January 21, 2013 BC Chamber Public Affairs Update

Seminars are scheduled for Kamloops today, Revelstoke on Tuesday, Jan. 22, Enderby on Wednesday, Jan. 23 and Penticton on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. An interactive google map has all 50 chamber locations and other details. Please check with your local chamber of commerce for more information.

Other resources include webinars, videos, on-site reviews and tax specialist assistance – a full listing of PST resources for businesses can be found on the BC Chamber website.

Premier Christy Clark has announced that the BC government will introduce legislation next month that will make the term of the Auditor General, an independent officer of the Legislature, a one-time, non-renewable appointment. The legislation will also propose to extend the term of the Auditor General from its current six year tenure to eight.

The proposed legislation, if passed, would align BC with the federal auditors’ system, as well as those in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, where the Auditor General is appointed to a single, non-renewable 10 year term.

Premier Clark said the all-party committee tasked with identifying the next auditor general should reconsider its recent decision to not re-appoint current Auditor General John Doyle, and offer him an extra two years, bringing his total time in office to eight years. The committee must make a decision by January 28, 2013. 

As required by the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act, the 14-member Economic Forecast Council presents forecasts for BC’s economic growth as part of the Province’s annual budget process. Council members are surveyed twice a year – once in the fall and again the following January – to advise the Finance Minister prior to each year’s budget. The BC government will release its own economic forecast with Budget 2013 next month.

This weekly report produced for the BC Chamber of Commerce by Fleishman-Hillard.  While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication as of the date of issue, events and government policies are subject to frequent change.  Therefore, the BC Chamber of Commerce and Fleishman-Hillard cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis on the information contained herein.