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Table of Contents 

• BC Chamber Energy Summit

• News Updates

Chamber News

• Micro-Business Training Program

• BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity

• WorksafeBC Premiums Set to Climb

• Small Business Month Events Calendar

Provincial News

• Expert Panel on Business Taxation delivers final report

• Small businesses worried about hiring, investment under NDP

• Premier Launches Skills and Training Plan

• $1.75-million employer fund to attract and integrate skilled immigrants

• British Columbia is outpacing the rest of the nation in investment attraction

September 14, 2012

New round of budget cuts needed: de Jong - Vancouver Sun  

BC Chamber Energy Summit 2012 - October 10

Join us at the BC Chamber Energy Summit for a series of speakers and panels addressing the topic of "What's in a Pipeline for BC?" The delivery of petroleum to market will be the theme with coverage of safety and technology, as well as community opportunities and partnerships.

 Registration is Now Open

News Updates

• Editorial - The BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity: Setting a new tone for conversations about BC's future

• News Release - BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity Launched

• News Release - Province must return to balanced budget

• News Release - BC Cabinet Shuffle Focuses on Jobs

• Newsletter - Public Affairs Update: Issue 31 (Back Issues)

Micro-Business Training Program

Interested in receiving up to $1500 for training to improve the efficiency or productivity of your business?

The BC Chamber of Commerce Micro Business Training (MBT) Program is 100% funded by the government, and offers courses on multiple topics in several different formats. There are some basic eligibility requirements - find out more here.

BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity

An innovative new policy initiative designed to take a fresh look at the economic and social development issues affecting the prosperity of British Columbians, the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity is designed to generate new policies and processes and drive a future of shared prosperity for the province and its people.

It will be informed by an Advisory Council comprised of passionate, civic-minded British Columbians and will include a series of regional policy workshops this fall and events through 2013 and beyond.

News Release - Editorial

WorksafeBC Premiums Set to Climb

WorkSafeBC (WSBC) has released its "preliminary" rates for 2013, and it's fair to say the news isn't good for most employers.  The average base premium rate charged to BC employers is poised to increase by 5% in 2013, reaching $1.62 per $100 of assessable payroll. Note that this marks the first average base rate increase in nine years.  Read the full article.

Small Business Month Events Calendar

Hosting an event during small business month?  Promote it for free with the Small Business Month Events Calendar.

Expert Panel on Business Taxation delivers final report

The Expert Panel on Business Taxation has submitted its report on BC's Business Tax Competitiveness to Finance Minister Michael de Jong. The expert panel was tasked with considering the competitiveness of British Columbia's tax environment for business and tax expenditures, and with identifying administrative improvements to the PST. Read the report here

Small businesses worried about hiring, investment under NDP

View the results of a the Coalition of BC Business Survey 2012 which shows strong support for changes to BC labour laws and employment standards.  Includes economic outlook and results on the political parties. BC Small Business Survey 2012

Premier Launches Skills and Training Plan

Premier Christy Clark announced a comprehensive plan to expand and align skills training programs with economic opportunities to ensure British Columbians have the right skills, in the right places, at the right times.

Key areas covered include promoting training options, improving training facilities, a focus on trade and technical programs and streaming economic immigration selection.

$1.75-million employer fund to attract and integrate skilled immigrants

The Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) will design, implement and manage a new initiative that will support BC employers, industry and business associations in developing initiatives and resources that address challenges in hiring, integrating and retaining new immigrants.

The Employer Innovation Fund for Immigrants will utilize up to $1.75 million and be available between Sept. 17, 2012 and March 31, 2014.

British Columbia is outpacing the rest of the nation in investment attraction

A new report prepared for the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association by Thomson Reuters shows that investment activity in BC rose by 71 per cent in the second quarter (Q2) this year compared with 2011. This represents the largest investment gain in the country with BC attracting more than 20 per cent of all venture capital invested in Canada.

Vancouver is currently the second-largest economic centre in Canada to receive venture-capital investment.