• Chamber meets with BC Government: 9/20/2019

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    September 23, 2019
    The Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce along with Four Additional NE Regional Chambers Meet with BC Government
    Policy Discussion hosted by BC Chamber aims to improve business climate in the region

    Sept. 20, 2019: Ft. St. John, BC - Yesterday, five Chambers of Commerce from BC’s North East Region met with 11 government representatives in Fort St. John - including Deputy Ministers and Assistant Deputy Ministers across eight ministries  - to discuss both local and pan-provincial issues affecting businesses in the region.

    “We appreciated the opportunity to have more in depth discussions with ministry representatives and to highlight areas of interest and concern to NE BC business” said Ben Wall, President who attended with Executive Director Bev Vandersteen adding that “I believe we were able to provide greater clarity and understanding on how business, particularly business in northern and rural areas of BC is impacted by government.”

    The network presented
    its policies (adopted at the 2019 BC Chamber AGM), which contained specific recommendations to government.
    Specifically, the consortium addressed the following:
    Pan provincial issues including:
    • Taxation (Competitiveness)
    • Species-At-Risk Act legislation and considering the impacts on business
    • Transportation and Infrastructure
    • Emergency Management
    • Housing
    North East Regional concerns, namely:
    • Supporting Energy Resources
    • Leveling the Playing Field Between BC and Out-of-Province Contractors
    • Future of the Forest Industry
    • 9-1-1 in Remote and Rural Areas
    • Local Engagement in Provincial Planning
    “Presenting our policies to government is a critical part of our network’s robust policy process,” says Val Litwin, CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “We look forward to working collaboratively with government in the year ahead on numerous files for the betterment of all BC’s regional economies.”
    The BC Chamber and its local chamber network have been meeting with the provincial government across the province over the past two months. These consultations were created to enable the BC Chamber network to communicate directly with government and propose legislative and policy solutions that will expand opportunities for business, strengthen BC’s economy, and drive deeper consultations with government moving forward.

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    For more information, please contact:
    Bev Vandersteen, Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce
    P: 250 774-2956, E: bvandersteen@fortnelsonchamber.com