Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce

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Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
A34 Friday, June 22, 2018                                                         Abbotsford News                                                                  www.abbynews.com

       Taxes, Housing and the Economy
                            Key Issues for BC Chambers
  More than 200 business and Chamber leaders discussed,       increasing the exemption threshold from $500,000 to at        bers. These asked the provincial government to imple-
debated and passed 54 resolutions during the BC Cham-         least $1 million to allow for more small businesses and       ment strategies to speed up the supply and diversity of
ber of Commerce AGM in Kamloops in May. These policies        small non-profit organizations to be exempted. They also      new housing to enable workers to live where they work.
will become part of the Chamber’s advocacy agenda with        recommend applying the tax on an incremental basis and          Chambers also supported the need for a globally com-
the provincial government.                                    indexing thresholds to the Consumer Price Index.              petitive LNG industry in BC, added enhancements to the
  Many of the recommendations to the government were             Pressing the pause button on BC’s proposed specula-        current inter-municipal mobile business licence program
related to tax proposals arising from the recent provincial   tion tax was the basis for another set of recommendations     and further economic protection by better managing the
budget. There was overwhelming concern with regard            that included scrapping the tax altogether until more de-     lower Fraser River.
to a significant increase in the tax burden falling on the    tailed economic data was available to show how housing
shoulders of the business sector.                                                                                              “These policy recommendations come from the grass
                                                              would be made more accessible and affordable as a result      roots level at Chambers across BC,” said Abbotsford Cham-
  To pay for the reduction and removal of Medical Ser-        of this type of taxation policy.
vice Premiums (MSP) the government has proposed the                                                                         ber Executive Director Allan Asaph. “They reflect the
                                                                 Stopping the government’s plans to divert tax monies,      needs and ideas from a wide range of businesses across
creation of a new Employer Health Tax. To minimize the
                                                              specifically raised to build and increase the economic        various economic and geographic sectors. The final rec-
negative effects of this new tax on business the Chamber
recommends that the government postpones the imple-           strength of the tourism sector, for other purposes was also   ommendations are the result of a robust, well researched
mentation to 2020 so it coincides with the date of the re-    the basis of one of the successful resolutions.               process that has earned the attention and respect of our
moval of MSP premiums and eliminates the “double-dip-           Progressive housing solutions to address workforce          political leaders. The Abbotsford Chamber is proud to be a
ping” that will otherwise occur in 2019. They recommend       challenges were put forward and endorsed by the Cham-         strong voice in this important area,” adds Asaph.
Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
www.abbynews.com                                                                              Abbotsford News                                                                      Friday, June 22, 2018 A35
2018

                                                 A Leadership Opportunity
                                                 Awaits
                                                   Allan Asaph, our Executive Director of             financial and governance standards.
                                                 the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce                   Under his leadership our Chamber
                                                 has announced his plans to retire this fall.         has been recognized by the Chamber
                                                   After almost 7 years leading the                   Accreditation Council of Canada as an
                                                 Chamber as senior staff person, Allan                Accredited Chamber with Distinction
                                                 has advised the Board he is stepping                 (one of only 10 in BC).
                                                 down. He has been a valuable part of                   He has also been personally active                    Mark Warkentin, President
                                                 our organization and has contributed                 in the community with Rotary and as
                                                 greatly to the growth and success of our             Board Chair of Tourism Abbotsford. At            replacement. The selection process will
                                                 Chamber. He has been a key resource                  the industry level he is Past President of       take place over the next few months. We
                                                 in our advocacy and policy work and                  the BC Chamber Executives Association            will be looking for someone to help us
                                                 has strengthened the relationship the                and also represents BC Chambers on               continue to build and sustain a thriving
                                                 Chamber has with all three levels of                 the Board of the Canadian Chambers               business community through our
                                                 government.                                          Insurance Corporation.                           strategic objectives to Advocate, Benefit
                                                   In addition, he has ensured that                     The Board has struck an Executive              and Connect.
                                                 our Chamber has operated under                       Search Task Force to begin the process of          Details about the position can be found
                                                 the most rigorous of administrative,                 recruiting and selecting a well qualified        at www.abbotsfordchamber.com/jobs

                                                 A great day of golf and networking fun!
                                                   The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce’s                  t5FYBT4DSBNCMF                                 Thank you to our sponsors and prize
                                                 31st Annual Golf Tournament is being held               t,1BOE-%$POUFTUT                           contributors – this event would not be
                                                 on Friday, September 7, 2018 at Ledgeview               t4JMFOU"VDUJPO                               possible without your support!
                                                 Golf & Country Club. It is a fantastic                  t3BõF1SJ[FT
                                                 opportunity for you and your business                   t)PMF*O0OF1SJ[FT
       Tim Holloway         Kevin Mierau         to be a part of Abbotsford’s premier golf
                                                                                                         Interested in showcasing your business
                                                 tournament. This tournament also is a
                                                                                                       on the course?
                                                 terrific way to meet the men and women of
                                                 our business community.                                 We have a variety of sponsorship
                                                                                                       opportunities for the golf tournament that
                                                   Registration includes 18 holes of golf,
                                                 shared power carts, burger buffet lunch               will allow you to connect with our golfers.
                                                 sponsored by Abbotsford Hospice Society,                       Contact the Chamber office
        Jason Lepp                               BBQ steak dinner, on-course contests,                             at (604) 859-9651 or
                                                 activities, and awards.                                     events@abbotsfordchamber.com.

                                                   NEW BUSINESSES:
                              Steve Yap
                                                   The Abbotsford Chamber would like to welcome the following businesses:

       CHAMBER
                                                   Becoming a member of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce provides substantial benefits to generate more business and
 2018

                                                   reach the heart of your community.
       TEAM MEMBERS                              New Members since the May Edition are:
  #207-32900 South Fraser Way t     t Browns Socialhouse McCallum – www.brownssocialhouse.com                          tCaid Concrete Inc. – 778-880-6966
                                                  tBlack Sheep Institute – www.taradobbs.com                                         tMigrateCA Immigration Resource – www.migrateca.ca
                                                  tT.S.M. Mechanical Inc. – 604-556-8363                                             tJuris Notary Office – www.jurisnotary.com

       Allan Asaph        La Vonne Bandsma
   EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR       OFFICE MANAGER
         allan@                 lavonne@
 abbotsfordchamber.com   abbotsfordchamber.com    AU G U S T 10 | A B B OT S F O R D             S E P T E M B E R 7 31 S T A N N UA L G O L F         SE P T E M B E R 24 | G O O D M O R N I N G
                                                  I N T E R N AT I O N A L A I R S H O W         TO U R N A M E N T                                    A B B OT S F O R D
                                                  Join us at the Abbotsford Chamber of           Registration includes 18 holes of golf,               Sponsored by: Abbotsford Division of Family Practice
                                                  Commerce Business Lounge on Friday             shared power carts, lunch, dinner, on-course          “Connecting Financial & Legal Planning with Healthcare”
                                                  August 10, 2018 for the Abbotsford                                                                   Come join us to discuss improving the system,
                                                                                                 contests, activities and awards.
                                                  International AirshowTwilight Show.                                                                  understanding each sector’s needs and developing
                                                  Ticket includes parking pass, BBQ dinner,      t5FYBT4DSBNCMF                                      partnerships to ensure your client’s or your own needs
                                                  complimentary WiFi and exclusive               http://business.abbotsfordchamber.com/                and expectations are met.
     Matt Langdon            Katie Syroid         washrooms.                                     events/details/31st-annual-acoc-golf-                 Keynote Speaker: Ron Kuehl, Executive Director of
   BUS. DEV. MANAGER        EVENT MANAGER         http://business.abbotsfordchamber.com/         tournament-4260                                       Abbotsford Hospice Society
         matt @                  katie@           events/details/2018-abbotsford-airshow-                                                              http://business.abbotsfordchamber.com/events/
 abbotsfordchamber.com   abbotsfordchamber.com
                                                  business-lounge-4541                                                                                 details/2018-september-good-morning-abbotsford-4293
Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
A36 Friday, June 22, 2018                                                         Abbotsford News                                                                  www.abbynews.com

   The benefits of
  mentoring in the
  business world
   Do you know the origin of the word         from the experience of a mentor:
“mentor”? According to Greek mytholo-         • They build contacts in their network.
gy, the legendary hero Ulysses entrust-
ed the education and care of his son to       • They improve their ability to adapt to
his faithful friend, called Mentor. Now,        new situations.
there’s an interesting fact to slip into a    • They develop their skills and knowl-
conversation.                                   edge.
   Because of all its advantages, mentor-     • They gain privileged access to different
ing is a common activity in the business        resources, such as data and specialists.
and entrepreneurial world. By definition,     • They increase their confidence and
it is a relationship that brings the men-       self-esteem.
toree encouragement and professional
support through communication and             • They gain a better understanding of
teaching.                                       their work environment and organiza-
                                                tional culture.
   Mentors are experienced people who
help in the development of mentorees’         Winning conditions
skills and talents. Mentors are role mod-        For an entrepreneurial mentoring
els who help their charges acquire ex-        relationship to succeed, it’s important
pertise and hone their skills for the good    that the two people have professional
of the enterprise. It also helps them re-     affinities and similar values. In addition,
alize their personal ambitions. The men-      they must commit to being honest and
tor-mentee pairing involves exchanges         respectful in their dealings. Lastly, their
on a voluntary basis, without any finan-      meetings should take place on a regular
cial compensation.                            basis and be carefully prepared. For cur-
The advantages                                rent and future entrepreneurs, it is a wise
   In the business world, there are many      career move to find a mentor who can
advantages for the person benefiting          guide them to the heights of success.

                                  Celebrate
 1951                                                                          2018
  Please join us this
  month of June as we

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Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Taxes, Housing and the Economy - Key Issues for BC Chambers - Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
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