Tri-Cities Chamber Advocacy Highlights

Page 1

The Voice of Business Over 970 members strong, we advocate on behalf of you to the municipal, regional, provincial, and federal levels of government. COMPL

ETE

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT REGIONAL

IN PRO

GRESS

EMPLOYER HEALTH TAX PROVINCIAL

Metro Vancouver to set waste disposal price with no concern for market price with Bylaw 280

TAX

To fund the elimination of Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums, the NDP created the Employer Health Tax. Businesses with a payroll over $500,000 will face additional tax burdens.

Adding regulatory burdens and increasing the cost of doing business

CHAMBER TAKES ACTION BYLAW 280 will stifle competition & destabilize the waste industry

BYLAW 280 We built on our advocacy efforts with our policy resolution:

Promoting Innovation in Regional Solid Waste Management

COMPL

ETE

PROPOSED BIZ TAX CHANGES FEDERAL

1

2

3

PASSIVE INCOME

INCOME SPRINKLING

CAPITAL GAINS

75

JULY

TAX

AUGUST

days for consultation

burdens transferred

CHAMBER TAKES ACTION

CHAMBER TAKES ACTION 1

2

3

EDUCATE

CHAMBER CALLS FOR CLARITY

ADVOCATE

our business community

how this tax affects you!

with chambers across BC

150 letters

sent from the Tri-Cities Dear Finance Minister,

letter writing

Proposed Changes

BAD FOR BUSINESS

PROVINCE

STAY TUNED: We are engaging in consultation with members and lobbying the provincial government to make adjustments to the tax.

info session

proposed taxes changed

roundtable:

MP McKinnon

The tax changes were updated to be more modest and streamlined

A win for business across Canada


The Voice of Business

We represent business in the Tri-Cities. With a combined population of more than 230,000 people. We are members of the BC and Canadian Chambers of Commerce - both of which have the ears of the provincial and federal governments.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT REGIONAL 2014

EMPLOYER HEALTH TAX PROVINCIAL 2018

PROPOSED BIZ TAX CHANGES FEDERAL 2017

In 2014, Metro Vancouver proposed bylaw 280. The bylaw would have instituted a market control measure known as “flow control”, allowing Metro Vancouver to arbitrarily set prices for the disposal of waste with no concern for market price. This would have increased the cost of doing business and placed an unnecessary regulatory burden on new recycling technologies. In response, we began consultations with stakeholders, and sent letters to the Mayor of Port Coquitlam and Metro Vancouver Chair, Greg Moore, as well as to the Minister of Environment Mary Polak. Eventually, bylaw 280 was rejected because of concerns that it would stifle competition and have a destabilizing effect on the waste management industry. Today, we continue with our policy resolution adopted by the BC Chamber.

The Employer Health Tax was announced in the NDP’s first budget released February 20, 2018. It is intended to fund the proposed elimination of the Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums. The Employer Health Tax will be levied on any employer with a payroll over $500,000. These actions represent a tax burden that has been transferred from individuals to businesses. The Employer Health Tax will negatively impact the business landscape. We have released a backgrounder on this new tax and continue to educate our members. We have also been part of larger efforts led by the BC Chamber of Commerce to lobby the provincial government for adjustments to the tax to avoid undue negative impacts. Lastly, we consistently engage in consultations with our members to catalyze our own local advocacy efforts.

Last summer, the federal government proposed a series of business tax changes. The three main issues of concern were sprinkling income with family members, saving passive investment income, and converting a corporation’s income into capital gains. The government only provided a 75 day “consultation” period. We responded strongly against the tax changes. The increase in complexity and uncertainty would negatively impact how small- and medium- sized businesses operate. We organized a letter writing campaign to local MP Ron McKinnon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Minister Bill Morneau. We hosted an information session and a roundtable with MP Ron McKinnon. After fierce criticism the tax changes became markedly more modest and streamlined.

Contact Alexander King, Public Policy Advisor at policy@tricitieschamber.com or 604-634-0105 for more information.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.