Prince George, B.C.- Two resolutions presented by the Prince George Chamber of Commerce have been approved by the BC Chamber at the recent AGM .

 

The first was a joint submission with the Chambers’ from Richmond, Mission and Langley, and calls on the Provincial and Federal governments to develop a long term strategy for flood control on the Fraser River.

 

Although that might seem to be a little outside the business concerns of a Chamber, P.G. Chamber CEO Jennifer Brandle -McCall says communities along the Fraser often deal with flood issues in an isolated form, but the rise and fall of the river can have an effect on potential economic development or businesses which are located along the banks of the Fraser. One of the recommendations  called for the development of a central dyking authority that would manage and support flood control along the Fraser. “We know there are such things as flood control systems, and we’ve got to look at that river as being connected and the communities it flows through need to do their part, but we need an overall plan.”   She says whatever strategies are developed , they will need to keep the economies of those communities in mind.”

 

The second resolution calls for a change to the BC Securities laws.   Specifically, Brandle-McCall says small businesses, just starting out, cannot afford to have an audit done when they are seeking capital venture financing through the private capital market.   Such an audit is a requirement under BC securities law. “Many businesses just starting out , cannot afford the $5 thousand to $7,000 dollars an audit would cost, and we know Ontario does not have this requirement, so we would like to see the playing field level.” She says Ontario only requires a financial statement in order to let private enterprises have access to the private capital market.