BC Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Small Business Week Calls for Action to Strengthen BC Businesses
This Small Business Week, and every week, the BC Chamber of Commerce proudly celebrates and champions the small business owners, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who drive innovation, create jobs, and sustain communities in every corner of British Columbia.
“Small businesses are the backbone of BC’s economy and the heartbeat of our communities,” said Alex McMillan CEO (Interim) of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “They are the cafés bringing neighbours together, the innovators developing our natural resources, and the employers creating opportunities for families across the province. Their success is BC’s success.”
As BC’s largest and most broadly based business organization, the BC Chamber of Commerce is calling for greater focus on creating the right conditions in BC for business growth and investment. British Columbia can be the place where small- and medium-sized businesses have the opportunity to become medium- and large-enterprises. To achieve this vision, governments and business must work together to reduce costs, modernize regulation, and ensure BC remains competitive. There is an urgent need to provide greater certainty for the domestic business environment amid growing uncertainty with BC’s largest trading partner.
“This Small Business Week, we celebrate entrepreneurs’ contributions to BC and recognize this must be matched with action from our government partners,” added McMillan. “A thriving economy requires more than resilience from business owners. It requires a shared commitment from all levels of government to reduce costs, cut red tape, and create the conditions where the entrepreneurial spirit of British Columbians can come alive.”
Through its grassroots policy development process, the BC Chamber of Commerce advances practical solutions that support small business growth, while strengthening BC’s long-term competitiveness. The five policies below, adopted at the BC Chamber's most recent AGM, provide 22 recommendations to senior levels of government for improved operations climate, reduce burdens and lower costs.
- A Balanced Approach to Regulation for Economic Prosperity — calling for predictable, efficient regulatory processes that protect the public interest while attracting investment and enabling productivity growth.
- Supporting All BC Businesses to Diversify Their Export Markets and Grow All BC — proposing a cost-shared provincial export diversification program to help small- and medium-sized enterprises expand into new markets.
- A Reduction of Interprovincial Trade Barriers in Canada Protects the BC Economy — advocating for the removal of interprovincial barriers to create a more seamless, resilient Canadian marketplace.
- Safeguarding Canada’s Economic Interests in an Evolving Trade Environment — urging coordinated federal–provincial action to strengthen supply chains, diversify markets, and freeze new costs on business.
- Rebalancing BC’s Labour Code to Support Economic Competitiveness — emphasizing the need for a stable, balanced labour framework that supports both workers and employers.
“Government has a powerful role to play in shaping a competitive, investment-ready environment,” added McMillan. “We would like to see a stronger commitment to regulatory balance, labour stability, and improved market diversification. These are the building blocks of a healthy, resilient economy.”
The BC Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Small Business Week Summit, Built to Thrive: Practical Skills for Small Business Success. The series provides small businesses with an opportunity to connect with subject-matter experts on a range of topics such as building resilient workforces, incorporating AI, and embedding social purpose in business models. The webinars are complimentary and allow participation from across the province. To register, visit: https://bcchamber.org/2025-small-business-week-summit
-30-
About the BC Chamber of Commerce
The BC Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most broadly based business organization in the province. Representing almost eighty-five local chambers of commerce and boards of trade and close to 32,000 businesses of every size and from every sector and region of the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce is uniquely positioned to “Know What’s on BC’s Mind.”
Media Contact
BC Chamber of Commerce Communications