ARTICLE
As a business member organization, The Chamber sees the triumphs and tribulations that often go along with starting, running, and expanding a business. We have the privilege of working with our members and supporting them any way we can, in order to make their business a successful one. In many cases, businesses have made decisions that prioritized their business spending in difficult economic times. Unfortunately, over the last decade many municipal governments have not followed the business community’s lead in spending within their means. Only 10 out of 153 municipalities have kept their spending in line with inflation over the last decade. Vancouver Island had the highest growth in operational spending at 46 per cent. As B.C.’s economy is poised for growth over the next 12 months, we need to make sure that our public sector follows the lead of cautious growth set by many businesses in our community. According to the Conference Board of Canada, we will see gains in our primary sectors over the next year. This optimistic outlook is spreading its way through the business community and in November the BC Business Barometer, conducted by Canadian Federation for Independent Business, put B.C. at 72.3 on the index and is at the highest positive outlook from businesses since 2011. This is good news for businesses, employees, and the community at large. However, it should not prompt the public sector to increase operational spending. We want to make sure our vibrant community in Greater Victoria, continues for the foreseeable future —a place where we all love to live and work. We need to expect more from all levels of governments. Keeping taxes within our means, building our quality of life, while saving for the future is exactly what we should expect from one another. Bruce Carter CEO, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Business Examiner - January 2014