SOLVING OUR REGION’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHALLENGE How Greater Vancouver can start preparing for future infrastructure needs 3 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE AND ITS MEMBERS | NOVEMBER 2017 | VOLUME 57 / ISSUE 10 | BOARDOFTRADE.COM GVBOT renews calls for ridesharing and taxi modernization TRANSPORTATION | Board of Trade has advocated for new industry framework for more than two years he Greater Vancouver Board Infrastructure Committee. The of Trade has once again re- report made four specific recom- Tnewed its calls for Mem- mendations to the Provincial Gov- bers of the Legislative Assembly ernment that would have paved to work together to enable British the way for ridesharing while cre- Columbians to access innovative ating a level playing field for taxis. transportation options. A year later, GVBOT’s 2017 Prov- The organization put out a state- incial Election Platform also called ment last month, urging the Prov- for legislation that enables ride- incial Government to act quickly to sharing and modernizes the taxi introduce ridesharing in B.C. while industry, following a survey that also modernizing the traditional found overwhelming support for taxi industry. the issue among our region’s busi- “With the fall legislative session ness community. now well underway, we urge the “The time has come for British provincial government to make Columbia to embrace new trans- immediate, meaningful steps to- portation technology and trends. ward greater mobility in our re- At the same time, we need to en- gion,” said Iain Black, President able our traditional taxi industry to and CEO of the Greater Vancouver modernize and compete on a simi- Board of Trade. government to follow through.” asking for the immediate intro- Association, the Urban Develop- lar playing field,” said Black. “We “Throughout the last provincial For more than two years, the duction of ridesharing in British ment Institute, the Surrey Board believe both can be achieved, and election, our Members made clear Board of Trade has been a leading Columbia. This informal coali- of Trade, and more. we are seeing evidence of that in 40 that we need more choice when voice advocating for the introduc- tion included the B.C. Tech Asso- In early 2016, the Greater Van- other jurisdictions across Canada it comes to passenger transpor- tion of ridesharing in B.C. and the ciation, Mothers Against Drunk couver Board of Trade issued a re- where ridesharing is already part tation. All three party leaders modernization of the taxi industry. Driving Canada, the Cruise Lines search paper entitled Innovative of the transportation mix.” SB pledged to pass ridesharing en- In October, the organization International Association, the Transportation Options for Metro abling legislation by the end of worked together with 11 other Downtown Vancouver BIA, the Vancouver in conjunction with Read GVBOT’s 2016 report at the year, and we call on the new groups to publish a joint op-ed B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices its Regional Transportation and boardoftrade.com/ridesharing. Opposition Leader How the global smart Director spotlight Photo highlights from cities movement will recent events and The Honourable Andrew impact Vancouver 2 Q&A with Todd Shewfelt, activities 6 new director of the Board Scheer will give his first Chair Anne Giardini on Recruitment specialist address to Board of Trade gender equality and the of Trade and Regional Vice Elizabeth Watson on Members later this month 2 We For She Conference 4 President with RBC 5 board governance 7 When you don’t need to just be there. You need to be present. Arrive at your important business meetings relaxed and ready to perform, with fast, flexible and convenient business charters flying anywhere in North America and beyond. Featuring impressive in-flight productivity amenities, including Wi-Fi, plus customs clearance, ground transportation and more. 604-272-8123 TOLL FREE: 1-877-399-8123 FAX: 604-233-0202 · LONDONAIR.COM GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADe | SOUNDING BOARd | nOVEMBER 2017 2 events and speaKers TECHNOLOGY | Where are we headed next? POLITICS | Prosperity for Board of Trade hosts inaugural Smart Cities Forum next month hard-working Canadians Official Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer to give first GVBOT address he Honourable Andrew Scheer, Leader of the Of- Tficial Opposition and new Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, will deliver his inaug- ural address to the Greater Van- couver Board of Trade on Nov. 16, outlining his positive Conserva- tive vision for B.C. and Canada. In his remarks, Scheer will share his thoughts on import- Learn more about the global ‘smart cities’ movement and the City of Vancouver’s plans on Dec. 1. ant topics facing the business community, including hous- ing affordability, transit and he Greater Vancouver collected from citizens, devices, In addition, the forum will also infrastructure investment, and The Honourable Andrew Scheer Board of Trade has an- and assets that is processed and feature two sessions, including a growing innovation and tech Tnounced its inaugural analyzed to monitor and man- “How Smart Cities are changing sector. He will also discuss how Smart Cities Forum will take age everything from traffic and urban life as we know it” and Ottawa decision-makers can in Canadian history. place on Friday, Dec. 1. transportation systems, to power “How Smart Cities impact busi- strengthen the Canadian econ- After the 2015 election, he Around the world, cities are plants, water supply networks, nesses and the economy.” omy through a plan for lower served as the Official Opposition beginning to recognize the im- waste management, law en- Experts will share best practices taxes, responsible government House Leader before successfully mense economic, social and forcement, information systems, from leading Smart Cities around spending, and championing seeking the Conservative leader- environmental advantages of schools, libraries, hospitals, and the globe, with explain how local small business. ship and assuming the party becoming “smart” and have other community services. businesses and industries can Scheer was first elected Mem- leadership in May 2017. started the transitional towards Here in Greater Vancouver, our adapt and transform to take full ber of Parliament for Regina- Don’t miss this opportunity to becoming “Smart Cities.” region is beginning to respond to advantage of the opportunities. Qu’Appelle in 2004 by defeating hear from one of Canada’s party A smart city is an urban area the smart city movement. A key Don’t miss this cutting-edge the longest-serving member of leaders about his vision for the fu- that uses different types of elec- part of this forum will include forum on a topic that is sure to the House of Commons. Re-elect- ture of our country and national tronic data collection and sensors remarks by Jessie Adcock, Chief shape our region’s future. SB ed four more times, he held the economy. SB to supply information used to Technology Officer for the City of position of Speaker of the House manage assets and resources Vancouver, on our city’s journey Tickets are on sale now at of Commons from 2011 to 2015, Registration is now open at efficiently. This includes data so far. boardoftrade.com/smartcities. becoming the youngest Speaker boardoftrade.com/scheer. UPCOMING EVENTS Is there a speaker you’d like to hear from or topic you’d like See our full events calendar at boardoftrade.com/events explored? Make a suggestion at boardoftrade.com/suggest WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 Thrive Series Prosperity for Hardworking Canada’s Economic Infrastructure Port 2050: Are we headed for a great Canadians transition, or will we miss the boat? Thrive Series: 5 fundamental 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. strategies to transform average 7 – 8:45 a.m. Keynote 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. managers into exceptional leaders The Honourable Andrew Scheer David A. Dodge O.C. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver — BC Ballroom 7 – 9 a.m. Leader of the Conservative Party Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones, Ottawa 900 West Georgia Street of Canada Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Jane Bird Robin Silvester — Tuscany Room Pan Pacific Hotel — Oceanview Suite 5 Senior Business Advisor, Bennett Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer 1133 West Hastings Street 999 Canada Place Vancouver Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Simon Lowe Community Sponsor: Port of Vancouver Moderator Moderator Michael Kennedy President, WA-2! Preferred Media Partner: Business in Vancouver Kirk LaPointe Partner, National Infrastructure Advisory Platinum Program Partner: Scotiabank Editor-in-Chief, BIV Leader, EY Canada Vice President, Glacier Media Gold Program Partner: British Columbia Securities TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2017 Presenting Sponsor: EY Presenting Sponsor: CN Commission Company of Young Professionals Supporting Sponsor: GCT Canada Limited Partnership Supporting Sponsors: Hatch, Collings Johnston Inc. A Night of Non-profit Board Community Sponsor: Port of Vancouver Community Sponsor: Dentons Recruitment and Engagement Preferred Media Partner: Business in Vancouver Preferred Media Partner: Business in Vancouver Marketing Partner: Cargo Logistics Canada 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Presented in partnership with: Sheraton Wall Centre — Junior Ballroom Energy Forum 2017 World Trade Centre Vancouver 1088 Burrard Street Denise Baker Accessing New Markets: Executive Director, Vantage Point Navigating the Way Forward Platinum Program Partner: BCIT School of Business Thursday, November 30, 2017 Pillar Partners GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADe | SOUNDING BOARd | nOVEMBER 2017 policy pulse 3 TRANSPORTATION | The electric ADVOCACY | Board of Trade vehicle challenge grows its policy team How our region can start preparing for the future New faces bring a broad range of experience infrastructure needs of electric vehicles BY SONIA TAKHAR n order to accommodate the rapid adoption of electric ve- Ihicles (EVs), cities across the globe will have to overcome key infrastructure barriers. City of Vancouver officials have pledged to make our city the “Greenest City.” To achieve this, the City aims to generate 100 per cent of its energy from renewable resources by 2050.