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Fredericton Chamber 2024 Policy Priorities

The vision of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is Stronger Community Through Business Prosperity. This is a recognition that as members of our chamber, board of directors and staff are primarily local residents, we believe that a symbiotic relationship exists between business, the community and the citizenry. Citizens support local business, which creates jobs, grows the economy and provides government with the resources to provide the social programs, recreational activities and infrastructure needed in our communities.  

Our mission is to Support business prosperity through networking, shared services, advocacy and events. The Fredericton chamber’s vision and mission, along with our close connection to the community, guides every decision we make as an organization, particularly our policy and advocacy work.  

Each autumn, our board of directors discusses and updates our policy priorities in draft form. These draft priorities are then put to the membership in our annual member survey for their feedback. Our policy priorities in 2024 are:

1   Competitive Business Environment 

Traditionally, cost competitiveness has been an advantage that we have had in New Brunswick, but this has eroded over the past few years. But the business environment is about more than just costs. It also includes the regulatory environment (red tape, roadblocks to development, overlapping jurisdictions, etc.), availability of housing, health care and more.

2   Workforce Development and Population Growth 

For decades, New Brunswick had been staring down a demographic shift that had seen significant outmigration to other provinces and an aging population. The past few years have seen positive growth and a lower average age, and the province must continue to focus on increasing the number of people in the labour force to fill positions that enable business growth. It’s this growth that funds the programs, services and infrastructure that New Brunswickers deserve. However, in order to do this, we must also provide needed supports – business enablers. 

 3  Business Enablers

      a. Health Care

      b.  Housing

      c. Childcare

      d. Public Safety

      e. Transportation and Infrastructure

      f. Technology and Innovation 

 

COMPETITIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Traditionally, cost competitiveness has been an advantage that we have had in New Brunswick, but this has eroded over the past five years (pre-pandemic). NB businesses have seen increases in minimum wage, property tax, corporate tax, HST, EI rates, carbon tax, CPP increases, land transfer tax and WorkSafeNB premiums (amongst other costs). 

But the business environment is about more than just costs. It also includes the regulatory environment (red tape, roadblocks to development, overlapping jurisdictions, etc.), availability of housing, health care and more.

 Government Submissions:

  • FCC 2023-24 pre-budget submission Preview
  • Consultation-AED Legislation 2022 Preview
  • FCC 2022-23 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2021-22 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2020-21 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2019-20 pre budget submission Preview
  • Employment Standards Act Consultation-domestic, intimate partner or sexual violence leave 2018 Preview
  • Employment Standards Act Amendments-domestic, intimate partner or sexual violence leave 2018 Preview
  • 2018-19 budget priorities 2017 Preview
  • Tax planning using private corporations FCC submission 2017 Preview
  • 2017-18 budget priorities Preview
  • Chamber federal budget summary 2016 Preview
  • Chamber budget reaction- 2016‐2017 New Brunswick Budget Review Preview
  • 2016-17 budget priorities-presented to the minister of finance nb 2015 Preview
  • FCC brief to Fredericton city council 2015l Preview
  • Chamber NB program review submission Preview
  • FCC 2015-16 nb pre-budget brief 2014 Preview
  • FCC 2014-15 pre budget brief final Preview
  • FCC 2014 brief to Fredericton city council Preview

Related Letters:

  • NB Chamber Joint Letter – Proposed Tax Increase to Craft Alcohol Producers – 19 June 2023 read more
  • Response – Minister Shephard – Warming Centre – 11 May 2023 read more
  • Joint Consultation Response: YFC Nominators – Transport Canada – 28 April 2023read more
  • Letter – MP Atwin – CEBA Loan Extension – 12 April 2023 read more
  • Letter – Minister Green – Fredericton SNB Location – 17 March 2023 read more
  • Letter – Minister Shephard – Fredericton Warming Centre – 17 March 2023 read more
  • Letter – MP Atwin – Federal Tourism Funding – 14 March 2023 read more
  • Letter – MP Atwin – Alcohol Escalator Tax – 13 February 2023read more
  • Response: Minister Green – Construction Regulation – Procurement Act – December 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Green – Procurement Act – November 2022 read more
  • Letter – Federal Government Return to Office Plan – 31 October 2022 read more
  • Letter – Department of Transportation and Infrastructure – Prompt Payment Legislation – 6 October 2022read more
  • Joint Letter: ANBL Craft Alcohol Producers Advisory Committee read more
  • Letter – Prompt Payment Legislation – AG Flemming – June 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Steeves – Property Assessment Spike Protection – 7 June 2022 read more
  • Response – AG Flemming – Prompt Payment Legislation read more
  • NB Chambers Joint Letter – Premier Higgs – Prompt Payment Legislation – 2 May 2022 read more
  • Response: Premier Higgs – Cost Surge Protection – April 2022 read more
  • Joint Letter – Chambers of Commerce – Cost Surge Protection read more
  • Letter – Mayor and Council – Municipal Property Tax Rates read more
  • Letter: MP Atwin – Support for the Hardest Hit Coalition Budget Recommendations – 15 March 2022 read more
  • Letter – AG Flemming – Prompt Payment Legislation read more
  • NB Chambers Letter – Reopening and Recovery – 18 February 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Cardy – Federal-Provincial Childcare Agreement read more
  • Letter – Minister Scott-Wallace – COVID-19 Relief for Hotels read more
  • Letter – Minister Steeves – ANBL Policies Affecting Local Craft Breweries read more
  • Letter – MP Atwin – PCR Testing at Canada-USA Border – November 2021 read more
  • 2021-10-12 – Response from Hon. Arlene Dunn – Support for Small Businesses Implementing Proof of Vaccination Requirements read more
  • Letter – Minister Dunn – Support for Small Businesses Implementing Proof of Vaccination Requirements read more
  • 2021-06-07 – Minister Steeves – Delivery App Fees Follow-up read more
  • 2021-05-31 – Local Government Reform read more
  • 2021-04-20 – Prompt Payment Legislation read more
  • 2021-04-12 – Municipal Candidates – FCC Questions that Count read more
  • 2021-03-16 – Minister Flemming – 2015 Building Code Implementation read more
  • 2021-02-26 – Mark Miller – BCA Consultation read more
  • 2021-02-19 – Minister Dunn – NB Recovery Grant Eligibility read more
  • 2021-02-19 – Minister Flemming – NB Recovery Plan Reclassification read more
  • 2021-02-10 – Minister Steeves – Delivery App Fees read more
  • 2021-02-10 – Ministers Shephard and Flemming – 2021-22 Food Service and Liquor Licensing Fees read more
  • 2021-02-10 – Capping Restaurant Delivery App Fees read more
  • 2020-11-10 – ANBL Craft Brewers read more
  • 2020-10-22 – ACOA-Air Service in NB read more
  • 2020-10-18 – Federal Alcohol Escalator Tax read more
  • 2020-09-04 – Turning Point Group read more
  • 2020-07-06 – Canada Business Registries read more
  • 2020-06-04 – Small Business Reopening Program read more
  • 2020-06-03 – Recovery Reclassification read more
  • 2020-05-29 – Eviction Protection Extension read more
  • 2020-04-17 – Re-Opening the NB Economy read more
  • 2020-04-02 – Business Support Requested from GNB read more
  • 2020-03-31 – Support for Canada’s Airports read more
  • 2020-03-31 – Commercial Rent Assistance Letter read more
  • 2020-03-23 – COVID-19 Crisis read more
  • 2020-02-21 – Rail Blockades read more
  • 2019-10-04 – Food Premises Regulation Amendment read more
  • 2019-10-01 – Days of Rest Act Issue read more
  • 2019-10-01 – Tax Review read more
  • 2019-05-21 – Tourism Funding Reduction read more
  • 2019-05-21 – Air Passenger Protection Regulations read more
  • 2019-05-06 re: comprehensive tax reform read more
  • 2019-04-19 – Red Tape read more
  • 2019-04-01 – Comprehensive Tax Review read more
  • 2019-03-25 – Bill 13 – An Act to Amend the Local Governance Act – Destination Marketing Levy read more

Other reports:

Preview Fredericton police- what we heard-public safety meeting for Business November 2022

Preview Canada’s Resource Cities-Fredericton 2015

 

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

For decades, New Brunswick has been staring down a demographic shift that has seen significant outmigration to other provinces. This trend, combined with a low birth rate has made us one of the oldest and slower growing provinces. The past couple of years have seen an uptick in the right direction, but the province must continue to focus on growing our population, lowering our average age, and increasing the number of people in the labour force to fill positions that enable business growth. It’s this growth that funds the programs, services and infrastructure that New Brunswickers deserve. 

Government Submissions:

  • FCC 2023-24 pre-budget submission Preview
  • Employment Insurance Consultation-phase 2 2022 Preview
  • WorkSafeNB consultation 2022 Preview
  • FCC 2022-23 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2021-22 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2020-21 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2019-20 pre budget submission Preview
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act Consultation -Workplace Violence Risk Assessment 2018 Preview
  • First contract legislation consultation FCC re: bill 4 2017 Preview
  • 2017-18 budget priorities Preview
  • Comments to Federal standing Committee on Finance-pre-budget consultation 2017 Preview
  • 2016 NB employment standards review Preview
  • Labour Market Transfer Agreements consultation 2016 Preview
  • Chamber federal budget summary 2016 Preview
  • Chamber NB program review submission Preview
  • FCC 2015-16 nb pre-budget brief 2014 Preview
  • FCC 2014-15 pre budget brief final Preview

Related Letters:

  • National Joint Letter – Minimizing Disincentives to Work – April 2023 read more
  • Joint Letters – Canadian Chambers – Replacement Worker Legislation – 3 February 2023 read more
  • Letter – Coalition of NB Employers – Bill 27 – Paid Sick Time – 27 January 2023 read more
  • Letter – NB Chambers – Bill 27: Paid Sick Leave read more
  • Letter – WorkSafeNB – Benefits Expansion – November 2022 read more
  • Letter – Mayor Rogers – Basic Income – November 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minimum Wage Statuatory Review – October 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Freeland – EI Deficit read more
  • Letter – Minister Qualtrough – EI Premiums – September 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Holder – Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act – June 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Shephard – Small Business Rapid Testing Program – 20 January 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Qualtrough – EI Reform – January 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Holder – Increase to New Brunswick’s Minimum Wage read more
  • 2021-July 19 – Letter of Support – ISED 50-30 Ecosystem Fund Review read more
  • 2021-02-18 – Coalition of NB Employers – Strategic Pandemic Collaboration with the Business Community read more
  • 2020-10-22 – Minimum Wage Consultation read more
  • 2020-08-24 – Future Skills Centre – Shock Proofing the Future read more
  • 2020-05-26 – Sick Leave Proposal read more
  • 2019-04-01 – Minimum Wage Notice Period read more
  • 2019-04-01 – Workforce Development Programs read more

Other reports:

Preview Top 10 HR cases of 2022 – Cox and Palmer January 2023

IMMIGRATION AND POPULATION GROWTH

Growing New Brunswick’s population is one of the foundational goals to sustained economic growth moving forward and the Fredericton chamber addresses this issue primarily through working closely with New Canadians and post-secondary students/institutions. 

In 2019, the City of Fredericton five-year immigration strategy was launched. The three pillar organizations of the strategy are the chamber (responsible for advocacy), Ignite Fredericton (programming) and the Multicultural Association of Fredericton (settlement).  

The chamber advocates on the provincial nominee program, express entry program, startup visa and others. We also actively work to connect post-secondary students with local businesses and the community generally by working with businesses, our economic development organizations, post-secondary institutions and students themselves. There is substantial alignment of goals between these four groups and the chamber works to connect them and advocates for policies that put this alignment into practice.

Government Submissions:

  • FCC 2023-24 pre-budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2021-22 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2020-21 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2019-20 pre budget submission Preview
  • 2018-19 budget priorities 2017 Preview
  • 2017-18 budget priorities Preview
  • FCC 2016 position brief to city council Preview
  • Chamber budget reaction- 2016‐2017 New Brunswick Budget Review Preview
  • FCC 2014-15 pre budget brief final Preview
  • FCC 2014 brief to Fredericton city council Preview

Related Letters:

  • Response – Minister Allain – Municipal Voting Rights for Permanent Residents – 1 March 2023read more
  • Follow-up – Minister Allain – Municipal Voting Rights for Permanent Residents – November 2022 read more
  • Response: Minister Fitch – Medicare Delays for Newcomers – 23 August 2022 read more
  • Letter – July 27, 2022 – Medicare delays for newcomers read more
  • Letter – Minister Holder – Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act – June 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Fraser – 2022 NB Allotment for PNP and AIP Programs – June 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Dunn – Immigration Support for Food Service Sector – June 2022 read more
  • Response – Minister Shephard – Medicare for Ukrainians – April 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Shephard – Medicare for Ukrainian Arrivals – 1 April 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Fraser – Roundtable Followup Questions – 28 March 2022 read more
  • Letter – Mayor Rogers and Chief Brown – Protest in Downtown Fredericton – February 11/12 read more
  • 2021-10-06 – Letter of Support – MCAF read more
  • 2021-06-30 – Changes to the Entrepreneurial Stream of the Provincial Nominee Program & Meeting Request read more
  • 2021-01-15 – Fredericton Business Community Support of PR Municipal Voting Privileges read more
  • 2020-12-16 – Municipal Voting Rights for Permanent Residents read more
  • 2020-11-10 – Fredericton’s Immigration Advocacy Committee – Meeting Request read more
  • 2020-01-17 – Fredericton LIP read more
  • 2019-12-01 – Startup Visa Policy Resolution read more

Other reports:

  • Preview ONB Business/Immigration Navigators Newsletter October 2022

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

A healthy knowledge sector is critical to Fredericton’s role in creating wealth for New Brunswick. Our post-secondary institutions are some of our most valuable economic development assets – they drive research and innovation, draw international students to the province, propel the technology sector and the startup community – in addition to providing highly-skilled training for our future employees. 

Technology and innovation are becoming part of most industries – cyber security, information technology, software development and the like perhaps first come to mind, but also includes the green economy, services and more. 

Government Submissions:

  • FCC 2023-24 pre-budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2021-22 pre budget submission Preview
  • BCA Amendments-stakeholder information 2021 Preview
  • FCC 2020-21 pre budget submission Preview
  • Sisson Mine MMER schedule 2 Amendment Public Comment 2018 Preview
  • Resource Champions Infographic 2016 Preview
  • Chamber federal budget summary 2016 Preview
  • 2016-17 budget priorities-presented to the minister of finance nb 2015 Preview
  • FCC brief to Fredericton city council 2015 Preview
  • FCC 2014-15 pre budget brief final Preview

Related Letters:

  • Letter – Permanent Public Transit Funding Consultation – 14 October 2022 read more
  • 2021-06-30 – June Packing and Printed Paper Extended Producer Responsibility Program (“PPP-EPR”) Draft Regulations read more
  • 2020-07-21 – Maritime Iron read more
  • 2020-03-21 – PPP EPR read more
  • 2020-02-26 – PPP – EPR Consultation Response read more
  • 2020-02-14 – PPP EPR Consultation Extension read more
  • 2019-12-01 – Tasing the Digital Economy read more
  • 2019-11-22 – Fredericton Cyber Centre read more
  • 2019-04-01 – ONB CNB read more

Other reports:

Preview Canada’s Resource Cities-Fredericton 2015

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ACCESSING PRIMARY CARE 

Easy and efficient access to primary health care continues to be an issue for our members, particularly in relation to attracting skilled employees. That is why we established a Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee in 2009 and are still actively assisting efforts of Horizon Health and the NB Medical Society to attract and welcome physicians to our community, while seeking other ways to expand easy and efficient access to primary care. More recently, we’ve engaged with a broader group of local stakeholders to identify gaps in the system and where we might have an impact. 

Government Submissions:

  • FCC 2023-24 pre-budget submission Preview
  • Health reform consultation 2021 Preview
  • FCC 2021-22 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2020-21 pre budget submission Preview
  • FCC 2015-16 nb pre-budget brief 2014 Preview
  • FCC 2014-15 pre budget brief final Preview

Related Letters:

  • Response: Premier Higgs – Urban Mental Health Strategies read more
  • Letter: Mayor Rogers: Mental Health and Addictions Issues Effects on Local Business – 24 January 2023 read more
  • Joint Letter – Urban Mental Health Strategies – 29 November 2022 read more
  • Letter – Minister Holder – Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act – June 2022 read more
  • 2020-04-22 – Pharmacists Co-Pay read more

As always, please contact Policy Manager Morgan Peters anytime to discuss any policy/advocacy issues your business may be facing – advocacy@frederictonchamber.ca or (506) 451-9742.  

  

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