When Business Needs a Champ 2019/2020 Policy and Positions Manual INTRODUCTION The BC Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) is registered under the Societies Act (British Columbia) as a volunteer, not-for-profit association and serves its members as the provincial federation of autonomous community chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and corporate members. Known to have been in operation as early as March 1867, the Chamber was re-established in 1952 to: 1. Develop a true cross-section of opinions of the British Columbia business community, and effectively present these opinions to government; 2. Build a diverse, competitive and sustainable economy that provides opportunity for all who invest, work and live in British Columbia; and 3. Create and nurture an effective membership organization that provides value and purpose to its members This Policy and Positions Manual contains informed opinions and policy statements adopted by members during the policy session at the Chamber's 66th Annual General Meeting held in Kamloops, B.C., May 24th to 26th, 2018. The Chamber's policy statements contained herein are submitted or presented to the provincial and federal governments and are individually called to the attention of the Cabinet ministers responsible in order to make it possible for pending government legislation and regulations to reflect the individual opinion of our chamber members. The Policy and Positions Manual also serves as a working document for the Chamber's Policy Review Committee, whose members regularly review and assess the timeliness, importance, and scope of the Chamber's policy statements. PLEASE ADDRESS INQUIRIES TO: Dan Baxter Director of Policy Development, Government and Stakeholder Relations The British Columbia Chamber of Commerce Suite 1201, 750 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2T8 Telephone: (604) 638 8116 E-mail:
[email protected] 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS POLICY PRINCIPLES ...............................................................................................................................................