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Greetings!
The Public Affairs Update is your weekly insight, perspective and analysis on politics in British Columbia and Canada. This newsletter is brought to you by the largest, and most broadly-based business organization in the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce - the Voice of Business in BC. |
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Small Business Week 2012
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Join the BC Chamber of Commerce in celebrating Small Business Week from October 14th to 20th 2012. Small and medium-sized businesses are an important part of BC's economic engine. These employers account for 98% of all businesses in the province, and generate over 30% of BC's Gross Domestic Product.
Small businesses contribute directly to growing vibrant communities around the province by tapping into local talent and investing directly into the places they work and live. Chambers of Commerce work with local businesses to support and stimulate local economies around the province.
As the key representative of the small business community, Chambers of Commerce actively listen to business needs and communicate them directly to government. The Chamber network extends across BC and Canada, which ensures that businesses are connected to all levels of government.
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Northern Gateway Project Joint Review Panel Hearings Continue
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At the Federal Joint Review Panel hearings on the Northern Gateway Project underway in Prince George, BC's chief legal strategist has focused on the emergency planning along the proposed 1,200-kilometre route across central BC.
For the rest of the month, the final hearings are set to focus on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the pipeline, the potential impacts on landowners and land use, the route of proposed line, the design and construction, and continued operational safety.
After these hearings conclude in Prince George, they will move to Prince Rupert in November. There they will focus on aboriginal rights and interests, sustained environmental and socio-economic effects from the marine terminal and shipping, marine safety and accident response, and public and community consultation.
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Discontent Within BC Conservatives Continues
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Conflicting reports from groups within the BC Conservative Party are calling into question whether leader John Cummins will resign from his position. One group alleges that Mr. Cummins had agreed to resign as of Friday, October 12, 2012, citing a tentative settlement agreement of $4,000 a month for six month period had been reached.
Others within the party, however, have denied any such conversation on Mr. Cummins' resignation or the alleged negotiations.
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Expanded Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners
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Minister of Health Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid has announced that new regulations will give health authorities the ability to provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with the capacity to admit and discharge patients from health-care facilities.
The new regulations are designed to help health services meet patient needs by both reducing congestion in hospitals, and more evenly distributing workloads.
BC is the second province to allow qualified NPs to admit and discharge patients. Currently, the only other province or territory in Canada that allows NPs to do so is Ontario.
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This weekly report produced for the BC Chamber of Commerce by Fleishman-Hillard. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication as of the date of issue, events and government policies are subject to frequent change. Therefore, the BC Chamber of Commerce and Fleishman-Hillard cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis on the information contained herein.
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