This Chamber Week has been full of events, including the Board of Directors Election commencing yesterday as well as the tabling of the provincial budget on Wednesday. The 2016 budget combines on-going fiscal discipline, including a continued focus on repaying operating debt and a number of forward-looking initiatives strongly advocated for by the BC Chamber network, such as the creation of a Tax Competitiveness Commission and the BC Prosperity Fund, to support future economic growth.
The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce has been advocating for reductions or elimination of the Property Transfer Tax since 2009, so we were pleased to see a step toward this with the PPT exemption on new builds under $750,000. It is unclear if the budget for the Ministry of Environment will allow them to man inspection stations at all B.C. access points to keep invasive mussel species out of our waters, which is an ongoing concern that the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce will continue to lobby for.
Today we'll have the opportunity at our luncheon to ask the Premier why this budget ignored the shift in legislation needed to protect credit unions from the small -business tax exemption, due to be phased out this year.
Following this formal event at 5pm, we will be gathering for Business with Bevvies at the newly renovated Kelowna BCSPCA. They have many different pets available for adoption, and this will be a chance to meet some furry and feathered friends, as well as some new business connections!
Hope to see you there!
-KCC
