British Columbia Chamber of Commerce
July 2014

   
Insight
BC Chamber Policy News
 BC Chamber commends Western premiers for seeking internal trade overhaul

The BC Chamber welcomes a push by the premiers of B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan to overhaul Canada's internal trade arrangements.

 

This push joins federal efforts to address internal trade barriers through a white paper on the Agreement on Internal Trade, expected later this year.

 

"The BC Chamber, together with the Chamber network across Canada, stands firmly behind the need to remove  trade barriers between the provinces," said John Winter, BC Chamber president and CEO.

 

Winter noted that the BC Chamber has long supported the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA)and the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), which are likely to serve as models for a new deal.

In This Issue
Internal Trade
Transportation Vision
Williams Decision
Taxation Policies
Accessibility 2024
Pipeline Fatigue?
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 Chamber commends transportation vision

The BC Chamber has congratulated the Metro Vancouver Mayor's Council for collaborating to achieve its recently-released transportation vision.

 

"Chambers from across the Region stand ready to work with the Mayors' Council and the provincial government to engage the public on the importance of the investing in the region's transportation system," Chamber CEO John Winter said in a letter to the mayors.

In particular, the BC Chamber is encouraged by the following elements in the vision:

  • funds for the major road network;
  • a commitment to replacing the Pattullo Bridge; and
  • investment to reduce congestion and open roads for goods movement.  

"Our members remain focused, though, on a comprehensive regional goods movement strategy that meets the needs a growing economy will place on the regional system," Winter said. "We remain committed to working with all levels of government to develop and support this strategy to complement the mayors' vision."

While the BC Chamber membership has concerns over proposals to introduce a regional carbon tax, the Chamber supports the mayors' concept of ultimately moving towards road pricing to fund the transportation system.

"Designed carefully, mobility pricing will allow individuals and businesses to choose the level of revenue they pay as they make choices that mitigate their costs and, therefore, the impact on the regional system," Winter said.

Analysis: What the Williams Decision means for B.C. business

On June 26, the Supreme Court of Canada granted a declaration of aboriginal title to more than 1,700 square kilometres of land in B.C.'s central interior to the Tsilhqot'in First Nation.   

 

While the BC Chamber of Commerce is still in the process of reviewing the full implications of the decision, our initial assessment is that this decision, while important, will not result in significant change to the way in which decisions around resource projects are made.

 

The two aspects of this decision that are of particular relevance and importance are aboriginal title and the implications this will have on how decisions are made regarding the use of the land base. More

BC Chamber taxation policies gaining traction

Recent media reports have highlighted a growing consensus among business organizations on the need for the provincial government to embrace reforms to B.C.'s tax structure. 

 

While the province has done a commendable job in maintaining highly competitive tax and small business tax rates, there is more to be done.

 

A recent Vancouver Sun editorial analyzes some of the issues that the BC Chamber and other business organizations are tackling.

 

BC Chamber policy recommendations tackle three key issues: property tax, sales tax reform and business property taxation.

 

These issues will be a key BC Chamber focus going forward, and will be emphasized in our presentation to the Standing Committee of Finance as part of their pre-budget consultations

 
BC Chamber welcomes Accessibility 2024

The BC Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the B.C. government's Accessibility 2014 plan, which seeks to make B.C. the most progressive province in Canada for people with disabilities by 2024.

 

"We commend the government for creating a plan to help all British Columbians participate fully in B.C. workplaces and beyond," said John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber.

 

The BC Chamber has engaged with government on this file since the early 2000s when, in the context of a looming skills shortage, the Chamber identified British Columbians with disabilities as one of a number of under-represented groups in B.C. workplaces.

 

Winter noted that the BC Chamber supports all efforts to remove barriers that are keeping British Columbians from contributing their skills and expertise to B.C.'s economy.

 

In May, BC Chamber of Commerce members voted in a policy to reduce red tape to enable more disabled Canadians to access Canada's Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Analysis: Pipeline Fatigue? Here's Why you Should Care

The following BC Chamber op-ed ran June 13 in the Vancouver Sun:

 

In beautiful British Columbia, it's eerily easy to miss the big economic story. Walk through sunny, summertime Vancouver and you see tourists, film sets, shops and restaurants. Visit Okanagan wineries, Tofino seascapes and Richmond eateries and you'll enjoy some of B.C.'s premier attractions and some of our smaller industries.

But unless you look hard, you'll miss B.C.'s economic heartbeat.

And that's dangerous.

 

Here's what too many of us miss: While the tourism and film industries are important, our resource industries are still the powerhouse of B.C.'s economy. Those downtown Vancouver office towers? Filled with mining companies and the professional service sector that supports them. The Vancouver Harbour waterfront where the cruise ships dock? Canada's largest port, driven in large part by coal exports. More