The B.C. Chamber of Commerce wants businesses to have a vote in municipal elections.
During a wide-ranging conference in Prince George earlier this week, chamber president and CEO John Winter called on the province to give more political power to the business community.
“The mood of the gathering here in Prince George yesterday was rather interesting,” Winter told Business in Vancouver.
“There’s been a lot of chat about what’s going on in the property tax area, and there’s a lot of discussion about whether increases in property tax are being disproportionately levied on the business sector … and there’s a lot of people very fed up with it.”
Winter went on to say it’s only fair that, if businesses get taxed, they should have a voice in municipal politics.
In a separate issue, the Chamber also wants the government to level the playing field between private and government-operated liquor stores.
The chamber said the province holds a monopoly on the distribution, warehousing and price of liquor sales in B.C., making it difficult for private liquor stores to compete.
On top of that, the Chamber has also asked the B.C. government to support Seaspan’s bid under the Federal Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, a $33 billion program to rebuild Canadian navy and Coast Guard vessels.
“Were going to be going back to the province and insisting they pay more attention to us,” said Winter.
Joel McKay
Twitter: jmckaybiv