Chamber Blog Posts
Policy Horizon - March 2026
Mar 5, 2026While some of the noise around reception of the Provincial Budget tabled February 17 is abating, what has not died down is the concern over the rapid rise of B.C.’s debt load. The fastest growing line item in B.C.’s budget is debt servici...
Read MoreCity of Kelowna Helps Business Fight Costs of Crime
Feb 26, 2026News Release The City of Kelowna is introducing a new Business Security Enhancement Rebate Program to support local businesses in strengthening property security and improving the overall sense of safety in commercial areas. Launching Mar...
Read MoreReaction to Budget BC 2026 from BC Chamber
Feb 18, 2026Jen Riley, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement in response to the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of British Columbia. “As expected, Budget 2026 provides a sobering economic outlook for...
Read MorePolicy Update - February 2026
Feb 9, 2026Policy Horizons: February Update February marks policy‑writing season for Chambers across BC and Canada—a time when member concerns take centre stage. Because Chambers build policy from the ground up, the issues you raise directly shap...
Read MoreVALLEY CHAMBERS CALL TO SAVE OUR DOWNTOWNS
Jan 21, 2026Okanagan Valley: Crime downtown. Businesses being pushed to, and beyond, their limits. Infrastructure shortcomings. Lack of contingency planning for fire evacuation routes. The issues were not in question. Getting governments at all levels to pay att...
Read MoreLetter to Canada Water Agency re Rapid eDNA Detection to combat invasive mussels
Jan 16, 2026January 16, 2026 Canada Water Agency EcoAction Stream2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation Government of Canada To whom it may concern: On behalf of the Kelowna Chamber, we are writing to support the...
Read MoreLetter to Minister Christine Boyle re STRs January 13, 2026
Jan 13, 2026January 13, 2026 The Honourable Christine Boyle Minister of Housing Province of British Columbia Dear Minister Boyle, On behalf of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, we are writing to express the strong and urgent need for the province to ap...
Read MorePolicy Horizon - The Year Ahead
Jan 7, 2026Policy isn’t background noise — it’s a forward indicator of risk, opportunity, and competitive advantage We start the year with many of the same clouds overhead as in 2025: looming CUSMA renegotiations, tariff...
Read MoreKelowna Chamber Opposes Bill M216 – 2025 - The Professional Reliance Act
Nov 18, 2025The Hon. George Anderson MLA Nanaimo-Lantzville Via email: George.Anderson.MLA@leg.bc.ca Dear Mr. Anderson: Re: Bill M216-2025 We write in reference to your private member’s bill - the Professional Reliance ...
Read MoreLetter to City of Kelowna re Short Term Rentals
Oct 31, 2025Mayor and Council City of Kelowna Dear Mayor Dyas and Councillors: The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce writes today in support of taking a balanced approach through amending short term rental regulations in Kelowna which are being brought before...
Read MoreBC Chamber Calls for Urgency to address Crime, Violence and Public Disorder
Sep 22, 2025VANCOUVER, B.C., September 22, 2025 Today at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Conference, the BC Chamber of Commerce renewed...
Read MoreOur Statement on Possible Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike
Aug 13, 2025"Reliable air transportation is vital to Canadians and the Canadian economy. Every day, more than 130,000 people fly with Air Canada for personal, business and tourism reasons. Air travel also plays a critical role in internal and international ...
Read MoreOur Statement on China’s Provisional Anti-Dumping Duty on Canadian Canola
Aug 13, 2025"Last summer, when the U.S. placed tariffs on China due to the country’s non-market practices, Canada aligned with our largest trading partner — but now it’s Canada’s agri-food industry that’s taking the brunt of Ch...
Read MoreSummary of Tariff Actions by U.S. toward Canada and Canada Response to Aug 6, 2025
Aug 6, 2025https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/programs/international-trade-finance-policy/canadas-response-us-tariffs.html See this page at Finance Canada for summary to August 6, 2025 ...
Read MoreLong Weekend Lots of News
Aug 5, 2025The last week of July and the August 1 long weekend saw lots of business news. Partly driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s self-imposed August 1 Canada-U.S. tariff deadline, by Mark Carney’s weekend trip to B.C., and follow up to Bank ...
Read MoreU.S. Tariffs on Canadian Construction Impacting U.S. Home Costs
Jul 22, 2025Business Data Lab Report https://businessdatalab.ca/publications/building-trouble-how-u-s-tariffs-on-canadian-construction-materials-are-pricing-out-the-american-dream/ ...
Read MoreLetter of Support to World Trade Centers Association Licensing
Jul 17, 2025On behalf of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to offer our support for the concept of establishing a World Trade Centre in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. The Okanagan is one of the fastest-growing regions i...
Read MorePrime Minister Carney announces new measures to protect and strengthen Canada’s steel industry
Jul 16, 2025On July 16, 2025 the Government of Canada announced new measures to protect Canada’s steel industry. Part of this announcement includes investing $70 million in Labour Market Development Agreements to provide training and income supports for up...
Read MoreThe Canadian Chamber of Commerce commends the Government of Canada for eliminating Canada’s DST
Jun 25, 2025The Canadian Chamber of Commerce commends the Government of Canada for eliminating Canada’s Digital Services Tax (DST), while at the same time helping to secure the end of Section 899, the so-called U.S. “revenge tax.” Both measures...
Read MoreSecuring Canada - Canadian Chamber Speaks Out
Jun 9, 2025Canadian Chamber of Commerce Statement on “Securing Canada” Defence Spending Announcement Today, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Candace Laing joined Prime Minister Carney at the announcement of "Securing Can...
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