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The Public Affairs Update is your weekly insight, perspective and analysis on politics in British Columbia and Canada. This newsletter is brought to you by the largest, and most broadly-based business organization in the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce – the Voice of Business in B.C.
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| Province close to deal on LNG taxes |
 Last week, Premier Christy Clark announced that B.C. is on the verge of a landmark agreement governing the taxation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exported from the province. According to Premier Clark, striking a balance between the government’s need to maximize revenues while making B.C. an attractive investment option to develop LNG has been at the core of the discussion.The tax regime has been a source of intense negotiations between the province and the energy sector. Some energy companies – such as Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp. and Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc. – have warned that a new tax on gas exports could slow the development of the industry.
It is anticipated that an agreement could come as early as next month and is expected to be enshrined in legislation in the spring, to provide certainty for current and future LNG proponents in the province. |
| BC Chamber participates in Skills Training Roundtable in Toronto |
 The BC Chamber of Commerce is actively participating in skills training and funding discussions, as the federal government considers such issues as the Canada Job Grant.Last week, BC Chamber president and CEO John Winter participated in the Council of the Federation & Executives skills training roundtable in Toronto.
Agenda topics included Canada’s skills training needs and the issue of Labour Market Agreement renewal.
The BC Chamber will continue active work on this file, which is of key significance to B.C. employers. |
| SFU forum looks to build B.C.’s economic future |
| Last week, the BC Chamber of Commerce participated in a “Forum on BC’s Economy,” hosted by Simon Fraser University.The forum brought together 150 B.C. leaders to discuss this year’s theme: Charting British Columbia’s Economic Future.The forum sought to create “a venue for productive, supportive, creative dialogue” in B.C., as a counterpoint to what it termed B.C.’s “obstreperousness.”“British Columbians can be passionate in their politics and fierce in their ideological commitments,” a forum overview document said. “Everyone who has ever carried a potentially touchy issue west over the Rocky Mountains has learned that the tone, tenor and decibel level of debate in these parts can rise quickly beyond what is helpful.”
The well-received forum built on ideas raised in the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity, an initiative by the Business Council of BC in partnership with the BC Chamber; the two groups recently released a report on how B.C. can build shared prosperity. |
| Provinces propose CPP reform |
 Provinces are proposing increases to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premiums, built on a concern that middle class Canadians are not saving enough for retirement.Led by Prince Edward Island Minister of Finance Wes Sheridan, a proposal has been submitted to federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty to raise the maximum insurable earnings cut off from $51,000 to $102,000. The maximum retirement benefit CPP would pay would increase from $12,150 to $23,400 per year. Flaherty has rejected a similar proposal in the past.
Sheridan is advocating pensions be added to the agenda at a meeting of federal and provincial finance ministers scheduled for December. |
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This weekly report produced for the BC Chamber of Commerce by Fleishman-Hillard. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication as of the date of issue, events and government policies are subject to frequent change. Therefore, the BC Chamber of Commerce and Fleishman-Hillard cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis on the information contained herein.
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