SONJA NAGEL
COWICHAN VALLEY – From June 6-9, 2022, Duncan Cowichan Chamber Executive Director Sonja Nagel attended two conferences, live and in person in Prince George: the BC Chamber Executives AGM and Conference and the BC Chamber of Commerce AGM and Conference.
Island Chambers also represented in person in Prince George included Westshore, Ladysmith, Port Renfrew, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, and Port Hardy Chambers of Commerce. It was great to meet up with peers and colleagues from across the province to talk about challenges and opportunities in our Chamber organizations and to share stories of resilience and success in our businesses and communities.
The BC Chamber of Commerce’s AGM and Conference was the first in-person BC Chamber event since 2019 and the network was excited to reconnect in person and engage in conversations including leadership, competitiveness, reconciliation, mental health, economic recovery, and other issues facing our businesses.
The highlight of the BC Chamber of Commerce Conference are the policy sessions where we discussed, debated and voted on 59 policy resolutions. These policies covered a broad spectrum of issues facing our business community such as taxation, indigenous reconciliation, forestry, infrastructure, housing, and workplace issues. Over the two-day session, 53 resolutions were passed, including several policies supported or voted in favour by our Island Chambers:
Ridesharing Needs to be Expanded to All of BC – We heard loud and clear from our members the need for ridesharing service (i.e. Uber, Lyft) in the Cowichan and other Island communities. It was recommended that the Provincial Government allow for ridesharing companies to enter and operate in the BC market without restrictions, or having to apply to service specific jurisdictions, and to allow for market-based pricing to ensure consumer choice, convenience, and innovation.
WorkSafe BC – Refund Overfunded Surplus to Employers – This was a previously adopted policy statement and resolution which we continue to advocate on behalf of all businesses and organizations in BC. The recommendation remains the same: the Provincial Government needs to work with the WorkSafeBC Board of Directors to create a reasonable Funded Ratio or Funded Ratio Target Range and create a policy that triggers automatic reductions in annual assessment rates, and where appropriate, makes direct payments to employers when WorkSafeBC surplus exceed a policy range limit.
Future of the Forest Industry – This was a very robust resolution with recommendations to both the Provincial and Federal Governments to collaborate with Indigenous peoples, communities, and industry stakeholders to ensure a strong, sustainable, and competitive BC forest sector.
Progressive Housing Solutions to Address Workforce Challenges – This too was an extensive resolution focused on governments working together to increase the supply and diversity of the housing stock without delay. One of the key recommendations asked the Provincial Government to assist municipalities in developing a planning framework that actively encourages new housing options, and to work with local governments to meaningfully reduce development timelines through concurrent permitting for housing types that introduce affordable and diverse housing supply.
Help BC Employers Survive the Labour Crisis: BC PNP Improvements – The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) supports BC employers to attract and retain needed talent. One of the policy recommendations encourages the Government of Canada to expand the Provincial Nominee Program and increase total number of available nominations to help employers attract and retain employees with the skills, experience and qualifications required to fill current and future job openings.
The Duncan Cowichan Chamber is proud to be part of this grass-roots policy process and to see these policies pass and receive support from our peers across the province. These passed policies will become part of the BC Chamber’s policy agenda and advocated to the appropriate levels of government over 2022-23.
Sonja Nagel is Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-748-1111 or manager@duncancc.bc.ca