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BC Chamber of Commerce
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Advocacy & Policy
2010 - 2011 Policy & Positions Manual
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Policy Success 2009 - 2010 
The Importance of the Policy Development Process
As the provincial and national economies face an unprecedented global economic crisis that have fundamentally challenged the foundation of the provincial economy the chamber movement must ensure they are at the forefront of shaping government policy agenda. It is only through the focused attention of the chamber network can we ensure the business agenda is given the priority it deserves in the face of competing interests. The BC Chamber policy development process and the resulting BC Chamber of Commerce Policy and Positions Manual is the most successful and powerful mechanism for getting the issues and concerns of business onto the agenda of government.
This is particularly important as over the coming year as government at all levels look to lay a foundation not only for recovery but also for positioning BC and Canada for the new economy of the 21st century.
As an organization we cannot forget that there is always far more demand for government action than can be considered at any one time. It is, therefore, imperative that the Chamber continues to set the agenda. Before a policy can be formulated, it must first command attention; participation in The Chamber’s policy development process will get you that attention.
The success of our policy development process was demonstrated during the last year with the Chamber continuing to drive the public policy agenda at the provincial and national level. On all the priority areas of the Chamber we have seen government respond to the renewed level of focus from the chamber movement to these critical areas.
No other organization has such a consistent record on such a wide range of issues as the Chamber.
The purpose of this section of the Manual is to demonstrate the significant success this process has had on behalf of our members across the province in getting government at the provincial and federal level to implement the recommendations of our member chambers.
The continued success of the Chamber policy process is dependent on the role and contribution of our member chamber network. Over the coming year we will be providing significant new tools to member chambers to enhance the role they play in having government address the concerns of your member businesses from all sectors and regions of the province.
This will be particularly important over the coming year as we strive to shape the agenda for the new Provincial Governments mandate and the probability of an election at the federal level.
Below you will find a progress report on policy recommendations of the Chamber where we have seen some action by government.
Should you have any questions or would like any assistance, guidance, or simply require further information, please do not hesitate to contact:
Jon Garson
Vice President, Policy Development
T 604.638.8113
E jgarson@bcchamber.org
Policy Resolutions Successfully Implemented
2009-10 has been another highly successful year for the chamber movement in shaping the public policy agenda in BC and in Canada.
A Vibrant Resource Sector
- Environmental Review Process
The Province has committed to work with the Federal Government to develop a single environmental review process for projects.
- Northwest Transmission Line
The Province has initiated the environmental assessment and First Nations consultation for the extension of electricity along the highway 37 corridor.
Competitive Taxation and Regulation
BC now has a tax regime that is the envy of Canada, chambers of commerce played a significant role in this achievement.
BC now has the lowest personal income tax rates for anyone earning $116,000 or below and the reductions planned for the next three years will give BC a combined federal-provincial rate of 25 per cent, among the lowest corporate income tax rates of the world's major industrialized economies.
Specific policy statements which have played a role in shaping the public policy agenda;
- The Need for focused attention on business taxation
A commitment to the lowest small business tax rate in Canada by 2012 – this represents the elimination of small business tax as Manitoba currently levies zero tax on small business. Further to this the provincial government also announced an increase in the threshold for the small business tax from $400,000 to $500,000.
- Local Government Finance
Significant progress has been made on this area with the creation of a new Industrial Property Tax Credit of 50% for light and heavy industry.
Perhaps more importantly both the 2009 Throne Speech and the Budget included a commitment from the provincial government to undertake a review of the structure of local government finance to ensure that taxation at the local level does not undermine our overall tax competitiveness.
Crime and Public Safety
Crime and public safety has received significant attention both in the media and from government, primarily focused on gang violence. This has led to increased policing, prosecutors and correctional facilities have all been announced. Further to this the government has also committed to expanding Community Courts to other parts of the province.
Specific policy statements which have played a role in shaping the public policy agenda;
- Police Amalgamation
Municipal governments in the Lower Mainland have begun discussions on the viability of regional amalgamation.
- Consistency in Sentencing
The provincial government were successful in having changes introduced to the criminal code for certain offences.
Skills and Labour
Despite the recent rise in BC’s unemployment, the Chamber maintains that BC has a structural challenge with regards to skills and labour based on the demographic trends facing BC.
The BC Chamber was pleased to see the creation of the new Ministry for Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. This Ministry answered a long standing concern of the BC Chamber by bringing responsibility for skills and labour market under a single Ministry, rather than spread across government as had been the case previously.
The BC Chamber was also pleased to see the completion of the transfer of the new Canada-British Columbia arrangements in the area of labour market development that will enable British Columbia to assume an expanded role in the design and delivery of labour market development programs and services in British Columbia.
Specific policy statements which have played a role in shaping the public policy agenda;
- Foreign credential recognition
On January 16, 2009, the Prime Minister along with Premiers and Territorial Leaders agreed to develop a common pan-Canadian Qualification Recognition Framework.
- Certification of Professions and Trades
BC was the first jurisdiction to introduce legislation to allow full labour mobility to all trades and professions.
- The Need for Continued Reform of the Canadian Immigration System
The federal government created the new Canadian Experience Class which will fast track temporary foreign workers and foreign students through the permanent immigration system
Transportation
- North Shore Trade Area – Canada and BC’s Largest and Most Diverse Export Hub
The Government of Canada, The Province of British Columbia, Port Metro Vancouver, TransLink, local municipalities, and the private sector are partnering to invest in excess of $225 million in five infrastructure improvements on the North Shore that will enhance rail and port operations and build Canada’s Pacific Gateway.
- Northern Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements Required in the ‘Provincial Interest’
As part of the government’s attempts to stimulate the economy, $14 billion has been invested in infrastructure. This investment has been targeted at critical infrastructure projects ranging from enhancing our export hubs in the Lower Mainland through to investing in critical road infrastructure such as Highway 97.
- Putting New Open Skies Agreements into Action
Air policy – the provincial government has fully embraced the need for open skies policy and is actively lobbying the federal government.
In addition to these areas the Chamber has also been successful in addressing elements of a number of other policy recommendations;
- The Future of the Forest Industry
The Forestry Roundtable included a number of recommendations that mirrored recommendations of the BC Chamber of Commerce.
- Easing Skilled Worker Shortage in Remote Areas
The provincial government has committed to introducing a second trades trailer
- Reform of the BC Election Act
While currently under review by the courts, reform to the BC Election Act addressed the concerns of the BC Chamber
- A New Strategy to Address BC’s Power Consumption Patterns
BC Hydro has proposed amendments to the price structure of electricity usage to better reflect the true cost of consumption patterns
- Energy Security for Vancouver Island
BCTC has replaced and upgraded the existing 138 kV overhead transmission lines and one of the existing submarine cable circuits connecting southern Vancouver Island to the Lower Mainland with new 230 kV infrastructure.
- Site C Development
BC Hydro continues to move through the consultation process prior to a decision on the viability of the development of Site C.
- Appropriate Funding for BC Clean Energy Plan
The Policy Review Committee believes that while this policy has not been achieved in its entirety the 2007 Energy Plan, combined with the BC Hydro calls have ensured that BC has a clear framework and understanding of how the government intends to achieve its goals as laid out in the 2007 Throne Speech.
- Building BC’s Future with Wood
Through an aggressive marketing campaign and efforts to introduce changes to the building code in China 2008 represented a record year for exports of wood products to China.
New legislation will require wood as the primary building material in all new publicly-owned and provincially-funded buildings, consistent with the new BC Building Code.