News & Events - Express Newsletter
BC Chamber of Commerce Express Newsletter - September 2008 Issue
Contents |
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BC Chamber in the Headlines |
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Policy Successes |
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Chamber News |
Spotlight on the ElectionElection support materials will be available by the end of this week. Materials are to include:
Contact Jon Garson for more information: Direct – 604.638.8113 Transportation Summit 2008 Update: Keynote Dinner Speaker Richard SobermanThe BC Chamber is pleased to announce the Transportaion Summit’s keynote dinner speaker will be Richard Soberman. A graduate of Dalhousie University and MIT, Richard Soberman is the former Chair of Civil Engineering and Director of the Joint Program in Transportation at the University of Toronto and is now an Associate of Trimap Communications Inc. He has held previous positions as Director of Research in the Canadian Transport Commission and Senior Vice President of the Urban Transportation Development Corporation. The 2008 Transportation Summit will take place October 16 & 17, 2008 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. To view the conference program and to register, please visit: http://www.seismicevents.ca/bctransportation2008index.html Members of Chambers of Commerce receive a discount of $75 off the registration fee. Don’t forget to indicate your membership when registering. |
Provincial News |
Budget 2009 Consultation - BC Chamber to make presentationThe Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services' budget consultations is conducting public consultations into the province’s 2009 budget priorities. The BC Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages each Chamber of Commerce to submit its recommendations to the Standing Committee. The BC Chamber will be making a presentation of its recommendations, which will be made available to the membership in the near future. The deadline for submissions has now been extended to Friday, October 24, 2008. This year's consultations into the province's future budget priorities are guided by the Budget 2009 Consultation Paper (PDF), which the Minister of Finance will present to the Committee on September 15, 2008. All submissions to the Committee must be received by the Office of the Clerk of Committees by Friday October 24, 2008. The Committee must release its report by November 15, 2008. How to Participate
Budget 2009 Consultation Paper (PDF) First Quarterly Report for 2008/2009 releasedThe First Quarterly Report for 2008/2009, released Friday, September 12, showed a larger than anticipated surplus, causing the Government to consider tax cuts, despite downgrades to economic growth predictions for BC earlier this year. This is a welcome indication that the province's economy is still relatively strong, despte the global economic environment, and the current challenges being faced by forestry. For 2008/2009, revenues are forecast to be $1.2 billion higher than budget due to improved income tax returns, natural gas royalties and bonus bid revenyes from the sale of drilling rights. The 2008/2009 surplus is expected to be $1.0 billion, $970 million higher than previously forecast. The First Quarterly Report 2008/09 is available here. Call for Nominations Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Public Safety 2008The BC Safety Authority is seeking your support in identifying individuals and organizations worthy of recognition at the fourth annual Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Public Safety. The Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Public Safety were established to honour leadership, achievement and innovation in the promotion of safety in British Columbia. Preference will be given to nominees for their contributions in one of the industry sectors regulated by the BC Safety Authority. This year’s awards will be celebrated at a luncheon being held on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. For detailed information on the Awards and nomination criteria, view the Safety Authority’s Nomination Package here: http://www.safetyauthority.ca/files/BCSA_LG_Nominations_Package.pdf Nominations will be accepted until September 29, 2008. General Request for Proposals: Geoscience to Stimulate Exploration Activity in British ColumbiaGeoscience BC has issued a General Request for Proposals (RFP) for applied geoscience projects in BC. They are encouraging proposal submissions from industry, government, First Nations, academia, communities or not-for profit organizations related to mineral and oil & gas exploration in BC. Proposals that will be considered should be of an applied and innovative nature and relate to geology, mineral deposits, metallogeny, or oil & gas potential of BC, or address an exploration method or technique that will enhance exploration interest and success in BC. For more details on the RFP and submission guidelines, please see the following (PDFs): Request for Proposals For more information, please contact Christa Sluggett, Project Geologist and Communications Coordinator at sluggett@geosciencebc.com or at 604-662-4147 ext. 21. Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA) Holds Free Food Safety WorkshopsThe SSFPA is holding a series of free workshops throughout the province for food and beverage processors of British Columbia. Workshops focus on comprehensive food safety plans, and aim to provide the opportunity to network, access important information, and participate in a forum environment. Organizations to be represented at the workshops include:
Workshops are free - lunch is provided. For dates and locations of workshops in your area visit: To register for a workshop – Call toll free: 1-866-619-7372 ID Theft Conference 2008 – BC Chamber Member DiscountThe BC Freedom of Information & Privacy Association (FIPA) is hosting the ID Theft Conference 2008, which will focus on important privacy and ID fraud issues that Canadian companies must deal with, both practically to maintain trust of clients and legally under the Privacy Acts. This Information Privacy & Identity Theft Conference will be held on November 24th and 25th, 2008, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. One of the keynote speakers will be David Loukidelis, the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner, who will be speaking about the legal obligations relating to ID theft and privacy laws, as well as how legislation can do more to curb ID fraud. BC Chamber of Commerce members will receive the "Friends of FIPA" registration fee, which offers a $100 discount off the early bird rate for a limited time. For more information, e-mail jim@idconference2008.com or call 604-839-4367. More conference info and the full agenda are posted on the website at www.idconference2008.com. Free Seminars for Non-Profit Organizations – “Major Gifts: Finding the Perfect Donor”Monday, September 23rd, 2008
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Benevon, a training and coaching firm for non-profits looking to build sustainable funding is offering free educational seminars in the Lower Mainland. To learn more, and to register, visit: |