Civic Affairs

Through our Government Relations Committee, the Chamber of Commerce has been very successful in helping the City understand the wants and needs of the Business Community. Overall we've been pleased with the level of support and interest that the City typically takes with respect to our comments.

The Chamber have initiated comments and recommendations on many civic issues that affect the Business Community, including:

  • BC Ferries. We recommended that BC Ferries adopt a more flexible pricing schedule such that later evening sailings would be less expensive than those during high traffic times. BC Ferries have adopted such a policy
  • BC Ferries. We recommended that BC Ferries reintroduce the north island sailings that had been canceled in recent years. Most of those sailings are now back
  • Cannabis. The Chamber has written in support of monitored Cannabis production facilities. Letters of support have been issued to City of Port Alberni, Alberni Clayoquot Regional District, our MLA and others.
  • Fisheries. The Chamber in Port Alberni took a lead role in setting up an Island Wide network of Chambers to speak with one voice regarding potential Recreational Fishery Closures around Vancouver Island. Our obby efforts helped to keep some areas, including the Alberni Inlet open for Fishing in 2019
  • Government Labour Laws. Our Chamber wrote to Government and followed that with a meeting in front of our MLA to register our disagreement with proposed Labour Law changes. In particular we were opposed to changes affecting Sick Pay and vacation allowances affecting Small business in BC. Our efforts helped to stop these changes from taking place
  • Bylaws. The Chamber pushed local government to increase Bylaw presence in Port Alberni. This push helped result in a doubling of Bylaw enforcement officers as of 2018.
  • The Chamber has presented several letters to both the BC Governement and Government of Canada in support of the Port Alberni Transshipment Hub
  • The Chamber continues to push for a redirection of Business Licence Fees which are currently placed into general revenues with the City of Port Alberni. Our request is to see those funds held separately and used specifically for Business Area Improvements.