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POLICY STATEMENT |
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| Aquaculture Aquaculture for both traditional and new species is growing and flourishing throughout the world as a viable economic industry. Foreign funded environment organizations and preservationist groups are using suspect scientific analyses to pressure governments to delay the growth of an industry that is becoming a major contributor of food to a growing world population. The TBA recommends that the provincial and federal governments should fund legitimate and responsible research into the impact of aquaculture on the environment and wild fish stocks. Salmon farm operators depend on access to growing sites to initiate, expand or diversify production. It is a fundamental requirement for sustainable growth. Impediments to such access can vary from industry-controlled factors, provincial regulations and federal governance mechanisms (e.g. “ Navigable Waters Protection Act ”, “ Federal Fisheries Act ” and environmental assessments as part of the “ Canadian Environmental Assessment Act ” [CEAA] requirements).The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is the federal authority responsible for conducting CEAA environmental assessments on salmon farm site applications. DFO has made little progress in completing the assessments on provincially endorsed relocations and pilot projects. This lack of progress to address the BC situation contrasts sharply with what has occurred in the Atlantic Provinces , in particular New Brunswick and Newfoundland . Delayed site relocation is affecting fish health and environmental management strategies at an increasing number of existing farms, to the point where industry can not maintain current production levels. Unless corrective measures are taken to address the application backlog within DFO, the BC industry will experience further erosion of its share of the US market. Even more worrisome is the growing potential for serious economic losses leading to industry collapse. The TBA recommends that DFO Pacific Region fairly interpret and apply CEAA as it pertains to proposed salmon farm projects and that government work quickly to create an early and fair resolution to the existing and long outstanding site application backlog for both new and existing sites. Regional Considerations The TBA fully supports Creative Salmon and Mainstream Canada, the two fish farm companies operating in Clayoquot Sound. The TBA views salmon aquaculture as an important component to a sustainable and diversified economy in this area and one whose environmental impacts, real or imagined, can be managed. The year round employment generated by these operations can not be understated, especially within First Nation Communities. Forestry In an effort to reach an accord with the US over softwood lumber, the provincial government has embarked on a policy and legislative change to revitalize the BC forest industry. As part of this revitalization, government is creating opportunities for small business, First Nations and communities to obtain forest tenure. In addition, it is their intention to provide more of a competitive bid system in order that stumpage reflects a more “market-based” pricing system. The TBA recommends that the Province of BC permit log exports in regions that have an economically depressed forest industry and that also need an impetus for entrepreneurialism in the area's forest industry. Marketing wood successfully abroad begins at home. By marketing wood use domestically, we develop showcases of wood use at home, which then become strategic assets to help market BC's wood products abroad.
Regional considerations: The TBA supports the community forest application recently put forward by the District of Ucluelet. The TBA also supports the establishment of a forestry center at the Junction and continued salmon enhancement efforts on the Kennedy Flats area as proposed by the Central West Coast Forest Society. |
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| Tourism Tourism has grown at an incredible rate in the last decade and the level of enthusiasm among professionals may surpass those of any other industry in the world. Even so, there continues to be a constant struggle within the private sector to prove its worth as a viable industry, particularly in comparison to the resource industries which are the traditional base of BC's economy. The importance to tourism to the economy of BC will grow significantly in the coming years as the world's attention is drawn to the province in the run up to, during and after the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To ensure that the province is well placed to leverage the full benefits presented by the 2010 games a strategic tourism plan needs to be developed in conjunction with all the relevant stakeholders as quickly as possible to ensure that the tourism industry has the funding and plans in place to realize the full opportunities throughout the province which are offered by the 2010 games. Innovative marketing programs and tools must be utilized. Both domestic and world competition must be recognized and responded to on a priority basis by both industry and government, and the country's and province's positions must be maintained in the global market. Regional Considerations: At the outset, the TBA has supported the Regional Infocenter located at the junction between Tofino and Ucluelet. This center, operated by the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is an important component of visitor services in this area and we encourage all businesses in this area to support it. The TBA is also holds a membership seat in the Pacific Rim Tourism Association (PRTA) and views the PRTA as an important Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for this region. The TBA recognizes the importance of regional marketing initiatives and cooperation and coordination between our communities. The TBA also supports the establishment of a local “Tourism Tofino” type organization and has worked with the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and the District of Tofino over the past several years on the set up of such an organization. The goals of such and organization would be to: 1. strengthen the concept of visitor services within our municipal government and 2: to reduce the politics associated with tourism by setting up an organization that specifically geared towards the management of visitor services and marketing. Education BC is at a skills crossroads. The quality and creativity of the workforce has become the single most competitive factor in the industrialized nations. The degree to which skill shortages are averted by stakeholders will be a large determinant of BC's prosperity and social health. The BC business community in particular, can choose to take proactive action on this issue, or suffer the consequences. Business, government and community service groups should make it a top priority and work together to develop partnerships and strategies to recruit and develop human resources from non-traditional sources of workers. The provincial government should re-negotiate with the federal government a new labour market development agreement that reflects a stronger employer role in its planning and implementation. The provincial government and post secondary institutions should significantly increase the use of flexible delivery methods throughout the province. There is a significant need in BC business for a well-educated workforce, to keep pace with the world economy. The current system of student loans is inadequate to meet the needs of the population.
Regional Considerations Locally, the TBA is supportive of cooperative education programs and plans to work with the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce on enhancing work study programs at the high school level, to increase student awareness and participation in the business community. Aboriginal Treaty Negotiations There is no doubt that BC and Canada must maintain a strong commitment to the treaty negotiation process in BC. From a business perspective the continuation of lost investment due to the uncertainty associated with outstanding land claims is not acceptable. The need for fair settlements is just as urgent for First Nations. Both aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities need sound economic growth to maintain prosperous and healthy societies. The successful conclusion of treaties will make a critical contribution to that objective for all parties. Having said that, there remain a number of serious issues related to the outcome of treaty negotiations. In particular, TBA members consider certainty, third party compensation and governance to be critical items that must not be compromised in the quest to achieve final treaty agreements.
Regional Considerations While the TBA looks forward to the resolution of treaty negotiations, the TBA also understands that this may take some time. Pending this, we encourage cooperation and communication on economic and social issues between our communities and will endeavor to work with First Nations and individual business owners to improve the economic linkages between our communities. |
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| Transportation As a maritime province, BC relies to a great extent upon various forms of marine transportation for the movement of goods and people both domestically and internationally. Many coastal communities rely very heavily on this form of transportation either because of the lack of alternatives or because this form is the most economical and/or effective. Therefore, all aspects of this sector, including support facilities, require co-operative long-range policies from both the provincial and federal governments. Vancouver Island and Tofino in particular relies, for the large part, on BC Ferries for the movement of off-Island goods, services and people and believes that the BC Ferry Corporation and its' services should be legislated an essential service. Furthermore, the TBA recommends a more effective utilization of natural waterways and on-going analysis of BC Ferries services in terms of service, schedules, rates and costs. Municipal Water Supply The TBA supports viable, economical, long-term solution(s) to Tofino's current water supply deficiencies. If this deficiency is not addressed then community growth and development will have to be curtailed, in order that there be a sufficient water supply during peak summer months and in order to secure an adequate supply for fire protection.It is the TBA's opinion that the fire-protection issue is a supply/storage problem. The TBA supports the plan to increase the storage capacity at Six Mile Pit. In addition to fire-protection usage the extra storage and pressure associated with a balanced system is required by the hotels and resorts in that area. The TBA believes that the District of Tofino should explore the options that public/private may afford, as relating to water issues. The TBA believes that the District of Tofino should seek both short and medium-term solutions until such time as a viable, long-term plan is initiated. In this regard, the feasibility of a water treatment plant at Genard Creek should be investigated and the current water usage license amount on Meares Island should be increased. In terms of a long-term plan the TBA considers that a Kennedy Lake source of supply is the most viable and reliable option. The TBA will continue to lobby the District of Tofino to seek viable medium and long term solutions to our supply and storage problems. Short Term Rentals The TBA recognizes that “Vacation” or “Short Term Rentals” (STR) are a key component to accommodations offered in Tofino and compliment other services provided to the traveling public such as resorts, motels and legal bed and breakfast operations. All room rental operations that offer nightly or weekly accommodation to the visiting public on residentially-zoned land, that are not legal bed and breakfast operations should be identified as a direct industry group. This group should be legitimized, regulated and taxed accordingly, so that all business operations in Tofino offering room nights to the visiting public are on an even playing field, and contribute to community coffers on an equitable basis. The STR sector in Tofino represents an important and vibrant addition to the economy of Tofino. The TBA strongly opposes any proposed bylaw that curtails or causes STR's to cease to operate in a practical, efficient and economic manner. |
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The Tofino Business Association is a member of the BC
Chamber of Commerce