2019 Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM
Last week our CEO, Melissa Pace, attended the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM in Saint John, New Brunswick, where leaders from over 300 chambers across the country submitted and voted on over 75 resolutions to elevate Canada’s business climate. B.C. was well represented with 71 delegates from 16 regional chambers and boards of trade. Our delegation submitted 27 policies of which 23 have now become part of the Canadian Chamber’s Policy and Positions Manual for 2019/20.
It was important to note that the need for more rental housing is felt all over the country. Kelowna Chamber stood up for continued access and affordability with policies that speak to driving investment, amending the Income Tax Act and removing the GST from new rental housing. While the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade had their policy passed, which called for revisions to credit card merchant fees to support SME’s with already high operating costs.
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s policy on improving ‘Start-up Visa Processes to Decrease Wait Times’ was passed, as was the Surrey Board of Trade’s policy to ‘Enhance child care quality, and address the sector’s recruitment and retention crisis’, which aims to increase child care services to support parents in the workplace.
We were delighted that the Whistler Chamber’s policy on ‘Improved access to labour for the Tourism Sector’ was passed, with a 99% in favour vote!
We continue to work hard on moving the dial on issues affecting Whistler’s business, so it is vitally important for us to know what’s on Whistler Business’ mind. Our Members play an important role in helping us to Make Business Easier, by joining us at events such as Power Lunches, participating in our surveys throughout the year and attending power packed 12@12 Member Input Sessions, which are designed for our Members, to let us know where to take action.
Join us at our next 12@12 Member Input Session >>
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.