“Sustainability through diversification”

The Tofino Business Association or TBA was founded in the fall of 1994 by a group of local business persons in response to the overwhelming and endless public process agenda in our community. The members of the Tofino Business Association were having difficulty attending, participating in, and developing positions on the issues that were affecting us as business people, tax payers, and employers. The ongoing public debate over resource management issues in Clayoquot Sound was creating a divisive and acrimonious environment. Important community issues, business and otherwise, were becoming lost in the narrow agendas of special interest groups, creating a climate of mismanagement. Consequently, the Tofino Business Association was formed to provide leadership for committed local business people to create and support a dynamic, diversified and sustainable local economy.

The TBA incorporates the following values into its operation: to ensure a fair and equitable opportunity to earn a living, reside in and participate in our community; to encourage and support dialogue with all levels of government; to remain open to communication with other groups on economic issues affecting our community; to have members support the group's democratic decisions; to promote informed and educated decisions; to promotes the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience within the membership; to recognize the values of others; to recognize the importance of our local environment; and to promotes maximum economic and social benefits to the local community, through wise stewardship of our natural resources.

TBA Policies can be described as inclusive, pro business, pragmatic, community focused, and democratically crafted through working groups, and approved at membership meetings. Municipal issues such as water, parking, administration, infrastructure, affordable housing, and visitor services, are important TBA concerns. The TBA works with other groups who share a mutual interest and similar mindset on issues that affect local businesses. It is our view that a healthy business community can support both a business association and a local chamber of commerce, as it provides more options for business owners to become involved in community issues. Business involvement in community issues is important for a number of reasons. The recent downloading of responsibilities by provincial governments to municipalities has created a situation where the role of business as a positive and active contributor to the community is increasingly important. Also, there has also been a trend towards the election of public officials who lack a basic understanding of business and economic concepts, or who find it impossible to acknowledge a business perspective as an important consideration when weighing all factors in decision making processes. Finally there remains an ongoing debate between urban and rural populations where trendy causes fed by misinformation campaigns continually threaten the economic viability of rural communities. For these reasons, it is important that there remains a strong a positive voice in the community to carry forth business perspectives on community issues.

The TBA is a corporate member of the BC Chamber of Commerce. The TBA has adopted BC Chamber policies and customized them for our local area. Our new membership package and our website both contain a list of current TBA policy positions, for those interested in learning more about the us. Our membership includes the largest and probably the smallest of Tofino businesses, and represents all sectors of our local economy, including Tourism, Aquaculture, Forestry and the Service Sector. Our membership represents approximately forty businesses which collectively employ approximately 500 full-time staff and contribute a significant amount to the local tax base.

We draw on the talents of our staff, the advice of consultants and can call on many areas of expertise from our membership. We are informed, in writing, of all public meetings. As business people, have little time to attend the plethora of meetings and functions, therefore our fee structure is set to allow for a paid administrative individual. On occasion, we have guests at our meetings from all levels of politics, government and special interest groups. We participate as a group and individually in most community projects. Over the past several years we have contributed funds to a variety of local non profit organizations in the form of graduation scholarships, community beautification projects, maritime history initiatives, and other community events. We also host an annual business networking night.

TBA members recognize the importance of our local environment and member business operating in Clayoquot Sound understand that the minimization of adverse affects on the environment is an important component of any business or economic activity, given the stringent environmental laws and regulatory regimes we operate in. The TBA charter recognizes the legitimacy of all business sectors that operate in the Tofino and Clayoquot sound area. It is our policy to leave issues relating to environmental impacts of specific economic activities to the appropriate government regulatory agencies.

Directors and administrative staff of the TBA understand that while they represent the membership, it is the membership who vote on and approve policy statements. The membership also understands that they support TBA policies, if they are approved by the majority of the members. The TBA is a registered non profit society and is governed by the B.C. Societies Act, which includes guidelines in relation to conflict of interest, and policies regarding access to internal information. Our monthly membership meetings are usually limited to members only; however, they are not necessarily closed to the public. All we ask is that anyone who wishes to attend a TBA membership meeting please extend us the courtesy of informing us in advance so they can be put on the agenda.

Business owners who are interested in becoming a TBA member must be in agreement with the general mandate of the TBA, and be willing to conduct themselves accordingly under our charter. Prospective businesses must be nominated by an existing TBA member, and voted in by at least two thirds of the members present at a monthly membership meeting.