Surrey Board of Trade Welcomes Commitment to Arctic Infrastructure Development Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth November 22, 2024 The Surrey Board of Trade applauds the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon for announcing funding initiatives to address Arctic security and infrastructure gaps, as detailed in their recent joint statement. This critical investment demonstrates a much-needed focus on Canada’s Arctic, a region integral to national security and economic development. “The Arctic is…
Metro Vancouver’s Foreign Investment Surge Highlights Surrey’s Potential: Federal Support Needed to Boost Local FDI Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth November 14, 2024 Metro Vancouver is gaining momentum as a leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Canada, with strong employment growth across the region’s foreign multinational enterprises (FMEs). To harness this momentum, the Surrey Board of Trade calls on the Government of Canada to prioritize funding for the Metro Vancouver region, with Surrey poised to play…
SURREY BOARD OF TRADE PLEASED WITH CANADIAN GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION TO END PORT STRIKE, RESUME OPERATIONS Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth November 12, 2024 SURREY BOARD OF TRADE PLEASED WITH CANADIAN GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION TO END PORT STRIKE, RESUME OPERATIONS After nearly two years of stalled negotiations between the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Ship and Dock Foreman, Local 514 (ILWU Local 514), the Canadian government has stepped in to resolve the…
Surrey Board of Trade Applauds Re-establishment of Canada-U.S. Relations Cabinet Committee in the Face of Trade Tension Economic Competitiveness & TradeInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth November 7, 2024 The Surrey Board of Trade welcomes the Government of Canada’s decision to re-establish the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations, recognizing this as an essential step to addressing ongoing trade challenges and supporting Canadian businesses reliant on a strong and stable economic partnership with the United States. This decision is consistent with a Surrey Board of…
2024 Government Red Tape Report Indicates Low Business Morale, Higher Costs Says Surrey Board of Trade Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth October 29, 2024 The Surrey Board of Trade advocates for red tape reduction for businesses. Red tape is excessive bureaucracy, routines, rules and complexity at all levels of government which causes delays or unreasonable costs to businesses. Filing forms and applying for licenses are parts of doing business, however, the Surrey Board of Trade wants to ensure that…
Surrey Board of Trade Disappointed with New Federal Immigration Policy Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth October 24, 2024 The Federal Government announced its new 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. “The Surrey Board of Trade is disappointed in this plan,” said Jasroop Gosal, Interim Spokesperson for the Surrey Board of Trade. “Our local businesses rely on the international community. The recent decline in unemployment rates can be attributed to high interest rates, which limit businesses’…
Surrey Board of Trade Policies See Success on National Stage Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth October 22, 2024 The Surrey Board of Trade is proud to announce that both of its policy submissions have been approved by the delegates at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Convention in Halifax, NS, held from October 17-19, 2024. The Convention gathered representatives from the 430 chambers of commerce across the country, representing a…
SURREY BOARD OF TRADE TO DEBATE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN HALIFAX OCTOBER 17-19 Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralTransportationWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth October 8, 2024 At the annual Canadian Chamber of Commerce Convention to be held in Halifax from October 17-19, the Surrey Board of Trade will be seeking support for five federal government policies from Canadian Chamber of Commerce members – chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 Canadian businesses. The Surrey Board of Trade will release…
Surrey Board of Trade Raises Concerns Over Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth September 18, 2024 The Surrey Board of Trade is closely examining the recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault. While the program’s adjustments aim to reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers, we believe that Surrey employers continue to struggle in finding employees with the necessary skillsets, particularly in critical sectors like…
Urgent Action Needed to Meet Surrey’s Energy Demand Amidst Growing Business Expansion Economic Competitiveness & TradeGeneralInnovation & IndustryWorkforce, Community & Inclusive Growth September 18, 2024 The Surrey business community is experiencing unprecedented growth, but energy demand is surpassing supply. To support further economic expansion, immediate steps must be taken to fast-track renewable energy projects and streamline processes across all levels of government. In April 2024, BC Hydro launched a competitive call for 3,000 gigawatt hours (GWh/y) of clean electricity. Proposals…
