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BC Chamber Insight Newsletter
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November 2012
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| FEATURED BENEFIT | |
Interested in receiving up to $1500 for skills training to improve your business?
Our Micro Business Training (MBT) Program is 100% funded by the government, and offers courses such as Bookkeeping, Marketing & Sales, Management, Computing, Websites & Social Media.
Visit the MBT site to learn aboutprogram eligibility.
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 BC Chamber in the Media | |
November 19, 2012
Site C project would add jobs, economic benefits - Editorial - Vancouver Sun
The BC Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of BC - along with Initiatives Prince George, Northern Development, BC Construction Association (North), and local chambers of commerce - have been hosting business information sessions around BC about the proposed Site C project.
November 17, 2012
Chamber aims to improve prosperity in BC - Nanaimo Bulletin
In an effort to bring BC's economic opportunities forward and to re-think how the province considers important decisions about the future, the Business Council of BC and BC Chamber of Commerce are launching the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity to generate new ideas to secure a better future for all BC residents.
November 16, 2012
Energy Summit in Terrace talks LNG Opportunities - CFTK TV Terrace
A packed house of northwest residents gathered at the Best Western Inn in Terrace on Friday to get a glimpse of some of the LNG projects on the horizon for northwest BC.
November 14, 2012
Changing times mean changing attitudes - Kelowna Daily Courier
The BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity tour, which is stopping in eight communities through November and December, is designed to [address BC's productivity and have a collective conversation about the culture of BC].
November 8, 2012
Christmas spending: Frugal British Columbians will buck trend - The Province
Unlike their countrymen, British Columbians, touched by pessimism and attuned to the economic challenges of our times, aren't expected to have high-spending spirits this holiday season, according to the BC Chamber of Commerce.
November 7, 2012
BC appoints municipal auditor-general - The Globe and Mail
The BC Chamber of Commerce is being credited with advancing the idea of the spending watchdog, who will make non-binding recommendations based on performance audits and underline best practices she finds in her reviews. The office has been set up in Surrey.
November 5, 2012
Plan unveiled to boost tourism industry - Victoria Times Colonist
John Winter lauded the new organization, saying it "will ensure that the marketing of BC's tourism sector will be led by tourism professionals in the private sector in combination with protected funding [from] the BC legislature."
October 29, 2012
While many in BC are vocal about what they're against, being in favour of something is even more vital.
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| Wins for Business | |
Auditor General for Local Government
At the BC Chamber of Commerce Premier & Cabinet Luncheon Premier Christy Clark announced that Basia Ruta has been appointed BC's first Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG).
The concept for the AGLG in BC was developed by the BC Chamber of Commerce in a policy paper, and was originally announced by the Premier at our Liberal Leadership event last February.
The AGLG will perform value for money audits of municipal spending to ensure that taxpayer interests are protected, and that municipal elected officials are held accountable. Through these audits, the Auditor General will provide recommendations about how to find efficiencies and improve the effectiveness of local government operations.
Media
Destination BC
Premier Clark also announced that Destination BC will be a new industry-led crown corporation which will work directly with tourism sector professionals to market the province as a tourism destination. It will have ultimately have protected funding through a legislature-based formula.
Developed in partnership with tourism stakeholders, Destination BC's structure will provide greater responsiveness to the tourism industry and increase accountability to taxpayers.
The creation of Destination BC is the direct result of tireless advocacy from tourism sector professionals, tourism organizations such as the Tourism Industry Association of BC and the BC Hotels Association, and business organizations like the BC Chamber of Commerce.
Several recommendations from a BC Chamber policy recommendation, such as protected funding and executive leadership from independent tourism professionals, are included in the new organization.
Mobile Business Licence
Minister of State for Small Business Naomi Yamamoto announced yesterday that nine Fraser Valley municipalities will implement a one-year, inter-municipal, business-licence pilot, with the goal of making it easier for businesses to operate in those communities.
This is another policy success flowing directly from BC Chamber policy, and the hard work of the Fraser Valley chambers of commerce.
The Mobile Business Licence (MBL) reduces red tape by allowing businesses to operate in more than one municipality by purchasing one licence, instead of having to purchase multiple licences for each municipality they do business in.
Provincial Government News Release.
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| What's New @ bcchamber.org | |
Jumbo Glacier Municipality a Game Changer for BC Tourism
The BC Chamber of Commerce has announced its support for the BC Government decision to approve the incorporation of Jumbo Glacier as a mountain resort municipality.
"This resort will be a game changer for BC tourism," said John Winter, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. "Now that the environmental assessment has been completed, and municipality incorporated, the project proponents finally have the green light to go ahead and put the funding in place."
A municipal council has been appointed to sit through November 30, 2014, with an interim corporate officer also named to serve until the first council meeting of the new municipality. Jumbo's first mayor and councillors are Greg Deck, Nancy Hugunin and Steve Ostrander.
Premier & Cabinet Luncheon Photos
Thank you to Premier Christy Clark, the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries of the Provincial Cabinet and everyone who attended and made the 2012 Premier & Cabinet Luncheon such as success.
Photos from the event are now available to view and download online.
Public Affairs Update
The Public Affairs Update is a weekly newsletter with insight, perspective and analysis on politics in British Columbia and Canada.
Read the latest issue: November 19, 2012
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| Chamber News | |
Red Tape Reduction - Business consultation sought
The Canada Revenue Agency is inviting small and medium-sized businesses to participate in key Red Tape Reduction consultations to improve the service it provides.
The CRA is looking for input on: Information availability and clarity; Reporting obligations; Usage of existing online services; Exploration of potential online services; and Duplication of information.
The Vancouver session is Monday, November 26, 2012. Please contact recherche.research@cra-arc.gc.ca or 613-941-5697 if you are interested in participating.
Employer Innovation Fund
The Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) is now accepting applications for the Employer Innovation Fund (EIF), a new funding initiative that targets BC employers, business associations and industry and sectoral organizations. Funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of BC, the EIF is a unique funding opportunity to help develop new ways to attract, hire and retain skilled immigrants into BC workforces.
Applications for funding will be accepted until Tuesday December 18th, 2012 at 5 pm. More information is available on the IEC BC website.
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| Provincial News | |
Economists Cautiously Optimistic about BC's Economy
The majority of BC Economic Forecast Council members predict BC real GDP growth will slightly outperform the Canadian average in 2013.
On average, the council expects BC real GDP growth to be 2.1 per cent in 2012, down minimally from its 2.2 per cent forecast in January of this year.
2012 Small Business Profile Released
The BC government has launched the Small Business Profile 2012, a statistical report highlighting the major role small business plays in BC, through job creation, economic investment, exports and contributions to the province's gross domestic product.
Produced by the BC government and BC Stats, the Small Business Profile is released every October.
The Small Business Profile: Full Report
The Small Business Profile: Highlights
British Columbia Earns Media Attention as a Tourism Destination
British Columbia was featured as an attractive tourist destination by two high-profile television shows earlier this month.
ABC's "Born To Explore" filmed two shows featuring the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and Northern BC. The show averages over 1.3 million viewers each week and is heavily promoted on the network's flagship show "Good Morning America" and will also appear on National Geographic.
ET Canada will broadcast from Vancouver throughout the week of November 19, with travel to Victoria, Squamish and Whistler.
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