S p e c i a l F e a t u r e
their city to be, today and in the future."
The spirit of collaboration,
consultation and engagement Mayor
Corrigan describes has led to the
creation of Economic Development,
Social Sustainability and Environmental
Sustainability strategies designed to
guide Burnaby's responsible growth well
into the future.
Governance
City council is constantly developing
policies to promote livability,
sustainability and business growth based
on input from the public and various
business sectors. Moreover, the
BBOT's
close relationship with the city is essential
to Burnaby's growth and its attraction
as an investment and business hub,
seizing opportunities both regionally as
well as globally by nurturing productive
relationships abroad (China has been a
particular focus of attention).
In April,
BBOT's president and
CEO, Paul Holden, shared a few of the
advocacy and community service ežorts
he and his staž have been involved with
of late, including a letter to the Minister
of Finance urging Victoria to not reduce
or restrict the tax credit system, which
is an integral part of the mix that makes
Burnaby such an attractive place for
shooting lm, television and commercials.
As a way of reducing administrative
burden and cost, the
BBOT is also asking
for the Inter-Municipal Business Licence
program to be expanded to allow
businesses in eligible industries to obtain
a single licence that will allow them to do
business across the entire region
As for the evolution of the
BBOT itself,
it is now a member of the BC Chamber
of Commerce.
"We're very excited to play an active
role in developing key strategic planning
initiatives and to ensure our voice is heard
on issues of importance," says Holden.
"We strongly believe in the importance
of collaboration with other chambers
in our region and across the province,
and the BC Chamber represents the best
opportunity for us to connect with and
strengthen the chamber network for the
benet of businesses everywhere."
But those initiatives are just a sampling
of the ongoing ežorts to streamline and
facilitate the business process in the city.
In the bigger scheme of things, Burnaby's
prudent long-term nancial planning
has kept it debt free, providing businesses
with a solid foundation in which to thrive.
"There are as many reasons for locating
in Burnaby as there are businesses in
Burnaby," says Holden. "With its vast
business parks, vibrant town centres, diverse
population, central location, responsive
City Council and supportive Board of Trade,
businesses thrive here. History tells them
they can rely on Burnaby's plans.«Like the
city, businesses that locate here can count on
their future success."
