Industry reps seek to maintain tax rate
Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting brings hope to keep zero per cent property tax increase
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Last year saw high membership for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and the business lobby group wants to continue pushing for favourable policies in 2015.
"We've really concentrated on trying to add some value," said chamber president Jason McEvoy at the organization's annual general meeting last Wednesday.
Membership grew 18 per cent in 2014. Former treasurer, now vice-president, Renee Comeau said the 273-strong membership drive earned $95,000 in revenue and brought the chamber one step closer to being self-sufficient on membership revenue.
The chamber's annual spring trade show earned the organization $70,500 in net profit and sold out for a second year in a row.
The end of 2014 left the chamber with a net profit of $50,800.
"I think we've been more vocal in our advocacy for the business community in the last little bit and certainly promoting Yellowknife as a good place to come live and do business," said McEvoy.
"I think that that has reached the ears of the business community, and from there we've seen an increase in membership."
As the organization looks to the future, executive director Deneen Everett said the chamber won't be putting on the brakes after successfully lobbying for a zero-per-cent property tax increase last year.
"Because we were successful in getting that, our membership wants to make sure it wasn't zero-per-cent tax increase this year, substantial tax increase next year," she said.
Another policy success McEvoy championed in his speech was advocacy through the territorial policy committee to increase the federal government's Canadian Tourism Commission budget to $120 million and for the Canada Revenue Agency to accept electronic submissions for business queries and audit information requests.
Closer to home, he said the chamber will continue with its shop local campaign and develop a program which would provide customers a passport to stamp after going to different businesses in town with the opportunity for a reward at the end.
