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CREATIVE DIRECTION AND DESIGN PRODUCED BY EMERGE DESIGNS Publisher Steve Boulter – Emerge Designs Printer KKP Kwik Kopy Printing Project Manager Wendy Morrell
Contributors Joseph O’Donnell Krista Ross Morgan Peters Stacey Murray Daniel Desjardins Patrick McCullough Janet Moser
Advertising Consultant Wendy Morrell CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Krista Ross kristar@frederictonchamber.ca
POLICY & RESEARCH MANAGER Morgan Peters advocacy@frederictonchamber.ca
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING MANAGER Christine Little membership@frederictonchamber.ca
DIRECTOR BUSINESS IMMIGRANT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM / INTERCULTURAL BUSINESS INCUBATOR Janet Moser janetm@frederictonchamber.ca
CEO’s Message Chamber Welcomes New Members Advocacy Update
PRESIDENT Joseph O’Donnell president@frederictonchamber.ca
EVENT MANAGER Stacey Murray advocacy@frederictonchamber.ca
President’s Message
OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Wendy Morrell fchamber@frederictonchamber.ca
Insight is published by Emerge Designs.
The Hive/la Ruche The Evolution of Business Procurement Ombudsman Scholarship Winner Questions that Count Joint Economic Development Initiative Event Calendar
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Member Profile
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Chamber Buzz
The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce will not give, nor rent your name, mailing address, or other contact information to third parties. Printed in Canada. Printed by KKP - Kwik Kopy Printing. Fredericton Chamber of Commerce PO Box 275, 364 York Street, Suite 200, Fredericton, NB E3B 4Y9 Tel: (506) 458-8006 Fax: (506) 451-1119 fchamber@frederictonchamber.ca www.frederictonchamber.ca Twitter - @fton_chamber Facebook – facebook.com/frederictonchamber
Ignite Fredericton
285 Canada Street -3rd Floor Fredericton NB, Canada E3A 4A3 Ph: 506.999.3332 creative@emergedesigns.ca www.emergedesigns.ca
Joseph O’Donnell, President
H
appy 140th Anniversary! More on that in a moment. For now, a new chamber year is upon us, and as I step into the position of president of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, I am excited to look ahead to the challenges the chamber faces and the opportunities we may grasp. 2014-2015 will truly be a year of transition. Our biggest challenge is to ensure that your chamber continues to meet and exceed our member’s expectations for the value of their membership. This should always be our main focus, whether it means advocating with government for better conditions for business, being a resource for business connections, or providing value-added services like employee group benefits. And all the while, your chamber remains the best place for you – business owners and your valued employees – to network with the Fredericton business community and to take advantage of the chamber’s reach and presence in sponsorship and promotional opportunities. Your chamber follows its strategic plan in order to deliver services and conduct its activities. This has served us well over the past years, but we continue to examine our board and committee structure to ensure that your chamber maintains its position as the “Voice of Business” and meets and promotes our strategic goals. In that vein, we are in the process of establishing our committee structures for the upcoming year, to allow us to advance our agenda more effectively and to respond to emergent issues with more clarity. I welcome the chance to speak with you in that regard. As we near the end of summer, your chamber has been more active than usual as we focus on the upcoming 38th NB Provincial election on Monday, September 22nd. 2013-2014 was marked by many successes at the chamber, including the following: • Great strides forward with our government relations. Activities consisted of our provincial government pre-budget submission in December, meeting with Finance Minister Higgs in January, our budget review in February, presenting our
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annual brief to the city council in April, our pre-election political leadership series as well as meeting with our local MLA’s, members of City Council, and our MP on several occasions, to advocate on behalf of our chamber members. • The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce submitted two policy resolutions for consideration by the member delegates at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM. The first resolution, entitled Controlling the Canada-US Price Gap, built on previous work by the Fredericton chamber on cross-border shopping issues and honed in on the issue of higher prices for retail items in Canada than the US. The resolution used the February 2013 Senate Committee on National Finance report as its basis. The second resolution, entitled Standardized Licensing and Accreditation Requirements across Provinces for Professions was suggested by the chamber’s government affairs committee and is aimed at increasing homogeneity between provincial regulatory regimes for professions. In addition to efficiencies that can be realized by more closely aligning regulations between provinces, it is believed that the recommendations of this resolution will make labour mobility between provinces easier and make Canada (and New Brunswick) a more attractive destination for highly skilled immigrants. At the AGM, both resolutions were approved unanimously by the more than 300 voting delegates of the Canadian chamber’s member chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 Canadian businesses. These resolutions are now policy positions of the Canadian chamber and will be pursued with the federal government over the coming months. “Having these resolutions passed unanimously is a major victory for the Fredericton chamber,” stated Krista Ross, Fredericton chamber CEO. “Not only does it mean that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce will put its advocacy resources behind issues that are important to our local business community, but it also increases the national profile of the Fredericton chamber and solidifies our position as a contributor to the Canadian chamber’s overall agenda.” ...Continued on Page 8.
Krista Ross, CEO
A
s part of the Fredericton chamber’s efforts to serve our members’ interests, we are active participants in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s policy and advocacy operations. The central component of this process is the policy resolution debate that occurs each year at the annual general meeting – this year being held in Charlottetown! Chambers from across the country submit policy resolutions that are of a national scope (i.e. purely local or provincial issues are not part of the Canadian chamber’s mandate) and delegates like us vote on whether the Canadian chamber should pursue the recommendations contained within with the federal government. As you may recall, in 2013 the Fredericton chamber submitted two resolutions that were passed unanimously by the delegates in Kelowna. One dealt with trying to narrow the US-Canada price gap, calling for the implementation of recommendations made by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance. The second called for working towards greater standardizing of professional credentials between provinces. This year we are co-sponsoring a resolution submitted by the Charlottetown chamber that recommends “that the federal government make changes to the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) to allow small NAS [National Airport System] airports access to the existing funding program with other airports that have the same passenger traffic level.” The Fredericton International Airport is one of these NAS airports and is therefore restricted in the funding it can receive for infrastructure improvements. This resolution is quite timely for this region as our airport embarks on raising funds to expand its terminal to better accommodate its current and future traffic loads. How can our members get involved? 1. Review the 2014 proposed resolutions and give us your feedback. Our members have a wide breadth of knowledge and expertise that we would like to tap into and leverage for the benefit of all members. The proposed resolutions fall into the following categories: Finance and Taxation; Industry; Natural Resources
and Environment; Transportation; International Affairs; Human Resources; Social Policy; and Special Issues. The more members that provide their opinion on these resolutions, the more informed our voting decisions will be. All proposed resolutions can be found online: http://www.chamber.ca/advocacy/policyresolutions/2014-policy-resolutions/. 2. Join our newly-formed Policy Development Committee In order to make our policy and advocacy efforts more standardized, we have created a new committee for 2014-15: the Policy Development Committee. This committee will be tasked with not only writing and reviewing Canadian chamber resolutions, but also policies and position statements on municipal and provincial issues as well. The formal process will assist the effectiveness of our advocacy efforts and help us more efficiently communicate. The committee will also consolidate our current positions on various issues and allow us to respond more quickly to pressing issues. 3. Provide suggestions for future national policy resolutions Each year we have the opportunity to submit policy resolutions to the national chamber. If you have a suggestion for an issue to bring forward, please get in touch. There are four primary criteria to be considered: 1. The resolution deals with an issue relevant to Canadianbusiness that is within federal jurisdiction and is of national significance. 2. The issue is current, timely and requires action. 3. The resolution is complete, detailed and supported by factual information 4. The resolution does not align one sector, industry or region of Canada against another. If you are able to provide assistance on any of these items or have other suggestions on which issues the chamber should be advocating, please contact me at (506) 458-8006 / fchamber@frederictonchamber.ca; or our Policy & Research Manager, Morgan Peters at (506) 451-9742 / advocacy@ frederictonchamber.ca.
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New Members
Wang, Sirong Tel: (506) 645-9700 Email: wangsirong@msn.com
HWKI Inc. 270 Woodbridge Street Fredericton, NB E3B 4R3 Tel: (902) 402-7355 Email: shea@hwki.ca Contact: Shea Kewin
Maple Leaf Homes 20 Hooper Crescent Fredericton, NB E3B 7J9 Tel: (506) 459-1335 Email: dmcinnis@mlhomes.nb.ca Website: mapleleafhomes.ca Contact: David McInnis
Radio Fredericton Inc. 715 Priestman Street Fredericton, NB E3B 5W7 Tel: (506) 454-2576 Email: direction@cjpn.ca Website: www.cjpn.ca Contact: Alexandre DesLongchamps
Canadian Home Builders Association New Brunswick 403 Regent Streeet,Suite 207 Fredericton, NB E3B 3X6 Tel: (506) 459-7219 Email: nbhome@nbnet.nb.ca Website: nbhomebuilders.ca Main Contact: Claudia Simmonds
Doctor’s Orders 50 Crowther Lane, Suite 140 Fredericton, NB E3C 0J1 Tel: (506) 663-5436 Email:g.m.graeme.powell@gmail.com Contact: Graeme Powell
Lexus of Saint John 347 Rothesay Avenue Saint John, NB E2L 3V6 Tel: (506) 648-5398 Email: ccoyle@lexusofsaintjohn.com Website: lexusofsaintjohn.com Contact: Cathy Coyle
Total Pave Inc. 10 Oxford Court Fredericton, NB E3B 2W8 Tel: (506) 261-3225 Email: Coady.cameron@totalpave.ca Website: totalpave.com Contact: Coady Cameron
Molly Maid PO Box 30039 Fredericton, NB E3B 0H8 Tel: (506) 450-4298 Email: odonnell@mollymaid.ca Website: mollymaid.ca Contact: Moyra O’Donnell
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New Members
FREDERIC MOND Inc.
Alianco 123 Water Street, Suite 205 Campbellton, NB E3N 1B2 Tel: (506) 753-3323 Email: micheline@alianco.ca Website: alianco.ca Contact: Micheline Roy Products & Services:Alianco is a not-for-profit organization that offers translation services and will help you manage your translation projects from beginning to end. We promise to provide you with superior translation services by consistently applying our rigorous quality assurance policy. Please visit our website, www.alianco.ca for more information.
No Limits Driving School 390 King Street, Suite 210 Fredericton, NB E3B 1E3 Tel: (506) 449-0009 E-mail: nolimitsdrivingschool@hotmail.com Website: nolimitsdrivingschool.com Contact: Nancy Hachey
Infinity Source 82 Ridgeline Crescent Fredericton, NB E3C 0E9 Tel: (506) 471-8860 Email: lc@infinitysource.ca Contact: Lily Chen Products & Services: • One Stop Printing Solutions • Promotional Products • Export to Chinese Market • Translation and Consulation” We are committed to providing quality products with high price performance ratio in a way that stresses long term partnership with clients, so that we can build a profitable and recognized business, as measured by an increase in the number of repeat customers and referrals.
30 Knowledge Park Dr., Suite 150 Fredericton, NB E3C 2R2
Frederic Mond Inc. Dr. Reza Ektasabi 30 Knowledge Park Drive, Suite 150 Fredericton, NB E3C 2R0 Tel: (506) 259-8068 Email: asa_ektesabi@yahoo.co.uk Contact: Reza Ektesabi Managing Director
Research and Industrial Fabrication
asa_ektesabi@yahoo.co.uk Phone: 1.506.259.8068
Products & Services: -Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing of Industrial Parts by CNC Turning and Milling Machines (for Steel Alloys, Stainless Steel, Brass, Copper, Aluminum, PVC and ABS). -Idea Prototyping for Entrepreneurs. -Industrial Fabrication, Manufacturing Process Consultant of Layout of Machines for Development of New Production Business. -Heavy Duty Coating for Corrosion Protection.
Theatre New Brunswick 55 Whiting Road, Unit 31 Fredericton, NB E3B 5Y5 Tel: (506) 460-1381 Email: accounting@tnb.nb.ca Website: www.tnb.nb.ca Contact: Catherine MacDonald
Products & Services : We are a new Driving School in the Fredericton area. We offer a Driver Education Course as well as a Motorcycle Course. There is also a Defensive Driving Courses was well as courses for seasoned drivers.
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Advocacy
By: Morgan Peters
W
hile much of our advocacy work is of a continuous nature, September does bring a sense of renewal and enthusiasm at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. Committees are reformed, which typically brings in a good combination of returning and new volunteers with fresh ideas and perspectives; we review the results of our annual membership survey with our board and committees; we attend the Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting; and of course in 2014, we will have a new look to the New Brunswick government, regardless of which party wins the election. Advocacy Committees The chamber has four advocacy committees that are always eager to take on new members each year. The Provincial Government Affairs Committee, Municipal Government Affairs Committee, Economic Development Committee and Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee are both wellestablished and always in need to new members. A combination of continuity and new perspectives are critical to keep our committees on-point and relevant. We are also adding a Policy Committee in 2014-15, which will aid our advocacy efforts and make our positions on issues more clear. Annual Membership Survey While we are now compiling the results of our survey, it remains open for responses throughout the year – just one way to provide your thoughts on our advocacy efforts. Our members have a wide variance in their opinions on issues, which provide a challenge for us, but we read all of the comments received and take them into account when making advocacy decisions. We also appreciate feedback on the survey itself, which was drastically shortened this year based on comments received in previous years. President’s Message Continued The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce also partnered with a number of new organizations such as the Neil Squire Society to promote the various programs offered by the society, which are mutually beneficial to businesses and the society’s clients. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce and Start-up Fredericton announced a new strategic partnership. The cooperative alliance will leverage the strengths of both organizations to provide additional resources and connections for Fredericton’s burgeoning start up community. Also the Fredericton chamber and the Rotary Clubs of Fredericton co-hosted a number of very well-attended
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Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting The Canadian chamber annual general meeting has been covered elsewhere in this issue, but I will provide a summary report on the 2014 AGM in the next issue of Insight. 2014 New Brunswick Election The new cost of election commitment disclosure statements not only gives us a new tool to keep our next government accountable, but also provides better insight during the campaign into what each party’s government would look like should they win. Ideally it will also force each party to examine campaign promises from the perspective of the financial realities of a sitting government, rather than simply trying to appeal to as many voters as possible. At the very least it allows voters to have a better idea of what they are ‘agreeing to’ up front. As Frank Underwood said, “The nature of promises…is that they are immune to changing circumstances.” Hopefully parties are taking into account inevitable changing circumstances when announcing their platforms. Presentation by Richard Saillant On September 10, 2014 at 8:00 am, the chamber is hosting a presentation by Richard Saillant, author of Over the Cliff? Acting Now to Avoid New Brunswick’s Bankruptcy. Mr Saillant’s book outlines a current fiscal path that is unsustainable and states that tough decisions must be made to avoid a disastrous outcome. The committee felt this message is important for our members (and everyone) to hear as they head to the polls. The province faces serious economic issues and the next four years will prove to be crucial if we are to recover. To register or get more details, visit our website at www.frederictonchamber.ca.
luncheons with well know speakers that benefited our local members. Finally, this year we are celebrating the Chamber’s 140th anniversary – a remarkable achievement that underscores the strength of your chamber of commerce. It is one of the many reasons I look forward to serving you as your chamber board President this coming year. I would ask you to contact me if you are interested in joining one of our committees, or if you have any questions or comments about any aspect of the Chamber. Joseph O’Donnell President 2014‐2015 Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
B.I.M.P
T
he Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a newly launched pilot - The Hive Incubator is now open for business. The Hive is a complementary, next-step offering to our award-winning Business Immigrant Mentorship Program. Located in the Knowledge Park, The Hive will be operating a full-time business centre which allows newcomers that have a registered business access to an incubatory program which will assist them in learning about Canadian business in an environment immersed in and surrounded by business development agencies. The objective is to offer clients a work space (for a fee) that is also a training centre with programming that teaches the best practices of doing business in Canada. The Hive Incubator was first introduced in Moncton in 2013 and launched as La Ruche to the Francophone immigrant
“We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Province of New Brunswick for their foresight and leadership in their efforts to grow our population and infuse new business revenue into our economy. Immigration of business professionals who are choosing our city for the sole purpose of purchasing existing businesses and franchises or starting new business will mean job creation in our region. Our province, through the Department of Post-Secondary Training and Labour understand clearly the relevance and importance of this infusion and are committed to funding of innovative and results driven programming.� Janet Moser - Director Hive/BIMP Business Center For more information on BIMP or Hive please contact our office at 451-9745 or by emailing janetm@ frederictonchamber.ca
community, hosted by Enterprise Greater Moncton. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is leading the way with the inclusion of our immigrant business community by offering two innovative programs that are firsts across the country.
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Insight
By: Patrick McCullough
I
n the past ten years, Fredericton has gained a lot of attention for recent startup businesses. Large acquisitions have grabbed the attention of politicians and investors. Today startups have access to capital, mentors, and resources to help make them thrive in an unstable economy. Looking back ten years, however, might not be good enough to see Fredericton’s history with startup businesses. 40 years ago things were different than today. Large acquisitions of technology companies weren’t common in our region, and there were fewer resources for companies to access. Gordon Wheaton, along with others, started a taxi business in 1973. The business was called Trius. “We had no business, zero; we were working basically for nothing, we couldn’t afford to pay ourselves, we opened up hoping and confident that if we provided good service business would come.”
Gordon Wheaton
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Trius taxi evolved and moved into other profitable sectors. Today, Trius employs
approximately 100 people, and they’re still growing. Wheaton has seen the growth and the rapid changes to happen within Fredericton’s business sector in the past 40 years, but it hasn’t been easy. “We succeeded because we worked through the issues,” said Wheaton. When Wheaton started his business, he didn’t have a lot of resources or mentors he could access to help out his business. Jumping back to today, there a lot more resources for entrepreneurs to access than 40 years ago. You just need to know where to look. Nathan Armstrong, co-founder of Hyton Innovation praises Fredericton for its resources available. Hyton Innovation is a technology company which focuses on recycling industrial waste water resulting in clean water. This technology can help companies reduce the amount of waste they produce and fines for pollution. Although Hyton as well as Trius appear to be worlds apart, they are similar. Both companies have to or had to face the same problems when it comes to selling their services, getting funding, or dealing with competitors. There is something that separates the two more than anything which is access to resources when trying to get their businesses off the ground. Armstrong has had a lot of experience accessing resources in the region, being previously involved with both Planet Hatch’s and Launch36’s accelerator programs. “Accessing mentors is crucial,” said Armstrong. Today accessing mentors is easier for new businesses, perhaps more than ever. When Wheaton started Trius it was difficult to reach out to people with experience in his industry, because they were his competitors. “There wasn’t much available, first of all the taxi business is known to be a risky business anyway, we had trouble getting financing…I think it was very little funding and mostly hard work that got us off the ground,” said Wheaton.
Business
Wheaton has been running Trius for over 40 years, but this doesn’t mean Armstrong is having an easier time starting his business than Wheaton did. Wheaton believes it’s more difficult to start a business today perhaps more than ever because entrepreneurs are missing something. “I think generally, younger people coming out of school today, or wanting to get into business today, have not experienced the necessity of determination or to hang with something,” said Wheaton. Wheaton believes there is a problem when new entrepreneurs try to start their own businesses. “Today we tend to look at short little glimpses of things, it’s hard to get people to focus on one goal, so is it harder today, I would say it probably is.” Armstrong looks at things differently. Although it isn’t easy starting a business, with the resources in the region available for startups to access more doors are open. “Fredericton allows you to hit a wall, find a mentor, or advisor, and pass that wall,” said Armstrong. When it comes to accessing resources, “It makes a difference between a successful and unsuccessful business” said Armstrong. Nathan Armstrong
One of the largest changes that Wheaton has noticed over the
years is the change of technology and how that effects business today. “There are many opportunities today that are related to dealing with high tech issues, but it’s very difficult to get those off the ground, I mean you have to get funding, in our case it was a simple business you get in a car and you drive someone around, not easy, but simple,” said Wheaton. Armstrong’s company is dealing with a high tech issue, in this case reducing water pollution. You have every tool you need to start a business, there are no excuses,” said Armstrong. Hyton innovation is a year a half old and they still have a way to go, but they are in the best place to do it. Ignite Fredericton, Planet Hatch, the Pond-Deshpande Centre, are just some of the examples available for entrepreneurs in the region. Comparing 1973 to 2014 can be difficult, but some things are clear. Technology has changed a lot over a short amount of time, there are more resources available today than before, and if you have the dedication and persistence, you can be successful. “As you grow you will always come up against some difficulty that you have to overcome and I think the tenacity, or determination not to give up will lead to success,” said Wheaton.
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Ombudsman
By: Daniel Desjardins
A
re you experiencing issues with a federal contract? Is your business currently or envisioning applying for a federal contract? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then obtaining more information about an office that is largely unknown and underutilized might be a great initiative for you to consider as a business owner in order to save time and money. Created in 2008, the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman is an independent and neutral office working at arm’s length from federal departments and agencies. The legislated rules mandate three things from the ombudsman. The first one being the review of complaints, meaning the office offers help to suppliers who are experiencing issues in supplying goods and services to the federal government. Amongst other things, the office can provide assistance when you are experiencing any difficulties with the administration of your contract regardless of the dollar value. The office is tasked with looking into concerns regarding the award of contracts below $25,000 for goods and below $100,000 for services. In such cases where the nature of the concern does not lend itself to other available remedies, the office has the mandate to conduct an investigation. For concerns of higher value, contact the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) at (http://www. citt.gc.ca/procure/complaint/index_e.asp, 613-993-3595) Secondly, the office offers Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services. One of the parties to the contract must request the service, whether it is by the supplier or the government organization. Both parties to the contract must agree to participate as it is a voluntary process and such services are provided at no cost to you. The contract disputes will also remain confidential and without prejudice. Additionally, the office does not have the authority to impose a settlement or resolution but will help you and the government department to reach a mutually satisfactory solution while being legally binding. Thirdly, the office is responsible to conduct procurement practices reviews. Such reviews are conducted for individual departments and allow the procurement ombudsman to make recommendations for improvement within the department under review. The office can conduct these reviews and
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investigate nearly all federal departments and agencies, with the exception of the Canadian Security Intelligence Office and the staff of the Senate and House of Commons. All reviews and investigations are done within the parameters of regulation and are legislated to be conducted in an unbiased, timely and independent manner. On average, 350,000 federal contracts are issued each year, which amount to an annual average investment of 16-20 billion dollars of federal money. Additionally, 90% of the contracts only take up 10% of the total yearly investment, which means that there are numerous contract opportunities for smalland medium-size businesses. Given the significant number of contracts that the federal government is party to, disputes between the government and its contractors are inevitable. In total there are 15 laws and 35 policies associated with federal government contracts, in addition to each department and agency having their individual directives. Hence, before the office was created, understanding the reasoning behind a decision, obtaining answers or proper justifications could easily turn into an unpleasant and costly sequence of events. If you had concerns or disagreements regarding the award of federal contracts, your options were limited to either talking directly to the specific department, going to court versus the federal government or walking way. Realizing that none of these options were favorable or manageable - especially for smallor medium-size businesses, the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman was created to promote fairness, openness and transparency in the federal government. As important as investigating or facilitating alternative dispute resolution related to federal contract, the office also takes measures to educate on both sides of the spectrum. The education function is a two-way street – the office educates businesses on the rules and procedures associated with federal contracts and also encourages businesses to educate the office on what procedures are working properly and which ones needs to be subject to change. In their own words, the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman is neither a lobbyist for suppliers nor an apologist for departments, but are there to help and point you in the right direction while experiencing issues with a federal contract.
Scholarship
If you’d like more information or need to discuss a contract issue, you can contact the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman at: Toll free 1-866-734-5169 E-mail: opo-boa@opo-boa.gc.ca Or visit their web site at: http://opo-boa.gc.ca/index-eng.html Another resource that might be of interest is the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME) in Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). The OSME advocates on behalf of small and medium enterprises and encourages their participation in federal government procurement. OSME assists SMEs in better understanding how the government buys goods and services by raising awareness of opportunities. OSME also provides the information services such as • Buyandsell.gc.ca, which provides access to federal procurement information and open data including bid
T
he Fredericton Chamber of commerce is delighted to offer Alison Patterson their inaugural $1000 scholarship. The scholarship was created in 2013 to recognize a deserving student who has made a significant positive contribution to the betterment of their school and / or community and has achieved a high level of academic performance. The recent graduate from Leo Hayes High School is a welldeserving recipient of the scholarship. Since a young age this accomplished student has been an engaged citizen and has taken consistently found ways to give back to the community that has helped her grow into the caring individual that she is today. For the past four years she has been a camp leader at her church’s vacation bible school where she organized activities that kept the children safe and engaged. Each year along with her mother, Alison raises money for cancer research by canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society and plans on continuing to help this charity as long as she can in her father’s memory. Alison is also an accomplished athlete. During and after her participating years with various competitive basketball teams, including her middle and high school team, Alison enjoyed giving back to the Fredericton basketball community. This involvement consisted of dedicating many volunteer hours to refereeing, score keeping, working canteens and providing a guiding hand to the younger participants enjoying the same sport. In addition to her contribution within basketball community, Alison has also ‘had the privilege of being a “Best Buddy” at school to students with intellectual disabilities for the past two years.’ This program’s main purpose is to allow volunteers to be paired up with a buddy with a disability and provide them with a friend or a mentor.
opportunities (tenders), standing offers and supply arrangements, and contract history. • free seminars and webinars and one-on-one sessions to assist suppliers in understanding federal procurement; Essentially, OSME assists the government in bridging the gap between supply and demand by bringing forward the concerns and challenges of SMEs in the federal procurement process. You can contact the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises for the Atlantic region Dominion Public Building 1713 Bedford Row, 7th Floor Halifax NS B3J 3C9 Telephone: 902-426-5677 Fax: 902-426-7969 Email: osme-bpme-atl@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
Alison really enjoys helping out students get better and realize their potential. Hence, for most of her high school years this young adult has taken full advantage of her high academic performance by voluntarily tutoring several students in mathematics and chemistry. In September, Alison will be heading to Halifax in order to pursue her post-secondary education at Dalhousie University, where she is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program. Combining her love for chemistry and her desire of helping others, Alison has strong ambitions of being admitted to DAL’s four year Bachelor of Pharmacy program. She also has the personal goal of being admitted into the pharmacy program after completing two years of her undergraduate degree in order to offset some of the university costs, as well as permitting her to start her dream career as a pharmacist at an earlier age. The Fredericton chamber is proud to have Alison as its first scholarship recipient and wishes her the best of luck in the future.
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Insight
Questions
By: Morgan Peters
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s mentioned in the preceding issue’s Advocacy Update, leading up to the 2014 New Brunswick election, the Fredericton chamber asked each of New Brunswick’s five registered political parties the same set of seven questions. All responses can now be seen on our website, but below are the responses to the final question: Given the dire debt and deficit situation New Brunswick is in, what steps will your party take to resolve the financial crisis? After six questions on specific topics, this type of broad question allowed the parties to speak to their overall vision of New Brunswick’s fiscal future. The responses are reproduced below. Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick response: A Progressive Conservative Government lead by David Alward will continue to tackle the provinces finances head-on until the books are balanced. We must be realistic about what our needs and wants are as a province and we must take immediate action to grow our economy. The Alward government has tabled a plan to eliminate the deficit and has taken action to ensure the savings found today are still there tomorrow for future generations. Additionally, a Progressive Conservative government realizes that part of our challenge as a province is a revenue problem. To increase revenue the government must find new sources of income. A David Alward government is committed to responsible natural resource development and our energy sector. Both of these key industries could drastically change the provinces financial future and David Alward and the Progressive Conservative Party are committed to that plan. New Brunswick Liberal P arty response:
A Liberal government will make the financial situation a priority. We believe it is essential to get our fiscal house in order. Our overall approach to governing will always look to decrease costs and increase revenues. On the revenue side will look to direct all government departments to work with stakeholders to create jobs and increase exports. We will focus our business attraction efforts on promoting the value of doing business in New Brunswick and focus on high-growth sectors, including the ICT sector. We will focus on making New Brunswick more start-up friendly to encourage new entrepreneurs. On reducing costs we believe there is great benefit in implementing greater cost-sharing initiatives with our neighboring Atlantic provinces. Similarly in province we will look to share costs between departments and eliminate duplication. Technology can also help reduce costs throughout government. We will look to cut political costs by ensuring new hires are on merit alone, reducing the size of cabinet and eliminating things such
as special pensions. We will also continue down the path of continuous improvement with the implementation of programs such as lean six sigma. We have also proposed a comprehensive, strategic program review, similar to what was done in the Government of Canada in the 1990’s. To date, the provincial government has mandated that departments find a certain percentage of savings each year. This is not a productive way to either control spending or manage government resources. No individual business would approach controlling its finances by making even cuts to every aspect of its operations; what makes sense is to do a thorough evaluation of each spending item, reduce some items, cut others entirely, and invest more in areas where there will be significant benefits. That will be our approach to reviewing government finances and finding efficiencies. That will be the best way to control our spending, find efficiencies, and control the spending in our government’s operations. This, combined with strategic, long-term planning and investments in our priorities, such as education, training and literacy, is the best way for us to deal with our challenges and to start moving New Brunswick forward. New Brunswick New Democratic Party response: Fiscal responsibility is a fundamental value for the NDP, and we regard tax dollars, and their sensible use, as a sacred trust. Failing to get our deficit and debt under control only results in more tax dollars going to debt servicing rather than going to what government ought to be focusing on, namely education, healthcare, and infrastructure. In the service of this aim, the NDP has already made several detailed proposals for fighting the deficit and debt. In response to the 2014-15 budget, the NDP proposed $213 million in annual spending cuts that would result from measures such as eliminating corporate welfare and reducing the size of cabinet from 17 to 10. On the debt, the NDP has proposed converting 49% of the annual earnings of NB Liquor into an Income Trust, which would raise $1.1 billion that would be put directly onto the debt. This would reduce our annual debt interest payments by at least $60 million with a revenue neutral impact on our annual revenue stream, while providing a safe and profitable investment opportunity for New Brunswickers. Further details of deficit-fighting measures will be introduced with the release of the NDP’s full platform. Details on the two aforementioned policies can be found here: http://www.nbndp. ca/node/914 http://www.nbndp.ca/node/976
JEDI
Green Party o f New Brunswick response: Our structural deficit was precipitated by the individual and corporate tax cuts initiated by the former Liberal government. We have a serious revenue problem, so the Green Party would take steps to address the province’s revenues. Our inquiry into New Brunswick’s tax system would generate recommendations to ensure everyone pays their fair share of taxes. However, we would end the policy of tax competition with other jurisdictions and ensure our corporate taxes are equivalent to those charged in the rest of the Maritimes. The Green Party would renegotiate the HST agreement with Ottawa to provide the flexibility to reduce the HST on essentials and raise it on other products and services. We would toll the highways for trucks at the borders of New Brunswick Our policies to be released with our platform concerning health, education and social development will produce tremendous cost savings by helping to create a healthier, more educated and secure population. For too long, governments have engaged in
the false economy of avoiding strategic investments in health, education and social well-being, while accepting the increased health care, social assistance, law enforcement and correction costs that are reaped by this neglect. People’s Alliance of N ew Brunswick response: • Spurring economic growth through small-mid size business and innovation; • Getting more from our natural resources, encourage value added in NB; • Eliminate costly duality wherever possible; • Reduce the civil service through attrition; • Get more from our crown corporations, such as NB Liquor by completely privatizing the retail side; • Shrink the size of government, by merging areas that make sense. Examples being Invest NB into Economic development, Efficiency NB into NB Power.
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answering the call for higher educational attainment and there will only be positive effects for the Canadian economy.
The declaration not only empowers the Tsilhqot’in First Nation who won the case, but Aboriginal Peoples all over Canada. Both industry and government will be pressured to take proper cautionary measures surrounding development.
Developing Aboriginal relationships can also solve another growing issue in Canada – the aging workforce. The Aboriginal population aged 25-64 years (i.e. working-age) increased by 21% between 2006 and 2011 to reach 671,380. By comparison, the number of other Canadians in this age group increased by only 5% between 2006 and 2011.
he Supreme Court has recently granted declaration of Aboriginal title to more than 1,700 square kilometers of land in B.C.
That being said, the decision isn’t just beneficial for Aboriginal People; it is a great opportunity for all Canadians. With strategic partnerships, the Tsilhqot’in case and others that follow, will present huge benefits for any party involved in future development. The empowerment that this case gives to Aboriginal economic development is promising. However, it must be met with equal focus towards First Nations capacity and relationships. The case is a wake-up-call for Aboriginal communities, big business, and educational institutions. In 2006, 41% of working age Aboriginal People in Canada had post-secondary certification; of which only 8% had a university degree. The pressure is on for Aboriginal communities and government to push for better partnerships with educational institutions and industry. Capacity needs to be developed in roles surrounding economic development; future Aboriginal lawyers, scientists, and business people need to be trained if opportunities are to be seized effectively. Aboriginal people are
With foreseen escalating labor and skill shortages, industry can look to Aboriginals to renew and evolve the void. Aboriginals are the fastest growing population group in the country – if the right strategic partnerships are in place, we can get more Aboriginal People training, working, and growing local economies. The Tsilhqot’in decision should not be seen as furthering the divide, it outlines a rare opportunity for Aboriginals, business, and government to organize and utilize each other’s strengths for the greater good of our country’s success. The Joint Economic Development Initiative is here to support Aboriginal economic and workforce development, relations, and entrepreneurs. For any business inquiries, you can contact JEDI at (506) 444-5650 or visit our offices at 150, Cliffe Street, 2nd Floor, Fredericton, N.B.
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Events
September 10, 2014 Over the Cliff? Acting Now to Avoid New Brunswick’s Bankruptcy held at the Delta Fredericton Hotel
September 23, 2014 Business Over Breakfast hosted by Bridges of Canada
September 11, 2014 Fredericton North Rotary Luncheon – Pierre Cleroux held at the Fredericton Inn
October 2, 2014 Business After Hours hosted by Capital Region Community Tennis Centre
September 11, 2014 Business After Hours hosted by Taylor Printing Group Inc.
October 15, 2014 Business Excellence Awards held at the Delta Fredericton
September 16, 2014 Advancing Workplace Learning held at the Crowne Plaza Fredericton Lord Beaverbrook Hotel
October 20, 2014 Fredericton North Rotary Luncheon – Kim MacPherson held at the Fredericton Inn
September 17, 2014 Lunch & Learn - How to Avoid Looking Stupid When Using LinkedIn held at Kingswood Lodge
October 21, 2014 Business Over Breakfast hosted by Lift Personal Fitness
September 18, 2014 Tri-Chamber Event held at the Riverside Resort and Conference Centre
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redericton Outdoor Summer Theatre featuring the Calithumpians announces an exciting and entertaining business-themed show to help the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their 140th Anniversary. The fast-paced 45 minute production, “The Biz Buzz” is subtitled “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Commerce” and is a fun spoof of the popular books and movies. Featuring a multitalented crew of performers who play multiple instruments and assume multiple characters. The show keys on innovation and entrepreneurship, and follows Harry on his journey to become an entrepreneur. The opening number celebrates 140 years of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce with a re-write of the Bachman Turner Overdrive hit, “Taking Care of Business”. Many other popular songs are given a new twist in this fun musical, comedic piece, which promises fun for the whole family. In keeping with the Calithumpians’ mandate to present educational theatre appealing to a wide audience, the show also carries a very positive timely message for all New Brunswickers.
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The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation is sponsoring the show with help from the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. “The Bizz Buzz” continued its run July 24 and 30, Aug 6, 12, 14, 20, 26, 2 and closed on Labour Day, Sept 1. Theatre-in-the-Park is performed in Officers’ Square with a rain location of the tent in Barracks Square. For more information check out their new website at www.calithumpians.com.
Member Profile
M
ayday Group is a local full-service printer, which has been in business since 1984. We also produce on-site rubber stamps and corporate seals. In 2013, Mayday opened a new division called Swagshop.ca. This has allowed us to offer another great service to help our customers be remembered. With our searchable website which features almost all Canadian suppliers, our customers can browse for promotional products. Our creative swag staff are also available to meet with you to help you come up with the best solution for your business or event. At Mayday, we like to stay ahead of the pack and are always looking for ways to meet the needs of our customers. This led to us opening our first completely on-line print divison called “MyWayPrint.ca�. Customers can design their own print jobs, or choose from over 5000 templates already designed for them. We recognize that more and more customers are wanting the convenience of on-line purchasing. MywayPrint.ca allows our customers to order printing 24/7 from the convenience of their home, and the printing is then delivered directly to them. Mayday has had a long standing relationship with this community and continues to this day to provide a personalized small company experience. We answer the phone, give honest feedback, help with artwork and deliver locally for free. We are a true local business who thrives on forming long term friendly relationships with all of our customers.
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Ignite Fredericton can provide the rocket fuel to get you started! As your community economic development organization, we offer free and confidential business counselling and tools to help you START, GROW or LOCATE your business! Our core functions include: • Supporting Entrepreneurs • Attracting & Retaining Talent through Immigration • Strengthening the Economic Development Ecosystem 40 Crowther Lane, Suite 100, Knowledge Park Fredericton, NB, E3C 0J1 506.444.4686 | info@ignitefredericton.com | www.ignitefredericton.com
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gnite Fredericton (formerly Enterprise Fredericton) was officially launched on March 20, 2014 -- revealing its new mandate, brand, mission and private sector investment (PSI) initiative. Through the Vision 2020 economic development strategy process, the municipalities of Fredericton, Oromocto and New Maryland reinvested and re-engineered Enterprise Fredericton with a new mandate of implementing the Vision 2020 strategy. This was based on consultations with 250 community stakeholders and business people, who validated the need for general business counselling and a single point of contact for entrepreneurship support. Since Vision 2020, Ignite Fredericton has been laser-focused on creating a one-stop-shop service model, launching Planet Hatch, developing a private sector investment initiative and renaming & branding the new organization. This of course was done while conducting ongoing business counselling and immigration support. Ignite Fredericton’s core functions include: • Supporting entrepreneurs to help businesses START, GROW or LOCATE in the Greater Fredericton region • Attracting & retaining talent through immigration • Strengthening the economic development ecosystem through strategic partnerships and initiatives The new brand and name, Ignite Fredericton, is fresh and invigorating. It supports the Mission: “Fuelling Entrepreneurs for Economic Growth” and the Vision: “Startup Capital of Canada,” and distinguishes Ignite Fredericton as the ‘go-to’ place to access entrepreneurship support. During the Vision 2020 consultation process, economist David, tested the community’s appetite to financially support its local
economic development organization – similar to the models of Moncton, Saint John, Halifax and Saskatoon. The feedback received was positive in support of a private sector investment model. As such, Ignite Fredericton launched its private sector investment (PSI) initiative to raise $500,000 in support of increasing its capacity and resources as well as fuelling the commercialization centre, Planet Hatch. His Worship Mayor Brad Woodside quoted the late John F. Kennedy saying, “’A rising tide lifts all boats’, and a thriving and vibrant economy results in exponential growth for every business. With increased capacity, Ignite Fredericton will be able to generate enhanced results and economic spinoffs in the Greater Fredericton Region. We need your support!” Ignite Fredericton Chairman and President of Measurand, Lee Danish remarked, “The ability to participate in the direction and influence the growth of the regional economy is the greatest benefit of investment. Our ‘investors’ are the organizations, which have the power and ability to invest on behalf of the entire community, and we look forward to securing your support.” Measurand was the first investor - donating $25,000 to the PSI. The return on investment and community impact can be described in simple terms: increasing startups / business growth and investment attraction translates to jobs. Jobs mean income and consumer spending which results in economic spinoffs like housing, retail and services, better air access, talent retention, etc. For more information about Ignite Fredericton, please visit: www.ignitefredericton.com or call 444-4686. You can also follow us on Twitter and Linked In.
Buzz
July 14, 2014 As his final act as Chamber President, Chris Johnston presented board members Laurie Guthrie and Heather Black with the President’s Award for their work on our Choose Fredericton Initiative in 2013. Pictured are Mayor Brad Woodside, Laurie Guthrie, Heather Black and Chris Johnston
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CANADA’S
PLAN
FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Call Blair or Robyn Corey 458.0102 or Ryan Boyer 452.1891 to tailor a plan suited to your needs. See what the Chamber Plan can do for you! chamberplan.ca