ADVOCACY IN ACTION
A letter from the Minister of Finance regarding EHT
Your Chamber works hard to move the dial on many labour issues that affect the Whistler Business Community.
Recently, one of our main focuses has been advocating for Whistler Businesses impacted by the new Employer Health Tax (EHT). To help us better advocate for you on Whistler Business’ concerns, we asked you take a survey and give us your feedback. We heard you loud and clear that you want the government to build a smarter EHT, and the feedback we received was instrumental in helping us to write a letter to Minister of Finance, Carole James, regarding the EHT and the issues facing our business community.
Through ongoing advocacy efforts on the part the Whistler Chamber, the BC Chamber of Commerce and other Chambers in our province, the government is well aware of the impact EHT is having particularly on small business. The Minister of Finance replied to our letter, and in her response stated that our ‘suggestions have been noted and will be considered’. As we are now in the lead-up to the provincial budget, we will keep you updated on any news or development.
LETTER FROM MINISTER OF FINANCE
BC Delegation to Ottawa
Val Litwin, CEO of the Whistler Chamber joined the BC Delegation to Ottawa on February 3 and 4, 2016, on invitation by the Honourable Shirley Bond, Provincial Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.
2015 Whistler Labour Survey
The 2015 Whistler Business Labour Survey was an action item coming out of the Chamber-hosted “Finding Solutions to Whistler’s Labour Issues” meeting on August 18th where nearly 100 local businesses attended
Garibaldi at Squamish
As a business organization, the WCC supports well-considered growth and intelligent investment that drives long term economic health in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Yet the proposal put forward by Garibaldi At Squamish, Inc. in its current form does not appear to support either.
BC Family Day
Moving Family Day to the 3rd Monday would cause unnecessary compression in BC destination mountain resorts which could have a negative impact on the guest experience. Avoiding a holiday overlap, however, provides British Columbians – and out-of-province guests – with better quality Family Day and vacation experiences respectively.
IOC inclusion of LGBT community
As a business community, we encourage the IOC to recall its Olympic Charter when it says it will cooperate with competent organizations and authorities in the endeavor to place sport at the service of humanity, as Russia’s anti-gay stance threatens to overshadow the games.