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BC Budget 2009 - Important Information for Chambers and their Members

IN THIS SPECIAL ISSUE:

• Budget 2009 Tax Change Summary
  
• Online Information Resources
• Enquiries
• Visitor Centre Funding

Budget 2009 Tax Change Summary

As part of the 2009 BC Budget, the Minister of Finance announced changes to provincial taxation legislation.  In response, the ministry has recently distributed the notice, Budget 2009 Tax Change Summary, to all businesses registered under the Social Service Tax Act (PST) and Hotel Room Tax Act, as well as to related business associations.

There are four ways to obtain access to budget information outlined in the above notice.

Online Information Resources

Both the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue and the Ministry of Finance are offering online Budget 2009 resources:

• Ministry of Small Business and Revenue - Budget 2009
• Ministry of Finance - Budget 2009

Enquiries

If you require further information on any of the budget changes, please contact Taxpayer Services by phone at 604 660-4524, toll-free at 1 877 388-4440 or by e-mail at CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca

Visitor Centre Funding - $400,000

Visitor Centres are the recipients of $400,000.00 recently announced at the Visitor Centre Conference and in the provincial budget. $250,000.00 of this total is new funding and $150,000.00 is a redirection of funds from the Special Project Funding.

Chambers who operate Visitor Centres can expect an increase in their Fee for Service funding as the $400,000.00 is distributed through their Fee for Service  contract.

Visitor Services received numerous comments about the criteria for defining projects acceptable under the Special Project Funding.  

With the redirection of funds from the Special Project funding it is the intention of Tourism BC and Visitor Services that Chambers will be able to utilize this funding on their specific requirements –  a special capital project/renovations/signage or staffing.
  
Chambers can expect a letter from Tourism BC outlining this funding with details available in your Visitor Centre packages you receive in March with funding arriving in April as usual.

Tourism BC, Visitor Services has also received numerous comments about the Quality Service Review  Program and over the course of the next few months they will be dialoguing with Visitor Centres to discuss the program and improvements.

To be fiscally prudent in light of the economy, Visitor Services will not run the FAM Program this year. The Network Conference has been postponed from its normal time due to the Olympics.

The funding for the 15 Kiosks located around the Lower Mainland and Whistler for the Olympics was announced last year and is coming from other funding sources and not the $400,000.00.      

While this information may not be as specific as you would like for your needs today, we will keep you updated as details become available.

We congratulate Minister Bennett in recognizing the importance of Visitor Centres, particularly during the next year, and know this extra funding will go a long way to ensuring Visitor Centres continue to provide their valuable service to their communities.

If you have any questions or comments, please call Nancy Frederickson at Tourism BC.