Insight: The BC Chamber's Policy Newsletter (Election Issue)

May 2013: Election Issue

Insight

BC Chamber Policy News

BC Chamber in the Election

As B.C.'s political parties have presented their visions for B.C. over the past weeks, the BC Chamber of Commerce has challenged parties to clearly state how they'll tackle crucial business issues.

And the BC Chamber has not settled for letting parties define those issues.

Instead, we've been proactively raising issues that have fallen off the radar. And we will continue to do so with whichever government British Columbians elect in tomorrow's election.

This special election issue of Insight assembles some of our business advocacy efforts over the election period.

In This Issue

Chamber in the election

Missing business issues

Resource sector value

Politicking trumps issues

Join the Conversation

The BC Chamber identified "missing business issues" in B.C.'s election

With employers concerned that B.C. schools aren't graduating the right skillsets, the BC Chamber called on political parties to tackle education reform

During the election period, the BC Chamber has shone a light on "missing business issues" in election platforms and parties' talking points.

In a May 2 news release, the BC Chamber identified that B.C.'s staggering infrastructure deficit, shaky near-term jobs outlook and outdated education system had been flying under the radar in the current election campaign.

"These are crucial and large-scale challenges for B.C.," said John Winter, the BC Chamber's president and CEO. "British Columbians need to hear clearly how each party's candidates will address these issues before going to the polls." More

Pre-election, the BC Chamber highlighted the resource sector's value

In the run-up to the election, the BC Chamber emphasized the need to correctly manage B.C.'s resource industries to drive B.C.'s economy

As voters prepared to head to the polls, the BC Chamber of Commerce reminded British Columbians that B.C.'s economic future hinges on how well the next premier manages the province's resource-based economy.

In a May 8 news release, the BC Chamber emphasized the significance of B.C.'s resource sector to the province's economic success.

"There's a popular but mistaken belief out there that B.C.'s wealth is rooted in sectors such as ecotourism and film," said John Winter, the BC Chamber's president and CEO. "While every business sector contributes to our prosperity, B.C.'s resource industries remain the cornerstone of our economy - and a crucial factor behind British Columbians' enviable standard of living." More

Analysis: Politicking trumps issues in B.C. election

As B.C. voters prepared to head to the polls, the BC Chamber's president and CEO, John Winter, wote the following op-ed, published May 13 in the Vancouver Sun:

Tackling tough issues isn't good politics. That, sadly, has been the theme of yet another B.C. election.

It's unfortunate that after multi-week campaigns, British Columbians will head to the polls on Tuesday without a clear idea of how parties will fund and reshape B.C.'s healthcare system to meet surging demand. Or if and how parties will tackle systemic problems at transportation providers such as TransLink and BC Ferries. Or whether parties have sound plans to deal with B.C. municipalities' infrastructure crisis. Or a viable strategy to fix B.C.'s flawed education system. Or a workable plan to support the development of needed high-paying jobs. More