News
2020-08-24 - NB Election
Krista Ross Commentary – August 2020 – NB Election Aug 24, 2020 | Chamber Blog With Premier Higgs’ election call earlier this week, New Brunswickers will head to the polls in less than a month to elect the members of the province’s 60th legislature. It would be an understatement to say this election will be unlike any other in our lifetimes and while this election may be remembered as the “COVID Election”, it is also undeniably about the related economic recovery and we cannot lose sight of the fact that
2020-07-20 A Private Sector Led Recovery
Krista Ross Commentary: A Private-Sector Led Recovery Jul 20, 2020 | Chamber Blog Krista Ross Commentary – July 2020 – Working Hard and Smarter: Time for the Private Sector to Lead The phrase “work smarter, not harder” has been in popular use since the 1930s and I think the concept that it communicates is useful and applicable to many aspects of our lives – including business. We can all benefit from learning and improving processes, but the economic crisis that the pandemic has catalyzed means that
2020-06-22 - COVID-19 Response, Recovery, Resiliency
Commentary: COVID-19 Response, Recovery, Resiliency Jun 22, 2020 | Chamber Blog Over the past few months, there have been phrases that have entered the popular lexicon, become very common, and – based on my social media, are now reaching the point of over-saturation – “the new normal” and “unprecedented times” immediately come to mind, but there are others. There is one idea, however, that I want us to hang onto for as long as possible – resilience. Resiliency is a concept that
2020-06-22 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 22 June 2020 Jun 22, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, As a reminder, this will be our final COVID-19-specific update. Our annual general meeting is scheduled for June 25 at which point we are turning a new page on our communications. Next week, beginning July 2 we will launch a revamped, weekly Chamber Connections that will include all of the COVID-19 information you need along with information about our advocacy efforts, events, other important messages, member benefits as well as
2020-06-15 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 15 June 2020 Jun 15, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, We started sending COVID-19 email updates on 13 March 2020 and have sent out more than 50 since that time. Thank you for all of your positive feedback – we were so pleased to provide this resource for our members and the business community as a whole. I want to say a special thank you to Morgan Peters our Policy and Research Manager for his exceptional work in curating this document with me! As well, our Operations and
2020-06-11 - 2020 Student Positions Available with FCOC
2020 Student Positions Available with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce Jun 11, 2020 | Chamber BlogEvent Assistant The successful candidate will provide event and membership support to the chamber of commerce team and will liaise with the chamber’s membership in person and in writing. The chamber’s Event Assistant will work primarily under the supervision of the Event Manager and may also work with other staff members from time-to-time. We plan that the majority of position will occur in-office – but
2020-06-08 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 8 June 2020 Jun 8, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Last week, the chambers of commerce in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John wrote to Premier Higgs and other party leaders to advocate for a small business reopening support fund that would provide grant funding to small businesses to bridge the reopening process and assist with refitting their space to comply with Public Health requirements and recommendations. The letter can be found here. The Government of Nova Scotia launched
2020-06-01 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 1 June 2020 Jun 1, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, A big thank you to Bob and Jan Chisholm of McDonald’s Restaurants in Fredericton and Oromocto who announced last week that they are donating $33,000 in Downtown Fredericton and Business Fredericton North dollars to their front-line employers that have worked throughout the pandemic. Their generous donation is also meant to support Fredericton’s #SupportFredLocal campaign and stimulate the local economy. We are so proud to call
2020-05-26 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 26 May 2020 May 26, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Earlier today the chambers of commerce in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John wrote to Prime Minister Trudeau on behalf of our members to express concern about the proposed 10 days of legislated annual sick leave for all employees that he spoke about during his daily press conference yesterday. The letter can be found on our website here. Our corresponding joint news release can be
2020-05-22 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 22 May 2020 May 22, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Today Premier Higgs announced that the province is moving to Phase One of the “Yellow” section in the New Brunswick Recovery Plan. The government’s news release provides the following details: Effective today: Your two-household bubble can be extended to close friends and family. It is recommended that gatherings indoors be limited to 10 or fewer people. Continue to keep gatherings as small as possible, especially if you
2020-05-21 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 21 May 2020 May 21, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Dr Jennifer Russell – is there anything she can’t do? Public Health leader, amazing jazz singer and yesterday she revealed that she cut her own hair (which looks great) with the assistance of a Youtube video! I won’t be doing that, but helloooooo Yellow Phase and a haircut this coming week! —————————————————————————————————————————— Yesterday, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that application documents and updated criteria
2020-05-10 NB's Road to Recovery
Commentary: New Brunswick’s Road to Recovery – May 2020 May 19, 2020 | Chamber Blog With New Brunswick’s move to the “Orange” COVID-19 Recovery Plan phase late last week, our province has taken another important step in our response to the crisis. We’ve been able to achieve best-case-scenario projections and are now seeing more benefits to that success. As Dr Russell has said, dealing with COVID-19 is not a linear process and we will be dealing with it to varying degrees for a long time to come – but this
2020-05-19 COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 19 May 2020 May 19, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, I hope everyone had a nice May long weekend – it was nice to get out of the house and enjoy some of our beautiful spring weather. With New Brunswick now well into our recovery process, my commentary piece this month focused on some of the broad lessons we have learned so far during the COVID-19 crisis and looks forward to getting our economy increasingly back online in a safe
2020-05-14 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 14 May 2020 May 14, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, We are heading into what looks to be a beautiful long weekend – the traditional launching point of the summer season for many of us. While it’s going to be a little different this year, I would encourage everyone to get out to enjoy the weather, explore your community and of course, visit a local business or two! Many of our favourite businesses began to reopen over the past week and the time is now to show your support and
2020-04-12 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 12 May 2020 May 12, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, As many businesses and organizations begin to reopen (or move closer to reopening), today’s update is focused on resources to assist with this process. Most resources are general in nature to varying degrees – if you have specific questions about the reopening process as it applies to your operation, situations that have arisen during your reopening, government requirements, etc., you should contact ONB’s Business Navigators.
2020-05-08 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 8 May 2020 May 8, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Today Premier Higgs announced that NB is moving to the next phase of the province’s re-opening and recovery plan. Subject to the Public Health and WorkSafeNB COVID-19 general guidance, the following activities are allowed: Elective surgeries and other non-emergency health services Two-household bubble Gatherings with social distancing of 10 or fewer Golf courses, outdoor tennis courts, marinas Carpooling Outdoor
2020-05-05 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 5 May 2020 May 5, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, This week, Premier Higgs has signaled that more information will be coming soon about re-opening the economy given the province’s success with fighting COVID-19. The government has previously released the following document that provides guidance on expectations and requirements for operating your business (when permitted) in a COVID-19 world. For every business and organization in the province, the first step to
2020-04-30 - Employment Standards Act Updates: Leaves of Absence - COVID-19
Employment Standards Act Updates: Leaves of Absence – COVID-19 Apr 30, 2020 | Chamber Blog Thank you to the Cox & Palmer Employment and Labour Group in Fredericton for providing the following summary of updates to the Employment Standards Act regarding obligations to grant leaves of absence as a result of COVID-19. Updates to Employment Standards Act Emergency Leave Yesterday, the Government of New Brunswick released the new COVID-19 Emergency Leave Regulations (the “Regulations”) that relate to the
2020-04-30 - Cyber Attacks on the Rise During COVID-19
David Shipley: Cyber Attacks on the Rise During COVID-19 (And How to Protect Your Organization) Apr 30, 2020 | Chamber Blog We’ve seen a massive surge in cyber-attacks during the pandemic attacking any sector that’s open ranging from municipal governments, to healthcare, finance and even large consulting firms with cybersecurity advisory practices such as MNP. Phishing using COVID-19 as a lure has jumped 350% since mid-march. Background. Cybercrime is targeted both business and individuals.
2020-04-30 Daily Update
COVID-19 Update: 30 April 2020 Apr 30, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, As New Brunswick’s COVID-19 cases continue to fall and the government has released the first round of recovery plans and guides, we are all starting to think about getting our organizations and our community back on its feet. As a first step in this process locally, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the City of Fredericton (Tourism), Downtown Fredericton Inc, Business Fredericton North, and Ignite
2020-04-29 - COVID-19 Updates Achieve
Fredericton Chamber COVID-19 Updates Archive Apr 29, 2020 | Chamber Blog22 June 202015 June 20208 June 20201 June 202026 May 202022 May 202021 May 202019 May 202014 May 202012 May 20208 May 20205 May 202030 April 202028 April 202024 April 202023 April 202021 April 202016 April 202014 April 20209 April 20206 April 2020 3 April 2020 2 April 2020 1 April 2020 31 March 2020 30 March 2020 27 March 2020 26 March 2020 25 March 2020 24 March 2020 23 March 2020 20 March 2020 20 March 2020 – State of Emergency
2020-04-29 - Webinar Archive
Fredericton Chamber Webinar Archive Apr 29, 2020 | Chamber BlogMedia Relations 101 hosted by Porter O’BrienEssential Legal Insights for surviving COVID 19 hosted by Connors StillwellCyber Security for Remote Workers hosted by Beauceron SecurityA Conversation with the Honourable Mélanie JolyNavigating Unprecedented Change Presented by DeloitteOut of Crisis Presented by Simplicity DesignsMental Health Matters – Resilience for Entrepreneurs by Rachel Clarke and Matthew MacLeanGoogle My Business by Chris
2020-04-29 - Government of NB Daily COVID-19 News Release Archive
Government of NB Daily COVID-19 New Release Archive Apr 29, 2020 | Chamber Blog May 22 2020May 21 2020May 20 2020May 19 2020 May 18 2020 May 17 2020 May 16 2020 May 15 2020 May 14 2020 May 13 2020 May 12 2020May 11 2020 May 10 2020 May 9 2020May 8 2020 May 7 2020May 6 2020May 5 2020 May 4 2020May 3 2020May 2 2020May 1 2020April 30 2020April 29 2020April 28 2020April 27 2020April 26 2020April 25 2020April 24 2020April 23 2020April 22 2020April 21 2020April 20 2020April 19 2020April 18 2020April 17
2020-04-28 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 28 April 2020 Apr 28, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Although it was news that was expected by many, it was still sad to officially hear yesterday that the annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival and many other great events that our community loves have been cancelled. My heart goes out to all of the staff and volunteers that make Harvest and our other great events happen year-after-year. We’ll all have to come out with strong support next year! Last week the Fredericton
2020-04-25 - COVID-19 Resource Page
COVID-19 Resource Page Apr 26, 2020 | Chamber Blog If you haven’t yet checked out the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s Open, Operational and/or Offering help business directory, now would be a great time to do so. We have made it more user friendly and continue to ask all local businesses that are open, operational and/or offering help to fill out this brief form to help us populate the page. And please continue to share, share, share so our community knows the services that are available. More
2020-04-24 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 24 April 2020 Apr 24, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, I am sending out a supplemental update today in addition to our regular Tuesday and Thursday edition because of announcements at the federal and provincial level that we have been eager to learn more about and a major clarification regarding the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. —————————————————————————————————————————— Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency
2020 -04-23 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 23 April 2020 Apr 23, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Join us in thanking AV Group NB, which announced earlier this week that they are donating $150,000 to local foodbanks (including $50,000 to the Fredericton Foodbank) to assist with the challenges faced in these unprecedented times and the increased need for community support. We are proud to call you a member! Pictured: Sandra Olmstead, Executive Director of the Valley Food Bank and Mike O’Blenis, President and CEO of AV
2020-04-21 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 21 April 2020 Apr 21, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues in Nova Scotia today as the entire province deals with a tragedy the breadth of which we are only beginning to comprehend. The scope of the shootings and dealing with the aftermath – especially in the context of COVID-19 is beyond heartbreaking and I know all New Brunswickers are thinking about our Maritime neighbours at this
2020-04-16 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 16 April 2020 Apr 16, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, First a shout-out to chamber members LuminUltra, Taylor Printing, Irving Oil, and Cooke Aquaculture for joining the fight against COVID-19. Earlier this week Prime Minister Trudeau announced that LuminUltra will provide 500,000 COVID-19 tests per week to the Canadian federal government for use across Canada. Taylor Printing has converted their operations and are now producing face shields and have orders for 65,000 –
2020-04-14 - Early Days of COVID-19
Commentary – Early Days of COVID-19: Krista Ross Apr 14, 2020 | Chamber Blog Now about a month into feeling the effects of the COVID-19 crisis here in Canada and New Brunswick, I think we are all reeling from how quickly our way of life has changed and adjusting to the new normal is challenging when so much uncertainty hangs over daily life. This is a crisis unlike anything experienced in memory so there’s no familiar footing to fall back on to help navigate the situation. Even if there was, things are
2020-04-14 - Message from Mayor Mike O'Brien to the Business Community
Message from Mayor Mike O’Brien to the Fredericton Business Community Apr 14, 2020 | Chamber Blog As our community navigates the COVID-19 situation together, I want to acknowledge and thank the business community of Fredericton. Your businesses are the engine that keeps the city running. I know this is an extremely difficult time for our economy and many of our local businesses. I want to assure you that all of us at the City of Fredericton understand the enormous impact that this crisis is having
2020-04-14 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 14 April 2020 Apr 14, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Welcome back after a most unusual holiday weekend. We expect our next update to be released on Thursday unless critically important information is provided to us that needs to be shared more quickly. The chambers of commerce in Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton sent a joint letter advocating for a commercial rent subsidy program where tenants and landlords would receive a combination of a grant, a percentage of their rent
2020-04-09 - Message from the Hon. Mary Wilson Economic Development and Small Business Minister
Message from the Hon. Mary Wilson, Economic Development and Small Business Minister responsible for Opportunities NB Apr 9, 2020 | Chamber Blog Our top priority is the health and safety of New Brunswickers. Acting now to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will safeguard our economy and ensure critical service delivery is maintained. At the same time, I fully understand how this pandemic is impacting New Brunswick businesses and I want to assure you that our government will do everything we can to support
2020-04-09 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update – 9 April 2020 Apr 9, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Best wishes to those celebrating Easter this weekend. We will all be doing things differently this year – and our family gatherings will be virtual rather than in person. We encourage our members to continue to follow social distancing and other public health recommendations in an effort to flatten the COVID-19 curve as quickly as possible. Well done to all the businesses complying with the province’s state of emergency
2020-04-06 COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 6 April 2020 Apr 6, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has established the Canadian Business Resilience Network (CBRN) in partnership with the Government of Canada to help the business community prepare, persevere and, ultimately, prosper in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CBRN is a coordinated, business-led, inclusive campaign that will focus on providing businesses the tools they need to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on them, our
2020-04-03 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 3 April 2020 Apr 3, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, It’s Friday – the end of another long week for the business community in our area and around the world. We know many of you are waiting on details on the various government support measures and hoping for changes to eligibility requirements and the chamber remains focused on communicating those concerns to government, gathering information and advocating for required changes. This weekend, you may pause and reflect on
2020-04-02 - Updates to NB State of Emergency Declaration
2 April 2020 Updates to NB State of Emergency Declaration Apr 2, 2020 | Chamber Blog Thank you to the Cox & Palmer Employment and Labour Group in Fredericton for providing the following summary of updates to the NB SOE. REVISED: Paragraph 5 – NO PATRONS: Campgrounds are prohibited from admitting patrons.Owners/managers of seasonal docking for recreational vessels must either prohibit docking or take reasonable steps to ensure persons (who do not reside together) do not come within 2 metres of each
2020-04-2 - COVID-19 Update
Good afternoon, Earlier today, I joined with my colleagues John Wishart, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton and David Duplisea, CEO of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to NB Small Business Minister Mary Wilson. We thanked Minister Wilson and her colleagues for the work done thus far as well as compiled and summarized the various ways that we have suggested that the provincial government can provide further assistance to business during the COVID-19 crisis. These
2020-03-31 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 31 March 2020 Mar 31, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Small Business Minister Mary Ng were scheduled today to provide more details about the announced wage subsidy, but that has been rescheduled to tomorrow, 1 April 2020. We expect a technical briefing to follow and are focused on clarifying details and the application process. We will continue to share information about all of the announced support programs as it becomes available,
2020-03-30- COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 30 March 2020 Mar 30, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, Today Prime Minister Trudeau provided some details on the 75% wage subsidy he announced last week. Businesses will be eligible for the subsidy if they have seen a 30% drop in revenues – the number of employees or size of business is not relevant. The 75% subsidy applies to the first $58,700 of an employee’s salary – back dated to 15 March 2020. Not-for-profits and charities are also eligible. Penalties will be put in
2020-03-27 - COVID Updates
Notice: COVID-19 Email Updates Mar 27, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good morning, Due to some technical limitations, please note that we will no longer be sharing our COVID-19 updates via our chamber-master database (our member-based email system). Every day since March 13th, we have been simultaneously sending our daily updates through Chamber-master as well as our public email list (and also posting on our social media channels). As of today’s end of day email update, we only be using our public email
2020-03-27 - Canada Emergency Response Benefit
Canada Emergency Response Benefit Mar 27, 2020 | Chamber Blog Thank you to the Cox & Palmer Employment and Labour Group in Fredericton for providing the following information regarding the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): Canada Emergency Response Benefit Bill C-13, COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, received Royal Assent yesterday, allowing the federal government to implement income support programs by enacting legislation such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act. This support
2020-03-27 - Resources from Grant Thornton
COVID-19 Resources from Grant Thornton Mar 27, 2020 | Chamber Blog Grant Thornton has created an information hub on GrantThornton.ca to provide resources and practical advice on managing your business through COVID-19. Some of the valuable resources include: Where do I start? What to consider when facing a temporary business closure5 tips for extending cash flow amid times of uncertaintyFederal government responds to COVID-19: additional resources for businessesManaging the impact of COVID-19 on your
2020-03-26 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 26 March 2020 Mar 26, 2020 | Chamber Blog March 26, 2020 Good afternoon members, A week ago today, Premier Higgs declared a State of Emergency in New Brunswick and it’s been a big challenge for all of us adjusting to new ways to work and live. Since then, the situation has continued to evolve rapidly which makes things even more difficult for small business owners and their teams dealing with so much right now. Despite the crisis and fallout, it is important to try
2020-02-25 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 25 March 2020 Mar 25, 2020 | Chamber Blog March 25, 2020 Good afternoon members, We have been sending our daily updates via our member database ‘Chamber Master’ as well as via our Eblast system to our larger list of contacts – in fact, many are receiving both. If you know someone who had been receiving it through our database and may have missed a couple – please encourage them to sign up for our e-blast list here as we are experiencing a few technical difficulties with
2020-03-24 - Government Offices Contact Information
Government Offices Contact Information Mar 24, 2020 | Chamber BlogCOVID-19 RESOURCE CONTACTS ADDITIONAL INFOTele-Care 8-1-1Note: Before calling 811 use this self-assessment tool.Business Navigator Line 1-833-799-7966EmailWebsite An interpretative guideline to provide clarification of the Declaration of a State of Emergency and Mandatory Order and how it is applied to various businesses and functions is available online.Employment Standard Branch 1-888-452-2687EmailThe Employment Standards
2020-03-24 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 24 March 2020 Mar 24, 2020 | Chamber Blog March 24, 2020 Good afternoon members, The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is launching and populating a new resource on our website – a directory of businesses in the Fredericton are that are Open, Operational and/or Offering help to other businesses through the crisis. We are asking all local businesses that are open, operational and/or offering help to fill out this brief form to help us populate this page. And then let’s all
2020-03-23 - City of Fredericton: Community Planning, Heritage and Building Inspections Contact
City of Fredericton: Community Planning, Heritage and Building Inspections Contact Information During COVID-19 Crisis Mar 23, 2020 | Chamber Blog The public is advised that the City of Fredericton will continue to provide community planning, heritage, and building inspection services to the maximum extent possible during the COVID-19 business interruption. Please note that City Hall is closed and services will generally be offered electronically and by telephone. Regarding Community Planning : To
2020-03-23 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 23 March 2020 Mar 23, 2020 | Chamber Blog March 23, 2020 Good afternoon, As we enter our second week of mass disruption to our businesses and lives as a result of COVID-19, I want to remind you to take care of your mental health and access available resources if you are struggling. These are challenging times and it’s important to maintain your mental resiliency. If your organization offers a health plan, it may have an EAP component to provide help or the Chimo Crisis line is
2020-03-20 -- Questions about Opening/Closing During the State of Emergency
Questions About Opening/Closing During the State of Emergency Mar 20, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good morning, As I’m sure you aware, yesterday Premier Higgs declared a state of emergency in New Brunswick, which requires some types of businesses to close and others to take further action to protect the health of employees and the public. Details on that announcement are here. The government has reached out to us to ask for a list of businesses or industries that are unsure if they are required to close or
2020-03-20 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 20 March 2020 Mar 20, 2020 | Chamber Blog March 20, 2020 Good afternoon, As one of the most incredibly stressful and volatile weeks of our lives nears an end, I want to express my heartfelt and ongoing concern for you, your staff, and your organizations. Team Chamber is committee during this time to providing you with the most recent information available, advocating on your behalf to government for support and addressing your questions and concerns to the best of our
2020-03-19 - Seeking Clarification Re: Expectations for Business Closures
Message to Members – Seeking Clarification Re: Expectations for Business Closures Mar 19, 2020 | Chamber Blog Previous Fredericton Chamber Updates: 18 March 2020 17 March 2020 16 March 2020 13 March 2020 MESSAGE TO MEMBERS – March 19, 2020, 9:00 am Since yesterday’s (18 March 2020) news conference with Premier Higgs and Chief Medical Officer Jennifer Russell, a number of members have expressed confusion regarding the provincial government’s expectations in relation to business closures as part of
2020-03-19 - Letter to Minister Mary Wilson Requesting Emergency Business Support
Letter to Minister Mary Wilson Requesting Emergency Business Support Measures Mar 19, 2020 | Chamber Blog, Uncategorized COALITION OF NEW BRUNSWICK EMPLOYERS March 19, 2020 Minister Mary Wilson, Minister of Economic Development & Small Business Re: New Brunswick Tax and Fee Relief Minister Wilson: This e-mail is further to our telephone conversation held this morning. Thank you for the candid conversation regarding the further measures required specific to tax and fee
2020-03-19 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 19 March 2020 (pm) Mar 19, 2020 | Chamber Blog March 19, 2020 – 4:00 pm Good afternoon members, At today’s news conference, Premier Blaine Higgs declared a State of Emergency in New Brunswick. All retail and public-facing businesses have been immediately and mandatorily ordered to close. Exceptions have been made for: Grocery stores Pharmacies Liquor Stores / Cannabis NB locations Financial and Lending Institutions Automobile Repair Shops Post Offices Hardware and Auto
2020-03-18 - Supporting Business During the COVID-19 Crisis
Commentary: Supporting Business During the COVID-19 Crisis Mar 18, 2020 | Chamber Blog It seems like a lifetime ago when New Brunswick’s Finance Minister Ernie Steeves delivered his government’s second budget last week. Since then, the world’s attention has fully (and appropriately) turned toward the COVID-19 crisis, flattening the curve as well as changing our behaviour and routines for the good of society. Indeed, many of the financial assumptions and growth projections in the document are likely to be
2020-03-18 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 18 March 2020 Mar 18, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon members, In an effort to keep you up to date on the latest developments regarding the COVID-19 crisis, I will be providing regular (at least daily) updates on our website and via direct email. Earlier today, Prime Minister Trudeau made two significant announcements: First, that the Canada-USA border would be closed to ‘non-essential’ travel, but that trade would not be impacted. I think it’s safe to say that trade will
2020-03-17 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: 17 March 2020 Mar 17, 2020 | Chamber Blog The COVID-19 crisis has us all on edge and no one is exactly sure how this crisis will grow, evolve and eventually settle. It is incumbent on all of us to follow the advice of medical experts and elected officials in order to minimize the impact of COVID-19. However, the board and staff of the Fredericton chamber know that this will mean hardship for many, including our members. Since last week, we have been in contact with representatives from
2020-03-13 - Fredericton Chamber Postpones Events Until End of April due to COVID-19 Precaution
3 March 2020 For Immediate Release FREDERICTON, NB – Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19 and the current advice of NB’s Chief Medical Officer and Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce has announced that it is postponing upcoming events through the end of April. These events will be rescheduled at a later date. Specifically, the events affected are: March 19 – Parliamentary Breakfast March 24 – Business Over Breakfast April 2 – Business After Hours April 21 –
2020 - 2020 State of the Province Address
Commentary: 2020 State of the Province Address Feb 21, 2020 | Chamber Blog Late last month, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce hosted New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs for our 46th annual State of the Province Address. We were pleased that more than half of the premier’s speech was focused on economic development – it sends the right message to the business community, potential investors and to the citizens of the province that New Brunswick is actively working to expand the economy and create
2020-02-18 - Remarks State of the Province
Remarks – Krista Ross, CEO – 2020 State of the Province Address Feb 18, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good evening ladies and Gentlemen, Mesdames and Messieurs, On behalf of our one thousand member businesses and organizations I’d like to welcome you to the 2020 State of the Province Address. A huge thank you to all of our sponsors without whom this event would not be possible, and of course, thank you to you, our guests… and to our guest of honour… the Hon. Blaine Higgs – Premier of the Province of NB. I’d
2020-01-27 - NB's Cyber Security Opportunity
New Brunswick’s Cyber Security Opportunity Jan 17, 2020 | Chamber Blog With the turn of the calendar to a new decade, I am feeling energized about the future, the potential of Fredericton’s and New Brunswick’s economy and focusing on the many positives around us. While we are facing serious long-term challenges in this province, there are also opportunities to seize to deal with these issues. One of the reasons it is important for governments to keep costs under control is to have the flexibility and
2019-12-20 - Turning the Page on 2019
Commentary – Turning the Page on 2019 Dec 20, 2019 | Chamber Blog Earlier this week, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce met with Finance Minister Ernie Steeves to discuss our pre-budget submission to his department. Preparing our document gave us a chance to reflect on the past year, the current state of New Brunswick’s business environment and look ahead to 2020. Premier Higgs has laid out six priority areas for the province, as a chamber of commerce we focused this commentary, and our brief in general
2019-12-19 - A Family Business Succession Discussion with Grant Thornton
A Family Business Succession Discussion with Grant Thornton’s Krista Han Dec 19, 2019 | Chamber Blog By Krista Han – Partner, Grant Thornton LLP Family-owned businesses are a cornerstone of Canada’s economy, yet trusted advice is critical to help them move from one generation to the next. Open communication and governance models can set entrepreneurial families up for future success. “Transition is not something that you do once and it’s done,” says Krista Han, a partner at Grant Thornton LLP and
2019-11-22 - 2019-2020 NB Throne Speech
Commentary – 2019-2020 NB Throne Speech Nov 22, 2019 | Chamber Blog Newly installed New Brunswick Lieutenant-Governor Brenda Murphy delivered the 2019-2020 Higgs Government throne speech earlier this week. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce listened carefully to the speech and were pleased to hear strong alignment with our own priority areas for economic growth reflected in the speech. The speech sent a message to both the domestic and international business community that NB is taking business concerns
2019-11-19 - Chamber Survey Results & Priorities
Commentary – November 2019 – Chamber Survey Results & Priorities Nov 19, 2019 | Chamber Blog Each year the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce surveys our members to get feedback on our activities, learn how we can better serve our members, and to understand how we can best advocate to governments on their behalf. The results of the survey shape our activities for the coming year, help focus our advocacy efforts and develop a set of annual policy priorities. It’s also a good look into the concerns, anxieties
2019-10-01 - Federal Election
Commentary – Federal Election – October 2019 Oct 21, 2019 | Chamber Blog The federal election is less than a week away and decision time is looming – are you ready? Have you been paying attention? Are you informed? What’s important to you? The Fredericton riding has seen no less than a dozen debates / speaking engagements, candidates are out knocking on doors, social media has increased accessibility measurably and party platforms are (mostly) now available online. Engaging in the political
2019-09-16 - Canadian Chamber Conference
Commentary – Canadian Chamber Conference – September 2019 Sep 16, 2019 | Chamber Blog Later this month, chambers of commerce from across Canada will be travelling to Saint John to make and reinforce connections, get professional development training, learn best practices and enjoy what the city has to offer. It is also a chance to influence national policy-making – with the national chamber and the federal government. The centrepiece of the conference is the policy debates, where resolutions submitted by
2019 - Standing Committee on Law Amendments, Legislative Assembly of NB
Standing Committee on Law Amendments, Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Sep 5, 2019 | Chamber BlogRe: Motion 31 Introduction Good morning Madame Chair and Committee Members, Thank you from hearing from our chamber today. I am Krista Ross, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. We have nearly 1,000 members who employ approximately 27,000 individuals. The majority of our member are comprised of small businesses – about 90% of our members have fewer than 20 employees and whether they
2019-08-22 - Transportation Supplement
Daily Gleaner – Commentary – Transportation Supplement – 2019 Aug 22, 2019 | Chamber Blog Modern, necessary and effective transportation links and related infrastructure is critical to a healthy economy, whereas infrastructure created to fulfill some political end or short-term job creation scheme sets economies back, sometimes for decades. It is here that governments have a critical role in creating the conditions for business to grow and the economy to fire on all cylinders. Government can’t create
2019-08-15 - WorkSafe NB
August Commentary – WorkSafeNB Aug 15, 2019 | Chamber Blog Last month, WorkSafeNB held their annual general meeting in Fredericton and provided an update on the progress being made on lowering the highest rate in the country. While stakeholders are not expecting a large drop in premiums for 2020, the information provided by President and CEO Doug Jones was mostly a good news story. Two key reports are driving many of the activities undertaken by WorkSafe over the past year or so. The Auditor
2019-06-23 - ONB Brings Value to the Province
July 2019 – Commentary – ONB Brings Value to the Province Jul 23, 2019 | Chamber Blog Written by Krista Ross Last month, a Brunswick News editorial proclaimed that the time was right for the Higgs Government to disband Opportunities New Brunswick. I disagree. The editorial opens by stating that “centralized economic development is bad public policy” as a blanket statement. I suppose if you believe ONB is making all their decisions from inside their office in Fredericton that might be true – in
2019-06-01 - A New Immigration Strategy for Fredericton
Commentary – A New Immigration Strategy for Fredericton Jun 1, 2019 | Chamber Blog Population growth. Workforce expansion. Labour market development. However you frame it, Fredericton (and New Brunswick) needs more people if we are going to be a sustainable province for future generations. The province is aging and our growth has been mostly flat for a decade – and it comes down to simple economics. For generations, New Brunswickers have been leaving for greener pastures in healthier economies – to
2019-05-01 - Mentally Healthy Workplaces
Commentary – Mentally Healthy Workplaces May 1, 2019 | Chamber Blog The business community sees it every day. Whether we work for and with small, medium or big businesses, across all sectors and across Canada: overwork, deadline anxiety, life stressors that manifest at work, and other stresses negatively influence mental health. We can and must do better for our colleagues and employees. This week is Mental Health Week in Canada – and we think that makes it a great time to engage in a mental wellness
2019-04-01 - We Need a Made In NB Carbon Solution
Commentary – We Need a Made in NB Carbon Solution Apr 1, 2019 | Chamber Blog The federal government’s rejection of a Made in New Brunswick carbon program means that on April 1, 2019, the cost of living and working in New Brunswick went up. As the only province in Atlantic Canada in the position of having the federal backstop, this makes local businesses less competitive and squeezes already-tight margins; the only option will be to pass costs through to consumers. A rebate will help citizens, but
2019-04-01 - We Need a Made in NB Carbon Solution
Commentary – We Need a Made in NB Carbon Solution Apr 1, 2019 | Chamber Blog The federal government’s rejection of a Made in New Brunswick carbon program means that on April 1, 2019, the cost of living and working in New Brunswick went up. As the only province in Atlantic Canada in the position of having the federal backstop, this makes local businesses less competitive and squeezes already-tight margins; the only option will be to pass costs through to consumers. A rebate will help citizens, but
2020-04-01 - COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Daily Update: 1 April 2020 Apr 1, 2020 | Chamber Blog Good afternoon, As days pass and the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve, I know that your need for information and answers grows. For many of us, this is the greatest challenge faced in our careers and I understand how challenging it is not being able to get clear answers and access to the assistance that has been announced. Our team is working to advocate for assistance, get clarity on announcements and share all the information on a
2019-03-01 - NB Budget - Fiances, the Economy and Services
Commentary – NB Budget – Finances, the Economy and Services Mar 1, 2019 | Chamber Blog New Brunswick’s provincial finances and economy are in a precarious position, which means that government decision-makers will have to make thoughtful, deliberate and frequently difficult decisions in the coming years in order to continue to deliver the services that New Brunswickers expect and deserve. The capital budget delivered at the end of 2018 makes it clear that this government is willing to make difficult
2019-09-23 - Tax Reform
February 2019 – Commentary – Tax Reform Feb 23, 2019 | Chamber Blog In December, MLA Gerry Lowe introduced Bill 9 into the New Brunswick legislature, which, if implemented, would include the value on machinery and equipment on commercial properties in property tax assessments – which would cause property tax bills to skyrocket. Real estate and tax experts Turner Drake calculated that "Manufacturers can expect to see a 5 to 10 fold increase [in their property tax bill] while other businesses may see
2019-01-25 - State of the Province Address
January 25 – Krista Ross – State of the Province Address Jan 25, 2019 | Chamber Blog Thank you, Marshall and good evening ladies and gentlemen, mesdames et messieurs. Allow me to also welcome you to the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s 44th annual State of the Province Address. I hope you enjoyed our reception and are looking forward to a wonderful, locally-source meal. And of the course, a little later on, the reason we’re all here this evening – to hear from our Premier, the Honourable Brian
2019-01-25 - Kier Clark - State of the Province
January 25 – Keir Clark – State of the Province Address Jan 25, 2019 | Chamber Blog Welcome everyone to the 2018 State of the Province Address. I am delighted to have nearly 1,000 guests here this evening. It shows there are an awful lot of New Brunswickers that are engaged in politics or business or public policy and maybe all three. We need as many of us as possible to take an interest in government and the economy. Only then will we be truly rowing in the same direction. Take the public debt
2019-01-23 - Commentary Downtown Fredericton is Thriving
January 2019 – Commentary – Downtown Fredericton is Thriving Jan 23, 2019 | Chamber Blog There has been quite a lot of interest recently – both in the media and in the community – about the changing face of Fredericton’s downtown. Downtowns are dynamic entities, the look and nature of which are always evolving. It is not uncommon to have turnover – just in 2018 alone, nearly 20 new businesses opened downtown, not to mention expansions and renovation projects on nearly every block – and new owners bringing
2018-12-23 - New Life for WorkSafe NB
December 2018 – New Life for WorkSafeNB Dec 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog Quickly-rising WorkSafeNB premiums have been a top concern for businesses, non-profit organizations and municipalities since it was announced in late 2015 that rates would be jumping by 33% for 2016. This jump was alarming, to be sure, but it was still unclear what exactly was driving such an increase since injuries had been (and continue to) trend downward for several years. Little did we know then what was in store and rates
2018-12-23 - Business Community Calls for Implementation of WorkSafe NB Task Force
Business Community Calls for Implementation of WorkSafeNB Task Force Recommendations Dec 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog New Brunswick residents are accustomed to paying a little more for goods and services each year; it’s called inflationand it’s a natural by-product of our economy. But how would you feel if the cost of a service you were obliged to pay nearly tripled within three years? How would youreact if the cost ofyour car insurance tripled over three years? What hard choices would you have to make if
2018-11-23 - Let's Get To Work
November 2018 – Let’s Get to Work Nov 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog The six weeks since the provincial election in New Brunswick have been marked by uncertainty,confusion, political maneuvering and division. Now that we have clarity regarding who will be leading the province, we all have to leave the past in the past and focus on the present and especially the future – this means MLAs, voters, business – everyone. We have serious problems in New Brunswick and none of those have improved while we’ve been
2018-10-23 - The Participants are Different, but the problems are the same
October 2018 – The Participants are Different, but the Problems are the Same Oct 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog The votes have been counted and 49 MLAs have been elected. We may lack some certainty about whatcombination of people and parties will be running the province for the next months and years, but whatremains crystal clear are the challenges and opportunities facing our economy. This will requireleadership and action from our elected officials, but also from the private sector and all citizens. The
2018-09-23 - NB Must Choose Growth
September 2018 – NB Must Choose Growth Sep 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog We are now into the second half of the New Brunswick election campaign. Party platforms are taking shape, promises are being made and voters are thinking about the future of the province. In some ways, it is beginning to become confusing – keeping track of what party made which promise can be a full-time job. The sheer number of issues being discussed can be overwhelming – health, education, power rates, immigration, nutritional policies,
2018-08-23 - Sustainability of WorkSafe NB
August 2018 – Sustainability of WorkSafeNB Aug 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog Since WorkSafeNB announced on July 17, 2018 that workers’ compensation rates were expected to increase again in 2019 to such an extent that they will have effectively tripled since 2015, the old ‘employees vs employers’ narrative seems to have arisen once again. It seems to me that employer and employee group should mostly be in agreement when it comes to the current workers’ compensation situation. We all have a stake in the
2018-06-23 - Regulations Stifling Growth In Canada
June 2018 – Regulations Stifling Growth in Canada Jun 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog Canadian companies are dying a death by 130,000 cuts—or 134,754 to be more specific. That is the total number of federal requirements as reported by the federal Treasury Board that impose an administrative burden on businesses. These requirements are part of Canada’s complicated network of overlapping regulations from all levels of government that have created a costly and uncertain environment in which to invest and operate a
2018-07-23 - 2018 Election
July 2018 – 2018 Election Jul 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog Great things are happening in New Brunswick, but there are foundational, underlying financial issues that have the potential to negate good work being done by government, the private sector and non-profit groups such as ours. The province’s debt load, which has been accumulated over many years and several changes in government, pressures the Province to keep taxes high while providing fewer services – which could ultimately discourage business
2018-05-23 - 2018 Provincial Election
May 2018 – 2018 Provincial Election May 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog With a provincial election quickly approaching in September, I have a request of all New Brunswickers: get informed and vote. Parties and candidates will be out in full force to tell their stories – take advantage of every opportunity. I encourage all New Brunswickers to keep in mind that whichever party end up being elected works for us – all of us. They serve New Brunswick as long as enough of us think they are doing a good enough job and
2018-04-23 - Immigration is Key to Our Economic Future
April 2018 – Immigration is Key to Our Economic Future Apr 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog We have been hearing plenty of talk about immigration lately as well as the importance of attracting and retaining even more newcomers in the future. Our organization fully supports the effort underway to grow our population through immigration, but I do understand why this push for immigrants may be confusing for some people – after all, New Brunswickers have been heading west to look for work for decades, parts of the
2018-03-23 - We Choose Growth
March 2018 – We Choose Growth Mar 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog As more candidates put their names forward to seek riding nominations and ultimately run in the 2018As more candidates put their names forward to seek riding nominations and ultimately run in the 2018provincial election, the business community looks forward to engaging with all of the candidates, partyleaders and other stakeholders. To this end, an alliance of business groups has come together inadvance of the election to put forward five key
2018-02-23 - It's our money, let's start acting like it is
February 2018 – It’s Our Money, Let’s Start Acting Like It Feb 23, 2018 | Chamber Blog We all want to see a prosperous New Brunswick now and in the future. We want our children to have opportunities to live and work in their home province. We want to deliver quality services to seniors and students and everyone in between. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s vision is Stronger Community Through Business Prosperity and I think this vision is equally applicable across the province as it is to
2018-01-24 - Turning the Page on 2017
Turning the Page on 2017 Jan 24, 2018 | Chamber Blog As we begin another year, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is optimistic that 2018 will be good for business in New Brunswick, but there is work to do to turn that optimism into reality. We hope to build on some of the good policy decisions made by the provincial government in 2017 such as introducing Pooled Registered Pension Plans, striking the WorkSafeNB task force and introducing health coverage for international students. Federally, we were
