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General Manager's Report by Erin Hanson
The beautiful and busy Fall season is upon us! Chamber Board and staff are organizing events and networking opportunities, arranging and delivering new Business Excellence Seminars, and discussing the many issues impacting Penticton's economy and its business community.
It's a proven fact that up to 80% of new job growth and capital investment in any community is generated by existing business. Job growth and business investment are positive signs that we're heading in the right direction. We are pleased to be partnering with Giant FM 100.7 and the Penticton Herald to highlight what our business community is doing in this regard with the new "Get Penticton Working!" project. Spearheaded by Giant FM and the Herald, this project is a 'good news' focus for the community and we hope our local businesses will jump on board and take part. It's a simple matter of emailing working@pentictonherald.ca with the details of your company name and the position you've filled.
The HST decision is one of those issues that impacts our membership in different ways; some welcome the elimination of the tax and for others it means a loss of growth incentives and an increase in costs. For both sides of the issue, the organization and speed of the restructure will be the context for controlling the potential instability the reversal introduces. We will work within our BC Chamber network to provide input to that process. For more clarity on how the transition will work, see the link to Fleishman-Hillard's 'HST Referendum Analysis' on our website.
At our recent Chamber luncheon with Member of Parliament Dan Albas as guest speaker, we heard that Dan introduced a Private Member's Bill C-311 entitled "An Act to amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (interprovincial importation of wine for personal use)." This Bill is a progressive outcome which we attribute in part to our resolution to remove inter-provincial trade barriers for Canadian wine delivery that was adopted as policy at both the BC Chamber and Canadian Chamber levels earlier this year. We are pleased to see this follow up supportive action and I'm sure we'll be hearing more positive progress on this issue in the days and weeks ahead.
After nearly two years of work and numerous meetings, emails and phone calls, Landmark Cinemas officially made its announcement to develop a new state-of-the-art seven-screen multiplex theatre in downtown Penticton. Barb Haynes of the Downtown Penticton Association and our own Economic Development Officer David Arsenault worked very hard with Brian McIntosh, President of Landmark and the site owners, Vicki & Eric Gerrits, and City Planning to complete the deal. The Chamber is thrilled to have this project going forward in Penticton. It will be a great addition to our downtown.
As a last note, the Chamber is still awaiting the City's decision regarding the awarding of its Fee-For-Service contracts for Tourism Development, Economic Development and Visitor Information Services. The Chamber submitted its proposal September 20th and had opportunity to orally present to the RFP Review Committee on October 7th. The City's decision was originally scheduled to be finalized by October 4th but so far no final date has yet been provided. In the interests of ensuring seamless services, the Chamber is encouraging the City to reach its decision with all possible haste. | 
