A n n u a l R e p o r t
Where Leaders Meet to Unlock BC’s Full Potential
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BUSINESS COUNCIL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA:
WHERE LEADERS MEET TO UNLOCK BRITISH COLUMBIA’S FULL POTENTIAL
OUR MISSION
Policy: We are the preeminent source for exceptional economic and public policy development that creates the environment for investment, growth and a competitive economy
Leadership: We are the non-partisan catalyst that convenes our members and all government decision makers to collaboratively address problems and develop and implement policy solutions that grow the economy sustainably
Advocates: With informed positions and the credibility of our membership, we are proactive and persistent advocates on the need for a competitive, growing and vibrant economy that attracts investment to meet our full potential
Membership: We are funded and informed by an engaged membership of leading companies in every key sector of the economy that are committed to growing the province
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5
2013 YEAR IN REVIEW: ADVOCACY � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8
POLICY PUBLICATIONS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14
ADVISORY GROUPS AND COMMITTEES � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15
BUILDING BLOCKS OF ECONOMIC LITERACY � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16
EVENTS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17
ANNUAL SPONSORS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18
MEMBERS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19
2013 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25
2013 BOARD OF GOVERNORS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26
COUNCIL STAFF � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29
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M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C H A I R
The Business Council of British Columbia is a sought after voice for insightful commentary and input into the economic policy matters facing our province. Over the past two years as Chair I have been privileged to work with the Board and the BCBC team to advance initiatives such as the Energy Policy White Paper, the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity, the First Annual Business Summit and the First Annual Chair’s Dinner. These and other important initiatives by the Council are intended to help advance BC’s competitive position in the global economy while also encouraging a broader understanding of the role the business community plays in creating a more prosperous and livable province.
While British Columbia is truly a beautiful place to live and work, our province faces significant challenges related to our economic competitiveness. For example, our regulatory structures are inefficient and under resourced, we have a developing shortage of skilled workers and we are burdened with an outmoded tax system. To unlock BC’s true potential, the business community must work collaboratively with all levels of government to address these and other issues that reduce our competitiveness versus other jurisdictions. With strong leadership and support from our many members, I know the Council will continue to focus on ways to enhance our province’s competitiveness in the years to come.
During my term as Chair, I have been privileged to
work with the team at the Business Council, led by Greg D’Avignon. Our membership should be proud of the strength of this team of professionals and of their dedication to helping to create a more prosperous and competitive province for the benefit of all British Columbians. I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank Barbara McNicholls for her hard work and dedication to the Business Council for the last 33 years. Having worked with 19 Chairs and five Presidents, Barbara has played an integral role in the success and accomplishments of the Business Council over these last three decades. We will miss her very much and we wish her all the best in her retirement.
In my new role as past Chair, I look forward to working alongside our incoming Chair, Jonathan Whitworth, and supporting the work of the Business Council. We are at a pivotal juncture in British Columbia’s economic growth and I encourage all members and prospective members to be engaged in the work and activities of the Council. This organization makes a positive contribution to the business and economic climate in our province and it cannot be done without your continuing support.
Thank you,
Hank Ketcham Chair
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M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T
compete / kəmˈpēt/ strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same
So much of what happened in 2013 and will again be the context for what will happen in the years ahead can be summed up in this word: Compete
Regardless of who you are, what you do, or where you do it, competition is a defining feature of our times. While some thrive on it, others find it challenging and disconcerting. Yet competition is all around us, in almost everything we do.
Our ability to collaborate and to be competitive as an open, trade dependent economy ultimately determines much of our prosperity. Historically, we’ve done pretty well and leveraged many of our strengths to compete successfully – growing a vibrant province over the years.
As a focal point for our actions around competitiveness, we have one ultimate goal at the Business Council, to unlock British Columbia’s full potential. This means doing our part to enable British Columbia’s institutions, entrepreneurs and industries to thrive in a world that is becoming more competitive. Realizing our full potential involves successfully converting our opportunities into reality – through research, planning and effective implementation of actions and policies.
2013 marked the start of a new agenda for the
Business Council, with a growing focus on the policies that will enhance British Columbia’s long term competitiveness. This has fed into the foundations of our renewed strategic plan beginning in 2014 – these foundations rest on actions around: Competitiveness, Collaboration and Communication.
Competitiveness
Through the leadership of our Chair, Hank Ketchum, and support from you, our members, 2013 was a busy and productive year at the Business Council. The annual report will provide more details on our actions, but here is short rundown of key activities:
• We completed our work with the BC Chamber of Commerce on the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity, with the final, comprehensive report available on our website www.bcagenda.ca. The report’s recommendations, which we are acting on, focused on how to grow the economy and increase economic participation among a broader spectrum of British Columbians.
• Our Energy Committee completed a comprehensive White Paper on Energy policy in BC. This paper has formed the basis of our advocacy work with the provincial government, and many of the 40 recommendations have already been acted upon�
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• The Business Council published over two dozen policy papers with our team of experts who are sought-after as thought leaders in Western Canada. Their work focuses on tax policy, regulatory efficiency, environmental policy, First Nations engagement, innovation, human capital and education.
Our work on competitiveness will ramp up further in 2014, led by Jock and focused on smart tax policy, new approaches to regulatory efficiency and the cost of time and money. We will complete an infrastructure paper as well as a broad sectoral innovation strategy, along with targeted work on education and labour market issues. Lastly, we are advancing policy to ensure certainty on the land base, in all aspects, with the continued commitment to protecting British Columbia’s environmental values.
Collaboration
A direct result of the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity has been a sharpened focus on breaking the cycle of having discussions around economic development in British Columbia polarized by small numbers with loud voices who can dominate the landscape and routinely alienate the majority of citizens.
In 2013 we launched several initiatives to build a more collaborative and constructive approach on what matters to British Columbia’s economy. In April we created the Business Caucus, a coalition of 32 trade and industry associations that meet monthly to share information and discuss public policy issues with a broad impact on the business landscape. This group is also collaborating on public economic literacy opportunities and business awareness programming in the school system.
We also launched the first annual BC Business Summit in 2013, an annual event to bring together all of those with their hands on the levers of the economy to focus on a key aspect of our economic future. Our first summit, titled Building Prosperity through a Competitive Economy, brought together 600 leaders from industry, academia, First Nations, federal and provincial governments and NGOs to discuss our collective economic future. This year, the second annual Summit will take place on November 13, with a revised one day format that will focus on innovation.
Communication and economy literacy
Last year, our Chair launched the first annual Chair’s Dinner, a gathering of BC’s business leadership, who in May heard our first guest speaker, British Columbia native and Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company, Dominic Barton, who spoke about the changes and opportunities for BC in Asia�
We initiated Resource Works, which is set to publicly launch in the spring of 2014. Resource Works is focused on educating British Columbians, particularly in the Lower Mainland, as to the importance of natural resource industries to their own personal and community prosperity.
This key project is joined by a series of initiatives and media partnerships led by Cheryl Muir and Herb Eibensteiner to build the Business Council’s public profile.
Our brand consistency, media presence, multiple websites and social media strategy are increasing the distribution of our work and expertise in the public domain and with decision makers at all levels of government. Specifically the Council’s new blog, BC Business Matters, is the routine instigator of weekly media stories that are informing public debate.
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BCBC President and CEO, Greg D’Avignon with BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity Summit panelists and sponsors. (L-R) Greg D’Avignon, President and CEO, Business Council of BC; Dave Cunningham, Vice President, Government Relations, TELUS; Fazil Mihlar, (fmr) Associate Editor with the Vancouver Sun; Christina Romer, former Chair, Council of Economic Advisors to President Obama; and Zanny Minton-Beddoes, Economics Editor, The Economist (April 2013)
2013 was a busy year that has set the foundation for a great deal of work to come as BCBC lends its effort to the challenge of creating a more competitive economy for the coming decades.
I want to thank our team; Cheryl, Denise, Herb, Jock, Ken, Tiffany, Tom, Valerie, Vicki, and of course Barbara who will be retiring after 33 years with the Council in April. She has made an extraordinary contribution to the success of our organization, the individual staff and our members. Always professional and insightful, it has been a privilege to work with Barbara during my tenure, as I know it was for our members. We look forward to celebrating Barbara’s retirement in April�
We have so many inherent advantages given BC’s geography and proximity to the largest and
fastest growing markets in the world, our cultural diversity, existing investments, infrastructure and natural endowments, but they can only be effectively leveraged with focused public policy and informed collaboration.
British Columbia can compete; we have so many times in so many ways if we are determined, collaborative and focused. With your support, BCBC is here to help and is up for the challenge.
Thank You,
Greg D’Avignon President and CEO
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2 0 1 3 Y E A R I N R E V I E W : A D V O C A C Y
Policy and Advocacy Review The last year was a disappointing one for the province’s economy, as a sluggish global economy and soft domestic demand at home combined to produce only a tepid gain in output and essentially no net job creation. On an annualized basis, we estimate that British Columbia’s real GDP increased by 1.4% in 2013, which was lower than the national number. Employment actually fell slightly in 2013. Retail sales were stuck in the slow lane for a second consecutive year, although the last quarter saw a welcome pick up. Business non-residential investment declined in 2013, and the weakness continued into the first quarter of the new year. The province’s housing market put in a decent showing, with resale activity perking up and housing starts remaining stable at around 27,000. The best economic news was on the trade front: the value of BC’s international merchandise exports climbed by 7% last year, outpacing the growth of imports. Net trade thus made a small contribution to the province’s overall economic growth rate last year. The Business Council’s current economic outlook points to modestly stronger growth over 2014-15. We are optimistic about the prospects for BC’s exports as the global economy slowly strengthens and US growth accelerates. We expect some improvement in the province’s lackluster job market over the next few quarters. Looking beyond 2015, non-residential business investment should kick into higher gear, driven by the development of liquefied natural gas projects, pipelines, and a broadening of gains in business capital spending more generally.
Economic and Fiscal Policy In 2013 the Business Council was engaged with several significant economic and fiscal policy files.
• Despite relatively weak economic growth, the provincial government continues to be a leader in fiscal control. We have endorsed provincial government’s return to a balanced operating budget, after a few years of deficits during the 2008-09 recession and the slow economic recovery that followed.
• We have also been broadly supportive of the federal government’s fiscal strategy to eliminate the deficit by 2015.
• The Business Council has continued to explore various options to mitigate the damage done to BC’s competitiveness from the return of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) effective April 1, 2013. This major change in sales tax has raised production and tax compliance costs for many BC industries, including our leading export sectors. Among other things, we are studying the pros and cons of moving toward a “made-in-BC” value-added consumption tax over the medium term and also considering near-term proposals for PST exemptions from selected business inputs.
• Last year we launched our new Task Force on Infrastructure Policy and Financing with a mandate to develop a white paper outlining a forward-looking infrastructure strategy for the province. This work will conclude in 2014�
• The Business Council has identified
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innovation and productivity as important areas for future work. To this end, our Innovation and Productivity Task Force will commence work in the spring of 2014 to advance our research and policy development in this domain.
• With the federal government having recently concluded important trade and economic agreements with the European Union and South Korea, and continuing to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership discussions, we have stepped up our activities on trade and commercial policy and had extensive contact with federal Ministers and Deputy Ministers involved with international trade and investment matters.
Energy Policy
2013 marked the culmination of a year long, comprehensive review of energy policy in BC by the Energy Committee. The release of the white paper entitled Building New Energy Advantages for BC: Understanding and Benefitting from the Transformation of BC’s Energy Marketplaces, brought forward over 40 recommendations across the energy policy environment in BC. Many of the recommendations, including several related to the government’s LNG strategy and the 10 year electricity plan, are moving forward. The Energy Committee hosted key provincial leaders for dialogues about energy in 2013, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers responsible for energy policy development.
2013 also saw BCBC work closely with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and our LNG member companies to offer constructive and
detailed commentary to all levels of government with respect to the policy framework that will support LNG development in BC. The Business Council will continue this work in 2014 and beyond, as we look to maximize the collective economic benefits of natural gas development across the entire value chain. This is a dynamic period for energy development not just in BC, but around North America and the world. The Energy Committee will continue to provide a robust forum for presentations, dialogue and effective energy policy advocacy.
Dominic Barton, Managing Director, McKinsey & Company addresses the Business Council’s First Annual Chair’s Dinner (May 2013)
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Labour, Employment and Human Capital
The Business Council remains engaged in labour relations matters and we closely track labour and employment policy issues of interest to the membership. We continue to strive to understand and influence government policy and regulatory decisions as they pertain to the human capital challenges facing large and mid-sized BC employers. Last year, the Business Council was involved with a number of immigration issues, including temporary foreign workers and the federal government’s transition to the new “Expression of Interest System” for processing economic immigrants, which is scheduled to begin in January 2015.
Our Employee Relations Committee meets every second month to discuss labour relations and collective bargaining developments, immigration policy, skills training, and other relevant human resource issues. Committee meetings generally include a guest speaker plus a review of current issues. Also in 2013, the Business Council launched
a new BC Bargaining Database and website. The database provides current information on collective bargaining activities and developments in British Columbia in an impartial manner to help inform the bargaining process. Users can access specific contracts or summary statistical reports.
The Industrial Relations Bulletin was published bi-monthly over the past year. This publication is the most comprehensive source of information on collective bargaining settlements in the province. The development of the database will allow for improvements in the statistical reporting of collective bargaining settlements in the Bulletin. Our Human Capital Law and Policy newsletter was also produced last year, with articles covering topical issues ranging from developments in employment law to trends in union density.
The Council continued with our long-running annual Employee Relations Outlook Session. For the second consecutive year the event was held in downtown Vancouver rather than Whistler.
Jock Finlayson moderates a discussion with Canada’s think-tank leadership at the First Annual BC Business Summit. (L-R): Dr. Daniel Muzyka, President and CEO, Conference Board of Canada; David Mitchell, President and CEO, Public Policy Forum; Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director, Macdonald Laurier Institute and Jock Finlayson, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Business Coun-cil of British Columbia. (November 2013)
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Environmental Policy
A healthy environment provides the foundation for a healthy economy. In British Columbia, our tremendous natural assets are a significant advantage, if managed well. The Business Council advocates for environmental policy, law and standards that are science-based and aligned with an imperative for British Columbia to strengthen our competitiveness and diversify markets.
The Environment Committee is the largest and most active member committee. It meets monthly or as needed if there is a pressing issue that requires attention. The Committee is a forum to exchange ideas, keep current on ongoing and new issues, and oversee more substantive BCBC work on various policy and regulatory initiatives advanced by governments.
To support learning and discussion, staff produce regular issue updates that scan and summarize a wide range of local, regional, national and global environment-related topics, including but not limited to vehicle emissions standards, energy, urban planning, air pollution, greenhouse gases, contaminated sites and brownfield development, fisheries and marine topics, water, and waste management, as well as a review of selected academic papers and think tanks reports.
In 2013, we also published five issues of the Business Council’s Environment and Energy Bulletin newsletter, covering:
• Low Carbon Fuel Standards
• Transportation and the Economy (Part One and Part Two)
• Conservation Policy
• Water Policy
We also completed several formal submissions to government on:
• The proposed provincial Water Sustainability Act
• Coal exports and the City of Vancouver
• Land based spill response
• Low carbon fuel standards
• Site C
Staff also participate in and represent Business Council interests on government advisory committees, undertake public speaking/presentations at external events, and provide input on initiatives advanced by government. Active outreach to members, other associations, representatives of environmental non-governmental groups, and all levels of government continues to be an important part of gathering insight and understanding and also assists developing positions on policy and regulatory changes.
Aboriginal Issues
The Aboriginal Affairs Committee continued to work closely with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and other natural resource ministries on refining and improving the delegated consultation framework and fostering discussions among industry, government and First Nations on how to improve the economic benefits of development for all British Columbians. The Council led the year off by releasing a Policy Perspectives article entitled “Understanding Economic Development and Reconciliation with First Nations in BC: The Case for Accelerating Economic Engagement,” which highlighted the diversity of agreements with First Nations in BC
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and the ongoing need to both engage and ensure First Nation-Industry relations are successful in stimulating mutually beneficial investment. The Business Council’s Aboriginal Affairs Committee will be continuing this important work in 2014 with further analysis and dialogue with both government and First Nation leaders.
Publications
In 2013 we produced four issues of our economic newsletter, Policy Perspectives, covering topics ranging from the growth of cross-border shopping to BC’s productivity challenge, the need to grow more of our small businesses, and the expanding role of First Nations in economic development. We also published four issues of our Human Capital Law and Policy newsletter, five issues of our Environment and Energy Bulletin, and six issues of the Industrial Relations Bulletin. These regular publications often attract media interest and lead to follow-up discussions and dialogue with government officials and other stakeholders. See page 15 for a full list of policy publications.
The Business Council’s blog gained significant momentum in 2013, with over 50 posts from the members of our policy team, several of which were picked up by the news media. Our staff also kept up a steady pace of newspaper op-ed pieces published in both local and national papers. Most of our written output is now being promoted and distributed through the Council’s social media platforms and the communications outreach work led by Cheryl Muir.
Priorities for 2014
In the coming year, the policy team will:
• Complete the Business Council’s Infrastructure White Paper;
• Advance our work on the linked topics of innovation and productivity in the British Columbia context;
• Continue to refine our thinking around tax policy and tax reform options in the wake of the restoration of the PST and the significant
Robin Silvester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Port Metro Vancouver prepares to introduce Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer at a BCBC Member Forum Breakfast (June 2013)
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competitiveness challenges facing the province;
• Initiate a conversation on health innovation;
• Move to the next phase of our work on energy development opportunities and policy options in BC; and
• Continue to develop ideas around First Nations economic development and provincial policy and regulatory activity arising from the requirement for aboriginal consultation and accommodation.
The Business Council will also be engaged with a number of other important policy files in the coming months, including
• Follow-up work flowing from the Energy White Paper, with a particular focus on fleshing out the LNG policy framework across the value chain and looking at the province’s 10 year electricity plan in greater detail through a competitiveness lens,
• The new provincial Water Sustainability Act;
• Pressing for a review of BC’s climate change policy;
• Advocating for regulatory reform and streamlining in provincial Ministries and agencies responsible for natural resource and infrastructure development;
• Updating the environmental assessment process in BC; and
• Addressing skills shortages and labour market mismatches that may be contributing to talent shortfalls and driving up business costs�
Keynote speaker and former Australian Prime Minister, Honourable Kevin Rudd addresses the BC Agenda For Shared Prosperity Summit (April 2013)
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P O L I C Y P U B L I C AT I O N S
PUBLICATIONS• BC Poised for Small Bounce
in Economic Growth in 2013 (BC Economic Review and Outlook, February)
• A “Balanced” but “Challenging” Provincial Budget (Business Alert, February)
• Mental Disorder Claims under the Workers’ Compensation Act - A Human Resources/Labour Relations Perspective (Human Capital Law and Policy, February)
• Understanding Economic Development and Reconciliation with First Nations - The Case for Accelerating Economic Engagement (Policy Perspectives, February)
• Water - Blue Gold (Environment and Energy Bulletin, March)
• Pull Back in Resource Sectors Tempers Overall Capital Investment in BC (Business Alert, March)
• 2013 Federal Budget: A Combination of Following Through, Fiscal Restraint and Some New Funding for Priority Areas (Business Alert, March)
• Thinking about Conservation Policy (Environment and Energy Bulletin, April)
• A Review of Trends in Union Density (Human Capital Law and Policy, May)
• Surge in Cross Border Shopping Weighs on Retail Sales in BC (Policy Perspectives, May)
• Mid-Year Update: BC Economy Slows in 2013, Rebuilds in 2014 (BC Economic Review and Outlook, July)
• Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Separating Fact from Fiction (Human Capital Law and Policy, July)
• Transportation - The Way We Move (Environment and Energy Bulletin, Part One: August, Part Two: October)
• Productivity: BC’s Position and Why We Should Care (Policy Perspectives, August)
• BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity Final Report (September)
• The Economic Benefits of Encouraging Small Businesses to Grow (Policy Perspectives, October)
• New WorkSafeBC Policies on Bullying and Harassment (Human Capital Law and Policy, November)
• On the Road to Emissions Reductions (Environment and Energy Bulletin, December)
SPECIAL REPORTS• Building new Energy
Advantages for BC: Understanding and Benefiting from the Transformation of BC’s Energy Marketplace (October)
• BCBC Study by MNP on Corporate Community Contributions (October)
SUBMISSIONS• Letter to Vancouver City
Council re: Coal Export Expansion
• Letter to Metro Vancouver re: Air Quality Impact of New and Expanded Coal Shipment Activity in Metro Vancouver
• Letter to Honourable James Moore re: Telecommunications Policy (August)
• Pre-Budget Submission to the Province’s Select Standing Committee on Finance (October)
• Submission to the Ministry of Environment on the Water Sustainability Act (November)
• Submission to the Joint Review Panel on Site C Clean Energy Project (December)
BCBC produces a variety of publications, which allow our members to keep up-to-date on current issues.
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A D V I S O R Y G R O U P S A N D C O M M I T T E E S
ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
The Committee oversees the Business Council’s work on aboriginal policy issues and meets regularly with senior government officials (federal and provincial) responsible for aboriginal affairs to advance certainty, transparency and processes that provide clarity of expectations for all parties with regard to consultation, strength of claim, capacity building and commercial agreements.
ENERGY COMMITTEE
The Energy Committee leads the Business Council’s work on energy issues, including electricity policy and the development of the upstream oil and gas industry in the province. Our focus is on updating BC’s Clean Energy Act and the development of regulations under the Act that align with the current breadth of energy opportunities and challenges in BC. We are also working with LNG proponents to advance the opportunity to develop an LNG industry in British Columbia.
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
This Committee guides the Business Council’s work across a wide range of environmental policy and regulatory issues, including all aspects of climate change policy, environmental assessment, facility permitting, contaminated sites, the management of air quality, hazardous waste issues, the development of provincial water sustainability legislation, the federal Species at Risk Act, and associated regulations and the Fisheries Act. It also provides a regular forum for Business Council members to meet with Ministers and senior officials and to exchange views and information on environmental matters of interest to industry.
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS COMMITTEE
The Committee meets bi-monthly to discuss issues pertinent to the human capital needs of our member organizations. Issues include skills shortages, demographic changes, productivity concerns, health and safety, benefits, pensions, immigration, training and learning, collective bargaining/negotiations, legislative and regulatory developments.
TASK FORCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY AND FINANCING
The Infrastructure Task Force oversees, updates and shapes the Business Council’s policy positions with respect to infrastructure development priorities, the enabling policy framework(s) to support and direct infrastructure investment, and related financing issues in the British Columbia context.
TASK FORCE ON INNOVATION AND PRODUCTIVITY (formed in 2014)
The Task Force on Innovation and Productivity oversees, updates and helps to shape the Business Council’s policy positions with respect to innovation and productivity issues in the British Columbia context.
Members interested in participating on the Business Council’s committees or advisory groups should contact Tiffany Gorder ([email protected])
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B U I L D I N G B L O C K S O F E C O N O M I C L I T E R A C Y
BC BUSINESS MATTERS: BCBC BLOG
BCBC’s blog provides insight from the policy team
into policy and economic matters relevant to British
Columbians and Canadians broadly.
Over 50 posts since July 2013 have received more
than 5200 hits and contributed to dozens of
mainstream media stories.
BC BUSINESS SUMMIT
The first annual BC Business Summit brought
together over 600 business, government, academic
and community leaders for a multi-day conversation
to explore the opportunities and challenges facing
British Columbia’s economic competitiveness .
BUSINESS CAUCUS
To support improved coordination across the
business community, the Business Council has
created the Business Caucus, comprised of 30
business and industry associations which meets
regularly to discuss industry issues and opportunities
for collaboration .
RESOURCE WORKS
Officially launched in 2014 by the Business Council
and our members, Resource Works will bring a fact-
driven research approach to understanding the
province’s natural resource sector. Resource Works
will engage with the public to educate British
Columbians about what the resource industry
means to our collective and personal prosperity.
BC AGENDA FOR SHARED PROSPERITY
In partnership with the BC Chamber of Commerce,
BCBC concluded the BC Agenda for Shared
Prosperity initiative which included a 6-community
tour, a Summit with global & local leaders &
economists, and a report on how to increase
economic participation among British Columbians.
BC CONNECTS
In 2014, the Business Council will work to build greater understanding of BC’s natural resource heritage through direct connections and hands-on experiences by organizing tours for thought leaders to visit innovative communities and businesses outside the lower mainland.
NEXT LEADERS COUNCIL
The Next Leaders initiative continues to grow as a platform for the province’s best and brightest leaders in their 20’s, 30’s and early 40’s to regularly engage in public policy discussion, leadership development and networking opportunities.
TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
BCBC has appeared in radio, television and print
media over 100 times over the last year, and Greg
D’Avignon and Jock Finlayson had over two dozen
published opinion pieces.
BCBC continues to build its presence on social
media including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
By leveraging our research capabilities, policy expertise and member network, the Business Council is working on several fronts to improve British Columbians’ awareness and knowledge of the province’s economic landscape.
Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT17
E V E N T S
The Business Council holds a number of roundtable meetings, member forums, conferences, and other events which allow our members to keep informed about current developments, and stay connected with business leaders and government.
2013 Senior Executive Roundtables
• Hon. Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands
and Natural Resource Operations
• Hon. John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Rela-
tions and Reconciliation
• Hon. Teresa Wat,
Minister of International Trade
• Hon. Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of
Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services
• Hon. Don McRae, Minister of Social Develop-
ment and Innovation
• Hon. Amrik Virk,
Minister of Advanced Education
• Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade
and Minister for the Asia Pacific Gateway
• Hon. Tony Clement,
President of the Treasury Board
• Dan Doyle, Chief of Staff to Premier Clark
• Charles Reid, President and CEO, and Susan
Yurkovich, Executive Vice President responsible
for Site C, BC Hydro
• Hon. Ken Hughes,
Minister of Energy, Province of Alberta
• Martha Hall Findlay, Executive Fellow at the
School of Public Policy, University of Calgary
• John Knubley, Deputy Minister, Industry Canada
• Doug Pearce, CEO, CIO, BC Investment Manage-
ment Corporation
• John Manley, CEO,
Canadian Council of Chief Executives
• David Black, Chair and Founder, Black Press and
President, Kitimat Clean Ltd.
• State Senators and Legislators, California
2013 Special Events and Conferences
• Annual General Meeting and First Annual Chair’s Dinner featuring Dominic Barton, Global Managing Partner, McKinsey and Company
• Conference: “BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity Summit”, featuring Former Australian Prime Minister, Honourable Kevin Rudd; Christina Romer, Former Chair, Council of Economic Advisors to President Obama; Zanny Minton-Beddoes, Economics Editor, The Economist
• BC Business Summit 2013 featuring Premier Christy Clark and Honourable Jason Kenney
• Tour of the Alberta Oil Sands• Post-Budget Reception with Premier Christy
Clark • Member Forum featuring Canadian
Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer• Employee Relations Outlook Summit 2013
BusinessCouncilofBritishColumbia 2013ANNUALREPORT 18
T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S
The support of our sponsors ensures we deliver meaningful and successful events.
• Apache
• BC Roadbuilders
• BCMEA
• Blakes
• BNSF Railway
• Britco
• Brookfield
• Bull Housser
• Borden Ladner Gervais
• Canada’s National Brewers
• Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
• Certified General Accountants
• Chartered Professional Accountants
• CIBC
• Coast Capital Savings
• Deloitte
• Devon
• EDC
• Encana
• Ferus
• HSBC Bank Canada
• Kinder Morgan
• Korn/Ferry International
• KPMG LLP
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Mitsubishi Corporation
• MNP
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Nexen
• Pacific Northwest LNG
• Pfizer
• Polygon
• Port Metro Vancouver
• Prince Rupert Port Authority
• Progress Energy Canada Ltd.
• University of British Columbia
• Rio Tinto
• Rogers
• RxD
• Seaspan
• Shell
• Stantec
• TD Bank
• Teck
• TELUS
• TimberWest
• TransCanada
• TransMountain
• University of Northern British Columbia
• Vancity
• Vancouver Airport Authority
• Weatherhaven
• West Fraser
• Weyerhaeuser
• Woodfibre LNG
Members of the Next Leaders Council get a behind the scenes tour of Rogers Arena (July 2013)
Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT19
M E M B E R S 2013/14 Members New members in Bold
Agricultural Bank of China
Air Canada
Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP
Alterra Power Corporation
AMEC Inc�
Anthem Properties Group Ltd.
Apache Canada Ltd.
Armtec
Arrow Transportation Systems
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia
AstraZeneca Canada Inc.
Ausenco Sandwell
Avcorp Industries Inc.
Avison Young
Bank of Canada
BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association
BC Human Resources Management Association
BC Hydro & Power Authority
BC Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association
Belkorp Industries
Bell Canada
Best Buy Canada Ltd.
BFI Canada
BG Group
Blackcomb Aviation
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
BMO Financial Group
Bombardier Transportation
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Britco Structures
British Columbia Automobile Association
British Columbia Chamber of Commerce
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
British Columbia Hotel Association
British Columbia Innovation Council
British Columbia Institute of Technology
British Columbia Maritime Employers Association
British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association
British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association
British Columbia Technology Industries Association
British Columbia Trucking Association
British Columbia Wharf Operators’ Association
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.
Canada Industrial Relations Board
Canada’s National Brewers
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Canadian Energy Pipeline Association
Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
Canadian Fuels Association
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canadian Manufactures & Exporters
Canadian National Railway Company
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Pacific Railway
Canexus Chemicals Canada LP
Canfor Pulp Ltd.
BusinessCouncilofBritishColumbia 2013ANNUALREPORT 20
Canucks Sports & Entertainment
Capilano University
Capital Power Corporation
Cardero Coal Ltd.
Catalyst Paper Corporation
Cement Association of Canada
Central 1 Credit Union
Central Heat Distribution Ltd.
Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia
Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
Chevron Canada Limited
City of Surrey - Economic Development Commission
Clark Wilson LLP
Clean Energy BC
Coast Capital Savings
Coast Forest Products Association
Community Social Services Employers’ Association
Concert Properties Ltd.
Conoco Phillips Canada
Construction Labour Relations Association of BC
Corix
Council of Forest Industries
Crew Property Ventures Ltd.
Crown Corporation Employers’ Association
Curis Resources Ltd.
Day4 Energy Inc.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Devon Canada Corp
Discovery Parks Trust
Douglas College
EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc.
Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc.
Encana Corporation
EOG Resources Canada Inc.
Ernst & Young LLP
Export Development Canada
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (BC Region)
Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Ferus Inc�
BC Business Summit co-chairs, (L-R), Honourable James Moore, Canada’s Minister of Industry, Honourable Shirley Bond, British Columbia’s Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Ellis Ross, Chief Councilor, Haisla First Nation exchange greetings (November 2013)
Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT21
VA N C O U V E RCO M M U N I T YC O L L E G E
Finning International Inc.
FortisBC
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP
Fraser Surrey Docks
General Fusion Inc.
Genome British Columbia
Geoscience BC
GlaxoSmithKline
Glentel Inc�
Global Container Terminals Inc.
Global Public Affairs
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
Greater Vancouver Gateway Council
Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association
Harris & Company LLP
Gall Legge Grant & Munroe LLP (Formerly Heenan Blaikie LLP
Hemmera
HD Mining International
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
HSBC Bank Canada
Imperial Metals Corporation
Imperial Oil Limited
Independent Contractors and Business Association
Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
Industry Council for Aboriginal Business
Initiatives Prince George
Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
International Forest Products
InTransit BC
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Keystone Environmental Ltd.
Kinder Morgan Canada Inc.
Korn/Ferry International
KPMG LLP
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Lafarge Canada Inc.
Langara College
Lawson Lundell LLP
Lehigh Northwest Cement Limited
Honourable Jason Kenny, Canada’s Minister of Employment and Social Development and the Minister for Multiculturalism addresses the BC Business Summit (November 2013)
BusinessCouncilofBritishColumbia 2013ANNUALREPORT 22
Leith Wheeler Investment Management
London Drugs Ltd.
MacKay CEO Forums
Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd.
Marine Harvest Canada
Marsh Canada Limited
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
McMillan LLP
MEG Energy
Mercer International Inc.
Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.
Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Department
Meyers Norris Penny LLP
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
Mining Association of British Columbia
Mitacs Inc�
Mitsubishi Canada
MMM Group Limited
Molson Coors Canada
Motion Picture Production Industry Association
Mountain Equipment Co-op
National Public Relations
Newalta Corporation
Nexen Inc�
Northern Development Initiative Trust
Nyrstar
Odgers Berndtson
Boyden (formerly Odlum Brown Limited)
Pacific Blue Cross
Pacific Newspaper Group Inc.
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
Pacific NorthWest LNG Ltd.
Partnerships British Columbia
Persis Holdings Ltd.
Penn West Energy Trust
Petroleum Services Association of Canada
Pfizer Canada
Polygon Homes Ltd.
Port Metro Vancouver
PwC LLP
Prince Rupert Port Authority
Progress Energy Resources Corp.
Provincial Health Services Authority
Public Policy Forum
Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat
Quicksilver Resources Canada Inc.
Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT23
Raymond James Ltd.
RBC Capital Markets
RBC Royal Bank
RELabs Research Inc
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc�
Rogers Communications Group
Rogers Sugar Ltd.
Roper Greyell LLP
Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc.
Royal Roads University
Rx&D Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies
sanofi-aventis
Schneider Electric Solar
Seaspan ULC
SECOR Consulting
Shell Canada Energy
Simon Fraser University
SNC-Lavalin Inc
Spectra Energy Corporation
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Stern Partners Inc.
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Suncor Energy
Talisman Energy Inc.
Target Canada
Taseko Mines Limited
TD Bank Financial Group
Teck Resources Limited
TELUS Corporation
Tervita Corporation
The Beedie Group
The Caldwell Partners International Inc.
The Conference Board of Canada
The Fraser Institute
The Pace Group
The Vancouver Board of Trade
TimberWest Forest Corporation
Tolko Industries Ltd.
Tourism Vancouver
TransAlta
TransCanada Pipelines
Translink
Turner Lane Develpment Corporation
University Canada West
University of British Columbia
University of Northern British Columbia
University of Victoria
Urban Development Institute
Valard Construction
Vancity Credit Union
Vancouver Airport Authority
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Economic Development Commission
Vancouver Island University
Veresen Inc�
Weatherhaven
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Western Convenience Store Association
Western Stevedoring
Westport Innovations Inc.
Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership
Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.
Woodfibre Natural Gas Limited
WorkSafe BC
BusinessCouncilofBritishColumbia 2013ANNUALREPORT 24
N E W M E M B E R S 2 0 1 3 / 2 0 1 4
Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT25
E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E 2 0 1 3
CHAIR
Hank Ketcham Executive Chairman West Fraser Timber Co.
VICE CHAIRS
Ian Anderson President Kinder Morgan Canada
Josh Blair Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer TELUS Corporation
Ray Castelli Chief Executive Officer Weatherhaven
John DeLucchi Managing Partner, BC Region PwC LLP
Richard Dunn Vice President, Regulatory and Government Relations Encana Corporation
Eric Harris Chair Harris & Company LLP
Mike Kennedy Vice President and Regional Leader, Vancouver Stantec
Fiona MacFarlane Managing Partner, Western Canada and Chief Inclusiveness Officer Ernst & Young LLP
Richard Prokopanko Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Rio Tinto Alcan Inc�
Tracy Redies President and Chief Executive Officer Coast Capital Savings
Graham Twyford-Miles Associate & Practice Lead, Sustainability Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Chair, NEXT Leaders Council
Robin Silvester President and Chief Executive Officer Port Metro Vancouver
Marcia Smith Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs Teck Resources Limited
Jonathan Whitworth Chief Executive Officer Seaspan ULC
Susan Yurkovich Executive Vice-President, Site C BC Hydro & Power Authority
Immediate Past Chair Graham MacLachlan Regional President, BC RBC Royal Bank
BusinessCouncilofBritishColumbia 2013ANNUALREPORT 26
2 0 1 3 B O A R D O F G O V E N O R S
Doug Allen Chief Executive Officer InTransit
Ian Anderson President Kinder Morgan Canada Inc.
Michael Audain Chairman Polygon Homes Ltd.
Phil Barnes Regional Vice President, Pacific Northwest (BC Region), Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and General Manager, Fairmont Pacific Rim
Don Bird Managing Partner Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Josh Blair Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer TELUS Corporation
Doug Bloom President, Spectra Energy Transmission West Spectra Energy Transmission
Mark Blucher President and Chief Executive Officer Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
Gerry Bouwers President and Chief Operating Officer Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
Peter Brown Chairman of the Board Canaccord Financial Ltd.
Eric Carlson Chief Executive Officer Anthem Properties Group Ltd.
Reid Carter Managing Partner Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
Paul Cassidy Partner Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Ray Castelli Chief Executive Officer Weatherhaven
Mike Corrigan President and Chief Executive Officer British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Greg D’Avignon President and Chief Executive Officer Business Council of British Columbia
Alan Davis President Kwantlen University
Bob Dawson Director, Western Canada Pfizer Canada Inc.
John Delucchi Managing Partner for the BC Region PwC LLP
Richard Dunn Vice President, Regulatory and Government Relations Encana Corporation
Brian Frank Chief Executive Officer TimberWest Forest Corporation
Chris Gardner Executive Vice President The Britco Group
Rick Gateman President, Coastal GasLink Project TransCanada Pipelines Limited
Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT27
Eric Harris Chair Harris & Company LLP
Philip Hochstein President Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of BC
Jonathan Kallner Managing Partner, Greater Vancouver Area KPMG LLP
Michael Kennedy Vice President and Regional Leader, BC Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Hank Ketcham Executive Chairman West Fraser Timber Co.
Don Krusel President and Chief Executive Officer Prince Rupert Port Authority
Pierre Lebel Chairman and Director Imperial Metals Corporation
Peter Leitch Chair Motion Picture Production Industry Association
Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia Chief Executive Officer Crew Property Ventures Ltd.
Fiona MacFarlane Managing Partner, Western Canada and Chief Inclusiveness Officer Ernst & Young LLP
Graham MacLachlan Regional President, BC RBC Royal Bank
Paulo Maia President and Chief Executive Officer HSBC Bank Canada
Kevin McBurney Senior Client Partner Korn/Ferry International
Donald McInnes Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer Plutonic Power Corporation
Lorraine Mitchelmore President and Country Chair Shell Canada Energy
Stephen Murphy Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking TD Bank Group
Gordon Nelson Vice President & General Manager – BC Rogers Communications Group
Janine North Chief Executive Officer Northern Development Initiative Trust
Sue Paish President and Chief Executive Officer Lifelabs
Andrew Petter President and Vice Chancellor Simon Fraser University
Richard Prokopanko Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Rio Tinto Alcan Inc�
Matthew Quinlan Managing Director, Co-Head Global Mining Group Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Tracy Redies President and Chief Executive Officer Coast Capital Savings
BusinessCouncilofBritishColumbia 2013ANNUALREPORT 28
Tom Roper Chair Roper Greyell LLP
Jason Scharfe Managing Director Marsh Canada Ltd.
Robin Silvester President and Chief Executive Officer Port Metro Vancouver
Duncan Sinclair Managing Partner Deloitte & Touche LLP
Andy Smith President and Chief Executive Officer BC Maritime Employers Association
Marcia Smith Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs Teck Resources Limited
Bob Stanlake President, Mining and Metals AMEC Inc�
Stephen Toope President and Vice Chancellor University of British Columbia
Graham Twyford-Miles Associate & Practice Lead, Sustainable Solutions Stantec Consulting Ltd. Chair, NEXT Leaders Council
Mark van Rooij Chief Executive Officer Avcorp Industries Inc.
Tamara Vrooman Chief Executive Officer Vancity Credit Union
John Walker President and Chief Executive Officer FortisBC
Jonathan Whitworth Chief Executive Officer Seaspan ULC
Susan Yurkovich Executive Vice President, Site C BC Hydro & Power Authority
The Bill Good Show on CKNW broadcasting live at the BC Business Summit (November 2013)
Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT29
C O U N C I L S TA F F
PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Greg D’Avignon President and Chief Executive Officer [email protected]
Barbara McNicholls Executive Assistant to the President [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATIONS
Herb Eibensteiner Vice President, Operations and Chief Financial Officer [email protected]
Tiffany Gorder Administrative Assistant [email protected]
POLICY
Jock Finlayson Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer [email protected]
Ken Peacock Vice President and Chief Economist [email protected]
Tom Syer Vice President, Policy and Communications [email protected]
Denise Dalmer Director, Environment and Sustainability [email protected]
Cheryl Muir Director of Communications and Events [email protected]
Vicki Champ Executive Assistant [email protected]
Valerie Foster HR Research Analyst [email protected]
(R-L) Former Cabinet Ministers, Joy MacPhail and George Abbott are joined by Ipsos Reid Vice President Kyle Braid for a pre-election discussion with members of the Next Leaders (May 2014)
Annual Report 2013