24 October 2023 – For Immediate Release
FREDERICTON, NB – Representatives of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce recently attended the 2023 Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting and conference, held this year in Calgary. Central to the conference are the policy resolution debates, which gives local chambers the opportunity to submit federal government-related issues to the national chamber. If a resolution is passed by ⅔ of delegates in attendance, it forms part of the Canadian chamber’s advocacy efforts.
The first resolution submitted by the chamber calls on the federal government to:
1. Create a national strategy to assist provinces and territories in recognizing out-of-province and international healthcare credentials; and
2. Create a national proficiency exam that allows national labour mobility for healthcare workers new to Canada, currently working in a province, or newly graduated.
The resolution received the support of 96% of delegates.
“We were pleased to see provincial health ministers make some progress on this file in the days leading up to the conference, but until agreement turns into action, this will be an issue that chambers are pursuing,” said Krista Ross, Fredericton chamber CEO. “All over the country, governments are having trouble delivering health care and the credential issue continues to hold back progress.”
The second resolution asks the federal government to adjust federal public transportation funding formulas to provide smaller and rural communities with support to expand operational services and a base funding amount that encourages communities with low ridership and population density to invest in operational and capital upgrades
This resolution was supported by 92% of delegates.
“Currently, federal public transit funding is geared towards larger centres that already have robust transportation infrastructure,” said Ross. “Those big cities certainly have a need to expand their systems, but not at the expense of communities like Fredericton and more rural provinces like New Brunswick – who could stand to make big gains in their transit systems with more federal support.”
The policies now become part of the national chamber’s advocacy efforts and will remain so for the next three years.
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The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, a nationally accredited organization with more than 1,000 members, is an active business organization engaged in policy development and advocacy that affects the competitiveness of our members and the Canadian business environment. The Chamber’s vision is ‘Community Prosperity Through Business’.
Contact: Morgan Peters, Policy Manager – (506) 451-9742; advocacy@frederictonchamber.ca
