201404

April 2014 Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce

Prince Albert & District Chamber of CommercePrince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce

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Get in Touch

Tel: 306-764-6222

Email: [email protected]

April 2014

“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of

satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.”

http://www.princealbertchamber.com/

April 2014 Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce 2

BBOARDOARD OFOF DDIRECTORSIRECTORS

Executive OfficersExecutive Officers

Chairman

Mike Mitchell

Tyrone Pest Control

First Vice Chairman

Larry Fladager

2nd Vice Chair

Shelley L. Cannon

Wilcox and Chovin Law Office

Secretary/Treasurer

Gord Jahn

MNP

Board Appointed

George Vass

Prince Albert & District

Community Futures

Board Appointed

Jayne Remenda Prince Albert Tourism

Elected Board MembersElected Board Members

Darwin Zurakowski Sask. Rivers School Division

Greg Breeze Affinity Insurance

Robert Bratvold Sask. Rivers School Division

Bruce Vance P.A. Raider Hockey Club

Shayne Lazarowich Prince Albert Multicultural Council

Ian Litzenberger Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy

Meghan Mayer Salon Six

A Message from the

CEO Merle Lacert

Hello Members:

I am sure all of us are eagerly awaiting spring weather to set in. With the

spring season comes renewal and the renewal of budgets. We have seen

new budgets from all levels of governments: Federal, Provincial and Munici-

pal.

All three budgets had a reoccurring theme of modestly and moderate

spending to address the various deficits that affect many regions. The

Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce did present our 2014 tax

recommendation to the City of Prince Albert. Although we have not seen

any uptake regarding our recommendations, we will continue all efforts to

stress the importance of completing efforts to increase the competitiveness

of our community. Our full 2014 recommendations are included in this

newsletter for your perusal.

As our region is still grappling with various challenges from Healthcare to

infrastructure to labour shortages, the Chamber will once again look to es-

tablish priorities that the Chamber will look to champion and collaborate

on. Some examples of these efforts include: continuing our partnership with

the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division to establish a Prince Albert

Industry Education Council. This initiative will look to strengthen the en-

gagement and supports to assist kids in expanding their awareness of skills

and trades and assist then in defining career paths at an earlier age. This

would be accomplished through experiential learning, combined with men-

toring and support from business or industry. Other interests will include

defining capital priorities for our region, such as supporting the need to

define plans for a new hospital to serve our region, to advocating for the

creation of an infrastructure plan that will identify the infrastructure priorities

for our region. I am sure we are all aware of the struggles we recently faced

in regards to our Diefenbaker Bridge; however, our infrastructure deficit is

larger than a single bridge. An infrastructure growth plan would need to

identify strategies, solutions and timelines to address the critical network of

highway interchanges and crossings that our region will require to ensure

we are connected and able to facilitate the growth that is expected.

We are also proudly looking to celebrate our local successes with our up-

coming Samuel McLeod Business Awards, where 33 business finalists are

competing for a total of 12 business category awards. I encourage everyone

to come join us and take time to celebrate our regions successes.

I encourage all members to check out our events calendar and to join us at

our upcoming events. As always, I encourage all members to contact the

Chamber with any questions or feedback. We appreciate all feedback, as it

assists in our awareness or confirmation on our efforts.

Sincerely

Merle Lacert


2014 Compensation Institute successful

The 2014 CI was held in Regina March 24 & 25. Thank you to everyone who attended the 17th

Annual Event.

2014 Safe Employer and Safe Worker Awards

2014 Safe Employer and Safe Worker Awards were presented on March 25 during Compensation Institute. Workplace peers and colleagues nominate the recipients of these awards and a committee for each category then adjudicates the nominations.

Committee members include representation from the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board, the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, the Saskatchewan Safety Council, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering.

2014 Safe Employer Award

The WorkSafe Saskatchewan Safe Employer award is given to an employer who shows leadership in health and safety.

The 2014 Safe Employer winner is Cenovus Energy. The two finalists for the 2014 Safe Employer Award were LK Auto, Regina and The Canadian Salt Company, Belle Plaine.

Visit worksafesask.ca to view past Safe Employer winners and learn more about the Safe Employer award.

2014 Safe Worker Award

The WorkSafe Saskatchewan Safe Worker award is given to a worker who helps create a safer workplace by identifying hazards and introducing new safety initiatives.

The 2014 WorkSafe Saskatchewan Safe Worker award winner is Calvin Greenstien, from Novozymes BioAg. The two finalists for the 2014 Safe Worker Award were Shane Kivol of Mosaic Potash, and Debra Bowman, of Kerrobert Integrated Health Care.

Visit worksafesask.ca to view past Safe Worker winners and learn more about the Safe Worker award.

http://www.worksafesask.ca/resources/awards/safe-employer-award/

http://www.worksafesask.ca/resources/awards/safe-worker-award/


2014 Tax Recommendations

From reviewing the 2014 General Fund Budget, the Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce is

encouraged to see evidence of the due diligence that occurred this year, in regards to limiting in-

creases and it efforts to implement some decreases.

In regards to this critical planning, the Chamber continued to advocate for the creation of short & long

term strategic plans. These critical plans are needed to guide our city into the future. Some of these

plans may exist and if so, we encouraged the City of Prince Albert to share them with the community,

in the hopes of collectively promoting our great community, not only on what it is, but what it will be-

come. Significant examples of such plans would be; Capital, Infrastructure, Housing, Healthcare, and

other Core Services.

Taxation Policy We continued to encourage the City of Prince Albert to collaborate with business to create a Taxation policy that is equitable, and encompasses three main taxation principles; Timely 2. Transparent 3. Competitive Of these three (3) principles, the Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce believes that in order to achieve strong growth of our commercial sector that the City of Prince Albert must focus on improv-ing our taxation competitiveness.

Competitiveness can be achieved or increased through a broad base of strategies and measures. -

These include:

Tax Ratios- The Canada West Foundation acknowledges the ideal ratio being 1.43, compared against Prince Albert’s ratio of approximately 3.0. This means that Business pays three dollars in tax to every one dollar that residents pay. The commercial sector also utilizes less city services than other taxation classes. A competitive Tax Ratio will create a more attractive business and investment environment for the City of Prince Albert. A competitive tax ratio would greatly assist in driving growth and would result in ex-panding our tax base over time.

Taxation Balance We encourage the City of Prince Albert to incorporate a healthier balance in regards to the taxation

burden placed upon the commercial sector, for the purpose of funding the Municipal Roadways Tax.

The massive volume of roadway improvements, places an extreme burden on the commercial sector.

Prince Albert’s Roadway Maintenance budget equates to 1% of the total budget.

Prince Albert’s dedicated Municipal Roadways Tax accounts for just over 6% of the total 2014 General

Fund budget. The volume of planned paving improvements combined with the funding structure of a

flat tax for residents and ad valorem or valuation for commercial, results in a tax model that places an

extreme burden on the commercial sector. Suggestions that could assist the City in achieving a bal-

anced funding model for the Municipal Roadways.


Tax are:

Reform the current Municipal Roadways tax funding model to one that does not place a dispropor-tionate burden on the commercial sector. Dedicate a larger portion of roadway work to the general fund budget, which would then be applied through the mill rate. Continue to increase the due diligence that administration and Council have been completing in re-gards to funding projects and operations, thereby decreasing the amount of funding needed through taxation. Measures such as these would reduce the current in-balance that exists, and would result in a sustainable taxation model that is better balanced.

Efficiencies:

We recommended comparing current expenditures against the return on investments or the cost of providing a service. Some governments have found it more efficient to procure versus produce; a relevant example from the City of Prince Albert has been the shift in focus from developing land or saleable lots, to working with developers to produce these saleable lots. We support continued ef-forts to review other business cases, where it may be advantageous to procure versus produce. We support continued efforts to reduce the cost of this municipal government through initiatives such as the efforts to reduce electrical and gasoline costs for the city. Increasing alternate revenues Appropriate user fees for city facilities- The chamber supports efforts to reduce the required subsidy’s on some of the city’s public facilities. The Chamber encouraged the city to review opportunities to utilize provincial or federal grants that can assist the city in completing various projects or assessments. If a good fit, things such as P3’s or pursuing grants such as the Community Airport Partnership, can assist Prince Albert to achieve more with less of a financial burden. Overall the Chamber recommended that the City of Prince Albert maintain a competitive awareness

to look for opportunities where a business decision can also result in increasing the overall competi-

tiveness of the City’s taxation model. As an example, the City has been exploring the option of creat-

ing a new taxation class of “Country Residential” – the basis of this initiative is to lower the applied

mill rate for this class, in order to grow the base over time. We encouraged the City to apply this

same concept in regards to growing our commercial base. IE Tax Ratios

The Chamber wishes to stress the critical importance of business in building and sustaining a com-

munity. It is customers that create jobs, and that all tax revenues result from business transactions.

That is why it is so critically important to ensure a healthy and vibrant business sector exists to sup-

port our community as we grow.


Samuel McLeod Legacy Brunch


CMC Luncheon


PRINCE ALBERT

RAIDERSRAIDERS

Enter for your chance to win a Enter for your chance to win a

$100,000 small business grant$100,000 small business grant Explain the biggest challenge your business faces today and how a $100,000 grant would help you overcome it. Our panel of business experts will review every entry, and if the most compelling is

yours, you'll win a $100,000 business grant from TELUS. Plus, your company will be profiled in the pages of the Report on Business.

The $100K is for the national grand prize winner, and there are prizes for the finalists as well as a regional winner from Saskatchewan/Manitoba.

Ctrl & Click the Logo to Enter

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/the-challenge/how-to-enter-the-2014-challenge-contest/article17502546/

http://www.raiderhockey.com/main/index


Join us as we celebrate business excellence in our commu-

nity. This gala evening includes a pre-awards Champagne

Reception, Awards Show and a Scrumptious Dinner.

Bring your family & friends to make it a

evening to remember!

You have worked all so hard. It is time to

celebrate your success.

32 business finalists competing for one of twelve category awards.

S P O N S O R SS P O N S O R S

http://business.princealbertchamber.com/events/details/samuel-mcleod-business-awards-529



http://www.paherald.sk.ca/

http://www.mychamberapp.com/download-2/

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/


WHITROW

STOBBS

&

ASSOCIATES

Professional

Accountants

RELIABLE ADVICE &

SOLUTIONS

144 12th St. East Prince Albert Phone:

306.764.2773

...ACCOUNTING...TAXATION...CORPORATE

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Financial

Statements

Corporate

Tax

Audits

http://www.tyronepestcontrol.com/


Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors

As a proud member of the Prince Albert community, our team of chartered

accountants and business advisors continue to grow to meet your unique needs.

National in scope and local in focus, we take the time to understand your

challenges and deliver personalized

solutions that help you achieve your goals.

Our diverse services include:

Assurance

Consulting

Corporate Finance

Corporate Recovery & Insolvency

Enterprise Risks

Investigative & Forensic Services

Succession

Tax & Specialty Tax

Valuation & Litigation Support

For more information contact a local MNP advisor at

306.764.6873

http://www.mnp.ca/


Congratulations Renewed Chamber Members for AprilCongratulations Renewed Chamber Members for April

Your continued support of the Chamber movement makes it possible for us to

achieve on your behalf, and we want you to know we appreciate you as members!

WWELCOMEELCOME NNEWEW MMEMBERSEMBERS

Dr. S. Khan Medical Prof. Group

Kachurs Golf Course

Paris Jewelers

Abrametz & Eggum

Affinity Credit Union – Prince

Albert Branch

Anderson Motors

Asiil Enterprises Ltd.

Associated Engineering Sask Ltd.

Canadian Red Cross Society

DMD Entertainment

Farm Credit Canada

First General Services

Frank Dunn Trailer Services

Glenmor Inc.

Hesje Cabinets

RM of Buckland No. 491

Merit Contractors Association

Molson Canada

Neighborhood Caterers

(Shellbrook)

P.E. Advertising

Paris Jewelers

Prakash Consulting Ltd.

Prince Albert Family Church

Pronto Airways

Ramada Prince Albert

S.H.A.R.E.

S.O.S. Electrical

Sask Party - Sask Rivers

Sasktel

St. Joseph Parish

Sylken Confectionary

The Cooperators

The Mann Art Gallery

Unitech Office Solutions


April 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11

Prince Albert Cos-

mopolitan Home &

Leisure Show & Sale

12

Prince Albert

Cosmopolitan

Home & Leisure

Show & Sale

13

Prince Albert Cos-

mopolitan Home &

Leisure Show & Sale

14 15 16

17

Samuel McLeod

Business Awards

April 17th 2014

18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29

30

Small Business

Coffee Networking

Group

Calendar of EventsCalendar of Events

http://business.princealbertchamber.com/events/index/2014-04-11

http://business.princealbertchamber.com/events/details/prince-albert-cosmopolitan-home-leisure-show-sale-531

















http://business.princealbertchamber.com/events/details/small-business-coffee-networking-group-04-30-2014-499




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Prince Albert & District Chamber of CommercePrince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce

3700 — 2nd Avenue West

Prince Albert, SK S6W 1A2

T: 306.764.6222

F: 306.922.4727

www.princealbertchamber.com

Chamber StaffChamber Staff

Merle Lacert

CEO

Danica Jesse

Executive Assistant

http://www.princealbertchamber.com/

201404

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