The local chamber’s president, Stephanie Jones, was part of a recent Canadian chambers gathering in Charlottetown. More than 300 chambers of commerce from across the country debated more than 60 policy directives to the federal government.
According to a news release from the chamber, one topic Jones voted in favour of was to ask Ottawa to streamline and simplify taxation rules when family businesses are taken over by the next generation. Jones said unfair business succession tax rules are a stumbling block to business grown in Truro and Colchester.
“Things like taxation, depreciation on necessary business equipment and adding logic to the way businesses are taxed when one generation takes over from another are crucial to tax fairness and business success,” said Jones in the release.
In addition, the national chamber organization is asking Ottawa to write off 100 per cent of new computer equipment costs incurred by businesses after two years.
Jones also voted with other chambers to create an approved employer list, allowing for strict safety measures to weed out companies that might try to cheat the temporary foreign worker system.
“This will help reward companies and local industries such as food service and agriculture when they’re doing everything in their power to obey the rules,” Jones said.
Two other policies discussed were aimed at the local business and professional community. A vote was taken to direct Ottawa toward a streamlined approval process for education credentials of foreign professionals who come to Canada as well as a policy to encourage qualified foreign students attending classes here to apply their talents in the Canadian workforce.
