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Business Progress Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce

March 2014

Social Media MARCH 2014 PRINCE ALBERT & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.facebook.com/princealbertchamber

Get in Touch Tel: 306-764-6222 Email: chamberpa@sasktel.net

A Message from the CEO Merle Lacert Hello Members!

The Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce has many events and activities planned over the next month. I encourage everyone to join us on March 20/2014, when we will celebrate this year’s Samuel McLeod Business finalists. This year we have 32 business finalists competing for one of twelve category awards. Our Legacy Brunch will feature the presentation of this year’s Legacy Award to Ms. Maria Yannacoulias. Maria and her late husband Tony, began their restaurant career 37 years ago. Over this time, their business had changed and grown. Congratulations to Maria and the Yannacoulias family for their decades of success and support to our community.

The Chamber will be hosting a number of upcoming luncheons including; Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Kew Krawetz will speak to the new Provincial budget on March 31st/14. On April 3rd/14 Mr. Tim LeClair- President & CEO of Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) will provide a keynote address touching on some of the success that SREDA has had as well as some best practices in regards to Economic Development initiatives.

The Prince Albert & District Chamber is also compiling our 2014 Tax Recommendations. We will present our recommendations to City Council at their public consolations held on March 10/2014. This year’s recommendations will see our two biggest recommendations from 2013 carried over. We will be speaking to the critical importance of short & long term planning that is needed to drive all aspects of our growth, ranging from infrastructure and economic development to housing. In regards to taxation, the Chamber will once again highlight the value and importance of creating a competitive tax model for Prince Albert. Competitiveness is required to assist in driving the growth that we envision and desire.

I encourage everyone to come join us at our upcoming events.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Officers Chairman Mike Mitchell Tyrone Pest Control First Vice Chairman Larry Fladager 2nd Vice Chair Shelley L. Cannon Wilcox and Chovin Law Office Secretary/Treasurer Gord Jahn MNP Board Appointed George Vass Prince Albert & District Community Futures Board Appointed Jayne Remenda Prince Albert Tourism

Elected Board Members Darwin Zurakowski Sask. Rivers School Division Greg Breeze Affinity Insurance Robert Bratvold Sask. Rivers School Division Bruce Vance P.A. Raider Hockey Club Shayne Lazarowich

Prince Albert Multicultural Council

Ian Litzenberger Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy Meghan Mayer Salon Six

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We invite you to attend Compensation Institute 2014 A free educational event about Workers’ Compensation March 24 & 25, 2014 Delta Regina

Featured sessions include: • Hazard identification and control.

• What is PTSD and psychological injury.

• Return to work roles and responsibilities. 

The claims management process.

For full agenda and registration visit our website wcbsask.com.

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The 2014 Legacy Brunch will feature the announcement of our Business finalists of the Annual Samuel McLeod Business Awards.

Our Brunch will also feature the presentation of our Legacy Award to our 2014 Legacy Award recipient:

Ms. Maria Yannacoulias WHERE?

Travelodge

WHEN?

March 20th, 2014

TIME?

10:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

TICKETS? $15.00

Proud Sponsor of Legacy Proud Sponsor of Legacy

The public is encouraged to attend and tickets are available by calling: 306-764-6222 or at www.princealbertchamber.com

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2013-2014 Official Schedule

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MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014 11:30 A.M.—1:00 P.M. Prince Albert Inn—Salon “A” & “B”

The Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Ken Krawetz

Will provide a summary on the 2014-2015 Saskatchewan Budget.

Call: 306-764-6222 for tickets or hit the ticket logo or visit www.princealbertchamber.com

Tickets are $25/members, $30/non-members, $200/Corporate Table MARCH 2014

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32 business finalists competing for one of twelve category awards.

Join us as we celebrate business excellence in our community. This gala evening includes a pre-awards Champagne Reception, Awards Show and a Scrumptious Dinner.

You have worked all so hard. It is time to celebrate your success.

You should all be very proud.

Bring your family & friends to make it a evening to remember!

SPONSORS

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WHITROW STOBBS & ASSOCIATES Professional Accountants

MARCH 2014

RELIABLE ADVICE & SOLUTIONS 144 12th St. East Prince Albert Phone: 306.764.2773 ...ACCOUNTING...TAXATION...CORPORATE SERVICES...

 Financial

Statement s  Corporate

Tax  Audits

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Tackling the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness 2014 The Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Canadian Chamber 2014 Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness Skills shortages Canada’s labor market is affected by a demographic shift resulting in retirements and a growing gap between the skills needed and those available. Business, governments and academia must work together to address the current and future skills needs of the workplace, concentrating particularly on four key areas: upskilling; education and employment connections; immigration; and Aboriginal workforce development. To better address skills shortages, Canada also needs improved data on the skills gap and the mobility of individuals.

Uncompetitive travel and tourism strategies Canada has declined from the seventh largest tourist destination in the world to the 18th. Today, it is too often a high-cost, high-hassle destination with aging attractions infrastructure and inadequate marketing. Canada’s travel and tourism sector is critical to its economy, and the government must both invest in national marketing initiatives and address Canada’s inefficient visa system, the very high cost of air travel in Canada and its layers of regulations, fees and taxes.

Inadequate plans for addressing deficiencies in public infrastructure Public investment in infrastructure has not kept up with Canada’s economic needs. Now Canada’s investment needs far exceed the availability of public funds. Bringing infrastructure in Canada back to the level needed to support prosperity will require an ongoing commitment by all levels of government, an active engagement with private sector stakeholders and a greater appreciation of the opportunities that exist for Canada to be more competitive through more modern public infrastructure.

Barriers to success in global markets Faced with a small domestic market, Canada’s ability to compete depends on reliable access to foreign customers and production capabilities. But due largely to policy and regulatory barriers and operating challenges in foreign markets, Canadian businesses are not globalizing as quickly as their OECD peers. Canada must successfully negotiate trade agreements with key markets, renew its commitments to trade promotion and commercial diplomacy and update its tariff and customs policies.

Internal barriers to trade The lack of a single domestic market in Canada is a serious and self-imposed weakness in the Canadian economy. Tariff barriers amongst provinces are banned by the Canadian constitution, yet the national economy is fractured by a host of non-tariff barriers, particularly in procurement, energy, agriculture and transportation, and in the mobility of labor. The federal government must promote more meaningful sanctions against jurisdictions that practice protectionism against other Canadians while supporting those that embrace free internal trade.

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A complex and costly tax system Canada over-relies on income and profit taxes rather than on taxes on consumption, which are relatively easy to collect and are least harmful to growth. Canada’s tax code is also overly complex and imposes significant compliance costs on businesses and consumers while governments spend billions of dollars each year administering and enforcing convoluted tax laws. Canada must undertake a comprehensive review of its tax system with the aim of reducing its complexity and improving the way it raises tax revenue.

Lack of clear sustainability policies Public concerns over Canada’s ability to responsibly develop its natural resources has led to project delays, constrained investment and limited access to some markets. International concerns have also overshadowed Canada’s diplomatic and trade initiatives on occasion. For Canada to claim its rightful place as the world leader in responsible resource development, it must establish a credible climate policy, clarify businesses’ duty to consult with Aboriginal peoples and aggressively contest unfounded allegations about its environmental stewardship.

The severe shortage of economic development tools for businesses in Canada’s territories The federal government has a critical decision to make regarding Canada’s territories if it is to fully leverage their economic potential. That decision is whether or not to provide them with tools to become more financially independent in the belief that doing so will unleash their ability to help the entire country be more competitive. Businesses see themselves as the means for the territories to achieve more financial independence from the federal government if they are provided with additional tools to enable them to do so.

Inconsistent regulatory policies between Canada and the U.S. Inconsistencies between regulatory standards in Canada and the U.S. cost unnecessary time and money as these minor differences result in additional verification, inspection or testing of goods once they cross the border. Given the integrated nature of the two countries’ economies, greater alignment and better mutual reliance in their regulatory approaches would lower costs for businesses and consumers, create more efficient supply chains, facilitate cross-border trade, reduce regulatory administrative costs for government and make Canada a more attractive location for foreign investment.

Insufficient support for innovation in Canadian manufacturing Manufacturing, the largest sector of the Canadian economy, has not yet fully recovered from the 2008 recession and remains significantly reduced from its pre-recession size. Canadian companies can no longer rely on traditional manufacturing processes to solve this problem. They must innovate to capitalize on new technology and processes that improve productivity in order to remain competitive. Businesses also need a policy framework that reflects the importance of the innovation ecosystem imperative.

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Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors As a proud member of the Prince Albert community, our team of chartered accountants and business advisors continue to grow to meet your unique needs. National in scope and local in focus, we take the time to understand your challenges and deliver personalized solutions that help you achieve your goals. Our diverse services include:         

Assurance Consulting Corporate Finance Corporate Recovery & Insolvency Enterprise Risks Investigative & Forensic Services Succession Tax & Specialty Tax Valuation & Litigation Support

For more information contact a local MNP advisor at 306.764.6873 MARCH 2014

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WELCOME NEW MEMBER: Darcy’s Golf Shop

Congratulations Renewed Chamber Members for March                    

Absolute Identification Security Adcom Solutions Associated Radiologists Athabasca Basin Development Bank of Montreal Bison Café Canadian Cancer Society Carrier Forest Products CIBC Clunie Consulting Engineers Ltd. Conexus Designer Paws Grooming Diamond North Credit Union Direct West Eagles Nest Youth Ranch Fabmar Communications CJVR GL Mobile Communications Holash Logue Home Building Centre John M. Cuelenaere Public Library

                  

Lone Wolf Catering Millennium Motors Nutter’s Bulk & Natural Foods Original Joe’s Restaurant & Bar P.A. & District Association of Realtors PA Tourism & Marketing Bureau Pines Power Sports Marine Ltd. Prince Albert Development Corp.

Prince Albert Pet Planet Prince Albert Police Service River Park Memorial Chapel Riverside Hyundai Sask Energy St. John Ambulance Staples Business Depot Steel-Craft Door Sales & Service TD Canada Trust Western Financial Group Wingnut Enterprises

Your continued support of the Chamber movement makes it possible for us to achieve on your behalf, and we want you to know we appreciate you as members!

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Calendar of Events March 2014 Sun

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15 Focus on Women Trade Show & Sale

BIG Breakfast

Human Resources Workshop

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Focus on Women Trade Show & Sale

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Legacy Brunch

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Small Business Coffee Networking Group

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CTRL & click to follow links

The Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Ken Krawetz Luncheon

DAY OF PINK 2014 – WEAR THE SHIRT. BE THE DIFFERENCE. Red Cross Day of Pink is fast approaching. Last year over 21,000 Saskatchewan people stood with Red Cross against bullying. Join us on April 10 to help make bullying a thing of the past!

Every Red Cross Day of Pink shirt sold = one Saskatchewan child educated against bullying.

You can help a child right here in Saskatchewan.

EASY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED! • Buy an official Red Cross Day of Pink shirt. Get them online or by calling your local Red Cross office. Official t-shirts, hats and stickers are available while supplies last!

• Sell Red Cross Day of Pink stickers at your workplace to your employees or clients.

• Organize a fundraiser or awareness event for the Canadian Red Cross bullying prevention program.

• Call your local Red Cross office or visit http://www.redcross.ca/PinkSK for more information on how you can get involved. Questions? Email: SaskRespectED@redcross.ca

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The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan is the #1 plan in Canada!

For employee benefits, covering over 25,000 small businesses across the country.

ALL types of businesses are eligible for the program no industry exclusions!

Call 306-922-4414 today to find out how much money your business can save!

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Chamber Staff

Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce 3700—2nd Avenue West Prince Albert, SK S6W 1A2

Merle Lacert CEO Danica Jesse Executive Assistant

306.764.6222 ph 306.922.4727 fax www.princealbertchamber.com

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Dolores Templeton Communications Coordinator

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