CHAMBER OPINIONS HELP SHAPE GOVERNMENT POLICY

One of the many roles of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce is to
be a voice for local business.

That same mandate extends provincially and the B.C. Chamber of
Commerce does the same. The provincial voice of business is heard loud
and clear through the policy agenda advocated by the B.C. Chamber of
Commerce.

The positions arrived at by the B.C. Chamber of Commerce -- ranging in
issues from skills, taxation, energy, tourism, to transportation and
land use -- have an impact by helping to shape government policy.

It is important to recognize that the impetus of these policies comes
from the grassroots -- the business owner and chamber member. Their
involvement in the policy process is integral. By voicing concerns,
opinions and thoughts for improvement, they are helping shape their
community and province.

The success of chamber policies is evident. As the B.C. Chamber noted
in its 2006-2007 Policy and Positions Manual, the success of chamber
policies was shown by the report of the Competition Council, created
by government to review and provide recommendations on how to enhance
the province's competitiveness.

"Of the 46 cross sector recommendations made by this group, nearly
half matched policy recommendations of the B.C. Chamber," the manual
reads.

That's evidence of solution-seeking policies reflecting the needs of
communities.

A number of B.C. Chamber of Commerce policy statements have seen the
government implement all, or a significant portion, of the
recommendations and many have a direct impact here in Nanaimo.

Those of note include apprenticeship and skills training in secondary
schools and Red Seal recognition.

The B.C. Chamber of Commerce, in its position on the certification of
professionals and trades, says the solution to the provincial skills
shortage -- which we feel here in Nanaimo -- can be seen in two
lights: "First the need to deal with training the young skilled
professionals of tomorrow in a way that fulfills market demands and
secondly to ensure professional associations are part of the solution
by streamlining their certification and upgrade training."

The chamber listed a series of six recommendations for the provincial
government including that the province ensures professional
associations work with local private and public post secondary
institutions for skill assessments and necessary upgrades and that the
province, in co-operation with the federal government, establish
national standards for all Certifications (Red Seal) which would be
valid and recognized throughout Canada.

Another policy statement put forward by the B.C. Chamber that has seen
the government take action on the recommendations over the past year
is in regards to marijuana cultivation operations -- another important
issue here in Nanaimo.

The chamber notes that the number of marijuana cultivation
investigated and detected by B.C. law enforcement agencies rose by 222
per cent in four years (1997-2000).

"There are virtually no deterrents to establishing [marijuana grow
operations] in B.C., while the potential rewards are enormous," the
chamber's position reads.

The chamber has listed five recommendations for the province,
including to begin working with counterparts across Canada to amend
the Criminal Code to include the addition of minimum sentences or
sentencing guidelines and to organize a multi-stakeholder symposium to
discuss the issues and to co-ordinate an integrated strategy that
responds to the concerns of all impacted parties.

This is a small taste of the policies, positions, and recommendations
that the B.C. Chamber of Commerce produces, and that government
responds to.

The most important thing to note is that governments are listening to
our ideas and we are able to make a difference.

Rick Thurmeier is president of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of
Commerce.