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.