COWICHAN VALLEY – The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce sent three representatives to the recent Annual General Meeting of the BC Chamber of Commerce: President Julie Scurr, First Vice President Moira Hauk, and Executive Director Sonja Nagel. In total, there were 200 delegates representing 125 Chambers.
In preparation for the AGM, Chambers from around the province submitted policies they would like the BC Chamber to bring forward to government. The BC Chamber’s Policy Review Committee reviewed the submissions prior to the AGM, to ensure they are timely, provincial and/or federal in scope, and that the proposed policies affect a significant portion of the membership. Delegates voted to adopt 49 of the 55 proposed policies deliberated at the 2016 AGM.
Duncan Cowichan Chamber President Julie Scurr said, “The Policy Resolution Process is an excellent opportunity for our Chamber to advocate on behalf of our members which will result in recommendations to government.”
The Duncan Cowichan Chamber was instrumental in bringing forward a policy that came from one of Cowichan’s largest wineries, calling for equitable taxation for BC’s wineries, cideries and distilleries. The recommendation to government included tax relief to offset the difference between the Class 6 (Business) and the Class 5 (Light Industry) tax rates applied to buildings on agriculture properties that are used for alcohol production. It also encourages expansion and development of the wine, cidery and distillery agri-tourism sector in BC.
The proposed Winery Taxation policy was presented by the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Duncan Cowichan, Vernon, Westside, Langley, Nakusp, Penticton and Summerland Chambers. The policy was unanimously adopted by the delegates, and the BC Chamber will bring this policy forward to discuss with the provincial government.
Other adopted policies included:
- Port Renfrew Chamber’s submission to protect old growth rainforests for the economic benefit of tourism-based communities
- A recommendation to levy the hotel tax to short-term residential units, such as Airbnb, to level the playing field for tourism-related businesses
- Victoria Chamber’s recommendation to Federal and Provincial governments to ensure ferry capital infrastructure, including terminals and fleets, are eligible for federal funding. This would help alleviate the pressure on fares to cover capital costs.
The Duncan Cowichan Chamber has an active and engaged Business Advocacy Committee, ensuring business-related issues are recognized and brought forward to all levels of government. Executive Director Sonja Nagel added, “We are proud to be part of the BC Chamber network and involved in the BC Chamber’s unique grassroots policy process.”
• • •
Welcome new Chamber members: Cowichan Exhibition, Lightspeed Engineering, Marlin Travel and Local Eye News.
– Sonja Nagel is Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at manager@duncancc.bc.ca or 250-748-1111.
