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Policy Positions

All advocacy activity at the Chamber must be based in policy, giving direction to our advocacy efforts. This section provides a summary of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce in brief with links to the full policy document.

Synopsis	Updates
Access to Capital for Small Business This policy asks the provincial government to develop a short-term program to ensure access to credit through existing financial institutions for established small and micro-businesses in BC. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Airport Rent The Chamber recommends that the federal airport rent formula be fully implemented immediately rather than the phased approach that has been proposed. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Amendment to the Distance Location Tax Credit This policy calls upon the provincial government to amend the area included the Distance Location Tax Credit, which benefits all areas of the Island with the exception of the Capital Region. Inclusion of the CRD in the geographic defining would place the CRD in an equitable competitive position and benefit the region’s film industry. View as HTML :: View as PDF	The government of BC announced new incentive programs for the film industry in BC, however did not address the disparity in tax treatment for the CRD with the Distance Location Tax Credit.
Belleville Terminal Project The Chamber recommends that the Belleville Terminal redevelopment project be completed before the 2010 Winter Olympics. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Business Considerations for Sewage Treatment in the Capital Region This policy focusses on the business consideration of funding the capital and operational expenses of a sewage treatment facility for the core area of the Capital Region. It concerns a fair tax/fee treatment for business and the most cost effective approach to buidling and operating. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Co-operative Education Tax Credit The Chamber recommends that the BC government introduces a co-op tax credit to BC business employers equal to 15% of wages paid to qualified co-op students for work placements, on terms including: 1) the tax credit should be capped at $1,500 per student, for each co-op work placement; 2) the placement should be a co-op work term that counts for credits towards completion of a post-secondary co-op education program at a qualifying BC university, college, or institution; 3) the tax credit should be applied against outstanding BC tax liabilities; 4) the program should apply to corporations, partnerships or proprietorships. Based on 4,100 BC co-op placements in 2004, the maximum annual cost of this proposal to the government would be approximately $6 million. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Consistency in Sentencing for Drug Trafficking Offences This policy addresses the fact that BC has a lenient practice on convictions and rates of incarceration for convicted drug traffickers as compared to other Canadian provinces. The policy supports increased investment in jail capacities and more severe sentencing practices. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Creating Equity in the Property Tax System of British Columbia This policy introduces a number of measures related to municipal taxation and governance to improve the provincial system, making it more competitive for business. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Deficit Budgeting This policy recognizes that although the Chamber does not generally support deficit financing, the economic climate, deficit financing focussed on stimulating the economy is acceptable as a short term action. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Douglas Street Busway The Greater Victoria Chamber does not support the proposed plan for the bus rapid transit system on the Douglas Street corridor. While in support of bus rapid transit, the chamber is concerned that all the transportation modes included in this plan cannot be accommodated in the available space on Douglas Street. View as HTML :: View as PDF	The Chamber did not support the presented Douglas Street Busway plan in 2008. That plan was revoked. The Chamber is now contributing to the consultation on the new rapid transit plan.
Easing Labour Market Pressure Through Child Care Flexibility The Chamber recommends a regulatory adjustment regarding Family Child Care Centre provisions to free up additional child care spaces for toddlers up to the age of three, thereby allowing skilled workers to return to the workplace. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Encouraging the Use of Public Transit Through Income Tax Reform The Chamber recommends that the federal government introduce tax incentives to employers and employees, making the cost of public transit tax deductible, thereby encouraging wider use of public transit. View as HTML :: View as PDF	Implemented with 2006 federal budget
Energy Security for Vancouver Island This policy seeks the assurance of the provincial government that energy supply and transmission will be secured for Vancouver Island and contingency plans are in place should their be challenges to the promise of energy supply and/or transmission. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Extension to the Vicoria International Airport Runway This policy calls on the provincial government to partner with the federal government to provide funding for the extension to the Victoria International Airport runway, which will add another $37 million to Greater Victoria's economy annually. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Government Assistant Packages to Industry In light of significant economic challenges in late 2008 and into 2009, senior governments are considering government assistance to private industry. This policy outlines the conditions under which the Chamber would support such a move. View as HTML :: View as PDF
HST Mitigation for the Recapture of Input Tax Credits for the Tourism Industry This policy provides a targeted, provincial mitigation strategy for tourism business that are adversely impacted by the HST by calling for a provincial tax credit or rebate to directly mirror the recapturing of input tax credits for large tourism businesses on their use of energy. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Increased Sentences for Prolific Offenders This policy recommends that the Criminal Code be amended to support and encourage the judiciary to issue increased sentences for prolific offenders that better reflect their criminal history. This may require an addition to the enumerated aggravating and mitigating factors in the code. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Increasing Rental Inventory Through Fair Taxation This policy calls on the federal government to amend the Canada Tax Act to provide for fair tax treatment to the building and managing of rental property as a class of business. Currently, the tax environment is discouraging to business investment in these areas. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Island Transportation Strategy This policy recommends that the provincial government commission an Island wide transportation study to identify gaps and opportunities for economic development through transportation infrastructure development. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Measure of Overall Tax Burden The Chamber calls upon the provincial government to develop a comprehensive report highlighting inter-municipal tax competitiveness and to work with other provinces to develop an inter-provincial comparison. It requests that information be combined with the cost of living in each jurisdiction to provide a fuller tax picture to businesses, individuals, and elected officials. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Non Partisan Organizaton The Greater Victoria Chamber is a non-partisan, secular organization open to all people with an interest in Greater Victoria business. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Oil and Gas industry The Chamber recommends the Federal moratorium on oil and gas exploration on the west coast of Canada be lifted. View as HTML
Police Amalgamation The Chamber recommends that the BC government 1) establish provincial standards for the integrated delivery of police services by police forces where municipal boundaries are immediately adjacent, and 2) where necessary, legislate amalgamation of police services in areas where established standards are not being met and where uniformity would benefit service delivery and public safety. View as HTML :: View as PDF	The Chamber has advocated vocally on this issue for the last four years. The province is committed to police service integration and is not considering ordering amalgamations.
Power Supply on Vancouver Island The Chamber is in favour of an uninterrupted cost-effective power supply on Vancouver Island. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Predictability for Provincial and Regional Destination Marketing Organizations This policy addresses funding concerns for the provincial and regional destination marketing organizations in BC. Concerns have arisen as a result of the change in funding for tourism marketing with the introduction of the HST and the folding of Tourism BC into a function of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Provincial Role in Municipal Amalgamations This recommendations is for an amendment to the Community Charter to a third option for instigating municipal amalgamation; that being amalgamation by order of the province. Currently the Community Charter provides for a municipality to call for a referendum question or for the minister responsible to call for a referendum question. It does not provide for the provincial government to call for amalgamation. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Reallocating Federal Funding to Develop a National Plan to End Homelessness The Chamber calls for the federal government to establish a national housing first strategy and to set p0erformance measurements on the portfolio with an accountability framework and outcome objectives. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Regional District Property Tax Ratios The Chamber recommends that the BC government should require all municipalities to follow provincial multiples when collecting regional district taxes from each property class, capping business-to-residential rates for regional services to a maximum of 2.45:1. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Regional Emergency Preparedness Plan The Chamber recommends that the Capital Regional District adopt and abide by a unified regional emergency plan. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Regional Transportation Authoriities The Chamber recommends that a Regional Transportation Authority be established in the capital region and other urban municipalities. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Restoration of the Business Vote The Chamber recommends that the provincial government work with the Chamber through the Community Charter process to develop legislation that includes a clear and workable legal definition for a business vote. View as HTML :: View as PDF	In May 2010, the province received the Report of the Local Government Elections Task Force wjtb 31 recommendations for changes. The business vote was considered and rejected.
Restructuring the FCTIP for Increased Tourism Competitiveness This policy asks that the federal government restructure the federal value added tax rebate program for foreign convention and tour operators so it is more highly utilized by US companies and makes Canadian product more competitve. This is especially important as the HST will soon be implemented in both BC and Ontario, potentially harming tourism product sales further. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Retirement Savings Protection This policy call for the protection of self-directed RRSPs, RRIFs, and DPSPs from creditor seizure. Currently, these savings are not protected while retirement savings acquired through a pension plan or savings purchased through an insurance company are exempt from creditor seizure. View as HTML :: View as PDF	Introduced in BC with 2008 legislation
Review of Regional Governance Model in Urban Areas The Chamber recommends that the BC government 1) Establish a new system of municipal representation on a regional district's Board of Directors that requires public consent; and 2) Review its concept of regional districts and their roles in urban areas. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Safe Streets The Chamber recommends that the provincial government enact a Safe Streets Act to allow police and communities to more effectively deal with aggressive behaviours and to ensure that the penalties and laws are consistent throughout the province and amid the Trespass Act to provide useful statutory authority or enforcement action for businesses and private property owners in urban settings. View as HTML :: View as PDF	Safe Streets Act implemented in 2004.
Securing the Future of LocalTelevision This policy calls for a balanced approach to the problem with the existing business model between local broadcasters and cable companies. It calls on the CRTC to amend its regulatory environment so that local broadcasting compnaies can survive and communities can maintain local programming. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Small Business Access to Capital This recommendation asks the provincial governemnt to create a short term program to ensure access to capital for small and micro businesses in British Columbia. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Statement of Policy on Social Services This policy asserts that social services should be a benefit to the whole community, not just to the individuals being served by the initiative. It asks that one measurable objective of social service programs be economic in nature and that all programs be evaluated on a regular basis to determine if individual, community and economic goals are being met. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Supervised Consumption Sites This policy states that the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce supports the City of Victoria’s harm reduction strategy in general but does not support the introduction of a Supervised Consumption Site as a treatment option. The Chamber believes we should be investing available treatment resources into detox beds and withdrawal management programs. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Taxation Measures to Discourage Vacant and Derelict Buildings This policy calls for a Community Charter amendment to allow municipalities to introduce more creative tax meaures to discourage vacant and derelict buildings and deal with the poor social and economic effects of dereliction in the municipality. View as HTML :: View as PDF
Transportation as a Vehicle for Economic Development Investing in a regional transportation strategy focused on increasing public transportation options, improving Victoria’s “Gateway” infrastructure, and optimizing existing and proposed roadways, should be a priority for governments across the municipal region. Transpiration projects should be assessed against the following principles ; regional in perspective, integrate land use planning, encourage economic development, be viewed as an investment, be sustainable, affordable, accessible, and economically viable. View as HTML :: View as PDF
US Customs Pre-Clearance – Belleville International Terminal Security The Chamber recommends that the federal government work together with provincial governments to upgrade facilities regarding infrastructure and security requirements and develop the Victoria marine pre-clearance site as a model for future marine facilities in Canada View as HTML :: View as PDF

As a member of the BC Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Victoria Chamber supports each BC Chamber policy. View the current BC Chamber Policy Manual for policy details.

Likewise, as a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Victoria Chamber supports each Canadian Chamber policy. View the current Canadian Chamber Policy Manual for policy details.