GVBOT Policy Resolutions Gain Strong Backing at BC Chamber Conference in Fort St. John
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Policy Team kicked off the month of June by heading up to “The Energetic City” of Fort St. John for the 74th annual BC Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Conference.
The AGM and conference, themed Building What Matters: Clarity, Trust, and Partnership in Action, provided an opportunity for business leaders, chamber executives, policymakers, and partners from across B.C. to align around shared priorities and practical solutions.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade submitted and presented three policy resolutions, which aim to help build a strong, competitive, and stable domestic economy for B.C.:
1. Charting a Sustainable Fiscal Path to Restore Stability
This resolution calls on the provincial government to establish a credible fiscal plan that demonstrates a declining debt-to-GDP ratio, sets clear deficit reduction targets, and restores taxpayer-supported debt to sustainable levels consistent with historical averages, ensuring that fiscal choices reinforce long-term productivity and economic growth. The plan should include transparent quarterly reporting.
2. Eliminating the 50-50 Rule to Strengthen Food Security
Continuing our advocacy on 50-50, this resolution—jointly submitted with the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce—calls on the provincial government to:
- Eliminate the 50-50 rule to enable year-round, scalable food processing on ALR land.
- Establish clear approval pathways for food processing on low-quality farmland to unlock economic investment.
- Collaborate with industry and municipal governments to ensure regulatory certainty and investment competitiveness.
- Continue to protect high-quality farmland, especially Class 1 and 2 soil.
3. Scrap the 2026 PST Expansion on Professional and Commercial Services
Alongside our Stop the Squeeze campaign, this resolution calls on the provincial government to eliminate the proposed PST expansion on professional and commercial services in Budget 2026 before the October 1, 2026, implementation date. It also calls to move towards a Made-In-B.C. value added tax.
All three policy resolutions passed well above the two-thirds threshold, showing strong support from chambers across the province and becoming collective BC Chamber advocacy priorities for the next three years.
Monique Driedger, GVBOT Manager of Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations, and Annie Law, GVBOT Policy & Engagement Lead, also had the opportunity to join a BC Hydro tour of the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station (formerly Site C Dam) which supplies power to half a million homes.
We thank the BC Chamber of Commerce and The Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce for hosting us in the Peace Region.
