Truro and District Chamber of Commerce Policy Resolution

Municipal Governance

Background

Colchester County has a unique situation when it comes to municipal governments, as the Town of Truro is contained within the Municipality of the County of Colchester. Added to that are Village Commissions, the Millbrook First Nation, the Town of Stewiacke, etc. all with similar goals and aspirations when it comes to economic development. These municipalities also provide similar services to their constituents, which are paid for through the collection of residential and commercial taxes.

The Truro and District Chamber of Commerce realizes that all municipalities in the Colchester Region have their own mandates and the best interest of their constituents at heart. However, there have been disagreements between municipalities which have held up developments that would benefit our entire region. The TDCoC also realizes that increased cooperation between local municipalities could decrease the cost of some of the services these municipalities provide which, in turn, should ease the burden on taxpayers and provide more money to be entered into our local economy.

Motion

Be it resolved that the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce urge local governments and government agencies to work together whenever possible for the greater good of all businesses and residents in our region. And, when conflicting approaches between local municipalities and governments stall economic development in our region, that the TDCoC use any resources it deems necessary, as decided by the Board of Directors, to help resolve those differences as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Passed at the 2009 AGM. Expires in 2011 unless renewed

Truro and District Chamber of Commerce Policy Resolution

Transportation Infrastructure

Background

The Truro and surrounding area has long been recognized as the “Hub of Nova Scotia.” Many goods and people travelling to other areas of this province and country have to go through our region to get where they are going. The safe and efficient movement of these goods and people is a vital part of our economic well-being in the Colchester Region and has been for many years. The rail industry has been synonymous with Truro for a long time and as such, improvements and upgrades to it should be encouraged by the business community as a way to strengthen the local economy. However, there has been a tendency for our region to be overlooked when it comes to transportation infrastructure funding in favour of more urbanized areas of the province and country. If this continues, our identity as “The Hub of Nova Scotia” will be lost.

Motion

Be it resolved that the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce will actively lobby all levels of government for upgrades, improvements and investments into the area’s transportation infrastructure.

Also be it resolved that the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce will urge the Nova Scotia and Federal Governments, via written and verbal correspondence, to return 100 per cent of fuel taxes collected to road and highway infrastructure.

Passed at the 2009 AGM. Expires in 2011 unless renewed

Truro and District Chamber of Commerce Policy Resolution

Business Occupancy Tax

Background

In 2005, the Nova Scotia Government announced it was phasing out the Business Occupancy Tax in an attempt to market Nova Scotia as a place to do business. At the time the legislation was introduced, the Nova Scotia Government stated the Business Occupancy Tax, a tax that was paid on the assessed value of a commercial property on top of municipal commercial tax rates, gave the perception of “double property taxation in Nova Scotia.”

The province committed to completely eliminating the BOT by 2010. However, many municipalities have decided to offset their loss of revenue from the elimination of the BOT by increasing commercial tax rates. This totally defeats the purpose of eliminating the Business Occupancy Tax and does nothing to promote Nova Scotia as a place to do business.

Motion

Be it resolved that the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce will actively lobby municipal and provincial governments against the raising of municipal commercial tax rates due to the elimination of the Business Occupancy Tax.

Passed at the 2009 AGM. Expires in 2011 unless renewed

Truro and District Chamber of Commerce Policy Resolution

Taxation System Review

Background

In 2008, the Nova Scotia government announced it would be conducting a “major review” of its taxation system. The aim, according to the province, would be to put in place ‘‘the best possible tax system,’’ while helping the province’s economy become more competitive. The review would examine business and personal income taxes as well as provincial user fees.

Motion

Be it resolved that the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce will urge the Nova Scotia Government to make this review as transparent as possible, with adequate time for input from residents and the business community and that any reasonable input received be given serious consideration before any decisions are made.

Passed at the 2009 AGM. Expires in 2011 unless renewed

Truro and District Chamber of Commerce Policy Resolution

Debit and Credit Card Interchange Fees

Background

Any business owner realizes the importance of having all legal methods of payments available to their customers. Paying by debit and/or credit card has become the method of choice for many consumers, replacing regular cash and cheque transactions. The vast majority of business owners accept that paying a transaction fee when a customer uses a debit/credit card is a necessary cost of doing business.

In an attempt to draw in more customers, credit card companies are offering an increasing number of reward cards. These cards offer increased benefits to consumers while increasing the amount of transactions made via credit cards. However, while business owners are receiving no tangible benefits for accepting these reward cards as a method of payment, they are facing increased interchange fees from the credit card companies. This practice is completely unfair to the business owner. The credit card companies benefit from the increased use of their cards, consumers benefit from increased rewards, while the business owner has to bear the burden of an increased transaction fee with no benefit whatsoever.

Motion

Be it resolved that the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce will actively lobby against increased transaction fees for business owners related to point and rewards cards for consumers. This will be done in the form of written and verbal correspondence with debit/credit card companies, all levels of government, as well as joint efforts with other like-minded concerned business organizations.

Passed at the 2009 AGM. Expires in 2011 unless renewed

Note: Any policy adopted by the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce at each year’s Annual General Meeting is adopted for two years unless otherwise specified or reconsidered at a subsequent meeting. At the end of the Annual General Meeting two years after a policy is adopted, it expires unless it is renewed for an additional two years, or such other time as passed by motion at an AGM. Should circumstances require changes to a piece of policy before an AGM, it will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors, in conjunction with the policy committee. Those changes will then be voted on at the next AGM