Prince George, B.C. – It’s Chamber of Commerce week in B.C. and the Prince George branch is using the occasion as a chance to express the benefits it brings to its members.

“Our primary strength is getting our local business issues out to all three levels of government,” says CEO Christie Ray.

She notes the skills gap remains their top concern but says another is parking.

“Like trying to improve the permitting process. We are actually right in the middle of resolution time as the provincial AGM is coming up in May,” says Ray. “We have been working with the City for some time now on various aspects of the parking issue.”

Ray says it includes “a lot of hard work to try and get it to a place where it works for them (the City) and brings them the revenue that they need but not at an unreasonable expense to business.”

She says the Chamber is also planning resolutions on transportation infrastructure.

“One of them is the permitting process for over-sized vehicles. So we are looking to the (provincial) government to consider increasing the load limit as well as increasing the process so it’s faster and easier to get a permit.”

And then there’s the improvements the Chamber would like to see to highway infrastructure.

“Including the Cariboo Connector, making sure they finish that project and increasing the roadway between here and Vanderhoof.”

The B.C. Chamber of Commerce AGM will be in Prince George this year from May 24 to May 26 at the Civic Centre.