Local representatives put improving safety on the Fraser River and boosting new entrepreneurs on the agenda during the B.C. Chamber of Commerce's annual general meeting this past weekend in Nanaimo.
"We believe there should be a flood management plan in place and overseen by a provincial body," said Jennifer Brandle-McCall, executive director of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. "We recognize that the Fraser River is shared by many municipalities. What's missing is, when there is the threat of a flood, all the municipalities have to go at the issue on their own, one by one. There is no joint strategy. Our joint resolution asked the federal government to work with the provincial government to get together with municipalities to make a cohesive strategy. Also, when creating a system, factor in the growth of the economy in those communities wherever possible."
The Fraser River resolution was a joint submission from Prince George, Langley, Mission and Richmond.
Acting reactively to floods is exponentially more expensive to the taxpayer and harder on businesses than investing in the up-front costs of mitigation and management, the provincial chamber agreed in endorsing the motion. The final recommendation included a request for the formation of a provincial diking authority to oversee flood mitigation and river safety.
The second locally crafted resolution centred on startup businesses. The local chamber wanted to see certain hurdles removed so fledgling companies could access venture capital more easily. "Startup companies are looking for money, that's the point of looking for venture capital, so they already don't have the money for the audit," said Brandle-McCall. "So we were asking the B.C. Securities Commission to remove that requirement for an audit. It would be leveling the playing field, since some other provinces already have no audit requirement."
Like the Fraser River resolution, Brandle-McCall said the motion to streamline investing for new entrepreneurs was also approved by the provincial delegates.
Other resolutions brought to the floor that got Prince George support was one for further streamlining provincial/federal regulations on resource-industry projects; one calling on higher levels of government to get speedier resolution in First Nations treaty negotiations, so local communities could have land-base and business certainty; one urging a better and speedier way to clean up brownfields (land stuck in environmental limbo); and one calling for more provincial oversight and protection of lands designated for light industry.
Brandle-McCall said much was also made at this year's AGM of the appearance made by the Vancouver Board of Trade. "They have not been a partner for awhile, but this year they came back, and we have welcomed them with open arms," she said. "CEO Iain Black is doing wonders with that organization, they are having tremendous growth and success, and bringing that to the B.C. Chamber puts us all in a better place to go forward. We are definitely watching to see what we can bring north from what they are doing."
Local president Derek Dougherty and vice-president Ranjit Gill joined Brandle-McCall at the meeting.
