Surrey Board of Trade releases positions on Corporate Tax and Carbon Tax in advance of Provincial Budget and Provincial Election

1. BC Corporate Tax 

Position of Surrey Board of Trade:
The Surrey Board of Trade believes that the BC Government should not be contemplating any increases in the BC Corporate Tax rates, particularly in light of the negative impact on business of the returning BC PST. The BC Government should instead be seeking measures to mitigate such impacts.  In particular, the BC Government should protect and further encourage business investing, upgrading and innovation in BC. 

2. Carbon Tax

Position of Surrey Board of Trade:
The Surrey Board of Trade asks for a comprehensive and urgent review of the carbon tax to ensure its efficacy across all industries.

The Surrey Board of Trade agrees with the philosophy of the carbon tax to change behavior to seek alternative energy sources and alternative transportation, however, the unintended negative consequences impacting the provincial economy, business competitiveness, the increased cost of living and other impacts to reduce the increased  cost of fuels may outweigh the value of continuing the carbon tax in BC.

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Surrey Board of Trade Post Secondary Funding Position Paper released

The Surrey Board of Trade released its Post Secondary Funding Advocacy Position Paper at today's 2013 Economic Forecast Lunch. The paper is titled: Can the Future Learn in Surrey and the South Fraser?

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IBM and Ritchie Brothers presented at the 2nd Annual Business and Families First Dialogue on February 5th

A week before the first Family Day statutory holiday, the second Business and Families First Dialogue, hosted in partnership with the Burnaby Board of Trade and the Surrey Board of Trade, took place on Tuesday, February 5, 2013.

Last year the Surrey Board of Trade issued their Business and Families Position Paper and now the Burnaby Board of Trade, representing over 1000 business members, is joining them on this economic call. 

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The Times of India Film Awards in BC

I wanted to let you know the following - an exciting economic event that the Surrey Board of Trade has been working on with the Canada India Business Council:

Premier Christy Clark announced today that Vancouver has been chosen as the inaugural host destination of the Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA), with multiple events to be held across the Lower Mainland, including Surrey, between April 4 and 6, 2013.  

"The Times of India Film Awards will be seen by hundreds of millions of people in one of the world's fastest-growing economies and Vancouver will be centre stage," said Premier Clark.

"This is one piece of our government's outreach efforts in India, opening up new opportunities for trade and investment that will create jobs here at home. This is a tremendous economic opportunity for British Columbia to reach new markets - one that we will take advantage of." 

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