Don't miss our next Business After Hours
September 23rd from 5:30 to 7:30 pm - 11407 Okanagan Centre Road West.
Join us in Okanagan Centre for a great celebration... The re-opening of two store fronts.
The Okanagan Centre Store and "Shine" The Salon in The Centre
Our hosts Bonnie & Del at the Store and Jamie & Rodger at the Salon are planning a great event for Chamber members; mark it on your calendar. 5:30 pm Wine and fabulous appies and a "secret" guest speaker at the Store. 6:30 pm Dessert and Door Prizes nx door at the Salon.
Business Excellence Awards 2009
Call for Nominations!
It’s that time of year when we ask our community to think about who they feel is deserving of recognition for their outstanding business practices. Please forward this request to your friends and colleagues.
Nominate someone today. It only takes a minute and the feel good factor goes a long way! Thanks.
Go to http://www.lakecountrychamber.com/Default.aspx?pageId=421740 to submit a nomination online or:
Click here to download a PDF of the nomination form.
Save the date! October 15th has been set aside at Gray Monk Winery in the Grapevine Restaurant for our Gala Awards presentation. Contact the Chamber office to reserve your ticket - seating is limited and this event sells out early.
MEMBER'S NEWS
Club Blackbelts would like to welcome Cristina Petitt who will be instructing Virtual Reality Spin, Zumba and Fusion classes with us this fall. Also new we have massage services and tanning available!
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Burr Contracting Deborah & Gary Burr - p. 250 548 0059 The Burrs have relocated their home and business to Lake Country from Enderby. They offer 30 years of experience in contracting and extensive services that include site preparation, general excavation, rock walls, landscaping, snow removal, road construction and home renovations.
"Shine" The Salon In The Centre p.250 766 6707 . Rodger & Jamie moved from Vancouver to Lake Country in 1999.
"We wanted to get away from the Big City, and discovered Lake Country, still Kinda Big... but way nicer to look at! After working together for the past fifteen years we finally got that boot in the pants needed to start our own salon, and so rises "Shine" The Salon. Thanks for letting us shine! "
BC CHAMBER Backgrounder - BUDGET 2009 - Update
Budget Update 2009 was presented as “Protecting Vital Services, Building for the Future.”
Revenue
Provincial revenue has been decimated showing a $3.9 bn drop over the three years of the fiscal plan, $2 bn of this decline is for 2009/10 alone. In 2009/10 BC saw over $1 bn wiped from the provincial books through a collapse in personal and corporate income tax with another $1 bn lost from natural resource revenues.
Deficit
The deficits are lower than many had forecast at $2.775 bn in 2009/10, $1.725 bn in 2010/11, $945 million in 2011/12 and $140 million in 2012/13. The province has forecast that 2013/14 will see BC return to balanced budgets.
The province have committed that once the province returns to surplus every surplus dollar will be directed to eliminate the direct operating debt that is incurred as a result of operating a deficit.
Growth
In 2008 BC’s GDP contracted by 0.3%, in 2009 it is expected to contract by 2.9% then to return to growth in 2010 with projections of 1.9% and 2.7% in 2011.
Average
2009 2010 2011-2013
BC’s real GDP % change
Ministry of Finance -2.9 1.9 2.7
Economic Forecast Council -2.3 2.5 3.1
HST
Budget Update 2009 provided no significant announcements on HST but did contain 2 new measures intended to mitigate the impact on the public, these were;
• Basic personal income tax credit increased to $11,000 from $9,373 effective January 1, 2010. This represents an increase of 17% and now means that anyone earning an income of $118,000 or less will pay the lowest personal income tax rates in Canada, up from $116,000; and
• Full provincial rebate for residential energy.
Some clarification was offered around treatment of municipalities who will receive a 75% rebate on the BC portion of HST. In the case of charities and eligible non-profits the rebate will be 57%.
Transition revenue will be spread over 3 years, $750 million in 2009/10, $374 million in 2010/11 and $475 million in 2011/12.
Tourism Funding
Following the announcement to fold Tourism BC back into the Ministry concern was raised that this would lead to a reduction in funding provided to the organization for marketing. Budget update 2009 does contain revenue for Tourism BC that is commensurate with the level of funding that would be provided under the Hotel Tax model.
Further to this Budget Update 2009 also confirmed the government’s commitment to maintain the Additional Hotel Rom Tax funding model for regional DMO’s for one year following the introduction of HST as an alternative funding model is developed.
Spending commitments
The only ‘winner’ in terms of spending remains health which will see a 17% increase over three years, seeing spending rise from $13.3 bn to $15.7 bn. As part of the funding formula MSP premiums will increase for the first time since 2002, rising by about 6%.
Healthcare continues to be seen as untouchable in terms of increased funding with no reform our measureables for the increased funding. The Chamber maintains its concern that without significant reform such rises are simply unsustainable.
Education has also seen its funding levels ‘protected’ with funding to remain at the same level in terms of funding per student.
Under the heading “Supporting Communities” the government has committed an additional $253 million in additional funding to the following initiatives;
• $32 million for expedited infrastructure projects in partnership with the federal government under the Build Canada Fund (this is in addition to the $150 million previously committed);
• $50 million to stimulate additional commitments from the federal government under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund
• $31 million to settle the Maa-nulth Final Treaty; and
• $39 million in one-time funding for marketing strategies across Canada and the US, focused on the opportunity presented by the 2010 games.
BC’s Fiscal situation
2008/09
(millions) Budget Actual Budget Plan Plan
Estimate 2010/11 2011/12
2009/10
Revenue 38,490 38,328 37,608 38,845 41,072
Expenses (37,690) (38,250) (40,133) (40,320) (41,767)
Surplus (deficit) 50 78 (2,775) (1,725) (945)
Debt
2008/09
(millions) Budget Actual Budget Plan Plan
Estimate 2010/11 2011/12
2009/10
Government direct operating 7,408 6,455 8,250 10,071 10,512
Taxpayer Supported 27,741 26,446 30,593 34,984 37,279
Total provincial debt 37,743 38,014 42,332 48,461 52,754
Debt to GDP ratios
Government direct operating 3.7% 3.2% 4.4% 5.1% 5.1%
Taxpayer supported 14.0% 13.3% 16.2% 17.9% 18.1%
Total provincial 19.0% 19.1% 22.4% 24.8% 25.7%
Risks
• A more severe and prolonged US recession
• A higher than forecast Canadian dollar
• Slower than expected global demand reducing demand for BC exports
BC CHAMBER NEWS RELEASE
BUDGET UPDATE 2009 REPRESENTS A SOLID BASE FOR LONG TERM COMPETITIVENESS
September 1, 2009 For immediate release
The British Columbia Chamber of Commerce gave a cautious welcome to the provincial Budget Update unveiled by the Finance Minister today as a realistic approach to difficult economic times.
“This government should be congratulated. In difficult economic times we face tough choices, and this government has made the decisions necessary to ensure that we can continue to create jobs and business can continue to invest,” said John Winter, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “The drop in government revenue outlined in the Budget update clearly shows that as a small, open trading jurisdiction BC must focus on job creation and competitiveness. The Budget update does this by continuing to focus on creating the most competitive tax regime in North America with an ongoing commitment to tax cuts at the personal and corporate level, as well as a commitment to the elimination of tax on small businesses. The Chamber believes that the introduction of HST is a critical component of ensuring that when businesses look to invest, BC is the first place they look.”
Budget Update 2009 includes measures to mitigate the impacts of HST with an increase in the basic personal income tax credit to $11,000 and a full provincial rebate for residential energy. Further to this the Budget Update outlines a significant acceleration of capital investment, creating 21,600 jobs over the next three years.
“The Chamber welcomes the introduction of mitigation measures for consumers,” continued Winter. “This shows government is listening to concerns about the HST and is acting where appropriate. We believe government should continue to work with impacted sectors such as homebuilding, tourism and foods services to look at mitigating measures for these critical sectors.”
“Our members will also be pleased to see the increase in the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit program and a commitment to maintaining funding in post-secondary education,” added Winter. “Government must keep its eye on the issue of skills shortages; while the current economic challenge has reduced the importance of this issue, BC still faces a significant challenge in terms of our skill and productivity record that must be addressed if we hope to maintain, let alone raise, our standard of living.”
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For further information contact;
John Winter - President and CEO
BC Chamber of Commerce
604 376 3577 (c)
Working Greener "workshop invitation"
Our chamber member Joanne de Vries Founder & CEO of Fresh Outlook Foundation is partnering with the City of Kelowna, RDCO, FortisBC, Terasen Gas, WaterSmart, and Green Step to host the Working Greener workshop November 10th (see info below). If you have been looking for more ways to work greener but simply don't know how, this workshop could be just what you have been looking for. Please contact phone 250-766-1777.
The WORKSHOP is on Tuesday, November 10th 2009 at the Delta Grand Resort
from 8:00am to 3:00pm and includes lunch at a cost of $49 plus GST
Agenda items include:
Benefits to Business of Going Green - Angela Reid, GreenStep
Employee Engagement the David Suzuki Foundation Way - Lindsay Eason, GreenStep
WORKSHOP #1 Building an Energy Efficiency Plan Carol Suhan, Fortis BC & Ruth Sulentich, Terasen Gas
WORKSHOP #2 Building a Water Conservation Plan Neal Klassen, City of Kelowna WaterSmart
OR Building an Active Transportation Plan - Mike Kittmer, City of Kelowna
Local Green Business Success Stories
4 Gold Sponsors x 5 minutes each
Workshop #3 Building a Waste Reduction Plan - Rae Stewart & Eve-Lyn Wolters, RDCO
Wrap-up discussion and Declaration of Action Toward Sustainability
Sign-up to host a Business After Hours
Your business can invite Chamber members (potential customers) to come to you ! Sign-up to host a Business After Hours networking event..... Coffee & Networking or Cocktails & Networking 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hosts provide a meeting place and any refreshments you wish. The Chamber gets the word out to members for you. Host an event at your business or partner with another Chamber member or a client/customer. Its a great way to network, build relationships, business and awareness of what you do. Next available date is in December.