Premier Eby Addresses BC Chamber of Commerce

Today in Vancouver, the Honourable David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, along with over 20 members of his cabinet and caucus, attended the annual Premier & Cabinet luncheon, hosted by the BC Chamber of Commerce.

During his speech, the Premier touched on several priorities impacting the province’s business community such as, the government’s newly released Look West economic strategy, interprovincial trade, Indigenous relations and recent court rulings, public safety, as well as other public policy matters concerning the economy and creating healthy communities.

“We appreciate the Premier and his cabinet colleagues taking the time to sit down with members of the business community and engage in a wide-ranging dialogue. We face many challenges and having the opportunity to hear directly from the Premier is incredibly valuable” said Alex McMillan BC Chamber of Commerce Interim CEO.

With 440 attendees, this year’s lunch was the largest since the pandemic. Every year, representatives from local Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade across the province, along with business and not-for-profit members, connect with government representatives to discuss the issues that are important to their communities.

Following his keynote address, McMillan led a question and answer discussion with Premier Eby. McMillan sought details related to the economic strategy and pressed the Premier for more clarity on his recent comments regarding the potential amendment of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, passed in 2019. In addition, McMillan reiterated the business community’s priorities for the upcoming provincial budget in the new year that were laid out in a recently released open letter:

1. Removal of PST on capital investments to improve productivity 
2. Articulate a path to reduce the deficit in half within the next three years
3. Expand the Canada Mutual Recognition Framework Agreement to include food and service

“We need to see transformative, not incremental, change. And we need the government to act with urgency to improve the economic and investment climate in British Columbia,” added McMillan. “If we want to have the public services we rely on, then we need to have a healthy and vibrant economy where businesses and the people they employ can be successful.”