NEWSLETTER January 2017 How do we grow tourism and small business in the Yukon?
News & Events Featured Events: Business After Hours Feb 2 4:30-7pm Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre
On Thursday, January 26, Yukon Chamber of Commerce hosted a very successful lunch lecture with the Hon. Baggish Chagger, federal minister for tourism and small business and the Hon. Jeanie Dendys, territorial Minister of tourism as guest speakers. The Yukon business community was well represented with over 100 attendees. The lunch lecture was preceded by several workshops attended by Minister Chagger, one related to small business in the Yukon and the other related tourism.
Yukon Chamber Lunch Lecture Feb 9 Featuring Sergio Marchi President & Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Electricity Association
Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference Feb 13-15 Innovation Summit Feb 15-16
Keep an eye on our website and Facebook for event details
We are happy to welcome a new YCC member: Cultured Fine Cheese:
125-1116 Front Street (Horwoods Mall) 867-689-7463 Come See Us! Suite 205, 2237 – 2nd Ave Whitehorse, YT Y1A 0K7
Train to save A reminder to Yukon employers about the CHOICES rebate program
What is CHOICES? CHOICES is a rebate program that rewards you for training your employees. You invest in training to create a safer, healthier workplace, and YWCHSB reduces your workers’ compensation premiums.
How much money can I save? CHOICES rebates range from 4% to 10% of your annual WCB assessment, resulting in cash savings to a maximum of $25,000 per year. COR- and SECOR-certified businesses automatically qualify for a 10% rebate.
What kind of training is eligible for CHOICES? A broad range of training is eligible for CHOICES, provided it is delivered by approved third parties (e.g., Northern Safety Network Yukon, St. John’s Ambulance, Yukon College, etc.) and results in a certificate, transcript, or other proof of completion. Free and online training may be eligible. Training does not necessarily need to have a safety focus: Training that increases your workers’ skills, thereby enabling them to perform their jobs more safely, and return-to-work or other training aimed at mitigating injury would qualify for a rebate. Regardless of your type of industry, there is some sort of training that qualifies for a rebate; in fact, you may already be providing CHOICES-eligible training to your workers and not realize it. Many training options apply to more than one industry group: Courses such as First Aid, Hazard Assessment and Control, WHMIS 2015, and Return-to-Work Basics, for example, are appropriate training for your workers whether you are running an adventure tourism business, installing heating systems, or providing aesthetic services. Here are a few examples of the types of training that qualify for CHOICES rebates. Visit the CHOICES page on YWCHSB’s website for a more complete list. INDUSTRY Resources and Transportation (e.g., farming, trapping, pilot car services, outfitting)
POSSIBLE TRAINING OPTIONS ATV / Boating Safety Chainsaw Safety Rigging and Hoisting Wilderness Survival
Construction (e.g., electrical contractors, carpentry, plumbing)
7 Steps to Electrical Safety H2S Alive Winter Driving Lock Out Tag Out
Services (e.g., childcare, professional offices, restaurants and caterers, janitorial services)
Fire Extinguisher FOODSAFE Verbal Judo WHMIS 2015
How are CHOICES rebates calculated? COR/SECOR-certified employers receive the maximum 10% rebate. Rebates for other employers are calculated based on the industry and rate group you belong to, your assessable payroll, and the number of
hours of training. To find out what your rebate might be, refer to the CHOICES policy on YWCHSB’s website or contact the CHOICES Coordinator.
How do I get my CHOICES rebate? YWCHSB has made it very easy for you to get your CHOICES rebate. Just complete Section B of your annual Employer’s Payroll Return (EPR) form. You do not need to provide training documentation with your EPR report, but YWCHSB may ask for proof of training before processing your rebate or as part of a spot audit. YWCHSB will deduct your CHOICES rebate from your 2017 premiums.
What if I’m ordered by OHS to provide training? Does that qualify for a rebate? The CHOICES program rewards employers who take a proactive approach to safety, so training that you are required to do under an order from an Occupational Health and Safety officer does not qualify for a rebate. The CHOICES Coordinator is Kelly Philpott. You can reach Kelly at (867) 667-8184 or 1 (800) 661-0443 wcb.yk.ca/CHOICES
St. Elias Regional Chamber of Commerce AGM On Thursday 12 January the St. Elias Chamber of Commerce held their annual general meeting. This
marked the conclusion of their first year of operation since they re-established the Chamber about a year ago. The meeting was well attended with about 16 local citizens. There were also two visitors from Whitehorse: a representative from the Department of Economic Development; and a representative from the Yukon Chamber of Commerce. SECC completed all the standard AGM tasks including the election of officers and directors. The leadership of the Chamber for the next 12 months will be as follows. Officers
Directors
President:
Paula Pawlovitch
Corrie Atkinson
Vice President:
Courtney Quinn
Vicky Maynes
Treasurer:
Erni Watson
John Ostashek
Secretary:
Sylvia Ostashek
Debbie Hotte
In addition, the group discussed various other items including their “J-Bucks” program and plans to carry out strategic planning for the Chamber. Mal Malloch advised those present what YCC had done in 2016 and was planning for 2017. He also gave a brief presentation on the Employer Advisor Service. YCC is happy to have SECC as part of the chamber-of-commerce movement in the Yukon and we are delighted they are actively making things happen in Haines Junction and the surrounding area.
Preparing for Changes in the Workplace We have all heard that soon marijuana use will be legal in Canada. This has many implications for health and safety in the workplace. YWCHSB is holding a Workplace Solutions event entitled Marijuana in the Workplace on Thursday, 16 February. Details are in the poster below. There is no charge for this event, but seating is limited so registration is mandatory. You register here: http://wcb.yk.ca/Events/Workplace-Solutions-2017/F-0083.aspx
Hundreds of Yukon Business Corporations Are About to Disappear Over 400 business corporations in the Yukon are at risk of being dissolved. In Volume 36 of the Yukon Gazette, dated 15 January, there is a list of over 400 business corporations that the Registrar of Corporations will dissolve soon if required filings are not submitted in time. If you have a corporation registered in the Yukon, you might want to have a look to see if yours is one of these. The list can be found at http://gazette.gov.yk.ca/issues/2017/jan2017.pdf
Yukon Chamber Activities 2016 - 2017 2016
Helped re-launch the St. Elias Chamber in January
Led a delegation to Ottawa in January for Yukon Days
YCC Energy Committee dealt with:
Fuel consumption in the Yukon with our Fueling Yukon initiative launched in May
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Carbon pricing
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Policy on Energy in the Yukon.
YCC Transportation Committee looked at:
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freight
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ports
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the Shakwak project
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air access to The Yukon, regional airports
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Alcan Hwy 75th anniversary, and
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the potential for a Yukon Airports Authority
The Committee also worked with Alcan Air and WLCC over a period of two years to establish scheduled flights between Watson Lake and Whitehorse
YCC YESAB Committee looked at: o
Demographics of YESAB staff
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Mandate for socioeconomic assessment.
YCC Procurement and Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Policy Committee examined:
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Yukon businesses disadvantaged by the YG procurement process
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The barriers Yukon’s businesses encounter to bidding on RFPs from the other northern territories
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Regional trade blocks acting in a protectionist manner (e.g. the New West Partnership taxing beer from the Yukon)
YCC made a presentation to Procurement Review Panel and gave support to the recommendations flowing from that process
Held Transportation Committee workshop in Haines Junction
Hosted a Gala dinner in June for the Bank of Canada, with the Governor of the Bank of Canada as keynote speaker
Hosted a party-leaders debate re Yukon Election 2016 in partnership with TIA Yukon, YFNCC, AYC and YCM
Hosted a luncheon on pros and cons of carbon pricing featuring two guest speakers plus a panel discussion with reps from all four political parties
As a result of continued surplus beyond required reserves, YCC worked with YWCHSB to arrange a $10 million rebate to employers for a second year; cheques went out before Christmas
2017
Engaging with the new Premier and key ministers
Planning a Workers’ Comp 101 workshop in Haines Junction
Pursuing CanNor funding for a policy analyst resource that would also be available to the five community chambers
Will send out a survey to all YCC CC members (which includes members of community chambers) regarding the YESAB review process to inform YCC input to YESAB on how to improve the process
Planning a lunch lecture for February on electrical generation options in the new world of carbon pricing, electric car adoption, renewable electrical generation, and potential federal government infrastructure investment in electrical grids
Planning for AGM in Whitehorse on June 1; we hope many members will join in hosting the planning session of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce 9 -13 June in Whitehorse including social activities and a gala diner planned for Sunday evening, June 11. Will be inviting community chamber members to attend and participate
Working to establish a Committee on Housing
Developing and implementing a YCC health-and-safety program and seeking to become SECOR certified
Planning to visit every rural committee at least once this year
Will complete two policies for submission to Y.G.
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Energy in the Yukon
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Carbon Pricing
Responding to an invitation that resulted from the Fueling Yukon initiative, YCC Energy Committee will present at an Arctic Oil and Gas Symposium in Calgary
The Hon. Bardish Chagger, federal Minister of Small Business and Tourism was the featured guest speaker at a YCC lunch lecture on 26 January. We hope there will be other senior guests as well.
Putting you in touch with Yukon businesses. http://www.directoryyukon.com To find a Yukon business, simply enter a keyword, business name, category or location using the search fields. To register your business click “Register Your Business” in the top right hand corner. For more information, or to edit an existing business listing, please contact the Yukon Chamber of Commerce 867-667-2000 or by email office@yukonchamber.com
Membership Recognition The Yukon Chamber of Commerce would like to recognise Icefeild Tools as they have been a member since 1993. Thank you to all our members for your ongoing support for the efforts of the Yukon Chamber…. It’s your memberships that allow us to do the work we do for the Yukon Business Community.
Yukon Chamber of Commerce Suite 205, 2237 – 2nd Ave Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 0K7 office@yukonchamber.com 867.667.2000 www.yukonchamber.com