This past weekend in Nanaimo, Chamber folk from across BC gathered for the three day BC Chamber of Commerce Annual General meeting. While education, updates and opportunities to share best practices are all part of the agenda, the highlight of this event is always the policy sessions. "The highlight?" you may ask. Well, I suppose this is debatable, pardon the pun. For many participants though, presenting and debating resolutions in front of the assembly of delegates is the core of what Chambers, as the voice of business, represent. I have to say that such respectful public debate is a rare and beautiful thing. Watching people lined up at a microphone, wrestling to think clearly under pressure and express their Chamber's opinion on behalf of their local members, is exhilarating and nerve-racking.
While most of the 38 resolutions presented this year had a strong business focus such as brownfield remediation, improvement to tax practices, or access to market for natural resources, some of the topics weren't so obviously connected to business. Our Chamber focused advocacy efforts on two resolutions: one focused on removing barriers for start-up businesses seeking venture capital and the other asked the Province and the Feds to work with First Nations and Municipal governments to create a central flood abatement strategy for the Fraser River.
So what is the connection between flooding along the Fraser River and economic development? Our Chamber lent our voice to this resolution by submitting it jointly with the Langley, Mission, and Richmond Chambers of Commerce for good reason: all our Chambers understand that an environmental disruption like flooding has a negative impact on local businesses.
Hundreds of thousands of residents work on and around the Fraser River, or with businesses and industries that rely on this vital waterway. And as we outlined in the resolution, creating a comprehensive, long-term solution to flood management of the Fraser is a critical component to maintaining Canada's gateway to the Asia Pacific region.
Taking a smaller-scale look at the economic impacts of flooding, flooding often limits customer access to businesses along the river's edge. Flooding also creates chaos that impacts potential sales and communication when business owners are busy keeping their inventory above water. Often, flooding offers little time to prepare for abatement and so communities become consumed with reactive efforts to protect resources and property. Transportation paths are typically rerouted which can directly affect access to business as well.
The Province has decentralized responsibility of flood control to municipalities, regional districts, and diking authorities, each with limited funds. However, authority for maintenance remains with a myriad of Provincial and Federal ministries and departments. Work being done is geographically or purposively isolated and not part of a comprehensive plan to address ongoing maintenance of a flood management system for the Fraser Basin. It is ironic that the volume of goods moving on the Fraser River rivals the volume of goods transported on the St. Lawrence seaway; however, the amount spent maintaining the Fraser is a fraction of that spent on the St Lawrence.
While some belief that business interests are held in opposition to environmental interests, I argue that there is a strong business case for central flood management along the Fraser which would have a positive correlation to economic security and development, not only in Prince George but in every city through which the mighty Fraser flows. Until next week, stay in the black and keep coming back. Jennifer Brandle-McCall is the CEO of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
