Business Voice at the Table: How Chambers Are Shaping Provincial Dialogue

As part of BC Chamber of Commerce Week, chambers and boards of trade from across British Columbia participated in a province-wide roundtable with Minister Ravi Kahlon, convened by the BC Chamber of Commerce. 

The discussion focused on how economic pressures and policy decisions are landing on businesses in different regions – and how government and the chamber network can work together to ensure business realities on the ground are understood and reflected in provincial decision-making.

Minister Kahlon outlined several priority areas that are currently front and centre for his office, noting that impacts are uneven across regions, sectors, and business sizes, and that real-time business insight is critical. These areas included:

• CUSMA and trade volatility, described as the most immediate and fast-moving issue, with rapid shifts across supply chains and regional economies.
• Interprovincial trade, with renewed pressure to make progress this year, including complex areas such as alcohol and agri-food that directly affect B.C. producers.
• Global trade and market diversification, with a focus on better supporting small and medium-sized businesses in accessing new markets while maintaining the importance of the U.S. relationship.
• The Look West Strategy, raised as active provincial work, with interest in hearing how regional industries and businesses align with its focus areas.

A significant part of the discussion also centred on small business consultation. Following the dismantling of the Small Business Roundtable and the province’s reliance on the Ease of Doing Business portal, the Minister acknowledged the challenge of prioritizing a high volume of issues without sufficient context. He expressed interest in more focused, practical engagement – particularly through trusted networks like chambers – as a way to better understand how policies are affecting businesses in real time.

This reinforces an important role for chambers and boards of trade.
Individually, businesses experience policy impacts locally. Collectively, the chamber network provides government with structured, credible insight that reflects regional conditions, sector realities, and business scale – without requiring every business to navigate government processes on its own. This is where the value of a connected, province-wide chamber network becomes tangible: it creates access, context, and influence that no single business could achieve alone.

Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce – Local Perspective

From the perspective of the Harrison Agassiz business community, the provincial dialogue around economic pressures and policy impacts closely mirrors the issues we continue to address locally. The Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce has taken an active role in advocating for clear, practical, and transparent policies that directly affect our members’ ability to operate and grow.

Over the past year, the Chamber has been deeply engaged in advocacy related to proposed paid parking initiatives, working to ensure business concerns were heard and that policy decisions considered economic impacts, accessibility, and community context. We have also played a key role in providing timely flood-related communication to businesses and residents, helping our community navigate evolving conditions with accurate and consistent information.

In addition, the Chamber has supported members through advocacy efforts focused on clearer and more transparent municipal policies and procedures, including issues related to mobile business licensing, false fire alarm charges, and regulatory clarity. These efforts are aimed at reducing uncertainty, improving communication, and ensuring that businesses understand—and can reasonably comply with—local requirements.

Collectively, this work reflects the Harrison Agassiz Chamber’s commitment to practical, on-the-ground advocacy that supports business stability, strengthens trust between businesses and government, and ensures local realities are reflected in broader policy discussions at all levels.