia and Canada's total victory in an arbitration panel's ruling on BC's timber pricing policies under the 2006 Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA).

[The] ruling by the London Court of International Arbitration proves that British Columbia's market-based timber pricing policies are fully consistent with the SLA, and that BC has always honoured its commitments under the agreement. The arbitration panel dismissed the US's complaint in its entirety.