The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce gave the Government of the Northwest Territories a shot in the arm last week, but there wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a vaccine dose in sight.

The chamberSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director, Deneen Everett, said in an email Monday that the Business Resilience Working Group formed at the outset of the pandemic made seven recommendations to the GNWT on April 9 of last year.

that have largely been adopted.

These include the GNWT allowing the sale of liquor alongside delivered food, moving to a SA国际影视传媒減ay ASAPSA国际影视传媒� system for invoices from vendors and the creation of a territorial top-up to the federal wage subsidy program.

Notable progress

The chamberSA国际影视传媒檚 383 members were apparently pleased to see some change, or SA国际影视传媒渘otable progressSA国际影视传媒� on the other two issues where they suggested changes. This includes the Business Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC) adjusting its Working Capital Loan program, which now has an interest rate of 1.75 per cent and an option to defer repayment for up to three months. And the WorkersSA国际影视传媒� Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC), which was asked to waive premiums for 2020, instead suspended late payment charges and extended the assessment deadline to Aug. 1.

SA国际影视传媒淭his was progress,SA国际影视传媒� the chamber wrote effusively in an SA国际影视传媒渆-blastSA国际影视传媒� email on Feb. 11. The message started by describing the yearslong lobbying effort to reduce the small business tax to two per cent. That campaign began with a letter sent to the GNWT in June 2016 and ended with the most recent budget presented by Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek Feb. 4.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檇 like to recognize and thank Minister Caroline Wawzonek for her innovative budgeting approach that allowed the GNWT to reduce revenues by about $1.7 million to implement this tax reduction.SA国际影视传媒�

Chamber loves red tape reduction

Everett said the chamberSA国际影视传媒檚 board is SA国际影视传媒渢hrilledSA国际影视传媒� about the creation of a Red Tape Working Group that will examine business regulations.

Its membership comprises Kelly Bluck, fiscal policy director with the Finance department; Jacqueline Demers, assistant deputy minister; Marty-Ann Bayha, regional superintendent for the Sahtu region with the Department of Industry Tourism and Investment; Sara Brown, CEO of the NWT Association of Communities; Jenni Bruce, co-chair of the Business Advisory Council (BAC) and president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce; and Kyle Wright, from the Norman Wells and District Chamber of Commerce.

The groupSA国际影视传媒檚 objective is to provide information to the GNWT so it can reduce regulatory burdens before March 31.

Everett is also looking forward to the chamberSA国际影视传媒檚 annual general meeting, which will be held online Feb. 26.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in the process of engaging with our membership to learn more about (other) specific areas (where the GNWT can better support businesses) so we can recommend potential solutions,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e plan to release more information in March.SA国际影视传媒�

Wawzonek happy to see message

SA国际影视传媒淯ltimately our organizations share the same objective SA国际影视传媒� to foster an environment that allows the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 diverse group of entrepreneurs and businesses to grow and thrive,SA国际影视传媒� Wawzonek said in an email Tuesday. SA国际影视传媒淎s we've worked to respond to the pandemic, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce(SA国际影视传媒榮) consistent and thoughtful advocacy has helped focus and shape our governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 supports, ensuring our efforts best fit the needs of our local businesses.SA国际影视传媒�

The minister said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of work left to be done.

SA国际影视传媒淲e look forward to continuing our dialogue with all local chambers of commerce, and the business community as a whole, as our residents are best served when we work collectively.SA国际影视传媒�