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MEDIA RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2010 Chamber Calls for Municipal Auditor General Victoria, BC — The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has led the BC Chamber delegates to support a broad policy on ways to create more equity in the property tax system for businesses in British Columbia. One of the primary recommendations is to introduce a provincially appointed Municipal Auditor General to do regular comprehensive value for money audits on municipal spending. “The Greater Victoria Chamber is extremely active on the policy and advocacy front, and our members have indicated that local government taxation and administration and how they interact with their business tax payers is a primary area of concern,” says Bruce Carter, Victoria Chamber CEO. The Victoria chamber has been advocating for the re-instatement of the business vote, that was eliminated in 1993. Today’s Local Elections Task Force report delivered to the provincial government recommends that the business vote not be re-instated for municipal elections in the province of BC “We see the business vote as one way of dealing with inequities in the municipal property tax system,” continues Carter. “There are other ways, including the appointment of a Municipal Auditor, to be considered. We will continue actively seeking solutions to making our property tax system more equitable, transparent and accountable, and fair to all levels of business classes. We know that the provincial government is also concerned about business taxes and their impact on the economies of our communities. I am confident that working together with stakeholders we will find a way to improve our system.” The Victoria Chamber has proposed a wide range of issues to delegates of the BC Chamber AGM this weekend, which were widely supported. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has approximately 1500 members and is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region. The Greater Victoria Chamber has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. -30- Background: full policy, Creating Equity in the Property Tax System in BC For more information contact: Shannon Renault Bruce Carter Manager Policy Development & Communications Chief Executive Officer Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Cell 250-812-0510 Email: bcarter@gvcc.org Email: srenault@gvcc.org
MEDIA RELEASE
May 31, 2010
Chamber Calls for Municipal Auditor General
Victoria, BC — The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has led the BC Chamber delegates to support a broad policy on ways to create more equity in the property tax system for businesses in British Columbia. One of the primary recommendations is to introduce a provincially appointed Municipal Auditor General to do regular comprehensive value for money audits on municipal spending.
“The Greater Victoria Chamber is extremely active on the policy and advocacy front, and our members have indicated that local government taxation and administration and how they interact with their business tax payers is a primary area of concern,” says Bruce Carter, Victoria Chamber CEO.
The Victoria chamber has been advocating for the re-instatement of the business vote, that was eliminated in 1993. Today’s Local Elections Task Force report delivered to the provincial government recommends that the business vote not be re-instated for municipal elections in the province of BC
“We see the business vote as one way of dealing with inequities in the municipal property tax system,” continues Carter. “There are other ways, including the appointment of a Municipal Auditor, to be considered. We will continue actively seeking solutions to making our property tax system more equitable, transparent and accountable, and fair to all levels of business classes. We know that the provincial government is also concerned about business taxes and their impact on the economies of our communities. I am confident that working together with stakeholders we will find a way to improve our system.”
The Victoria Chamber has proposed a wide range of issues to delegates of the BC Chamber AGM this weekend, which were widely supported.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has approximately 1500 members and is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region. The Greater Victoria Chamber has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
-30-
Background: full policy, Creating Equity in the Property Tax System in BC
For more information contact:
Shannon Renault Bruce Carter
Cell 250-812-0510 Email: bcarter@gvcc.org
Email: srenault@gvcc.org