2022 January Glance

JANUARY 2022

Chamber at a

Glance

In This Issue Funding, Grants and Loans Winter 2022 Events Calendar New Members & Member Profiles SUMMARY: Government of Canada’s Economic and Fiscal Update 2021

RELFECTING BACK & MOVING FORWARD A

s I write this, 2021 is ticking down to

This

program

offers

$2,500

towards

This

growth

will

only

continue

if

your

the final moments. The New Year always

business growth and has proven to be a

Chamber shows value to the members it

brings

popular support.

serves. Please continue to reach out to

hope

happiness, closes,

and

and

optimism

success.

office

or

myself

with

concerns,

of

better represent you. Our unified voice is

Covid counts, it would be easy to mistake

opportunities for local shopping and why

this milestone for Groundhog Day instead.

it matters to the community. Print, radio,

is

very

important

recent

the

challenge of Omicron and its increasing

it

the

year

challenges, and experiences so we can

think

with

health,

this

Moving into 2022, the Brandon Chamber

I

especially

for

As

that

we

Commerce

will

continue

to

promote

and social media advertising will highlight

Be resilient, be safe, be kind and continue

this

to be leaders. Our community needs all of

effort.

Individual

businesses

can

remember just how far we have come in

strongly support this initiative by providing

2021. Moving out of lockdown, we have

safe,

consistently

store.

shown

that

business

can

amazing

customer

Demonstrating

experiences

the

“home

field

advantage” we all have.

and

also means business to business. Please

staff.

offered

PPE,

and ways

rapid

testing,

vaccine to

spacing,

passports

mitigate

risk,

have

reduce

hospitalizations and allow the economy to

look

for

purchase

any

Local shopping

opportunities

from

other

you

companies

can in

to our

smooth road, or a straight path, but it has us

to

continue

towards

our

destination. It is also important that when things seem to be too big to handle, we break it down in chunks and focus on the things we can control.

Your Chamber has continued to advocate with

government

businesses possible

while

requirements. voiced

the

to

open

in

ensure as

meeting We

need

have

for

many

we

have

ways

Public also

"It has not been a smooth road, or a straight path, but it has allowed us to continue towards our destination."

as

Health

Within the framework of Manitoba Public

strongly

Health orders and best practices, we will

the

look to continue holding live events such

cost to business when they are forced to

as luncheons, coffees and Business After

close or scale back for the greater good

5.

of the community. We have worked locally

among our Chamber members. I hope you

with the City of Brandon to create the

will

Brandon

connect this year.

Economic

recognition

Recovery

of

Barry Cooper President Brandon Chamber of Commerce

community.

continue to function. It has not been a

allowed

you!

in

operate in a safe way for our customers

vaccines

our greatest strength!

Program

These

look

allow

to

fun,

these

as

safe

an

interactions

opportunity

to

(BERP) and will see it continue into the spring.

Our

Chamber

membership

continues

to

grow through this pandemic.

CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | JANUARY 2022

02

CHAMBER MEMBER MEET A MEMBER: CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF WESTERN MANITOBA

The health and well-being of children and families in Western Manitoba will continue

to

commitment

drive to

our

improve

Agency’s

the

services

we deliver locally.

What exactly does your organization do?

Child

and

Manitoba profit

Family

Services

(CFSWMB)

charitable

community

is

a

of

Agency

elected

Western

private, led

volunteer

non-

by

a

Board

of

Directors, with representation from across our

service

area.

Our

Agency

provides

mandated child protection services and a variety

of

prevention

strengthening

services

and

in

our

family Westman

What are the most important issues facing your organization today?

miles.

Our

main

office

is

in

Brandon but we have offices and staff in many rural communities.

129 - 12th Street

ongoing

Brandon, Manitoba R7A 4L8

stressors

and

uncertainties

and how we can best help to meet

(204) 729-9964

families’ needs.

blc@blcbrandon.com

Issues in our communities relating to mental chronic

health,

substance

stresses

that

use,

impact

and

family

functioning.

have

a

long

collaborating community

and

to

tradition

engaging

strengthen

with

and

of the

support

Why is your organization a member of the Chamber?

families. We became incorporated as a private Agency in 1899, making CFSWMB one of the longest serving child welfare

our

variety

of

family

strengthening programs for the whole community

with

our

Elspeth

Reid

work

is

guided

(855) 352-3733 info@debtfreenorth.com

Helping Hands 111 7th Street Brandon, Manitoba R7A 3S5

Family Resource Centre

(204) 727-4635

Bringing awareness to ourselves and

helpinghands@wcgwave.ca

other

helping

agencies

as

being

a

part of the business community

agencies in the country.

Our

debtfreenorth.com

Brandon, Manitoba R7A 4E7

Being part of the community

standing

C. Buhler & Associates Ltd. 119 10th Street

Safety and well-being of staff.

Showcasing We

blcbrandon.com

The impact of pandemic on families

jurisdictional area of approximately 12000 square

Brandon Literacy Council Inc.

Jen Luckay Designs jenluckaydesigns.ca

by

our

663 - 16th Street

mission

Brandon, Manitoba R7A 4Y5

statement:

(867) 446-6219 jenluckaydesigns@gmail.com

Child and Family Services exists so that children are safe and nurtured in strong loving

families

within

a

community

Lighthouse Wellness Centre

of

lighthousewellnesscentre.ca

caring people

What are the organization?

goals

for

The goals of our Board and Agency are: Families

are

strengthened

29 - 10th St Brandon

your

and

supported.

Children are protected from neglect, abuse and exploitation.

Brandon, Manitoba R7A 4E4

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF WESTERN MANITOBA 800 MCTAVISH AVENUE BRANDON, MB R7A 7L4

Children in our care are nurtured and supported in ways that promote their well-being.

(204) 726-6030 (WORK) INFO@CFSWESTERN.MB.CA HTTP://WWW.CFSWESTERN.MB.CA

Children and families will benefit from the

Agency

working

in

partnership

(204) 728-0054 office@lighthousewellnesscentre.ca

Reliance Home Comfort reliancehomecomfort.com/brandon 901 - 9th Street Brandon, Manitoba R7A 3X9 1-888-837-1451 cchalmers@reliancecomfort.com

CHAMBER MEMBER FOR 30+ YEARS!

with the Community.

CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | JANUARY 2022

03

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS:

FIRST FRIDAY COFFEE: VIRTUAL EDITION 9:00am - 10:00am | February 4, 2022

These mini events are held the first Friday of every month and are an excellent networking opportunity for you and your business. Chamber Coffees promote the exchange of ideas and discussion and often we host special guests with insights on current issues and topics relevant to our members.

Virtual Event via Zoom | FREE | Registration Required

SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP SERIES: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS 12:00pm - 1:00pm | February 15, 2022 Join ACC instructor and serial entrepreneur, Michelle Budiwski on discovering how do we build trust by starting with our organization and ourselves to understand our purpose, our why.

Virtual Event via Zoom | $15/per person (+tax) early bird | Registration Required

FEBRUARY LUNCHEON: BUILDING SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE WITH IAN SEUNARINE 11:00am - 1:00pm | February 17, 2022 Join us February 17th to listen to Ian Seunarine, Chair of Supply Chain Manitoba and Director of Sales and Business Development of the Duha Group, speak on current supply chain issues and how we can rebuild business in a post-pandemic world.

Keystone Centre | $35/per person (+tax) early bird | Registration Required

MARCH LUNCHEON: ECONOMIC OUTLOOK WITH AARON GOERTZEN 11:00am - 1:00pm | March 8, 2022 Join us March 8, 2022 to hear Aaron Goertzen, an experienced economist with BMO speak.

Our

annual Economic Outlook event delivers global, national, regional and local economic forecasts from Canada's premier economists.

Victoria Inn - Grand Salon | $35/per person (+tax) early bird | Registration Required

REGISTER FOR ALL EVENTS AT BRANDONCHAMBER.CA or CALL 204 571 5340 *Please note that things change! So keep in mind that dates, times, speakers, locations and formats can change and/or be cancelled. Double vaccination is required to attend Chamber in-person events. To learn more about how we are keeping you safe, visit brandonchamber.ca.

Thank You to our past Sponsors!

December Luncheon

Host

First Friday Coffees

Small Business Workshop Series

Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Contact the Chamber to learn more! 204 571 5343 CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | JANUARY 2022

04

COVID FUNDING + YOUR BUSINESS

Targeted COVID-19 relief subsidies and grants now available to hardest-hit sectors you need to know about.

The Manitoba Pandemic Sick Leave Program provides employers with up to $600 per employee for up to five full days of COVID-19 related sick leave, which do not have to be taken consecutively.

The Manitoba Sector Support Program provides $22 million in further support for businesses affected by the most recent COVID-19 public health orders.

Through the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period.

The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) gives temporary income support to employed and self-employed people who cannot work due to a COVID-19 lockdown.

The program is available to businesses such Eligible sick leave related to COVID-19 as restaurants, hotels and bars that provide includes testing, vaccinations and side dine-in food services, fitness and recreation effects, self-isolation due to COVID-19 facilities, movie theatres, performance symptoms, or care for a loved one in any of venues and museums. the previously mentioned circumstances.

This program would provide support for sick leave taken Opened January 4, 2022. An online assessment tool will be between May 7, 2021 (the day the program is announced) and available by the end of the holidays and businesses would have March 31, 2022. Payments could occur beyond this period until January 31, 2022 to apply depending upon sign-up. Deadline to submit all applications is April 15, 2022.

To apply for the CRSB, you must meet all the eligibility criteria and be employed or selfemployed on the day before your first application period.

If you are eligible for the CWLB, you can receive $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period.

You may apply for any weeks your region is eligible between The CRSB is extending until May 7, 2022. The maximum number October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022. of weeks you can apply for also increases to 6 weeks. You can apply retroactively for periods 61 to 63 until February 16, 2022 if you are eligible.

CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | JANUARY 2022

05

SUMMARY: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S ECONOMIC AND FISCAL UPDATE 2021 December 16, 2021 / Author: Elisabeth Saftiuk / Source: Manitoba Chamber of Commerce / mbchamber.mb.ca

MCC’s Director of Policy Elisabeth Saftiuk provides a review of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland’s updated accounting of federal finances and the federal government’s economic outlook for the coming months, as presented on December 14 in Ottawa.

The Economic and Fiscal Update offered a broad

spending

vision

and

Highlights

The

committed

billions of dollars in new spending to help

The

Canadians

wade

Canada

COVID-19

pandemic.

includes

$4.5

through

billion

the

New to

ongoing spending

combat

the

Government

intent

Health

of

procure

hire

November

24,

introduced

the

provinces

extend

territories

to

to

workers’

acquire

and

the

administer 180 million rapid testing kits, and

Program

$7.3 billion to procure vaccine boosters.

employers

Major spending commitments made during the

recent

federal

election

to

back

hours

2021,

the

May

7,

local

face

COVID-19-related

lockdowns with up to the maximum amount available through the wage

and

wages.

government

for

to

Hiring eligible

revenue

and rent subsidy programs.

On

legislation

2022,

Program that

The

Recovery

current

new

Lockdown

organizations

encourage

workers

and

necessary

with

the

Program.

is

Canada

until

extended

Hiring

program

COVID-19 therapeutics, $1.7 billion to help and

Canada

this

employers increase

has

Recovery

of

Omicron variant, $2 billion for the Public Agency

Local

provides

losses

The

Government

has

committed

to

relieving supply chain congestion and bottlenecks.

In

2021-22,

the

government will launch a new, targeted call

for

proposals

under

subsidy rate to 50 per cent.

Canadian ports with the acquisition of cargo

storage

to

capacity

and

other

The Government is targeting supports for

measures

increases to provinces and territories, and

businesses hit hardest by the pandemic:

congestion. The Fund will dedicate up

change

initiatives

have

been

delayed until the spring budget.

According

to

the

fiscal

update,

the

to

$50

relieve

assist

including housing supports, health transfer

climate

to

Fund

National

Trade

campaign,

Corridors

the

above 10 per cent, and to increase the

million

to

supply

support

chain

eligible

The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery

priority projects. Further details on the

Program

targeted

wage

provides and

support

rent

for

proposals

will

be

organizations

hospitality sectors such as hotels, tour

The Government introduced a new 25

operators, travel agencies, restaurants

per

and organizations that plan and host

owners offset the cost of investing in

festivals or live performances, with a

new

subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent.

equipment.

was

projecting.

It

also

is

forecasting to end the current fiscal year $144.5 billion in the red, down roughly $10 billion from the $154.7 billion projected last year.

The

Government

also

renewed

the

Bank of Canada’s agreement on Canada’s monetary

policy

framework

until

2026,

which included renewing an inflation target of between 1 to 3 per cent with a target of 2 per cent. The Government expects the

tourism

call

announced in the coming weeks.

a $327 billion deficit, down from the $354 it

the

to

government ended the last fiscal year with

billion

in

through

subsidies

and

cent

tax

credit

ventilation

to

and

Another

help

air

$110

business

filtration

million

has

been allocated to provinces, territories, The

Hardest-Hit

Program wage

Business

provides and

organizations

support

rent that

Recovery through

subsidies

have

faced

and

First

Nations

communities

ventilation-related

to

projects in schools, in addition to $70

deep

million over three years for ventilation

losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50

projects

per cent.

community centres.

in

hospitals,

libraries,

economy to grow by 4.6 per cent this year.

CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | JANUARY 2022

for

improvement

06

and

The

Government

announced

plans

to

allocate $40 billion to compensate First

We welcomed the following measures from

regulatory

the Fall Economic Statement:

interprovincial

Nations and to reform foster care.

Other funding highlights include: million

public

over

three

spaces

to

in

years

to

adapt

governments for school and workplace

We

social

testing.

emerged from COVID before tackling our

facilitate

payments

afford

to

wait

until

we

have

Introduction of a tax credit for small

core challenges that will inhibit long-term

businesses

growth.

Statement

unfortunately

received emergency aid in 2020 recoup

Extension of the home office expense

back below 2% real GDP growth after the

drops in their GIS payments.

deduction.

post-pandemic bounce back. We urge the

low-income

seniors

to

cannot

economic

200,000

one-time

new markets for exporters.

improvements.

help

million

modernizing

distribution by provincial and territorial

distancing and outdoor gatherings. $742.4

dismantling

barriers,

Canada’s privacy legislation and opening Funding for rapid test kits to support

$30

reform,

who

to

support

ventilation

$67.9 million to help students with debt

government

related to improperly claiming the CERB

The

instead

trajectory

of

the

Canada

Emergency

Canadian of

Chamber

welcomes

decreasing

the

deficit-to-GDP

to

The

make

Fall

Economic

projects

these

slipping

measures

priority and to table an early budget after Parliament resumes in the New Year.”

Student Benefit (CESB).

ratios and urges the government to adhere

$385 million over two years to extend the

to their projections to get us below pre-

home office expenses tax deduction and

pandemic

increase the temporary flat rate to $500 a

possible to enable us to eventually create a

https://www.budget.gc.ca/efu-

year.

viable pathway towards balanced budgets.

meb/2021/report-rapport/EFU-MEB-

$62 million next year to establish a new

Without a clear path to sustainable public

2021-EN.pdf

Canada

finances,

Canadian

Performing

Resilience

Fund

to

Arts

support

Workers artists

who

deficit-to-GDP

businesses

looming

tax

as

face

increases,

quickly

the

risk

especially

as

of

given

Important Links Economic

and

Fiscal

Chamber

Update

of

Commerce’s

long-term issues that will place demands

Update:

$101 million to extend the Highly Affected

on

https://chamber.ca/news/still-

Sectors

transition.

Credit

Availability

Program

to

March 31, 2022. $85

million

next

processing

of

year

to

speed

permanent

up

resident

the and

finances

such

Additionally,

spending

needs

that

deliver

will

to

be

the

as

the

any

energy

government

targeted greatest

in

areas

economic

impact for every dollar spent.

2021:

Reaction to the Economic and Fiscal

make a living through live performances.

public

a

waiting-for-governments-economicgrowth-plan-canadian-chamber-ofcommerce/ Joint Statement of the Government of

temporary resident applications.

Canada and the Bank of Canada on

$5 billion to help British Columbia rebuild

Within today’s fiscal update, the Canadian

the

after the devastating flooding.

Chamber is concerned about the following

Framework:

elements:

https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2021/1

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Perspective The

Canadian

Chamber

of

the

Monetary

Policy

2/joint-statement-of-the-government-

Commerce’s

The lack of a clear fiscal anchor and a

of-canada-and-the-bank-of-canada-

President and CEO, Perrin Beatty, issued the

plan to bring Canada’s finances back

on-the-renewal-of-the-monetary-

following

into balance.

policy-framework/

statement

in

of

renewal

response

to

the

Fall

Economic Statement.

The

continued

plan

to

unilaterally

implement a Digital Services Tax that “Today’s right

Fall

time

Economic

for

the

Statement

government

to

was lay

the

out

risks

a

provoking

retaliatory

measures

from the United States.

blueprint for how we transition our economy

The scarcity of ambitious measures to

from

address supply chain challenges facing

recovery

into

strong

and

sustainable

economic growth that will attract investment.

businesses across the economy.

Unfortunately, the government has decided to

The absence of initiatives to come to

wait until Budget 2022.

grips

with

facing

cyber

businesses

security and

Although the Canadian economy as a whole

infrastructure deficit.

may

The

now

be

employment

above

levels,

its

pre-pandemic

significant

challenges

one-third

of

businesses

of

of

a

Canada’s

long tax

Director of Policy Manitoba Chamber of Commerce (204) 890-4084 esaftiuk@mbchamber.mb.ca mbchamber.mb.ca

reporting

labour shortages; over forty percent reporting rising input costs as a challenge; and now the threat of a new COVID variant.

absence

review

the

system.

remain: more than a million job vacancies in economy;

continued

overdue

challenges

address

Elisabeth Saftiuk

Despite constrained public finances, there are

targeted

government

policy can

measures

implement

that that

the will

support economic growth without program spending. These measures include

CHAMBER AT A GLANCE | JANUARY 2022

07

Chamber at a Glance is published twelve times per year by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce 1043 Rosser Avenue | Brandon, MB R7A 0L5 Phone: (204) 571-5340 | Fax: (204) 571-5347 info@brandonchamber.ca www.brandonchamber.ca BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry Cooper | President Heritage Co-op

MEMBER BENEFIT: CHAMBER GROUP INSURANCE PLAN Interested in learning more?

Contact Tieg Forbes of Avanta Financial Services Inc. 1-855-630-7528 or 204-727-4040 brandon@avantafinancialservices.com

Tanya LaBuick | Vice-President CW2 Construction Guardian Fencing LaBuick & Co. Jaime Pugh | Secretary-Treasurer MNP LLP. Spencer Day | Past President Progressive Westman Matt Berg Livingstone Outdoor Laurie Brugger Century 21 Westman Realty Ltd. Andrea Epp Epp Law Office Chris Finley Mazergroup Tilda Fortier Greenstone Building Products Aida Harrison Aida's Catering Ryan Jacobson Affordable Storage Brandon Forbidden Flavours Roastery Meredyth Leech Leech Group Jennifer Ludwig Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. Lois Ruston R&M Homes Ltd. CHAMBER STAFF Carolynn Cancade General Manager Alix Coucill Director of Member Relations Hillary Miller Events & Program Coordinator Britney McNamee Office Coordinator

Who We Are: The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is an independent, membership funded, non-profit organization that represents Brandon business from the grassroots level.

Our Mission: To encourage growth in the Brandon community by fostering a progressive business environment, favourable to enhancing existing and attracting new business.