A Long Legacy of Leadership
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“Our relevancy stems from staying true to our original 1887 focus.” Board of Trade CEO Iain Black, pg. 4 april 2012 • VOlUME 52 • NUMBEr 3 THIS ISSUE A long legacy of leadership A proposal for a new policy model · 3 In the past 125 years, The Vancouver Board of Trade has helped create a local airport authority, Message from the saved the Canada Line, and paved the way for the NEXUS lane. And that’s only the beginning. president and CEO· 4 munity, and it has done so under the leadership First Narrows for shipping, had lobbied for a new BY WENDY LISOGAR-COCCHIA People and sustainable of some of Vancouver’s greatest visionaries and city hall and post office, and had helped estab- mining · 5 Forty-five thousand, four hundred and eighty- dignitaries. lish the University of British Columbia’s Faculty five. That’s how many days will have passed This legacy of leadership began with The of Commerce. That was just the beginning. TD’s chief economist between The Vancouver Board of Trade’s in- Board of Trade’s first president, David Oppen- In the years following, The Board fought for gives financial forecast · 6 corporation in 1887 and the moment this issue heimer, a national historic figure and the city’s fairer freight rates and expanded markets for of Sounding Board rolls off the printing press. second mayor. Prior to the creation of The Board B.C.’s products. In the 1930s, then-president This year, The Vancouver Board of Trade is of Trade, Vancouver was overshadowed by the T.S. Dixon worked closely with the BC Medical celebrating 125 years of working on behalf of larger communities of Victoria and New West- Association and chaired the first meeting to Vancouver’s business community to promote minster. But with Oppenheimer at the helm, The found a cancer institute – the British Columbia prosperity through commerce, trade, and free Board immediately began lobbying the province Cancer Foundation. enterprise. For nearly as long as there has been to provide Vancouver with a land registry office, In the 1940s and 50s, the organization sup- a City of Vancouver, there has been a Vancouver a courthouse, more schools, playgrounds, and ported the development of the Trans-Canada Minister talks transportation Board of Trade. And that is no coincidence. mail delivery. Highway and the establishment of new airport. and infrastructure · 7 Although some of today’s new members may And thus, the foundation for a world-class In the 1960s, The Board issued a statement not realize it, The Vancouver Board of Trade has city was laid. declaring the urgent need for a downtown coli- played a pivotal role in making Vancouver the Over the next few decades, The Board contin- seum and convention centre, and called for the world-class city that it is today. Throughout ued to influence all three levels of government. creation of a metro transit authority. its history, this organization has championed By World War I, The Board had successfully many of the projects that now define our com- convinced the federal government to dredge the TURN TO PAGE 7 Reasons why goal setting Board of Trade gives federal budget an “A” grade doesn’t work · 8 Spending and debt well managed, tax complexity for small business reduced but still an issue Improve your odds of winning an RFP · 20 The Vancouver Board of Trade, welcomed, but the issue of tax com- Harper government understands “Generally, we were pleased that representing thousands of business plexity continues to be an ongoing that jobs are created by allowing the the federal government was able members in the Lower Mainland, challenge for business. private sector to take risks, invest, to reduce spending while encour- Board names winners of has assigned an overall grade of “A” “The federal government’s rea- innovate and grow. Metro Vancouver aging investment in the Canadian prestigious Rix Awards · 21 to the federal budget 2012/13, based sonable and prudent ‘game plan’ businesses look forward to doing economy, most notably through on the government’s steady progress continues to be the right one for more for the B.C. and Canadian the continued $1,000 new hire tax Learning the lessons of on spending control, debt manage- British Columbia and Vancouver, economies, especially by leveraging credit for small and medium busi- Steve Jobs · 22 ment and for its long-term economic and it remains the right strategy for our geographic position as the Asia- ness and support of science and vision (all “As”). Canada within a challenging global Pacific Gateway.” research,” said Elise Rees, chair of @boardoftrade The Board also gave the budget economic environment,” said Iain The Board asked its Government the committee. /VancouverBoardofTrade a tax competitiveness score of “B+.” Black, president and CEO of The Budget and Finance Committee — For more on the grading criteria, The federal government’s adjust- Board of Trade. “The spending made up of local business owners, as well as highlights from the federal boardoftrade.com ments on small business GST thresh- reductions and deficit control mea- leaders, accountants, and lawyers budget for business owners and man- olds and dividend flexibility were sures send a clear message that the — to analyze and assess the budget. agers, visit www.boardoftrade.com. Fly on your schedule. Your busy schedule can change quickly, so we fly when you want to. No waits, no line-ups, no hassles. www.londonair.com Call us today and watch your efficiencyhours7days soar. 604-272-8123 or 1-877-399-8123 hours7days See our full events calendar at EVENTS CATCH-UP EVENTS CALENDAR UPDATE www.boardoftrade.com The Vancouver Board of Trade television broadcast schedule THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 MEMBERS’ RECEPTION Networking Roundtable Members’ Reception at St. at Regus Regis and Gotham TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Week beginning 7:15 – 9 a.m. Driving B.C.’s economy forward Sunday, April 8 5 – 7 p.m. Renaissance Vancouver 5 –7 p.m. The Hon. Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation Regus (Park Place) Harbourside Hotel St. Regis Hotel and Infrastructure, Province of British Columbia Sponsored by: Regus Sponsored by: Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar BUDGET 2012: Canada’s resilience in the face Week beginning FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 of global economic turmoil Sunday, April 15 FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 SFU: The making of an The Honourable James Flaherty, PC, MP, ABORIGINAL engaged university MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 Minister of Finance, Government of Canada OPPORTUNITIES FORUM 11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. Governors’ Banquet and 2012: Success through Rix Center Awards 2012 ABORIGINAL OPPORTUNITIES FORUM 2012 Week beginning The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver consultation and Lunch keynote: Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw, Sunday, April 22 6 – 10 p.m. accommodation Andrew Petter, President and President, Haida Nation Vice-Chancellor, Simon Fraser Vancouver Convention Centre - West 7:15 a.m. – 2 p.m. University COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS INDUCTEE B.C. BUDGET 2012 Week beginning The Westin Bayshore Vancouver Presenting Sponsor: Scotiabank Jason McLean, The Hon. Christy Clark, Premier, Province of Sunday, April 29 BREAKFAST KEYNOTE: Supporting Sponsor: McLean Group of Companies British Columbia Chief Councillor Ellis Ross, McCarthy Tétrault RECIPIENT OF THE RIX AWARD FOR The Hon. Kevin Falcon, Finance Minister and Haisla Nation Council, Aboriginal ENGAGED CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP Deputy Premier, Province of British Columbia Business and Investment Council Teck Resources PANEL SESSION 1 MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012 WHY WORRY? Thoughts on the financial crisis Week beginning RECIPIENT OF THE RIX AWARD FOR MODERATOR: CRISIS AND CONFLICT: and the importance of Canada getting it right Sunday, May 6 ENGAGED COMMUNITY CITIZENSHIP Sophie Pierre, OBC, Global challenges in 2012 David Dodge, senior advisor, Bennett Jones Peter M. Brown, OBC, LLD, BC Treaty Commission LLP, and former governor, Bank of Canada 11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. Canaccord Financial Inc. PANELLISTS: The Fairmont Pacifi c Rim Presenting Sponsors: Merle Alexander, SHAW broadcasts one Board of Trade event per week on channel 4. Louise Arbour, President Canaccord Financial, Scheduled time slots are Sundays at 6:30 p.m., Mondays at 8 a.m., Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP and Chief Executive Offi cer, The Jim Pattison Group Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. and Fridays at 3:30 p.m. Broadcast times Dr. Mark Selman, International Crisis Group; are subject to change. Visit our YouTube channel for more video Beedie School of Business, highlights at www.youtube.com/theboardoftrade. Former United Nations High Simon Fraser University Commissioner for Human Rights FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012 Ian Anderson, INTRODUCTION BY: GROWTH AND THE NEXT ISSUE Kinder Morgan Canada Frank Giustra, International OLYMPIC EFFECT Crisis Group Trustee and PANEL SESSION 2 11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. Coming up in the May 2012 issue of Sounding Board, look for special Executive Member; President & MODERATOR: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver features on business meetings, recruiting, socially responsible busi- Keith Henry, Aboriginal Tourism CEO, Fiore Financial Corporation ness, and arts and festivals. Lord Green, Minister of State for Association of British Columbia Presenting Sponsor: Trade and Investment, British Canaccord Financial SUBMISSIONS: Does your company have news to share? PANELLISTS: Government Send your submissions (350 words max.) to Greg Hoekstra at editor@ John Walker, FortisBC Presented in co-operation with: boardoftrade.com. Please confirm you are a Board of Trade member in Business Council of Presenting Sponsors: British your email. For more on upcoming features, visit www.boardoftrade. Dave Porter, First Nations Energy British Columbia Consulate General, Great Britain com and click on Sounding Board under the resources tab. and Mining Council Media Partner: NEWS1130 Annita McPhee, ADVERTISING: For print and web ad rates contact Deborah and Gary Tahltan Central Council MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012 Fach at [email protected] or 604-876-0463.