Sounding Board October 2014

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Second Annual Address:

Craig Richmond President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority

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“The B.C. government has a goal to make B.C. the most small-business friendly jurisdiction in Canada.” Minister Naomi Yamamoto, pg. 7

THIS ISSUE New BCIT President talks partnerships · 2 Air Canada CEO returns to Board of Trade · 2 VBOT makes a splash at Canadian Chamber · 3 Op-ed: Craig Richmond’s vision for YVR’s future · 5 James Moore’s fight against internal trade barriers · 6

Small Business Month Member Profiles · 8-9 LOT Anniversary · 12-13 Building your brand · 14 @boardoftrade /VancouverBoardofTrade

boardoftrade.com

OCTOBER 2014 • VOLUME 54 • NUMBER 9

Premier outlines economic plan 700 B.C. business leaders flock to Premier Christy Clark’s Vancouver Board of Trade address BY GREG HOEKSTRA

No topic was off limits when Premier Christy Clark gave her highly anticipated economic update to 700 members of The Vancouver Board of Trade on Oct. 2. In her keynote, Clark addressed everything from the recently resolved teachers strike to the Mount Polley mining spill, land-title rights for B.C.’s First Nations, inter-provincial trade barriers, and the need to reform Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Clark also reaffirmed that her government plans to move forward on building B.C.’s LNG industry and setting world-leading standards. In addition, Clark noted that she will be leading a trade mission to India this month

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Premier Christy Clark speaks to B.C. business leaders at The Vancouver Board of Trade on Oct. 2, 2014. Sara Borck Photography

to expand ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies — with a goal of replicating B.C.’s successful trade relationships with China. “Expanding ties with the growing economies of Asia is the key to our future prosperity,” said Clark. “Right now, our exports to India are worth $468 million. After a decade of building our relationship, B.C.’s exports China

are worth $5.7 billion. It’s a proven track record...we’re going to walk down the same path with India.” In the year to come, Clark said her government’s BC Jobs Plan will focus on four specific areas: small business, manufacturing, First Nations, and international trade. She highlighted the new LNG-Buy BC Program as a key example of how the government can connect B.C. businesses with companies

from across the globe. “There is a lot of hard work to be done, but that’s okay. None of you got here because you shied away from hard work. Let’s have the courage to stand up, stand together, and get the job done,” said Clark. Watch video from Premier Clark’s address to The Vancouver Board of Trade at youtube.com/ theboardoftrade.