Business Matters September 2014 by Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Regional Strengths

Chamber Board Candidates

Immigrant Investors

BUSINESS MATTERS

Understanding Regional Districts

September 2014 VICTORIACHAMBER.CA

BUSINESSMATTERS

Cover Story

International trade: A spotlight on marine shipping in British Columbia p.6

CONTENTS 4

Understanding Regional Districts

Member News

A look at Regional Districts. What they are, what they do, and how our regional district is governed.

Keep up with what’s happening in The Chamber community.

12 Consolidating Regional Strengths Amalgamate, or Integrate, that is the question.

15 Calendar of Events 16 Local Impact of Immigrant Investors 18 Chamber Election

Meet the candidates for The Chamber’s 2015 Board of Directors.

Photo courtesy of Bill Crocker.

BUSINESS MATTERS September 2014 Business Matters is a bi-monthly publication of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and a key business resource targeted to 2,000 business leaders in our community. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is a progressive, inclusive and dynamic community leader. It is a supportive resource for business people who wish to learn, grow and create a stronger business and a more robust and sustainable community while respecting people, planet and profit.

20 Municipal Elections

Voting this November for a Vibrant Community.

21 New Members

Studies show that people prefer to do business with Chamber members. Check out who has recently made the decision to join us.

24 Industry Profile

Meet Camosun’s one-stop shop of professional services, Enterprise Point. Everything from employee training to facility rentals to 3D prototyping.

To advertise in Business Matters, contact us at: The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce #100 - 852 Fort St. Victoria, BC V8W 1H8 (250) 383-7191 chamber@victoriachamber.ca

Publication Mail Poste-Publications 40005319

26 Advocacy in Action

Local Campaign Training, Equitable Police Funding, and Policies Up for National Support.

Cover photo courtesy of Tourism Victoria and Harbour Air.

Understanding Regional Districts

Photo courtesy of Darrion Campbell.

13 song sheets, 13 voices all raised in one cacophonous melody trying to look after the needs of over 360,000 people each with unique needs and concerns. Standing at the podium attempting to conduct these voices into a cohesive harmony is the Capital Regional District. What are regional districts? Why were they created? Regional districts are a form of local government that is unique to BC. Originally created in 1966, their purpose is to provide a regional government that delivers regional services. Today there are 27 regional districts in BC, including our own, the Capital Regional District or CRD. Regional districts vary in roles ranging from governing areas that have no municipal status and are not governed by a city council (like Jordan River and Willis Point) to urban areas where regional districts are often depended on for certain regional responsibilities including regionally deemed services. The Capital Regional District does both in Greater Victoria and has a geographical jurisdiction that includes the Southern tip of Vancouver Island as well as 70 gulf islands.

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Prior to the formation of regional districts, land-use and planning was done directly with the province, and local services such as water management were provided by either the independently incorporated improvement district or municipalities under contract with the province. Creating regional districts allowed for more local control of the services provided. Other than the blue box lined streets we see every second week or the signs we pass when we visit our regional parks, many residents donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what their regional district exactly is or does. This is true for many in the Capital region.

What does the CRD do? The CRD has over 200 service infrastructure and financing agreements with the municipalities and electoral districts within the region. The services that the CRD provides can be categorized into three main areas: regional, sub-regional and local/electoral services. Regional services are provided to all municipalities. Sub-regional services are provided to two or more municipalities, and local or electoral area services are provided to areas that are not within an official municipality and do not have their own municipal council. In these areas, the CRD acts as the local government and provides local government services.

How is it governed? This question is more easily asked than answered. The voting members and voting strength is more complicated than it seems at first glance. The CRD is governed by a board of directors that is composed of representatives from all 13 municipalities as well as directors elected from each of the electoral areas. Not all directors join the board in the same manner, for example, in areas where there is a city council each municipal council chooses the council member to sit on the CRD board. In electoral districts, the representative is voted onto the CRD during the local municipal elections. This representation on regional boards has led to concerns from residents in urban areas. Although both areas are represented by elected officials, only in electoral regions is the voting public able to choose exactly who sits on the CRD for their area. Each local government receives one vote for every 5,000 residents, in addition each local government receives one director for every 25,000 people. With a total of 24 CRD directors and areas widely ranging in terms of size, voting can be a complicated mathematical dance. The chart on the next page shows the breakdown of directors per municipality as well as the voting strength for each.

To complicate matters more, not all members vote on all issues; a much different take than the one member, one vote structure of municipal councils. Despite an annual budget of over $300 million including capital, the CRD has limits in what it can do to keep everyone on the same beat. Problems arise with regionally provided services because the regional district does not have the authority to make difficult decisions. As noted many times in the media, the CRD sewage treatment project has come to a screeching halt due to the fact that the CRD does not have authority to provide regional services, nor land-use planning in regards to regional services or zoning for such projects. In a recent survey commissioned by Amalgamation Yes, nearly 50 per cent of respondents felt that individual municipalities are doing a “poor” or “very poor” job of working together at the CRD level. So, what can be done to improve this system and make it more effective? This issue is not unique to Greater Victoria. It is important to examine what can be done to improve our regional districts, especially when it comes to highly populated urban areas. Possibly giving them more authority in areas that are deemed truly “regional.” The Chamber, with the support of the BC Chamber, is calling for an independent study of urban and rural regional governance models in order to identify best practices and efficiencies as well as to determine if implementing such models is feasible in BC. An alternative to revisiting regional governance would be,… (dare we say it) amalgamation. Amalgamation is one of the most hotly debated issues in our region, sewage treatment notwithstanding, and has been a Chamber initiative for over 100 years. Yes, 100 YEARS! Setting aside the political nature of the debate, looking at how amalgamation could improve regional services is a worthwhile undertaking. And according to the aforementioned survey, is supported by 84 per cent of respondents. But then again, for those who want to preserve local autonomy for local issues, perhaps enabling regional districts with the responsibility and authority for regionally recognized services, whether it’s water, recycling, sewage treatment or transportation, may be the best solutions for all.

capital Regional District (incorporated February 1, 1966)

Cities: Colwood Langford Victoria Districts: Central Saanich Esquimalt Highlands Metchosin North Saanich Oak Bay Saanich Sooke Towns: Sidney View Royal Electorial Areas: F. Saltspring Island G. Outer Gulf Islands H. Juan de Fuca Totals:

2011 Census including subsequent population changes certified by the Minister

Number of Directors

Voting Strength

16,093 29,228 80,017

1 2 4

4 6 17

18,463 16,209 2,120 4,803 11,089 18,015 109,752 11,435

1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1

4 4 1 1 3 4 22 3

11,178 9,381

1 1

3 2

10,234 5,306 6,668

1 1 1

3 2 2

359,991

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VALUE-ADDED FEATURES OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS When considering an employee benefit program, most people typically think primarily about health and dental benefits. But many plans have other services that can be equally important to your employees, so it’s critical to consider these when searching for an employee benefit plan. The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan offers a number of value-added benefits that are included at no additional cost! Best Doctors® services, for instance, is included in every program. If you face a serious medical concern, you want to ensure the accurate diagnosis is made and you are getting the correct treatment for your illness. Best Doctors has access to over 50,000 world renowned specialists to confirm the diagnosis

and treatment options without the patient ever having to leave home.

counselling, legal and human resource experts who understand the challenges small business owners face. Through the Chambers Plan BAS, firms have access to expert advisors able to help their business grow.

To learn more about a particular treatment or the medication you’re taking, the Chambers Plan health and wellness website my-benefits health® provides employees with tools, resources and trusted health information. Every Extended Health plan offers Chambers Plan participants PVS discounts of up to 20% on eyewear, and 10% on laser eye surgery, hearing aids, and hearing devices at participating providers, allowing them to maximize their benefit plan dollars. All Chambers Plan’s programs include Business Assistance Service (BAS), a confidential service providing access to professional accounting,

And unlike many programs, the Chambers Plan is a not-for-profit program, so any surpluses at the end of the year go back into the Plan to support all participating firms. All of these features set the Chambers Plan apart, so when you compare benefit programs it’s worthwhile to look for value-added benefits like these. They can make all the difference to you and your employees! To learn more about Chambers Plan benefits, please contact your local advisor.

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MEMBER NEWS Connect Hearing Welcomes New Managing Director

With clinics across Canada, Connect Hearing is the largest network of hearing clinics in Canada.

Connect Hearing Canada welcomes new Managing Director Sandra Fulton. Sandra, who got her start at Connect Hearing Canada in 1994, has been named Managing Director of the company based in Victoria. She replaces Craig Cameron, who is now the CEO of Connect Hearing North America.

HarbourCats Make History!

After beginning her career in the Customer Service and Industrial Department, she went on to the Human Resources Department, becoming Manager in 2001, Director in 2006 and then Vice President in 2012. Describing herself as demanding, detailed and fair, Sandra attributes some of her success to her “actionoriented style.” She adds that she believes in collaboration and is constantly looking for ways to build a stronger team environment. Craig Cameron says Sandra’s experience makes her the perfect fit for this position. He says her passion hasn’t just made her a success story in the business world, but has also made a difference in the lives of thousands of Canadians who have turned to the organization for hearing-health support.

The Victoria HarbourCats broke a world record in July for the most ceremonial first pitches by a minor-league baseball club. The HarbourCats and fans threw 5,253 pitches to make the record, breaking the previous record of 4,218 pitches held by the Brevard County Manatees. The record breaking day drew a number of Chamber members to the field to try their hand and show support with a pitch.

Cold Star Solutions Two locally owned companies, Cold Star Freight and Wilson Foods, joined forces and merged the two businesses to form Cold Star Solutions. The newly formed company has 160 employees and 45 trucks serving Vancouver Island. The new company has two divisions, grocery and freight operations that handles refrigerated items and a wholesale division that is responsible for selling to grocery stores. The company is building a new facility in Cassidy, near Nanaimo, and will continue operations in Victoria, Langford, Comox and Richmond.

HarbourCats fans pitching in to help the team break a world record.

Cold Star is known for its community involvement. Its major initiative is The Community Food Project, which donates food with the help of sponsors to non-profit agencies on Vancouver Island once a month. Cold Star states that the project “is [their] way of giving, sharing, and connecting with the people in our communities.”

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MEMBER NEWS

Learn to Play the Odds with View Royal Casino In June, View Royal Casino introduced the Casino Virgin Academy, an exciting program that fosters team engagement, teaches guests how to play casino games properly and responsibly all while supporting local community organization and Chamber member, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Victoria. Local businesses participating in the academy donate $500 to the Boys & Girls Club as part of their sign-up. “We came up with program because we have noticed that many of our guests, who represent a number of local businesses, wanted to learn how to play casino games but were just not comfortable enough to engage in the process by themselves. We want to provide a safe entertainment environment where our first time players can learn how to play responsibly, have a good time, socialize with their peers and also give back to the community,” said Kwai Lam, General Manager, View Royal Casino. Casino Virgin nights are hosted on Tuesday nights and registration is required. Teams include 28 employees and an additional 28 spectators. The employee group is split into tournament teams of seven players each that are taken through a table circuit and taught how to play most popular casino games.

Barb McVagh, a United Way 45 year long Red Feather donor.

United Way Celebrates 25+ year Donors

Barb is one of 475 longstanding donors who were fêted at Government House on July 10th in honour of their collective achievements and good works while supporting United Way. In addition to Barb’s years of generosity, she has also volunteered for more than 30 years with United Way’s Leaders Committee.

In July, the United Way celebrated the dedication of 475 donors who have supported the movement for over 25 years. “United Way is my social conscience,” says Barb McVagh, a Red Feather donor for the past 45 years. “They can do for my community what I cannot, and so I give.”

“Barb McVagh is a dedicated patron who shares our vision to improve life for thousands of local citizens,” says Patricia Jelinski, CEO of United Way. “She has taught us so much in giving wisely of her time, her knowledge,

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MEMBER NEWS and with consistent generosity which enriches our community greatly. All our Red Feather donors represent the foundation of our community, uniting for change to build a stronger, more inclusive and caring community.”

“I really learned how United Way improves our community,” says Barb. “I continue to be impressed by the people I meet, leaders of funded partners and the people they help, the lives they renew.” “Everybody should be giving to United Way,” says Barb who, in a word, describes the organization as ‘necessary’. “They care. They believe. And they ensure every penny goes where it can do the most good.”

UVIC Program Celebrates 25 Years Twenty five years ago in 1989, UVIC’s Certificate of Business Administration (CBA) was born in the Business & Management unit of Continuing Studies. Over the last 25 years nearly 2,500 mature learners have earned their CBA. They have come from a wide variety of organizations including large private and SME firms; federal, provincial and municipal governments, NPOs and NGOs; universities and colleges, military, and independent professionals.

A high percentage of the Victoria region’s organizations have at least one UVIC CBA graduate. The program provides a tremendous opportunity to learn and broaden practical business knowledge with skills usable in the workplace. The CBA program is designed for mid-career professionals looking to enhance their expertise and acquire a broader understanding of business management in areas such as communications, finance and accounting, leadership and ethics, and business law.

Airport Says Farewell to Stewart June marked the retirement of the Victoria Airport’s Director of Marketing and Community Relations Terry Stewart. Well known among Victorians, Terry has worked at the Airport since 1991 and started as the airport’s operations manager. During his 23 years at the Victoria Airport, Terry saw our local airport through transformation; growing from an airport servicing two routes to one that now serves over 10 routes. As Terry winds up his 30-year airport career, he now has plans to make time for travelling and hiking.

Hone Consulting Turns 5 Hone Consulting is thrilled to be celebrating its fifth anniversary in business. Specializing in team development and employee engagement training, Hone’s facilitators, coaches, and consultants have proudly served a variety of clients on the island, throughout British Columbia, Alberta, and internationally. In addition, Hone is pleased to announce that as it reached this wonderful milestone, one of its acclaimed programs Respect in Action was certified by the BC Human Resources Management Association for CHRP Points. “Our greatest gratitude to all of our clients over the years, and we look forward to working together with all of you and more in the future,” says the Hone Team.

20 years of Camosun’s Leadership Development Originating in 1994, Camosun’s Leadership Development program was created to provide new and aspiring supervisors (leaders) with current information and practical skills relevant to their career. Over the years, the program content has been continually updated by dedicated instructors who draw upon their experience and

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education to provide the most current and relevant material. Twenty years later, this popular program continues to offer students the opportunity to explore who they are as leaders. The degree to which people are engaged in their work is tied to the quality of the leadership, and can become an organization’s greatest competitive advantage. Students leave this program as leaders who are self-aware and skilled in the art of strategically and successfully leading people and projects in today’s dynamic and complex work environments.

MEMBER NEWS

itgroove attributes the MVP award anomaly to its corporate culture – which actively encourages team members to grow as leaders in their areas of specialization, and to give back through sharing their knowledge with their community.

AirSprint Gives Back AirSprint Private Aviation partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society for Daffodil Month. During the month of April, AirSprint donated $100 from the sale of every flight– for a total of $27,500!

Cedarwood Does it Again – The Hard Way

After last year’s success with The Hard Way, Cedarwood Productions is proud to announce that Season 2 of this popular local TV series is airing this fall on CHEK every Saturday at 6:30pm. Many Chamber members can be seen in action, including our very own Al Hasham, Sybil Verch, Shelly Jensen, Lindalee Brougham, Elder Matias and of course, host, Dana Hutchings. All this and incredible local business stories. You won’t want to miss this!

“This program and these skills are so useful and relevant to all people,” says past student Stephanie Dean. “Everyone has the opportunity to be a leader and these are great personal development skills.” The Leadership Development program is offered on a part-time basis with courses offered throughout the year, providing a flexible schedule designed for working adults.

Playing with 4 MVPs on the Team itgroove is again extremely pleased to announce that the company now employs four staff with Most Valuable Professional designations. The Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) status is a designation awarded by Microsoft on a quarterly basis to “exceptional, independent community leaders who share their passion, technical expertise, and real-world knowledge of Microsoft products with others.” Microsoft does not confer MVP status lightly. It is rare for an organization to have one MVP on staff; much rarer still to have four! itgroove would like to congratulate Colin Phillips and Keith Tuomi, who were both recognized again this year for their contributions to the SharePoint community and re-awarded the distinguished MVP designation for SharePoint Server. This is their second consecutive designation. They join their colleague, Sean Wallbridge, who received his MVP designation for SharePoint Server for the seventh year in a row. In addition, itgroove would also like to congratulate Robert Dick who has been awarded the MVP designation for Office 365. This is Robert’s first designation. Out of the seven new Canadian MVPs, Robert is the only person to receive an Office 365 designation.

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Consolidating Regional Strengths To amalgamate, or to integrate, that is the question. Is amalgamation the panacea for our inter-municipal woes? Can there be another solution that will bring all the positive aspects amalgamation offers without the drawbacks that concern many people? Amalgamation has been a topic of conversation in the Capital region for over a century. The debate is not waning, and if anything, as our municipal borders encroach on each other’s, the call has gotten louder. But can other solutions provide the desired benefits of amalgamation?

The reasons many groups and citizens have for amalgamation of our municipalities vary. Many argue increased efficiencies, effectiveness, cost-savings (which has historically not been the case), ease of decision making, ease of operation and even public safety when it comes to policing. But can at least some of these benefits be addressed with integration of specific services? Integration of services can make a lot of sense, especially when it comes to issues or services that are regional in nature. Some that oppose amalgamation have concerns over the loss of local autonomy. This option can

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offer some of the same benefits sought through amalgamation, while at the same time maintaining local autonomy. The degree of service integration can come in many forms. Integration can include cooperation amongst participating communities or complete integration where services are provided by a single provider.

Policing The Capital region is serviced by four independent police forces and three RCMP detachments. The integrated policing units in the Capital region would be considered one type of integration, whereas complete policing integration would come in the form of one regional police force. Demonstrating two integration models that could provide services to the region without municipal amalgamation. Integration of this particular type of service is essential because few criminal or policing problems confine themselves within municipal boundaries and coordinated solutions are necessary. The necessity of regional solutions for public safety concerns was highlighted after the tragic 2007 Lee family murders in Oak Bay. In the aftermath of this murder-suicide, the lack of coordinated response resulted in a slow response coupled with departments being unsuccessful in securing the crime scene for more than six hours. This incident precipitated the creation of sub-regional integrated crime units in 2008. However, without formal agreements, many participating municipalities have since withdrawn from these units. In 2009 Victoria withdrew from the Regional Crime Unit followed by Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney, finally the unit collapsed this year with Saanich’s withdrawal. Could formalized resource

Photo courtesy of the Capital Regional District.

and cost-sharing agreements create a more functional long-term integration of this essential service or can only one regional force—as recommended in the Missing Women’s Inquiry— be the answer. The withdrawal of participating communities highlights the shortcomings of this type of integration.

Water One integration that has worked seemingly well in the Capital region is the CRD Integrated Water Services (IWS). The IWS is responsible for many areas of water services in our region, one is the regional water supply system. This system controls the water supply, treatment and transmission in our area, and provides water to municipalities that operate their own distribution systems. The responsibility for water supply was transferred to the CRD in 1997, in an effort to improve water quality by following international best practices as well as to provide more local control. This transfer was completed through enabling legislation that also specifically identifies water supply local services and the “participating areas” or communities. Regardless of whether or not the legislation caused this longterm integrated system to work, the CRD IWS is still a successful example of integration.

is reportedly the most efficient way to provide the service to the community. Seemingly cost-efficiencies can also cross amalgamated borders. Service integration and service agreements may be irrelevant if Greater Victoria is amalgamated into one large metropolitan area. However, many think that three large communities is a more realistic result of amalgamation; possibly seeing amalgamation of regions like the Westshore or communities on the Peninsula. If this were the case, would inter-community service agreements or integration still be necessary? For water, sewage etc. Quite possibly.

Something to ponder as we look toward the municipal elections in November and start asking would-be municipal councils the tough questions regarding improving our community in a way that looks toward future growth in a sustainable way.

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Amalgamation AND Integration? There have been many instances where amalgamation and integration coexist. According to some researchers, they are not necessarily alternatives. In the case of Abbotsford — where the communities of the former Abbotsford and Matsqui amalgamated — service agreements with other communities are still necessary and continue to exist. For example, Abbotsford shares water-supply and sewage treatment with Mission. This

In the end, whether amalgamation or service integration is the answer for communities in the Capital region is yet to be determined. What is certain, is that some form of cooperation and collaboration is necessary for us to provide cost effective and efficient services to residents in our communities.

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The Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 32nd Annual Dinner Auction Gala

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Enjoy an evening of mixing, bidding and buying with Greater Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business leaders.

Saturday, November 22, 2014 The Union Club of British Columbia 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm

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Purchase tickets or donate an item at (250) 383-7191 or victoriachamber.ca

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CALENDAR of EVENTS

September SUNDAY

October

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Business without Borders Featuring Gary Doer, Ambassador of Canada to the United States of America Date: Tuesday, September 9 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 am Location: Cineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas Prodigy Group September Mingle Date: Thursday, September 11 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm Hosted by: Milestones Restaurant

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Board Candidate Meet & Greet Date: Thursday, September 18 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 pm Location: First Memorial Funeral Services

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Looking to showcase your business and support Greater Victoria’s business community at the same time? Donate an item to the 32nd Annual Dinner Auction Gala. Visit www.victoriachamber.ca or call (250) 383-7191 for details.

September Business Mixer Date: Thursday, September 18 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm Hosted by: First Memorial Funeral Services

Interested in sponsoring a Chamber event? Contact Oriane Fort, Events Manager at: ofort@victoriachamber.ca call (250) 383-7191

October Marketplace Mixer Date: Thursday, October 16 Time: 4:00 – 7:00 pm Location: Uptown

There’s strength in numbers. Victoria is a great conference destination — work in partnership with the VCC team to showcase your vibrant, beautiful hometown. You can make a big difference by using your connections within your business, volunteer and community networks. Help fill Victoria with delegates who stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, and shop in our stores.

Give us a call — we’ll do the work and make you look good. You will also qualify to win an iPad or iPhone when your lead turns into a conference! Every delegate spends $450+ per day in our community. Help us to identify future business. Brenda Anderson Director of Sales & Marketing Direct: 250.361.1035

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Local Impact of Immigrant Investors

It took Lijian Yu (seen above with GVDA’s Dallas Gislason) just under a year to get from China to Canada and get her business Partings hair salon in Saanich going. Buying a business under the succession buy-out option of the PNP program, Ms. Yu invested in upgrades to the business and created a new job (as well as retaining the existing staff). Her family recently purchased a new home in Saanich near Mount Douglas Secondary School where their son will soon be a senior. Lijian loves Victoria’s clean air, good schools and weather! While the thrust of economic development strategy focuses on growing and improving existing assets, businesses, and individuals, it is also important for an economic development strategy to attract outside investment, new businesses, and new members to the workforce. Outside investors and newcomers bring new perspectives on old problems, vast and varied international connections, and fresh talents and experiences that collide with our existing innovators and result in something new. These things are all regarded as essential attributes of an entrepreneurial community. New ideas and people cross-pollinate with local ideas and people. The result is more innovation; and thus, a more vibrant economy. A common critique of investment attraction is that foreign investors drive up home prices to the detriment of local buyers. But according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver

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(REBGV), only 3-4 per cent of sales are attributed to foreign buyers. The reality is that locals comprise the bulk of the market — and are only supplemented by in-migration and to a lesser extent foreign ownership. And this is referring to Vancouver — a city with a reputation of having a high number of foreign buyers. With a more realistic view, we can examine the potential value and importance of in-bound foreign investors. Let’s use GVDA 2014 yearto-date statistics as an example of this value. As of mid-June, our office has met with 77 investment groups. These groups represent about $25 million of potential business investments in various transaction stages. These business investments represent an estimated 240 jobs retained and over 80 new jobs created. In 2013, the GVDA met with 96 in-bound investment groups, a number we will far surpass this year. In a region that has rather

lackluster job creation performance as of late, this is a big deal. The above numbers do not account for the residential real estate these investors may be purchasing. It is safe to estimate the real estate side of the above scenario will easily exceed $40 million, in addition to the direct business investment. To put this into perspective, agents will sell about $1.8 billion worth of houses this year overall. By a wide margin, 2014 is the busiest year for British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The PNP was designed (under sanction of the Federal Government) to allow provincial government to nominate candidates for immigration that fit into several categories of strategic importance to the BC economy. The province has already received 134 application for the Capital region so far this year.

GVDA: PNP clients in 2014 (year-to-date):

77 investment groups $25 million value of

transactions (potential direct investment only, not including real estate) 240 jobs retained through investments 77 new jobs created directly from investments The most relevant immigration category for Greater Victoria businesses under the PNP is the succession buy-out category. This program is designed to give retiring business owners another option through which to sell their business so that the business can continue successfully with no job loss (the program also strongly encourages investments into the business to create new jobs). Up until the end of June, there were 178 PNP succession category applications approved province wide. Compare this to the 53 the province approved in the full calendar year of

2012 and 220 in 2013. Needless to say, we will also exceed 2013 numbers by the end of this year. (For a local Greater Victoria success story see photo and caption).

Here are some important considerations for Victoria regarding foreign investment: • We should remain open-forbusiness & open-for-people. Encourage local policy makers to be business-friendly and focus on quality of place. Creating jobs and attracting talented people shouldn’t be seen as a case of the chicken-and-the-egg. If we focus on both — both will happen. • We should ensure that settlement services are coordinated and funded. If we engage newcomers in our neighbourhoods effectively, they will become active community builders. Organizations like Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) and others, are essential to making this happen but must be supported by all of us. We should also encourage newcomers to work with local service providers that know the local market and can connect them accordingly (Lijian Yu worked with Tina Ryan of Visa Seminars International, a local immigration consultant, who connected her to local accountants/lawyers, etc.

and they remain an important part of her settlement support). • We must communicate our story effectively. Our goal is not to attract anyone and everyone; rather, communicating the region’s “opportunity story” effectively means we will attract investors who align to our community values. People move to Victoria for specific reasons that may relate to their social, political or lifestyle values.

Dallas Gislason Economic Development Officer, Greater Victoria Development Agency

HR Consulting & Recruitment

Meet Marcia, HR Professional at Chemistry Consulting With over 25 years of experience, Marcia is a senior member of our team and an expert in the area of human resources and recruitment. Working with organizations of all sizes, Marcia successfully delivers executive search and recruitment services, as well as a broad range of “HR Solutions”, including compensation reviews, development of HR policies and procedures, and HR best practice reviews. Speak to Marcia to discuss your human resource needs. 250-382-3303 ext. 212 | m.hammonds@chemistryconsulting.ca

400-1207 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2E7 p 250.382.3303 e info@chemistryconsulting.ca chemistryconsulting.ca

BUSINESSMATTERS

CHAMBER BOARD CANDIDATES (In random order)

Tom Roemer

Jason Scriven

Retail Advertising Sales Manager, Times Colonist

Jason joined the Times Colonist in 2010 after a 17 year career in the technology industry, including local firms Neverblue Media, Dark Matter Labs and Sector Learning Solutions. In addition to The Chamber, Jason works with many local organizations on behalf of the paper, including: Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, VIATeC, West Shore Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Victoria. Jason is a mentor in the Gustavson School of Business MBA program and a member of their board of advisors. Two key business issues Jason will support if elected to the board are the support of micro business communities within Greater Victoria and an upgrade to the Belleville ferry terminal/customs facility. Connect with Jason on Twitter: @jscriven_yyj

Vice-President, Strategic Development, Camosun College Incumbent, Director

Tom is Vice-President (Strategic Development) at Camosun College where he pursues new markets, strategic liaisons, and institutional development. Prior to his current position he served as Dean for Camosun’s School of Trades and Technology. Tom was born near Munich, Bavaria (Germany) and has travelled all over the globe. After his Air Force years he founded Tioga Communications Inc., specializing in custom software for production and inventory control. He holds a Master’s degree in astrophysics and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Simon Fraser University. He loves a good glass of port and still has to figure out how to play a decent round of gold.

Brian Wilkes

Owner, Brian’s Custom Clubs

Brian has been in business in Victoria since 2005, and a Chamber member for two years. He is a certified golf club fitter and club maker, professional biologist and environmental consultant. Brian has volunteered as a member of the Public Advisory Committee at Cedar Hill Golf Course, and on the Water Advisory Committee to the Capital Region’s Water Supply Commission, for two years as chair. As a Chamber member, Brian has been a sponsor of the Golf Tournament and has participated in the Market Mixers and other events. On the Board, Brian will help the Chamber continue to improve the business climate in Victoria, especially in relation to tourism and environmental sustainability.

As a member of the GVDA and the policy committee, he provides the postsecondary point of view.

John Wilson

Troy MacDonald

Director of Sales, Helijet International Inc.

Troy was born and raised in Vancouver, moving to Calgary to further his education and began working in the travel industry with Greyhound bus lines at this time. He began his career with Helijet after moving to Victoria in 1994, he also competed at the national level with Rugby Canada also playing and coaching with provincial and local teams. Taking the job as director of sales with Helijet in 2009, he has been instrumental in establishing both helicopter and Learjet charter operations along BC’s west coast and schedule operations (corporate, government and tourism clients) between Victoria and Vancouver. Working with the Chamber since becoming sales manager in 1999 and looking forward to a close relationship and helping wherever possible with transportation knowledge.

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CEO, Wilson’s Transportation Incumbent, Executive Member at Large

John is the CEO for Wilson’s Transportation Ltd. which along with Charter Bus Operations includes Grayline Sightseeing Victoria and YYJ Airport Shuttle. Founded in Victoria over thirty years ago; this family-owned charter bus company has grown to be the largest carrier on Vancouver Island, serving communities from Victoria to Campbell River. Born and raised in Victoria, John has developed a passion for the community and a keen interest in the tourism business and sport communities. He is a current serving director on SportHost and an executive member of SKAL International, a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world and is the co-owner of the Peninsula Panthers Junior Hockey Club as well as the Victoria Grizzlies Junior Hockey Club.

Mark Smith

Office Interiors Monk Office Incumbent, Director

Mark is currently the Director of Office Interiors and Healthcare at Monk Office. Since 1995, when he moved to Victoria, he has consulted to and worked in a number of industries and brings over twenty years of progressive business development experience to The Chamber Board. Mark has been on The Chamber board of directors since 2013, has served on the Governance Committee and acts as the Board liaison with the Prodigy Group. He is passionate about building the local economy and feels strongly that The Chamber plays an integral part in the business community. He feels by focusing on the growth of existing businesses coupled with attracting new companies to the region is imperative to building on that foundation.

CHAMBER BOARD CANDIDATES

Mark is a Certified Management Accountant and in 2009 was awarded the CMA Society of BC’s province-wide Top Talent award for leadership. He enjoys spending time on Mayne Island and running annually in the TC10K.

President, Hot House Marketing Incumbent, Board Secretary

Partner, KPMG LLP Incumbent, Board Treasurer

Director, Strathcona Investments Incumbent, Director

Mark Mawhinney is a director with Strathcona Investments Ltd. Strathcona acquires successful private operating businesses in BC from retiring owners. Mark is chair of both the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society and the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club boards of directors and volunteers with the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University on “Dragons Den” style business plan competitions. He founded the J. Donald Mawhinney QC lecture series in legal ethics and professionalism with UBC’s Faculty of Law – a first of its kind in Canada.

Dan Dagg

Sang-Kiet Ly

Mark Mawhinney

Sang is a Partner at KPMG LLP with more than 15 years of experience providing accounting and tax services to a wide range of clients across many industries. He has served the Chamber as a board director and treasurer for the past three years. In addition, he serves as a director on the boards of the Greater Victoria Development Agency and Pacifica Housing Advisory Association. In 2007 he was recognized with an Early Achievement Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia for his professional accomplishments and contributions to the community. He is passionate about creating a business environment that allows entrepreneurs every opportunity to succeed.

Dan is the president of Hot House Marketing, one of Victoria’s top advertising agencies with a staff of ten and a client base that incudes local, regional and national brands. A UBC graduate, Dan is also a Certified Advertising Agency Practitioner through the Institute of Canadian Advertising Agencies and a trained facilitator of the Pacific Institute’s Investment in Excellence program. Dan is the former Executive Vice-President and Director of Client Services at Copeland Communications. Prior to joining Copeland in 1994, Dan spent six years at Palmer Jarvis Advertising’s Vancouver office. Dan has been a Chamber Director for the past five years, a member of CAFE and supports numerous local charities.

This year, for the first time The Chamber Board election will be done electronically. One person in your organization will be able to vote for up to 7 of the above nominees to shape The Chamber for 2015. All ballots close Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at noon. If you haven’t received your ballot via email, contact us at (250) 383-7191.

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Municipal Elections The Chamber’s Our Vibrant Community initiative has a number of components, including policy development and encouraging involvement in the political process. The Chamber has been much more active proceeding the 2014 municipal elections and 2015 federal election in encouraging involvement in the political process. There has been a lot of outreach to encourage people to get more involved. As part of this initiative, The Chamber also sponsored the Manning Centre to conduct training on municipal politics and elections. The training was attended by a number of interested folk, some of whom have indicated they will be seeking election in the fall. There are many who would say that the candidates that attended represented the right, left, NDP, Liberal, Green party etc. The Chamber conducted this training and subsidized the cost on behalf of the community and as a non-partisan organization is not concerned with the categorizations

that are common place. The Chamber will remain non-partisan and will not endorse candidates or a group of candidates. We will continue to work on policy issues and comment on the issues under discussion and work to promote issues we feel benefit the economic strength of the community. The Chamber, as an organization, is non-partisan but this does not limit the individual members or directors from taking an active and potentially partisan role in the election. It has been common to say “Oh, this person is working on this person’s campaign,” so that must be “The Chamber Candidate.” Such a statement would be incorrect. Chamber members and directors are active members of their community and are in involved in a wide variety of community activities including political campaigns. As of this date, we know that we have former or current board members working to support every one of the declared and rumoured mayoral candidates in the City of Victoria.

our Four Pillars of Good Governance

The Chamber actively encourages everyone to get involved in the coming election either by working with potential candidates, attending candidate forums but most importantly making sure you vote.

The Chamber will remain non-partisan and will continue to promote policies and positions to the benefit of our community.

PROSPERITY IN THE PLACE THAT YOU LOVE

Keep tax increases and spending within our means • • •

Cap municipal budget increases at the rate of real GDP growth plus a factor for population growth and inflation Fund new program spending out of current operational savings Create programs to examine service delivery models for new and existing programs

Build our quality of life and save for the future • • •

Focus operational spending on core municipal service priorities Allocate sufficient funds to address aging infrastructure Clearly identify core and discretionary municipal services

Actively communicate municipal business in a clear and understandable fashion • • •

Publish council’s voting records in timely and accessible fashion Work to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to fully understand the nature and context of council discussions whether or not they are able to attend council meetings Adopt notification systems for agendas and minutes so citizens can sign up to automatically receive meeting notifications and meeting outcomes as they are published

Work individually and with regional stakeholders to deliver services in the most efficient and effective way • • • •

Create a process to identify regional infrastructure priorities and regularly update the list Ensure there are cost-benefit reports for regional infrastructure priorities Support the creation of a regional transportation authority Institute joint service delivery reviews for core municipal services

20 BUSINESSMATTERS

NEW MEMBERS: June 12th - Aug 7th 4 Bravo Marketing

Babcock Canada Inc.

Carrick House Group

Andrew Scott Plumbing & Heating

Black Tie Wines

Charelli’s Cheese Shop, Delicatessen & Catering Inc.

Caledonia Silva

Chinook Business Brokers Ltd.

In business since 2005, 4 Bravo Marketing has been providing solutions to a wide range of industry verticals. We excel at not only creating the plans that grow business, but we execute them! (250) 508-5774 www.4bravomarketing.com

Andrew Scott Plumbing & Heating specializes in residential boiler systems along with full plumbing service for renovations, repairs, construction and custom work. (250) 217-0178 www.vicplumber.com

AngusOne Professional Recruitment Ltd.

AngusOne provides Western Canada with a prompt, professional and reliable source for all staffing and recruitment needs. BC owned since 1986 AngusOne has represented many of Western Canada’s most exciting organizations & leading candidates. (888) 682-8367 www.angusone.com

The Babcock team comprises highly qualified and experienced project managers and technical professionals. We provide platform design, integration and management services, ensuring complete lifecycle engineering support. (250) 479-3393 www.babcockcanada.com

We help customers make their own wine, ice wine & port. Our process is simple and fun! Just come in and choose from our variety of high-quality wine kits. Our experienced and award-winning staff will guide you through the art of winemaking. (250) 380-9463 www.blacktiewines.ca

Caledonia Silva Woodwork & Design Contemporary craftsmanship - The Bothy Collection - Kitchens, Custom Cabinetry & Built Ins. (250) 888-9679 www.caledoniasilva.ca

We are geographical and business consultants and can offer services in such areas as Project Management, Strategic Planning, Science, Coastal and Tourism issues and policy. (250) 217-0394 www.carrickhouse.net

Charelli’s Delicatessen is the biggest smallest cheese shop in Victoria! With deep European roots and close ties to our local community, we pride ourselves in providing the highest quality products and service that’s secondto-none. (250) 598-4794 www.charellis.com

Chinook Business Brokers is a full service Business Brokerage offering businesses for sale on Vancouver Island. We specialize in valuating, packaging, listing & selling existing & new business opportunities as well as franchise opportunities. (250) 812-0089 www.chinookbusinessbrokers.ca

BUSINESSMATTERS

NEW MEMBERS: CMEFIRST

It’s simple. Hire a student. See results.

CMEFIRST is a video production company specializing in corporate/customer relationship building videos & commercials designed to be a pre-qualifying tool for you and your customers. (250) 616-9990 www.cmefirst.ca

Dawn Cox Counselling

Getz & Burden

We’re a full-service accounting firm. Our team includes designated accountants/ support staff. We provide comprehensive and timely accounting, taxation and business advisory services for small-to-medium sized businesses, individuals, estates & trusts. (250) 727-6300 getzandburden.wordpress.com

Are you suffering and in pain? Counselling harnesses your energy and uses it to get more of what you want. Together we can create the changes you desire. (250) 216-9422 www.dawncoxcounselling.ca

Go West Design Group

Evergrowth Coaching - Bay LeBlanc Quiney

Green Sky Labs

Welcome to Evergrowth Coaching & Consulting. We coach and work with leaders, both present and future. Don’t settle for what is possible in the present circumstances. Commit to achieving your vision. (250) 217-0864 www.evergrowthcoaching.com

We brand you, before you get labelled. We help small businesses increase market reach and drive sales by building the value of their brand in the minds of their target market. (250) 383-5300 gowestgroup.com

Green Sky Labs is committed to being an integral part in the evolution of medical marijuana as an exciting new dimension to pharmaceutical science. (250) 592-6832

Malibu Motors

Malibu Motors has you covered for ALL your automotive needs. Sales & Service all makes and models. Family owned and operated since 1995. (250) 920-2060 www.malibumotorsvictoria.com

uvic.ca/hireacoop

250.721.7628

Co-operative Education and Student Employment www.camosun.ca/cese 250.370.4100

22 BUSINESSMATTERS

NEW MEMBERS: June 12th - Aug 7th Mayflower Caffe (formerly Caffe Teatro)

Blanshard & Broughton Victoria’s newest gourmet coffee house. Serving the finest Espresso Coffees & Teas. Enjoy our organic menu, relax with a glass of wine or beer. (250) 381-6605 MayflowerCaffe.com

Nevaeh Landscaping

Our company excels in landscape design, installation, and landscape maintenance. We believe in providing the highest quality and level of service to each of our customers. (250) 896-4252 nevaehlandscaping.com

Patagonia Victoria

Patagonia Victoria features a comprehensive selection of men’s, women’s and kid’s Patagonia clothing, accessories & packs. Come and visit us at 616 Yates Street. (403) 266 6463 patagonia.com/ca/home

Stocksy United

We are an artist owned cooperative that is founded upon the principles of equality, respect and the fair distribution of profits. We provide sustainable careers and coownership with our artists. (250) 818-3470 stocksy.com

The Parallax Perspective Orangetheory Fitness

Orangetheory Fitness is a revolutionary heart rate based interval training program that infuses science and technology to maximize your results and help achieve your goals!! (250) 984-8056 orangetheoryfitness.com

Pat Bugera Public Relations Consulting

Pat Bugera Communications is a Vancouver Island based public relations company specializing in communications auditing and planning. (250) 618-8831 patbugeragroup.ca

Need insight into your leadership style and the impact you have on others? As a boutique company we customize a results focused leadership development package that meets your ‘must haves’ to grow your business. (604) 754-1341

Victoria Fire Department

Providing exemplary emergency response services to British Columbia’s Capital City, the Victoria Fire Department’s professional staff delivers a wide variety of safety-based programs that serve children, seniors, businesses & the community at large. (250) 920-3350 victoriafirefighters.com

Western Financial Group

Western Financial Group Victoria provides insurance products for your car, home, business, life, travel, pet and yacht. We also provide financial services such as GIC and RRSP. (250) 386-9012 www.westernfinancialgroup.ca

Your Membership Means Business!

Trefoil Technologies Ltd.

Bespoke IT consulting firm, providing interim management; IT project, programmers, operations and transformation consulting to private and public clients. (250) 217-0745

CEDAR HILL

NOW BOOKING CHRISTMAS PARTIES!

 Flexible seasonal menus starting from only $32  Waived room rental for Chamber Members ($500 value)  Free parking and close to downtown 1400 Derby Rd | Victoria | 250.475.7150 www.saanich.ca

BUSINESSMATTERS 23

Industry profile:

Enterprise Point Enterprise Point opened its doors to the Greater Victoria Development Agency and The Chamber in July, giving members a chance to learn about the technology that this aspect of Camosun College offers.

Industry Sector: Business consulting— prototyping, training

In a Nutshell: Enterprise Point is Camosun’s one-stop gateway into its portfolio of professional services. Professional services such as prototyping, manufacturing, contract training, custom courses, and consulting.

Annual Revenue: Approximately $10 million

# of Employees: 10 employees plus one representative of the federalIndustrial Research Assistance Program.

Area of Town: Interurban Glendale Valley in Saanich Primary Product/Service: Manufacturing, product development and prototyping support; practitioner training; and, international liaison.

How would you describe Enterprise Point in 30 words or less? Enterprise Point is Camosun’s onestop gateway into the college’s portfolio of professional and innovative services. It is flexible and responsive, providing custom solutions for regional businesses and industry.

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What is the best part about doing business in Greater Victoria? The best part about doing business in Greater Victoria are our regional demographics. The city is a centre yet it remains personal. This combined with the variety of industries located here makes it a very attractive place to do business. Equally important are the many active associations in the region. For example The Chamber, the GVDA or VIATeC represent active contact points that one can work with, something that is not always practical in larger cities. These networks allow Enterprise Point to connect with many people and organizations across the region by linking to a few key access points. We can approach an association representative and they can recommend prospective partners. For example, if Camosun were to host a conference, these associations can provide us with the contact information for potentially interested parties. Or, I may need to know everything about a complex topic like shipbuilding in order to tailor our program offerings. These are all questions that can be easily answered with the assistance of these supportive networks. What is the best thing Enterprise Point is doing for Greater Victoria? One of the main things Enterprise Point is doing (or hoping to do) for Greater Victoria is fostering economic development throughout the region. Aside from custom solutions, Enterprise Point also uniquely links consulting with academic training. Our professional services are directly underwritten by the vast training portfolio of a 20,000 learner institution, so if someone came to ask for help with designing a sophisticated device but also required skilled personnel, we have dozens of departments who would be happy to help. These two pieces—the direct support and the lifelong practitioner training—make a pretty powerful combination.

What is it like working at Enterprise Point? In one word—exhilarating. For that single reason we purposely created our work space as an open-concept design. We don’t have tucked-away offices where you close the door in the morning and no one sees you before 5pm. Our work atmosphere is informal in a way that information is exchanged openly. We hardly ever have formal and sterile meetings but discuss ideas and challenges ad hoc. What are 3 things few people know about Enterprise Point? The first one probably is that we are located directly in the heart of Interurban Campus with a big open glass storefront, and not tucked away in some obscure building. The second thing that few people know about Enterprise Point is the vast range of services we can provide. The spectrum is extremely broad, much broader than what people would associate with a polytechnic college. One might say, everything from employee training to facility rentals to 3D prototyping. And finally, that all of Enterprise Point was exclusively built with federal support through Western Economic Diversification. What is Enterprise Point proudest of? Enterprise Point is most proud of the simple fact that is exists. It is the first professional gateway and currently the only one of its kind among BC colleges. It forms a cornerstone for the ever-changing identity of Camosun College. Are there any other fun facts about Enterprise Point we should know about? As for practical projects, the students in the engineering technology programs always tend to build interesting and exciting things. During one capstone project, the team that we affectionately now refer to as

“The Coffee Boys,” built a new type of coffee grinder and maker. The concept has all to do with how the temperature is controlled to make the perfect cup of coffee (Yes, just like Breaking Bad!). Just put the beans in and it grinds and heats everything perfectly. The Coffee Boys are now asking for a federal grant to develop this further. This has the opportunity to go somewhere. Speaking of going somewhere, we once built an unmanned aerial vehicle for Quaternion Aerospace and UVic. UVic Aero designed it and Camosun built the prototype. Our students tested the concept and one of them got so entrenched in the project he was hired and sent to Portugal to conduct long-range tests. Now that’s an assignment!

The concept of Enterprise Point has found international acclaim. In the spring we hosted the representatives of four Brazilian institutes for three months, so that they could study our approach to regional economic development. It is one thing to present the concept of a business liaison office in a PowerPoint slideshow, but another to “live” it for an extended period of time. In the end, they were so intrigued by the approach that they have started to create their own localized versions of Enterprise Point at home.

Visit The Chamber website for more details or to register for the next industry tour. www.victoriachamber.ca/events

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BUSINESSMATTERS 25

Advocacy in action The Chamber is the voice of business in Greater Victoria. In regular meetings with MPs, MLAs, and local mayors and council, The Chamber is a strong advocate for business initiatives and policies in the community.

The Chamber subsidized over half of the costs of campaign training as part of its Our Vibrant Community committee’s mandate to promote good governance in the region in view of the upcoming municipal elections. The Chamber will continue to be involved in several aspects of the municipal election in November, making sure issues concerning members are at the forefront.

Local Campaign Training

Equitable Police Funding

The Chamber continues to promote principals of good governance and through the Our Vibrant Community committee has been actively bringing awareness to the critical role that local government plays in our daily lives.

The Chamber continues to advocate for equitable police funding. At the July Board meeting The Chamber Board of Directors approved an updated policy on equitable funding. This policy identifies problems with As part of the Our Vibrant Community the current funding of police forces campaign, The Chamber brought and advocates for changes. Currently, in the Manning Centre for a twocommunities with independent police day training session for prospective forces pay 100 per cent of their local local candidates and their campaign policing costs. Communities that have managers. The Manning Centre’s RCMP police services are funded School of Practical Politics seeks differently. Communities with RCMP to improve local government by police services that have populations providing both research and training. between 5,000-15,000 pay 70 per cent Over 35 people from all across the of their policing costs and communities Capital region participated in the with over 15,000 people pay 90 per training session and received advice cent of costs. The remainder is funded from professional strategists and by the federal government at 30-andcampaigners. 14.VictoriaChamberAd 14-07-21 7:08 PM Page 110 per cent respectively.

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26 BUSINESSMATTERS

The Chamber acknowledges the growing complexities of modern crime including organized crime and cybercrimes that are resulting in high policing costs. In addition, many crimes are “cross-border,” further increasing complexity and costs. Increasing costs are a burden to taxpayers, especially as policing costs are a large part of municipal property taxes. These increases are adding more cost pressures to municipalities. The policy recommends that provincial government work with the federal government to develop an equitable funding program for all BC municipalities and ensure that senior levels of government provide the same cost sharing to communities whether they have an independent or RCMP force. The Chamber hopes to meet with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in the fall to discuss this policy as well as other chamber policies that fall under her portfolio.

Policies Up for National Support The Chamber Board of Directors has approved two policies that will be brought to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting in late September. The first policy, Ensuring Viability and Safety in Our National Airport System, calls on the federal government to create a new airport divestiture program and allocate appropriate funding. Our Victoria Aerodrome is one of the few remaining airports in Canada that is yet to be divested. It is essential for communities to have certainty over air transportation, as well as affordability and longterm sustainability of airports with a sensitivity to local interests. The Chamber is also sponsoring a second policy at the AGM, Increase Apprenticeship Completions in the Skilled Trades. This policy calls on the federal government to create financial incentives for employers to retain apprentices at any level in their program. Current employer incentives are only given for apprentices in their first and second year of training. The Chamber hopes this policy, if implemented, will increase completion rates in the skilled trades and further support efforts to fill gaps in skilled labour.

Your Community.

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BUSINESSMATTERS 27

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28 BUSINESSMATTERS