2015 Annual Report
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Annual Report 2015-2016 www.saskchamber.com TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Officers & Board of Directors 4 SCC Staff Members 5 Chair’s Message 6 CEO’s Message 7 Environment Committee Report 8 Finance Committee Report 8 Youth, Education & Training Committee Report 9 Human Resources Committee Report 9 Labour Market Task Force Report 10 Investment & Growth Committee Report 10 Membership Report 11 Advocacy Report 12 ABEX Winners & Sponsors 2015 13 ABEX Hall of Fame 2015 14 ABEX Business Leader 2015 14 2015 Roger Phillips Chamber Builder Award 15 Special Events & Projects 16 2016 Conference Sponsors 17 Minutes of the 2015 AGM 19 Financial Statements - Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce 33 Financial Statements - Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Foundation 42 Notes Page 2 Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Officers Randy Beattie Shawna Nelson Patricia Warsaba Bruce Anderson Chair 1st Vice-Chair 2nd Vice-Chair Immediate Past Chair PFM Capital Inc. Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon McKercher LLP b-creative group inc. Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Board Members Kendal Netmaker Michael Cossar, C. A. Peter Clarke Neechie Gear Inc. Seed Hawk Inc. Greg Hanwell Monica Kreuger Ricardo Silva Beer Brothers Global Infobrokers Inc. & Gastropub & Deli Praxis Group of Schools Trina Warren Sean Young MNP LLP Clayton Veresh Young’s Equipment Inc. MNP LLP Page 3 Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Staff Steve McLellan Marilyn Leier Cindy Wright CEO Administrative Assistant Director of Special Events Curtis Hemming Libbey Morin Kristin McKee Director of Government Research & Policy Analyst Director of Policy Relations Development Jesse Chatterson Elissa LaLiberte Dawn M. Barker Director of Membership Director of Membership Director of Sales Engagement Communications Paul Huber Communications Coordinator Page 4 CHAIR’S REPORT It has been a pleasure to commitment has established serve as your Chair of the the Saskatchewan Chamber as a Saskatchewan Chamber of leader in the Canadian chamber Commerce this past year. network and we are certainly punching well above our Upon reflection, a lot has weight. Recent benchmarking happened over the last 12 results through the Association months and yet it has gone by of Chamber of Commerce very quickly. Despite the fact Executives (ACCE) has the we had a federal and a provincial Saskatchewan Chamber as a election, the Chamber has leader in member retention. remained focused on the long term for our members and the The Saskatchewan Chamber province while being active in network continues to work both elections. well together to the benefit of all members. Whether the Randy Beattie, Chair This continued focus on the issue is local or province wide key elements of our strategic the team of local chamber leadership and genuine desire plan has allowed us to make leaders and members value the to make Saskatchewan a better significant progress on a variety strength of this network and place to work, live and invest. of important files. accordingly communicate on a regular basis on these issues. A As Past Chair, I will continue to We have seen incredible prime example of this was the work with the Board and will participation and outcomes from coordination of the OnTrack focus on a few special projects all our Expert Committees and 2016 campaign for the elections that have been identified our events have attracted record where issues were identified, by the Board as important attendance. The OnTrack 2016 input was obtained from the to our overall growth. As a project worked very well for the Chamber network and then a result, Bruce Anderson will elections and we are continuing consensus platform was rolled represent us on the Canadian to push all those ‘good ideas’. out on a proactive basis. Chamber Board and continue to bring Saskatchewan’s Our recently improved policy In order to have a good year voice on national issues and development process now has and obtain acclaim from opportunities. a year under its belt. I believe Chamber peers a lot of work that the changes have resulted has to be done. In that regard, a I have enjoyed my time as Chair in timely discussion and input special thank you to the expert working with members, staff, on key issues from our members committee members for their committees and Saskatchewan and has allowed us, as the voice expertise and to the Board for businesses. I also welcome for business in Saskatchewan, their time and their commitment Shawna Nelson as incoming to advocate on those issues in a to the province and to the Chair and know that the more timely manner. This was chamber network. Chamber is in good hands under especially important in a year her stewardship. where two elections occurred. I also thank the Chamber staff who continue to impress all with Respectfully submitted, Our membership continues their level of commitment and Randy Beattie, Chair to be the life blood of excellent work and of course, to the organization. Their our CEO, Steve McLellan, for his Page 5 CEO’S REPORT membership over the last five the provincial economy years resulted in many more plateauing, we developed the members and a big bump Saskatchewan/USA Trade in revenues. Year over year Summit with STEP. We had new sales have resulted in a excellent speakers who provided cumulative impact that is exactly great messages to businesses double what we generated who were into or considering in 2007. A key measure of the merits of the USA as a membership is retention and we market. remain over 90% which is well above the national average. In We have continued our policy fact, the Association of Chamber roundtables and we place of Commerce Executives ranked more than 1,400 phone calls to us in the Top 10 in North members. When you add email, America in two membership social media, personal visits retention categories. and event attendance we are Steve McLellan, CEO well connected. In the current Policy is our foundation and market with a volatile economy 2015 was a year of building and we had a very active year in and commodities bobbing up of results for the Saskatchewan this area. As always, workplace and down we will continue to Chamber of Commerce. We safety is a top concern for ensure we know our members continued to build upon the the Saskatchewan Chamber thoughts. successes of earlier years with - and our advocacy on what our events and membership as should be done with surplus 2015 was a very good year. well as policy development. And, funding paid off. The board My sincere thanks to the hard while in some years success was of the WCB agreed with our working staff whose efforts slower, incremental benefits position and returned the entire make me look good every were seen as we remained $141 million in surpluses to day, (not an easy task) and to focused and committed. employers, so that made a lot the Board for their constant of CFO’s happy. There was very guidance and very solid vision Some examples are the number good work done on farmland for the Chamber and business in of event attendees we saw ownership, environmental Saskatchewan – I say thank you in 2015. Over 1,563 people policy, immigration and skills and well done. attended the “classics” like training and much more. We ABEX and Political Forum as have over 50 policies on which To the members, as always we well as the new ones like the we regularly advocate. do it for you and with you. Much Chair’s Invitational Dinner and appreciated. the Saskatchewan/USA Trade While we could rest on our Summit. Due to strong sponsor laurels and move at a calmer Respectfully submitted, support, our bottom line for pace, the Saskatchewan Steve McLellan, CEO events also improved. Chamber is always focused on the horizon for opportunities The very positive growth in and challenges. With Page 6 ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE The Environment Committee addresses issues affecting business in Saskatchewan with regard to the environment. During 2015 – 2016 the Environment Committee pursued matters related to climate change and energy efficiency, water issues, the continued development of the Saskatchewan Environmental Code, and regulatory issues. In the fall 2015, the Committee met the new Minister for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment (SMoE) to discuss climate change, the Code Development Committee status, water legislation renewal and the Ministry’s priorities. Through the year the Committee also arranged for a number of environment-related posts to the Chamber website, for the service of Chamber members. The Committee pursued our climate change positions and the importance of energy efficiency in the effort to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. A letter was sent to the Premier on attending the United Nations Paris Climate Change Conference, offering some Saskatchewan GHG reduction success stories and reinforcing our positions on the issue. The Committee also met with representatives of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society on renewable energy and efficiency programs, and with SaskPower on their businesses energy efficiency programs. The Committee will involve itself in related future renewable energy strategies. The Committee met with the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (SWSA) regarding the progress of their 25 year plan, the Lake Diefenbaker operation plan, and their water availability study. We also held a session for major industrial members with SWSA on the newly amended Drainage Regulations, and included attendance by SMoE. The Committee will also be involved in the further development of water management. Over the year, meetings were held with others including with the Ministry of the Environment, to speak on The Wildfire Management Act, and with the Ministry of the Economy on The Reclaimed Industrial Sites Act. The Committee also addressed spill reporting, to ensure that the required provincial and federal government departments are officially notified when a spill is reported to the provincial spill line.