November 15, 2005
 
Upcoming local elections of critical importance to the business community
 
With a provincial election under our belt and attention firmly focused on the political theatre unfolding in Ottawa, it is easy to forget that on November 19 communities across the province will vote in important local elections that could have a profound effect on the economic prosperity of their community.
 
The accepted wisdom in Canada is that local governments, be they governments of cities, towns, or rural municipalities/counties, have the least amount of say in the economy and are powerless regarding economic decision-making.  This is a dangerous misconception.
 
With the provincial government having addressed many of the issues that were holding the economy of the province back such as the tax burden, excessive regulation and the labour code many businesses are now discovering that local government is now the single biggest impediment to attracting investment and promoting economic growth in their community.
 
This is not to suggest that all local governments are bad.  There are examples throughout the province of local governments that have taken innovative and progressive approaches to attracting new investment to their community. 
 
Unfortunately, due to the fact that the geographic jurisdiction of local governments is relatively small, many local governments have tended to be particularly responsive to issues of concern to a motivated public.  If municipal legislation is based on the proposition that resident voter pressures will predominate over economic issues wherever there is a conflict, the result will be the stifling of that economic activity.
 
Giving a power to a municipality over a particular subject matter is essentially a determination that decisions regarding the subject matter should be made based on the perspective of the local voter.  It elevates the importance of the perspective of the local voter relative to the perspective of the individual, individual businesses, the region, or the even the province as a whole.  We don’t take issue with those powers, we simply take issue with the lack of protections and remedies for business that currently exist.
 
Municipal councils, which are accountable solely to municipal voters, generally act on the basis of the perceived wishes and priorities of local electors and pay much less attention to the wider effects of their decisions.  In some circumstances, the actions of local governments may conflict with and run counter to the interests of the province as a whole, including the need to ensure that British Columbia has an attractive investment climate, common rules and efficient regulatory

regimes governing business activity, and a competitive, well-functioning commercial transportation system.
 
Further to this, given the typically low turnout in local elections, municipal councils are particularly susceptible to well organized local groups, including those motivated by NIMBY concerns. 
 
Business owners have become the silent taxpayers.  With no voice they have become an easy target for municipal councils looking to raise revenue without losing votes.  While many business owners live outside their jurisdictions they are an integral part of the community as the provider of economic opportunity and the employer of local residents.  The fact that they cannot be part of the election process even though the decisions of council will have a direct impact on their livelihood as well as that of their employees is taxation without representation.
 
The chamber recognizes that municipalities, like businesses, are faced with many challenges in the new millennium: competing in the global economy; accommodating changing demographics; and implementing a fundamental shift in the provincial-municipal relationship. Many are seeking ways to capitalize on their advantages, maintain the quality of life for their citizens, and strengthen their communities in a rapidly changing environment.
 
The business community is essential to the health and vitality of the economy and is the backbone of communities across the province.  With this in mind we invite all prospective elected officials to begin a dialogue with their business community on ways to build a new relationship between city hall and their business community. 
 
We would also urge all candidates to commit to working with the business community and the provincial government on the re-introduction of a business vote in the province as an essential tool in ensuring that the business community has a voice in the future of the community.
 
John Winter, President, BC Chamber of Commerce