Published Articles
Carving a Place on the Canadian Stage (in Business Vancouver Island)
October 07, 2009
The economy continues to be top of mind these days. We are beginning to hear news that Canada is “technically” coming out of the recession, though on the ground and in the minds of local consumers, it may take a bit longer for that to be realized. As we come out of the recession in the months ahead, it is important that our businesses are poised to move forward.
As our national economy continues to evolve, it is encouraging that Western Canada is becoming increasingly more important to the economy of the country. Within that, British Columbia plays a significant role in how the West fares economically. As the lens becomes more focussed on the West, we must ensure that Victoria and the Island are relevant on the national stage.
Economic development agencies and municipalities all over the Island have their jobs cut out for them in raising the profile of our Island communities and the opportunities that are available here. With BC, and certainly the lower Island, becoming a mecca for high tech businesses, advances are being made and that exposure brings spin off opportunities for other industries. As we continue to see the unfortunate declines in the manufacturing sector in Ontario and the move towards information based and clean business practices, our province and Island are posed for great exposure and sector development.
We have certainly seen indications of the advance that Vancouver Island is making in carving out its place of importance as the capital city of the most western province. In the last month we have had addresses by both the federal finance minister, Jim Flaherty and the governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney, which is something that occurs when a location is noteworthy.. Each of these high profile speakers chose to come to Victoria to address the business community. We have also hosted the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for its Annual General Meeting, which featured a speaking presentation from US Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson.
As a chamber, we are hopeful that difficult choices concerned with business competitiveness, such as the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax and other tax restructuring of the last few years, will place British Columbia at an advantaged; prepared to bounce back in a stronger way as the recession passes. And further, we expect to see Vancouver Island taking a larger role on the BC stage.
Articles - 2010
Borrowing for the Bridge Our Best Option (in September Business Examiner) (August 30, 2010)
ADS is Positive for BC Tourism (in Business Vancouver Island) (August 11, 2010)
Regional Issues Require Regional Decision Making (in Business Examiner) (July 28, 2010)
Task Force Only a First Step (in Business Vancouver Island) (July 07, 2010)
Paying for the Bridge (in Business Examiner) (June 30, 2010)
Shoulder to Shoulder with Tourism (in Business Vancouver Island) (June 17, 2010)
What is the Cost of Not Building the Marina? (in Business Examiner) (June 01, 2010)
Business Vote is Complicated (in Business Vancouver Island) (May 17, 2010)
Keep an Eye on Tax Spending (in Business Vancouver Island) (April 08, 2010)
Calling for Police Amalgamation (in Business Examiner) (March 24, 2010)
Health, Police Connected (in Business Vancouver Island) (March 11, 2010)
Tourism Benefits of the Games Needing Our Support (in Business Examiner) (March 01, 2010)
Listen to the Tax Canary (in Business Vancovuer Island) (February 15, 2010)
Education and Sewage (in Times Colonist and Blackpress, Letters) (January 29, 2010)
Bay Street Bridge Closure a Wake Up Call (in Business Examiner) (January 27, 2010)
Improving Province's Productivity (in Business Vancouver Island) (January 15, 2010)
Stable Funding for Tourism an Urgent Need (in Business Examiner) (January 04, 2010)
Articles - 2009 
Municipalities Need to Tighten their Belts (December 10, 2009)
What About the Displaced Traffic? (in Business Examiner) (November 27, 2009)
The Local TV/Cable Battle (in Business Vancouver Island) (November 12, 2009)
Budgetary Mitigation Efforts for HST (in Business Examiner) (October 26, 2009)
Why we are Canada's Best Place to Live (in Outlook 2010 in the Times Colonist) (October 17, 2009)
Carving a Place on the Canadian Stage (in Business Vancouver Island) (October 07, 2009)
Budget Deficits and Health of the Community (in Business Examiner) (September 30, 2009)
Keeping the Lens on Crime and Public Safety (in Business Vancouver Island) (September 18, 2009)
HST from Three Perspectives (in Business Examiner) (August 28, 2009)
The Ups and Downs of Tourism (in Business Vancouver Island) (August 10, 2009)
Bar Watch Program Shows Results (August 06, 2009)
Experience Vancouver Island (in Business Vancouver Island) (July 08, 2009)
Dealing with Downtown Drunkeness (in Business Examiner) (July 06, 2009)
TV Playing Field Must be Even too (in Business Vancouver Island) (June 15, 2009)
Get Prolific Offenders Off the Street (in Business Examiner) (June 04, 2009)
Mico-firms in Need of Capital Too (in Business Vancouver Island) (May 11, 2009)
Small Business Realities on Raising Minimum Wage (in Business Examiner) (May 04, 2009)
Letter to the Editor - Johnson St. Bridge (April 22, 2009)
Changes Needed for Film Biz (in Business Vancouver Island) (April 08, 2009)
Keeping Tax Increases Sustainable (in Business Examiner) (April 06, 2009)
Keeping Cities Affordable (in Business Vancouver Island) (March 13, 2009)
Preserving Heritage at What Cost? (in Business Examiner) (March 02, 2009)
Deficit Budgets - Good? (in Business Vancouver Island) (February 11, 2009)
Getting Organized for Budget Investments (in Business Examiner) (January 19, 2009)
The 2009 Budget Slalom (in Business Vancouver Island) (January 11, 2009)
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