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ADVOCACY IN ACTION

Whistler Chamber progressing province-wide labour shortage solutions

During UBCM Whistler Chamber CEO, Melissa Pace and Board Chair, Theresa Walterhouse met with Minister of Labour, Harry Bains regarding the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the effects the province-wide labour shortage is having on our community.

Melissa and Theresa walked Minister Bains through the village demonstrating first-hand the effects of the shortage on our local economy.  The walk and talk highlighted the volume of help wanted signs in store windows and Melissa explained that many Members have been forced to shorten hours, reduce menus, close sections in restaurants and more.

Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, also joined the conversation and arranged a meeting with his Asst Deputy Minister, Rob Mingay the next day.

Progress for our Members:

  • Assistant Deputy Minister Mingay has committed to writing a letter to Minister Ralston outlining the state of labour in the Province – calling it now a ‘labour crisis’ – seeking direction and strategic initiatives to support the business community of BC.
  • While the TFWP and working holiday visas are only one piece of a multifaceted challenge, your chamber continues to advocate on housing, transportation, and solutions to support our business community now and into the future.
  • We will continue to follow up with the Ministers to ensure progress and changes are made.
BC Delegation to Ottawa

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.

Working in Whistler Survey

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

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

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

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.