Photo Credit: Larry Goldstein
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
Aviation as an Enabler for B.C.'s Prosperity Supporting Sponsor:
Yes
“With our growing population, expanding transit infrastructure and improving service levels is essential to the region’s economy.” Chair Janet Austin, pg. 4
Board of Trade to host aviation forum · 2 YWCA becomes 100th “Yes” coalition member · 3 Port Metro Vancouver’s record-setting year · 5 YVR strengthens trade ties with Shanghai · 5 PM announces measure to support LNG growth · 6
Winners of the WLC Wendy McDonald Awards · 8-9 FortisBC to supply LNG to BC Ferries · 11 @boardoftrade /VancouverBoardofTrade
boardoftrade.com
Find out more on page 12
March 2015 • VOLUME 55 • NUMBER 3
VBOT issues annual Provincial Budget Report Card in Victoria By Greg Hoekstra
The Vancouver Board of Trade, representing 5,000 business members across Greater Vancouver and B.C., has assigned an overall grade of “A” to B.C. Budget 2015, based on the government’s steadfast commitment to balancing the books, reducing debt, and stoking a variety of sectors of our economy. “In a landscape of massive p r ov i n c i a l d e f i c i t s a c r o s s Canada, B.C.’s government has not only delivered on its promise of another balanced budget, but has also taken meaningful steps to help further diversify our economy,” said Iain Black, President and CEO of The Vancouver Board of Trade. “After two years of developing global interest in B.C.’s LNG potential, this year’s budget has selected four or five other key ® industries for strategic investment and growth – from the film
Finance Minister Mike de Jong, gives his annual B.C. Budget Recap at The Vancouver Board of Trade on Feb. 23, to a crowd of more than 300 business leaders. Photo by Matt Borck
industry to mining, aerospace, and a Maritime Centre of Excellence.” Members of The Vancouver Board of Trade’s Government Budget and Finance Committee attended the provincial budget lockup in Victoria on Feb. 17, where they received an advanced copy of the budget and assessed it based on four criteria (below). The criteria were originally submitted to B.C.’s Finance Minister
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Mike de Jong in a detailed letter earlier this year, along with recommendations. “Our committee has been focused on seeing the government return to pre-2009/10 debt-to-GDP levels, not increasing taxes for businesses, and
controlling spending,” said George Kondopulos, Tax Partner at KPMG LLP and volunteer Chair of The Vancouver Board of Trade’s Government Budget and Finance Committee. “This year’s budget makes remarkable progress on reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio, and announced focused investment in areas that are important to the long-term economic success of the province, while holding steady on already very competitive business and personal tax rates.” Re s u l t s f r o m Pr ov i n c i a l Budget Report Card 2015 included an “A+” in the Debt Management category, a “B” for Spending Management, a “B+” for Tax Competitiveness, and an “A” for Economic Vision. A few days after tabling the budget in Victoria, Minister de Jong gave his annual B.C. Budget Recap to more than 300 Vancouver business leaders at The Vancouver Board of Trade.
For more B.C. Budget highlights, visit bcbudget.gov.bc.ca. For video from Minister de Jong’s B.C. Budget Recap, visit youtube.com/TheBoardofTrade.
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B.C. Budget 2015 earns an “A” grade
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