Kelowna Chamber Votes for Energy Reform, a New Take on PPTs, and MMBC Modifications

Kelowna, BC:

Representatives from the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce attended the weekend BC Chambers Annual General Meeting & Conference, the province’s foremost business gathering May 23-24.

Kelowna Chamber CEO Caroline Grover, along with President Curtis Darmohray and other directors, took part in the unique grassroots policy-building forum, alongside 200 other Chamber delegates from around the province.

The BC Chamber website – www.bcchamber.org – has more information on the initiatives brought to the floor, discussed, debated, and those which passed.

The Kelowna Chamber was vocal on the subject of energy reform, including optimizing the Clean Energy Act for BC’s Economy and Environmental Policy Direction. Still in the energy arena, policies voted into force also include the importance to the economy of expanded oil pipeline infrastructure, and reconciling BC’s natural gas economic development policy with its greenhouse gas emissions reduction policy.

Close to home, a policy on reforming property transfer tax was voted in, supporting the issue that affordable housing is good for the economy.

And, the issues around Multi Material BC were debated, and a policy passed under the umbrella of product stewardship. John Winter, President & CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce is quoted as saying: “The Chamber’s membership has seen first-hand the costs that product stewardship organizations such as MMBC put onto BC businesses. Our policy calls for better oversight of this type of organization to ensure that any costs put onto businesses are fair, clear, and manageable.”

For more information, contact:

Caroline Grover, CEO, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
caroline@kelownachamber.org
250-469-7356