special features - my business - june 19, 2015
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BusinessmyE N G AG I N G C O N S U M E R S • B U I L D I N G C O M M U N I T Y
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New policy agenda set at 2015 Chamber AGM Conference
The BC Chamber Annual General Meeting and Conference held in Prince George May 24 to 26 saw business leaders from across the province meet to set new policy agendas.
Among those in attendance were Abbotsford Chamber president Josh Bach, vice-president Kenda Allen, board member Mark Dana and executive director Allan Asaph.
The BC Chamber of Commerce is asking the province for a more transparent approach to taxation in B.C., innovation in regional solid waste management, and community and local government policies on re-balancing municipalities
and regional districts, and for a provincial role in municipal restructuring, among others.
“Tax burdens have been shifting away from a reliance on personal and corporate tax through a move by government to increased fees and more regressive consumption taxes. Businesses and individuals in B.C. are hit with a complex and confusing barrage of taxes, fees, off sets and credits which prevents a clear understanding of the true overall tax burden and erodes public trust. We are asking the provincial government to develop a full and comprehensive means of measuring the overall corporate and individual tax burden on a provincial and
municipal basis. If the overall tax burden was understood, the eff ectiveness of changes to tax measures and programs could be measured by changes in the overall tax burden,” Asaph said.
This year, delegates debated and voted on nearly 50 proposed policies. Those approved included: changes to the property purchase tax to make housing more aff ordable; promoting innovation in regional solid waste management; and a more transparent approach to taxation in B.C.
Policies brought forward by the Abbotsford Chamber that were adopted by the B.C. Chamber included: a new
tourism initiative to increase revenue for local business; increased enforcement of tax and duty collection at border crossings to reduce business loss; and making tourism funding more secure.
“The tourism industry needs the assurance of secured levels of funding to ensure eff ective long-term planning and to remain competitive. The provincial government needs to follow through on its commitment to the growth and continued strength of tourism in the province.”
The Chamber is proposing a three-year pilot project to rebate the fi ve per cent GST to travelers returning with goods to the U.S. through land
border crossings. The federal government is also launching a major three-year campaign to increase U.S. tourism, providing an added incentive for increased visitor spending in Canada.
“The federal government has clearly stated that it has no plans to create an exemption for day trips to the U.S. under 24 hours as it would disadvantage retailers in border communities and elsewhere in Canada,” says Asaph. “The reality is that Canadian Border Services offi cers use a criteria that allows them to routinely wave through day travellers without the collection of taxes owing. We have asked the federal government to provide suffi cient resources to
enable consistent collection of taxes and duties at all bordercrossings.”
Overall, Asaph says itwas a successful AGM forthe Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, as all three of theirproposed resolutions wereapproved.
“Since two of our resolutionsinvolve federal legislation, wewill be presenting them at thepolicy sessions of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM inOttawa in October,” he says.
“Going forward, we will belooking at all the approvedresolutions to ensure thatwe focus our advocacy eff orts on those issues of most importance to our localmembers.”
Abbotsford News Friday, June 19, 2015 A25
abbotsfordchamber.com
BusinessmyE N G AG I N G C O N S U M E R S • B U I L D I N G C O M M U N I T Y
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The Abbotsford Chamber would like to welcome the following businesses:
In an earlier article, I wrote about the Chamber’s mission of representing our members through our key strategic objectives - Advocate, Benefi t, and Connect. One way we Connect our members with each other and with our local businesses is through our annual Agriculture Bus Tour. It’s always a great event, and I encourage you join us on this tour.
As you know, the Agricultural Industry is very important to our economy in Abbotsford. Did you know that this industry creates over $1.8 billion (35%) of our local GDP, and generates over 11,300 jobs? Wow! This year’s tour is profi ling four of our local and innovative agricultural operations: Rockweld Farm Ltd., Lepp Farm Market, Singletree Winery and Onnink’s Blueberry Farm.
The Agriculture Committee of the Abbotsford Chamber works hard to represent the interests of the Agricultural Industry in our community. One recent example is our work on the draft Audible Bird Scare Device bylaw. Abbotsford City Council has now passed a bylaw addressing that issue.
Our Board work for the summer is ongoing. We are fi ne-tuning our Committees (hopefully concluding it this month), and then we can get them up and running. We are starting a new Policy Committee this year, and we will be looking for people to join it. In fact, we encourage our members to come to our various Committee meetings. Did you know that our members are welcome at all our Committee meetings? It’s true.
Your involvement with our Chamber and our various Committees will ensure that we understand the local business issues aff ecting each of us. This will allow us to better advocate on behalf of our business sector.
One of the things your Board would like to see this year is a review of the type of events that our Chamber hosts each year. This can lead to a re-thinking whether there is a better way to present speakers, and to make connections for our members. If you have some ideas in this regard, I’d ask that you
please send them to our Executive Director, at [email protected], with the subject line of “Rethinking Events”. Allan will then forward them on to me.
As our Board and Committee work slows now for a couple of months, I wish you all another beautiful BC summer.
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G EBOARD OF DIRECTORS20
15
N E W B U S I N E S S E S :
• Silver River Contracting ........................................604-864-7373• Van City – Abbotsford Community Branch .......604-877-7340• First Advantage Financial Inc. .............................778-387-5091• Early Start Autism Therapy Ltd. ..........................778-908-1092• Central Heights Church ........................................604-852-1001• Gallery 7 Theatre Group .......................................604-504-5940• ByteLock IT Solutions ............................................604-746-2983• Young Living Essential Oils ..................................304-308-5606• The Honda Way ......................................................604-857-1430• Confetti Creative Celebrations ............................604-531-4242
Becoming a member of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce provides substantial benefi ts to generate more business and reach the heart of your community.
UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTSB U S I N E S S A F T E R B U S I N E S SDATE: Thursday, June 25
LOCATION: Business Development Bank of Canada’s NEW Abbotsford Branch
TIME: 4:30pm-7:00pm
2 8 T H A N N U A L G O L F T O U R N A M E N TDATE: Friday, September 11
LOCATION: Ledgeview Golf & Country Club
TIME: 11:00am – 9:00pm
Joshua BachPRESIDENT
Mark DanaDIRECTOR
Kenda AllenVICE PRESIDENT
Sara LawsonDIRECTOR
David SheachDIRECTOR
Brad FriesenDIRECTOR
Stu McIntoshDIRECTOR
Dave MillerDIRECTOR
Brandon KelleyTREASURER
Hilary BeardDIRECTOR
Parm SidhuDIRECTOR
Mark WarkentinDIRECTOR
Melinda FriesenDIRECTOR
CHAMBER TEAM MEMBERS20
15
Carole JorgensenEVENT COORDINATOR
Duncan D’MelloMEMBERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT REP.Duncan@
abbotsfordchamber.com
Allan AsaphEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
La Vonne BandsmaOFFICE MANAGER
30273 Canary Court • [email protected] • www.glasshive.ca
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Glass is beautiful. Glass is beautiful. Anyway you look at it!Anyway you look at it!
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A26 Abbotsford News Friday, June 19, 2015
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The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce’s 28th Annual Golf Tournament is a fantastic opportunity for your business to be a part of Abbotsford’s premier golf tournament. This year’s tournament will take place on Friday, September 11th at Ledgeview Golf & Country Club and is a terrifi c way to meet the men and women of our business community.
Registration includes 18 holes of golf, shared power carts, BBQ lunch sponsored by
Abbotsford Hospice Society, buff et dinner, on-course contests, activities, prizes and awards.
• Texas Scramble
• KP and LD Contests
• Silent Auction
• Raffl e Prizes
• Hole In One Prizes including a car from Abbotsford Chrysler and $5,000 from Gaudet Tougas Wealth Management-Raymond James Ltd.
Interested in showcasing your business on the course? We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities for the golf tournament that will allow you to connect with our golfers. Contact the Chamber offi ce at (604) 859-9651 or [email protected] for more information.
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abbotsfordchamber.com
BusinessmyE N G AG I N G C O N S U M E R S • B U I L D I N G C O M M U N I T Y
Abbotsford News Friday, June 19, 2015 A27