Final BCBC Annual Report 2013

A n n u a l R e p o r t

Where Leaders Meet to Unlock BC’s Full Potential

BusinessCouncilofBritishColumbia 2013ANNUALREPORT 2

BUSINESS COUNCIL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA:

WHERE LEADERS MEET TO UNLOCK BRITISH COLUMBIA’S FULL POTENTIAL

OUR MISSION

Policy: We are the preeminent source for exceptional economic and public policy development that creates the environment for investment, growth and a competitive economy

Leadership: We are the non-partisan catalyst that convenes our members and all government decision makers to collaboratively address problems and develop and implement policy solutions that grow the economy sustainably

Advocates: With informed positions and the credibility of our membership, we are proactive and persistent advocates on the need for a competitive, growing and vibrant economy that attracts investment to meet our full potential

Membership: We are funded and informed by an engaged membership of leading companies in every key sector of the economy that are committed to growing the province

Business Council of British Columbia 2013 ANNUAL REPORT3

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5

2013 YEAR IN REVIEW: ADVOCACY � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8

POLICY PUBLICATIONS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14

ADVISORY GROUPS AND COMMITTEES � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15

BUILDING BLOCKS OF ECONOMIC LITERACY � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16

EVENTS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17

ANNUAL SPONSORS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18

MEMBERS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19

2013 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25

2013 BOARD OF GOVERNORS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26

COUNCIL STAFF � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29


M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C H A I R

The Business Council of British Columbia is a sought after voice for insightful commentary and input into the economic policy matters facing our province. Over the past two years as Chair I have been privileged to work with the Board and the BCBC team to advance initiatives such as the Energy Policy White Paper, the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity, the First Annual Business Summit and the First Annual Chair’s Dinner. These and other important initiatives by the Council are intended to help advance BC’s competitive position in the global economy while also encouraging a broader understanding of the role the business community plays in creating a more prosperous and livable province.

While British Columbia is truly a beautiful place to live and work, our province faces significant challenges related to our economic competitiveness. For example, our regulatory structures are inefficient and under resourced, we have a developing shortage of skilled workers and we are burdened with an outmoded tax system. To unlock BC’s true potential, the business community must work collaboratively with all levels of government to address these and other issues that reduce our competitiveness versus other jurisdictions. With strong leadership and support from our many members, I know the Council will continue to focus on ways to enhance our province’s competitiveness in the years to come.

During my term as Chair, I have been privileged to

work with the team at the Business Council, led by Greg D’Avignon. Our membership should be proud of the strength of this team of professionals and of their dedication to helping to create a more prosperous and competitive province for the benefit of all British Columbians. I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank Barbara McNicholls for her hard work and dedication to the Business Council for the last 33 years. Having worked with 19 Chairs and five Presidents, Barbara has played an integral role in the success and accomplishments of the Business Council over these last three decades. We will miss her very much and we wish her all the best in her retirement.

In my new role as past Chair, I look forward to working alongside our incoming Chair, Jonathan Whitworth, and supporting the work of the Business Council. We are at a pivotal juncture in British Columbia’s economic growth and I encourage all members and prospective members to be engaged in the work and activities of the Council. This organization makes a positive contribution to the business and economic climate in our province and it cannot be done without your continuing support.

Thank you,

Hank Ketcham Chair


M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T

compete / kəmˈpēt/ strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same

So much of what happened in 2013 and will again be the context for what will happen in the years ahead can be summed up in this word: Compete

Regardless of who you are, what you do, or where you do it, competition is a defining feature of our times. While some thrive on it, others find it challenging and disconcerting. Yet competition is all around us, in almost everything we do.

Our ability to collaborate and to be competitive as an open, trade dependent economy ultimately determines much of our prosperity. Historically, we’ve done pretty well and leveraged many of our strengths to compete successfully – growing a vibrant province over the years.

As a focal point for our actions around competitiveness, we have one ultimate goal at the Business Council, to unlock British Columbia’s full potential. This means doing our part to enable British Columbia’s institutions, entrepreneurs and industries to thrive in a world that is becoming more competitive. Realizing our full potential involves successfully converting our opportunities into reality – through research, planning and effective implementation of actions and policies.

2013 marked the start of a new agenda for the

Business Council, with a growing focus on the policies that will enhance British Columbia’s long term competitiveness. This has fed into the foundations of our renewed strategic plan beginning in 2014 – these foundations rest on actions around: Competitiveness, Collaboration and Communication.

Competitiveness

Through the leadership of our Chair, Hank Ketchum, and support from you, our members, 2013 was a busy and productive year at the Business Council. The annual report will provide more details on our actions, but here is short rundown of key activities:

• We completed our work with the BC Chamber of Commerce on the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity, with the final, comprehensive report available on our website www.bcagenda.ca. The report’s recommendations, which we are acting on, focused on how to grow the economy and increase economic participation among a broader spectrum of British Columbians.

• Our Energy Committee completed a comprehensive White Paper on Energy policy in BC. This paper has formed the basis of our advocacy work with the provincial government, and many of the 40 recommendations have already been acted upon�


• The Business Council published over two dozen policy papers with our team of experts who are sought-after as thought leaders in Western Canada. Their work focuses on tax policy, regulatory efficiency, environmental policy, First Nations engagement, innovation, human capital and education.

Our work on competitiveness will ramp up further in 2014, led by Jock and focused on smart tax policy, new approaches to regulatory efficiency and the cost of time and money. We will complete an infrastructure paper as well as a broad sectoral innovation strategy, along with targeted work on education and labour market issues. Lastly, we are advancing policy to ensure certainty on the land base, in all aspects, with the continued commitment to protecting British Columbia’s environmental values.

Collaboration

A direct result of the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity has been a sharpened focus on breaking the cycle of having discussions around economic development in British Columbia polarized by small numbers with loud voices who can dominate the landscape and routinely alienate the majority of citizens.

In 2013 we launched several initiatives to build a more collaborative and constructive approach on what matters to British Columbia’s economy. In April we created the Business Caucus, a coalition of 32 trade and industry associations that meet monthly to share information and discuss public policy issues with a broad impact on the business landscape. This group is also collaborating on public economic literacy opportunities and business awareness programming in the school system.

We also launched the first annual BC Business Summit in 2013, an annual event to bring together all of those with their hands on the levers of the economy to focus on a key aspect of our economic future. Our first summit, titled Building Prosperity through a Competitive Economy, brought together 600 leaders from industry, academia, First Nations, federal and provincial governments and NGOs to discuss our collective economic future. This year, the second annual Summit will take place on November 13, with a revised one day format that will focus on innovation.

Communication and economy literacy

Last year, our Chair launched the first annual Chair’s Dinner, a gathering of BC’s business leadership, who in May heard our first guest speaker, British Columbia native and Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company, Dominic Barton, who spoke about the changes and opportunities for BC in Asia�

We initiated Resource Works, which is set to publicly launch in the spring of 2014. Resource Works is focused on educating British Columbians, particularly in the Lower Mainland, as to the importance of natural resource industries to their own personal and community prosperity.

This key project is joined by a series of initiatives and media partnerships led by Cheryl Muir and Herb Eibensteiner to build the Business Council’s public profile.

Our brand consistency, media presence, multiple websites and social media strategy are increasing the distribution of our work and expertise in the public domain and with decision makers at all levels of government. Specifically the Council’s new blog, BC Business Matters, is the routine instigator of weekly media stories that are informing public debate.


BCBC President and CEO, Greg D’Avignon with BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity Summit panelists and sponsors. (L-R) Greg D’Avignon, President and CEO, Business Council of BC; Dave Cunningham, Vice President, Government Relations, TELUS; Fazil Mihlar, (fmr) Associate Editor with the Vancouver Sun; Christina Romer, former Chair, Council of Economic Advisors to President Obama; and Zanny Minton-Beddoes, Economics Editor, The Economist (April 2013)

2013 was a busy year that has set the foundation for a great deal of work to come as BCBC lends its effort to the challenge of creating a more competitive economy for the coming decades.

I want to thank our team; Cheryl, Denise, Herb, Jock, Ken, Tiffany, Tom, Valerie, Vicki, and of course Barbara who will be retiring after 33 years with the Council in April. She has made an extraordinary contribution to the success of our organization, the individual staff and our members. Always professional and insightful, it has been a privilege to work with Barbara during my tenure, as I know it was for our members. We look forward to celebrating Barbara’s retirement in April�

We have so many inherent advantages given BC’s geography and proximity to the largest and

fastest growing markets in the world, our cultural diversity, existing investments, infrastructure and natural endowments, but they can only be effectively leveraged with focused public policy and informed collaboration.

British Columbia can compete; we have so many times in so many ways if we are determined, collaborative and focused. With your support, BCBC is here to help and is up for the challenge.

Thank You,

Greg D’Avignon President and CEO


2 0 1 3 Y E A R I N R E V I E W : A D V O C A C Y

Policy and Advocacy Review The last year was a disappointing one for the province’s economy, as a sluggish global economy and soft domestic demand at home combined to produce only a tepid gain in output and essentially no net job creation. On an annualized basis, we estimate that British Columbia’s real GDP increased by 1.4% in 2013, which was lower than the national number. Employment actually fell slightly in 2013. Retail sales were stuck in the slow lane for a second consecutive year, although the last quarter saw a welcome pick up. Business non-residential investment declined in 2013, and the weakness continued into the first quarter of the new year. The province’s housing market put in a decent showing, with resale activity perking up and housing starts remaining stable at around 27,000. The best economic news was on the trade front: the value of BC’s international merchandise exports climbed by 7% last year, outpacing the growth of imports. Net trade thus made a small contribution to the province’s overall economic growth rate last year. The Business Council’s current economic outlook points to modestly stronger growth over 2014-15. We are optimistic about the prospects for BC’s exports as the global economy slowly strengthens and US growth accelerates. We expect some improvement in the province’s lackluster job market over the next few quarters. Looking beyond 2015, non-residential business investment should kick into higher gear, driven by the development of liquefied natural gas projects, pipelines, and a broadening of gains in business capital spending more generally.

Economic and Fiscal Policy In 2013 the Business Council was engaged with several significant economic and fiscal policy files.

• Despite relatively weak economic growth, the provincial government continues to be a leader in fiscal control. We have endorsed provincial government’s return to a balanced operating budget, after a few years of deficits during the 2008-09 recession and the slow economic recovery that followed.

• We have also been broadly supportive of the federal government’s fiscal strategy to eliminate the deficit by 2015.

• The Business Council has continued to explore various options to mitigate the damage done to BC’s competitiveness from the return of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) effective April 1, 2013. This major change in sales tax has raised production and tax compliance costs for many BC industries, including our leading export sectors. Among other things, we are studying the pros and cons of moving toward a “made-in-BC” value-added consumption tax over the medium term and also considering near-term proposals for PST exemptions from selected business inputs.

• Last year we launched our new Task Force on Infrastructure Policy and Financing with a mandate to develop a white paper outlining a forward-looking infrastructure strategy for the province. This work will conclude in 2014�

• The Business Council has identified


innovation and productivity as important areas for future work. To this end, our Innovation and Productivity Task Force will commence work in the spring of 2014 to advance our research and policy development in this domain.

• With the federal government having recently concluded important trade and economic agreements with the European Union and South Korea, and continuing to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership discussions, we have stepped up our activities on trade and commercial policy and had extensive contact with federal Ministers and Deputy Ministers involved with international trade and investment matters.

Energy Policy

2013 marked the culmination of a year long, comprehensive review of energy policy in BC by the Energy Committee. The release of the white paper entitled Building New Energy Advantages for BC: Understanding and Benefitting from the Transformation of BC’s Energy Marketplaces, brought forward over 40 recommendations across the energy policy environment in BC. Many of the recommendations, including several related to the government’s LNG strategy and the 10 year electricity plan, are moving forward. The Energy Committee hosted key provincial leaders for dialogues about energy in 2013, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers responsible for energy policy development.

2013 also saw BCBC work closely with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and our LNG member companies to offer constructive and

detailed commentary to all levels of government with respect to the policy framework that will support LNG development in BC. The Business Council will continue this work in 2014 and beyond, as we look to maximize the collective economic benefits of natural gas development across the entire value chain. This is a dynamic period for energy development not just in BC, but around North America and the world. The Energy Committee will continue to provide a robust forum for presentations, dialogue and effective energy policy advocacy.

Dominic Barton, Managing Director, McKinsey & Company addresses the Business Council’s First Annual Chair’s Dinner (May 2013)


Labour, Employment and Human Capital

The Business Council remains engaged in labour relations matters and we closely track labour and employment policy issues of interest to the membership. We continue to strive to understand and influence government policy and regulatory decisions as they pertain to the human capital challenges facing large and mid-sized BC employers. Last year, the Business Council was involved with a number of immigration issues, including temporary foreign workers and the federal government’s transition to the new “Expression of Interest System” for processing economic immigrants, which is scheduled to begin in January 2015.

Our Employee Relations Committee meets every second month to discuss labour relations and collective bargaining developments, immigration policy, skills training, and other relevant human resource issues. Committee meetings generally include a guest speaker plus a review of current issues. Also in 2013, the Business Council launched

a new BC Bargaining Database and website. The database provides current information on collective bargaining activities and developments in British Columbia in an impartial manner to help inform the bargaining process. Users can access specific contracts or summary statistical reports.

The Industrial Relations Bulletin was published bi-monthly over the past year. This publication is the most comprehensive source of information on collective bargaining settlements in the province. The development of the database will allow for improvements in the statistical reporting of collective bargaining settlements in the Bulletin. Our Human Capital Law and Policy newsletter was also produced last year, with articles covering topical issues ranging from developments in employment law to trends in union density.

The Council continued with our long-running annual Employee Relations Outlook Session. For the second consecutive year the event was held in downtown Vancouver rather than Whistler.

Jock Finlayson moderates a discussion with Canada’s think-tank leadership at the First Annual BC Business Summit. (L-R): Dr. Daniel Muzyka, President and CEO, Conference Board of Canada; David Mitchell, President and CEO, Public Policy Forum; Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director, Macdonald Laurier Institute and Jock Finlayson, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Business Coun-cil of British Columbia. (November 2013)


Environmental Policy

A healthy environment provides the foundation for a healthy economy. In British Columbia, our tremendous natural assets are a significant advantage, if managed well. The Business Council advocates for environmental policy, law and standards that are science-based and aligned with an imperative for British Columbia to strengthen our competitiveness and diversify markets.

The Environment Committee is the largest and most active member committee. It meets monthly or as needed if there is a pressing issue that requires attention. The Committee is a forum to exchange ideas, keep current on ongoing and new issues, and oversee more substantive BCBC work on various policy and regulatory initiatives advanced by governments.

To support learning and discussion, staff produce regular issue updates that scan and summarize a wide range of local, regional, national and global environment-related topics, including but not limited to vehicle emissions standards, energy, urban planning, air pollution, greenhouse gases, contaminated sites and brownfield development, fisheries and marine topics, water, and waste management, as well as a review of selected academic papers and think tanks reports.

In 2013, we also published five issues of the Business Council’s Environment and Energy Bulletin newsletter, covering:

• Low Carbon Fuel Standards

• Transportation and the Economy (Part One and Part Two)

• Conservation Policy

• Water Policy

We also completed several formal submissions to government on:

• The proposed provincial Water Sustainability Act

• Coal exports and the City of Vancouver

• Land based spill response

• Low carbon fuel standards

• Site C

Staff also participate in and represent Business Council interests on government advisory committees, undertake public speaking/presentations at external events, and provide input on initiatives advanced by government. Active outreach to members, other associations, representatives of environmental non-governmental groups, and all levels of government continues to be an important part of gathering insight and understanding and also assists developing positions on policy and regulatory changes.

Aboriginal Issues

The Aboriginal Affairs Committee continued to work closely with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and other natural resource ministries on refining and improving the delegated consultation framework and fostering discussions among industry, government and First Nations on how to improve the economic benefits of development for all British Columbians. The Council led the year off by releasing a Policy Perspectives article entitled “Understanding Economic Development and Reconciliation with First Nations in BC: The Case for Accelerating Economic Engagement,” which highlighted the diversity of agreements with First Nations in BC


and the ongoing need to both engage and ensure First Nation-Industry relations are successful in stimulating mutually beneficial investment. The Business Council’s Aboriginal Affairs Committee will be continuing this important work in 2014 with further analysis and dialogue with both government and First Nation leaders.

Publications

In 2013 we produced four issues of our economic newsletter, Policy Perspectives, covering topics ranging from the growth of cross-border shopping to BC’s productivity challenge, the need to grow more of our small businesses, and the expanding role of First Nations in economic development. We also published four issues of our Human Capital Law and Policy newsletter, five issues of our Environment and Energy Bulletin, and six issues of the Industrial Relations Bulletin. These regular publications often attract media interest and lead to follow-up discussions and dialogue with government officials and other stakeholders. See page 15 for a full list of policy publications.

The Business Council’s blog gained significant momentum in 2013, with over 50 posts from the members of our policy team, several of which were picked up by the news media. Our staff also kept up a steady pace of newspaper op-ed pieces published in both local and national papers. Most of our written output is now being promoted and distributed through the Council’s social media platforms and the communications outreach work led by Cheryl Muir.

Priorities for 2014

In the coming year, the policy team will:

• Complete the Business Council’s Infrastructure White Paper;

• Advance our work on the linked topics of innovation and productivity in the British Columbia context;

• Continue to refine our thinking around tax policy and tax reform options in the wake of the restoration of the PST and the significant

Robin Silvester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Port Metro Vancouver prepares to introduce Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer at a BCBC Member Forum Breakfast (June 2013)


competitiveness challenges facing the province;

• Initiate a conversation on health innovation;

• Move to the next phase of our work on energy development opportunities and policy options in BC; and

• Continue to develop ideas around First Nations economic development and provincial policy and regulatory activity arising from the requirement for aboriginal consultation and accommodation.

The Business Council will also be engaged with a number of other important policy files in the coming months, including

• Follow-up work flowing from the Energy White Paper, with a particular focus on fleshing out the LNG policy framework across the value chain and looking at the province’s 10 year electricity plan in greater detail through a competitiveness lens,

• The new provincial Water Sustainability Act;

• Pressing for a review of BC’s climate change policy;

• Advocating for regulatory reform and streamlining in provincial Ministries and agencies responsible for natural resource and infrastructure development;

• Updating the environmental assessment process in BC; and

• Addressing skills shortages and labour market mismatches that may be contributing to talent shortfalls and driving up business costs�

Keynote speaker and former Australian Prime Minister, Honourable Kevin Rudd addresses the BC Agenda For Shared Prosperity Summit (April 2013)


P O L I C Y P U B L I C AT I O N S

PUBLICATIONS• BC Poised for Small Bounce

in Economic Growth in 2013 (BC Economic Review and Outlook, February)

• A “Balanced” but “Challenging” Provincial Budget (Business Alert, February)

• Mental Disorder Claims under the Workers’ Compensation Act - A Human Resources/Labour Relations Perspective (Human Capital Law and Policy, February)

• Understanding Economic Development and Reconciliation with First Nations - The Case for Accelerating Economic Engagement (Policy Perspectives, February)

• Water - Blue Gold (Environment and Energy Bulletin, March)

• Pull Back in Resource Sectors Tempers Overall Capital Investment in BC (Business Alert, March)

• 2013 Federal Budget: A Combination of Following Through, Fiscal Restraint and Some New Funding for Priority Areas (Business Alert, March)

• Thinking about Conservation Policy (Environment and Energy Bulletin, April)

• A Review of Trends in Union Density (Human Capital Law and Policy, May)

• Surge in Cross Border Shopping Weighs on Retail Sales in BC (Policy Perspectives, May)

• Mid-Year Update: BC Economy Slows in 2013, Rebuilds in 2014 (BC Economic Review and Outlook, July)

• Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Separating Fact from Fiction (Human Capital Law and Policy, July)

• Transportation - The Way We Move (Environment and Energy Bulletin, Part One: August, Part Two: October)

• Productivity: BC’s Position and Why We Should Care (Policy Perspectives, August)

• BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity Final Report (September)

• The Economic Benefits of Encouraging Small Businesses to Grow (Policy Perspectives, October)

• New WorkSafeBC Policies on Bullying and Harassment (Human Capital Law and Policy, November)

• On the Road to Emissions Reductions (Environment and Energy Bulletin, December)

SPECIAL REPORTS• Building new Energy

Advantages for BC: Understanding and Benefiting from the Transformation of BC’s Energy Marketplace (October)

• BCBC Study by MNP on Corporate Community Contributions (October)

SUBMISSIONS• Letter to Vancouver City

Council re: Coal Export Expansion

• Letter to Metro Vancouver re: Air Quality Impact of New and Expanded Coal Shipment Activity in Metro Vancouver

• Letter to Honourable James Moore re: Telecommunications Policy (August)

• Pre-Budget Submission to the Province’s Select Standing Committee on Finance (October)

• Submission to the Ministry of Environment on the Water Sustainability Act (November)

• Submission to the Joint Review Panel on Site C Clean Energy Project (December)

BCBC produces a variety of publications, which allow our members to keep up-to-date on current issues.


A D V I S O R Y G R O U P S A N D C O M M I T T E E S

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

The Committee oversees the Business Council’s work on aboriginal policy issues and meets regularly with senior government officials (federal and provincial) responsible for aboriginal affairs to advance certainty, transparency and processes that provide clarity of expectations for all parties with regard to consultation, strength of claim, capacity building and commercial agreements.

ENERGY COMMITTEE

The Energy Committee leads the Business Council’s work on energy issues, including electricity policy and the development of the upstream oil and gas industry in the province. Our focus is on updating BC’s Clean Energy Act and the development of regulations under the Act that align with the current breadth of energy opportunities and challenges in BC. We are also working with LNG proponents to advance the opportunity to develop an LNG industry in British Columbia.

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

This Committee guides the Business Council’s work across a wide range of environmental policy and regulatory issues, including all aspects of climate change policy, environmental assessment, facility permitting, contaminated sites, the management of air quality, hazardous waste issues, the development of provincial water sustainability legislation, the federal Species at Risk Act, and associated regulations and the Fisheries Act. It also provides a regular forum for Business Council members to meet with Ministers and senior officials and to exchange views and information on environmental matters of interest to industry.

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS COMMITTEE

The Committee meets bi-monthly to discuss issues pertinent to the human capital needs of our member organizations. Issues include skills shortages, demographic changes, productivity concerns, health and safety, benefits, pensions, immigration, training and learning, collective bargaining/negotiations, legislative and regulatory developments.

TASK FORCE ON INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY AND FINANCING

The Infrastructure Task Force oversees, updates and shapes the Business Council’s policy positions with respect to infrastructure development priorities, the enabling policy framework(s) to support and direct infrastructure investment, and related financing issues in the British Columbia context.

TASK FORCE ON INNOVATION AND PRODUCTIVITY (formed in 2014)

The Task Force on Innovation and Productivity oversees, updates and helps to shape the Business Council’s policy positions with respect to innovation and productivity issues in the British Columbia context.

Members interested in participating on the Business Council’s committees or advisory groups should contact Tiffany Gorder ([email protected])


B U I L D I N G B L O C K S O F E C O N O M I C L I T E R A C Y

BC BUSINESS MATTERS: BCBC BLOG

BCBC’s blog provides insight from the policy team

into policy and economic matters relevant to British

Columbians and Canadians broadly.

Over 50 posts since July 2013 have received more

than 5200 hits and contributed to dozens of

mainstream media stories.

BC BUSINESS SUMMIT

The first annual BC Business Summit brought

together over 600 business, government, academic

and community leaders for a multi-day conversation

to explore the opportunities and challenges facing

British Columbia’s economic competitiveness .

BUSINESS CAUCUS

To support improved coordination across the

business community, the Business Council has

created the Business Caucus, comprised of 30

business and industry associations which meets

regularly to discuss industry issues and opportunities

for collaboration .

RESOURCE WORKS

Officially launched in 2014 by the Business Council

and our members, Resource Works will bring a fact-

driven research approach to understanding the

province’s natural resource sector. Resource Works

will engage with the public to educate British

Columbians about what the resource industry

means to our collective and personal prosperity.

BC AGENDA FOR SHARED PROSPERITY

In partnership with the BC Chamber of Commerce,

BCBC concluded the BC Agenda for Shared

Prosperity initiative which included a 6-community

tour, a Summit with global & local leaders &

economists, and a report on how to increase

economic participation among British Columbians.

BC CONNECTS

In 2014, the Business Council will work to build greater understanding of BC’s natural resource heritage through direct connections and hands-on experiences by organizing tours for thought leaders to visit innovative communities and businesses outside the lower mainland.

NEXT LEADERS COUNCIL

The Next Leaders initiative continues to grow as a platform for the province’s best and brightest leaders in their 20’s, 30’s and early 40’s to regularly engage in public policy discussion, leadership development and networking opportunities.

TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA

BCBC has appeared in radio, television and print

media over 100 times over the last year, and Greg

D’Avignon and Jock Finlayson had over two dozen

published opinion pieces.

BCBC continues to build its presence on social

media including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

By leveraging our research capabilities, policy expertise and member network, the Business Council is working on several fronts to improve British Columbians’ awareness and knowledge of the province’s economic landscape.


E V E N T S

The Business Council holds a number of roundtable meetings, member forums, conferences, and other events which allow our members to keep informed about current developments, and stay connected with business leaders and government.

2013 Senior Executive Roundtables

• Hon. Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands

and Natural Resource Operations

• Hon. John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Rela-

tions and Reconciliation

• Hon. Teresa Wat,

Minister of International Trade

• Hon. Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of

Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services

• Hon. Don McRae, Minister of Social Develop-

ment and Innovation

• Hon. Amrik Virk,

Minister of Advanced Education

• Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

and Minister for the Asia Pacific Gateway

• Hon. Tony Clement,

President of the Treasury Board

• Dan Doyle, Chief of Staff to Premier Clark

• Charles Reid, President and CEO, and Susan

Yurkovich, Executive Vice President responsible

for Site C, BC Hydro

• Hon. Ken Hughes,

Minister of Energy, Province of Alberta

• Martha Hall Findlay, Executive Fellow at the

School of Public Policy, University of Calgary

• John Knubley, Deputy Minister, Industry Canada

• Doug Pearce, CEO, CIO, BC Investment Manage-

ment Corporation

• John Manley, CEO,

Canadian Council of Chief Executives

• David Black, Chair and Founder, Black Press and

President, Kitimat Clean Ltd.

• State Senators and Legislators, California

2013 Special Events and Conferences

• Annual General Meeting and First Annual Chair’s Dinner featuring Dominic Barton, Global Managing Partner, McKinsey and Company

• Conference: “BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity Summit”, featuring Former Australian Prime Minister, Honourable Kevin Rudd; Christina Romer, Former Chair, Council of Economic Advisors to President Obama; Zanny Minton-Beddoes, Economics Editor, The Economist

• BC Business Summit 2013 featuring Premier Christy Clark and Honourable Jason Kenney

• Tour of the Alberta Oil Sands• Post-Budget Reception with Premier Christy

Clark • Member Forum featuring Canadian

Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer• Employee Relations Outlook Summit 2013


T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S

The support of our sponsors ensures we deliver meaningful and successful events.

• Apache

• BC Roadbuilders

• BCMEA

• Blakes

• BNSF Railway

• Britco

• Brookfield

• Bull Housser

• Borden Ladner Gervais

• Canada’s National Brewers

• Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

• Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

• Certified General Accountants

• Chartered Professional Accountants

• CIBC

• Coast Capital Savings

• Deloitte

• Devon

• EDC

• Encana

• Ferus

• HSBC Bank Canada

• Kinder Morgan

• Korn/Ferry International

• KPMG LLP

• Kwantlen Polytechnic University

• Mitsubishi Corporation

• MNP

• Mountain Equipment Co-op

• Nexen

• Pacific Northwest LNG

• Pfizer

• Polygon

• Port Metro Vancouver

• Prince Rupert Port Authority

• Progress Energy Canada Ltd.

• University of British Columbia

• Rio Tinto

• Rogers

• RxD

• Seaspan

• Shell

• Stantec

• TD Bank

• Teck

• TELUS

• TimberWest

• TransCanada

• TransMountain

• University of Northern British Columbia

• Vancity

• Vancouver Airport Authority

• Weatherhaven

• West Fraser

• Weyerhaeuser

• Woodfibre LNG

Members of the Next Leaders Council get a behind the scenes tour of Rogers Arena (July 2013)


M E M B E R S 2013/14 Members New members in Bold

Agricultural Bank of China

Air Canada

Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP

Alterra Power Corporation

AMEC Inc�

Anthem Properties Group Ltd.

Apache Canada Ltd.

Armtec

Arrow Transportation Systems

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia

AstraZeneca Canada Inc.

Ausenco Sandwell

Avcorp Industries Inc.

Avison Young

Bank of Canada

BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association

BC Human Resources Management Association

BC Hydro & Power Authority

BC Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association

Belkorp Industries

Bell Canada

Best Buy Canada Ltd.

BFI Canada

BG Group

Blackcomb Aviation

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

BMO Financial Group

Bombardier Transportation

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Britco Structures

British Columbia Automobile Association

British Columbia Chamber of Commerce

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.

British Columbia Hotel Association

British Columbia Innovation Council

British Columbia Institute of Technology

British Columbia Maritime Employers Association

British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association

British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association

British Columbia Technology Industries Association

British Columbia Trucking Association

British Columbia Wharf Operators’ Association

Brookfield Asset Management Inc.

Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.

Canada Industrial Relations Board

Canada’s National Brewers

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

Canadian Forest Products Ltd.

Canadian Fuels Association

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Canadian Manufactures & Exporters

Canadian National Railway Company

Canadian Natural Resources Limited

Canadian Pacific Railway

Canexus Chemicals Canada LP

Canfor Pulp Ltd.


Canucks Sports & Entertainment

Capilano University

Capital Power Corporation

Cardero Coal Ltd.

Catalyst Paper Corporation

Cement Association of Canada

Central 1 Credit Union

Central Heat Distribution Ltd.

Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia

Chemistry Industry Association of Canada

Chevron Canada Limited

City of Surrey - Economic Development Commission

Clark Wilson LLP

Clean Energy BC

Coast Capital Savings

Coast Forest Products Association

Community Social Services Employers’ Association

Concert Properties Ltd.

Conoco Phillips Canada

Construction Labour Relations Association of BC

Corix

Council of Forest Industries

Crew Property Ventures Ltd.

Crown Corporation Employers’ Association

Curis Resources Ltd.

Day4 Energy Inc.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Devon Canada Corp

Discovery Parks Trust

Douglas College

EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc.

Emily Carr University of Art and Design

Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc.

Encana Corporation

EOG Resources Canada Inc.

Ernst & Young LLP

Export Development Canada

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (BC Region)

Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP

Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Ferus Inc�

BC Business Summit co-chairs, (L-R), Honourable James Moore, Canada’s Minister of Industry, Honourable Shirley Bond, British Columbia’s Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Ellis Ross, Chief Councilor, Haisla First Nation exchange greetings (November 2013)


VA N C O U V E RCO M M U N I T YC O L L E G E

Finning International Inc.

FortisBC

Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP

Fraser Surrey Docks

General Fusion Inc.

Genome British Columbia

Geoscience BC

GlaxoSmithKline

Glentel Inc�

Global Container Terminals Inc.

Global Public Affairs

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation

Greater Vancouver Gateway Council

Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association

Harris & Company LLP

Gall Legge Grant & Munroe LLP (Formerly Heenan Blaikie LLP

Hemmera

HD Mining International

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

HSBC Bank Canada

Imperial Metals Corporation

Imperial Oil Limited

Independent Contractors and Business Association

Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

Industry Council for Aboriginal Business

Initiatives Prince George

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

International Forest Products

InTransit BC

Justice Institute of British Columbia

Keystone Environmental Ltd.

Kinder Morgan Canada Inc.

Korn/Ferry International

KPMG LLP

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Lafarge Canada Inc.

Langara College

Lawson Lundell LLP

Lehigh Northwest Cement Limited

Honourable Jason Kenny, Canada’s Minister of Employment and Social Development and the Minister for Multiculturalism addresses the BC Business Summit (November 2013)


Leith Wheeler Investment Management

London Drugs Ltd.

MacKay CEO Forums

Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd.

Marine Harvest Canada

Marsh Canada Limited

McCarthy Tetrault LLP

McMillan LLP

MEG Energy

Mercer International Inc.

Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.

Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Department

Meyers Norris Penny LLP

Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

Mining Association of British Columbia

Mitacs Inc�

Mitsubishi Canada

MMM Group Limited

Molson Coors Canada

Motion Picture Production Industry Association

Mountain Equipment Co-op

National Public Relations

Newalta Corporation

Nexen Inc�

Northern Development Initiative Trust

Nyrstar

Odgers Berndtson

Boyden (formerly Odlum Brown Limited)

Pacific Blue Cross

Pacific Newspaper Group Inc.

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

Pacific NorthWest LNG Ltd.

Partnerships British Columbia

Persis Holdings Ltd.

Penn West Energy Trust

Petroleum Services Association of Canada

Pfizer Canada

Polygon Homes Ltd.

Port Metro Vancouver

PwC LLP

Prince Rupert Port Authority

Progress Energy Resources Corp.

Provincial Health Services Authority

Public Policy Forum

Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat

Quicksilver Resources Canada Inc.


Raymond James Ltd.

RBC Capital Markets

RBC Royal Bank

RELabs Research Inc

Rio Tinto Alcan Inc�

Rogers Communications Group

Rogers Sugar Ltd.

Roper Greyell LLP

Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc.

Royal Roads University

Rx&D Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies

sanofi-aventis

Schneider Electric Solar

Seaspan ULC

SECOR Consulting

Shell Canada Energy

Simon Fraser University

SNC-Lavalin Inc

Spectra Energy Corporation

Stantec Consulting Ltd.

Stern Partners Inc.

Stikeman Elliott LLP

Suncor Energy

Talisman Energy Inc.

Target Canada

Taseko Mines Limited

TD Bank Financial Group

Teck Resources Limited

TELUS Corporation

Tervita Corporation

The Beedie Group

The Caldwell Partners International Inc.

The Conference Board of Canada

The Fraser Institute

The Pace Group

The Vancouver Board of Trade

TimberWest Forest Corporation

Tolko Industries Ltd.

Tourism Vancouver

TransAlta

TransCanada Pipelines

Translink

Turner Lane Develpment Corporation

University Canada West

University of British Columbia

University of Northern British Columbia

University of Victoria

Urban Development Institute

Valard Construction

Vancity Credit Union

Vancouver Airport Authority

Vancouver Community College

Vancouver Economic Development Commission

Vancouver Island University

Veresen Inc�

Weatherhaven

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Western Convenience Store Association

Western Stevedoring

Westport Innovations Inc.

Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership

Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.

Woodfibre Natural Gas Limited

WorkSafe BC


N E W M E M B E R S 2 0 1 3 / 2 0 1 4


E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E 2 0 1 3

CHAIR

Hank Ketcham Executive Chairman West Fraser Timber Co.

VICE CHAIRS

Ian Anderson President Kinder Morgan Canada

Josh Blair Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer TELUS Corporation

Ray Castelli Chief Executive Officer Weatherhaven

John DeLucchi Managing Partner, BC Region PwC LLP

Richard Dunn Vice President, Regulatory and Government Relations Encana Corporation

Eric Harris Chair Harris & Company LLP

Mike Kennedy Vice President and Regional Leader, Vancouver Stantec

Fiona MacFarlane Managing Partner, Western Canada and Chief Inclusiveness Officer Ernst & Young LLP

Richard Prokopanko Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Rio Tinto Alcan Inc�

Tracy Redies President and Chief Executive Officer Coast Capital Savings

Graham Twyford-Miles Associate & Practice Lead, Sustainability Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Chair, NEXT Leaders Council

Robin Silvester President and Chief Executive Officer Port Metro Vancouver

Marcia Smith Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs Teck Resources Limited

Jonathan Whitworth Chief Executive Officer Seaspan ULC

Susan Yurkovich Executive Vice-President, Site C BC Hydro & Power Authority

Immediate Past Chair Graham MacLachlan Regional President, BC RBC Royal Bank


2 0 1 3 B O A R D O F G O V E N O R S

Doug Allen Chief Executive Officer InTransit

Ian Anderson President Kinder Morgan Canada Inc.

Michael Audain Chairman Polygon Homes Ltd.

Phil Barnes Regional Vice President, Pacific Northwest (BC Region), Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and General Manager, Fairmont Pacific Rim

Don Bird Managing Partner Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Josh Blair Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer TELUS Corporation

Doug Bloom President, Spectra Energy Transmission West Spectra Energy Transmission

Mark Blucher President and Chief Executive Officer Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

Gerry Bouwers President and Chief Operating Officer Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

Peter Brown Chairman of the Board Canaccord Financial Ltd.

Eric Carlson Chief Executive Officer Anthem Properties Group Ltd.

Reid Carter Managing Partner Brookfield Asset Management Inc.

Paul Cassidy Partner Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Ray Castelli Chief Executive Officer Weatherhaven

Mike Corrigan President and Chief Executive Officer British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.

Greg D’Avignon President and Chief Executive Officer Business Council of British Columbia

Alan Davis President Kwantlen University

Bob Dawson Director, Western Canada Pfizer Canada Inc.

John Delucchi Managing Partner for the BC Region PwC LLP

Richard Dunn Vice President, Regulatory and Government Relations Encana Corporation

Brian Frank Chief Executive Officer TimberWest Forest Corporation

Chris Gardner Executive Vice President The Britco Group

Rick Gateman President, Coastal GasLink Project TransCanada Pipelines Limited


Eric Harris Chair Harris & Company LLP

Philip Hochstein President Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of BC

Jonathan Kallner Managing Partner, Greater Vancouver Area KPMG LLP

Michael Kennedy Vice President and Regional Leader, BC Stantec Consulting Ltd.

Hank Ketcham Executive Chairman West Fraser Timber Co.

Don Krusel President and Chief Executive Officer Prince Rupert Port Authority

Pierre Lebel Chairman and Director Imperial Metals Corporation

Peter Leitch Chair Motion Picture Production Industry Association

Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia Chief Executive Officer Crew Property Ventures Ltd.

Fiona MacFarlane Managing Partner, Western Canada and Chief Inclusiveness Officer Ernst & Young LLP

Graham MacLachlan Regional President, BC RBC Royal Bank

Paulo Maia President and Chief Executive Officer HSBC Bank Canada

Kevin McBurney Senior Client Partner Korn/Ferry International

Donald McInnes Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer Plutonic Power Corporation

Lorraine Mitchelmore President and Country Chair Shell Canada Energy

Stephen Murphy Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking TD Bank Group

Gordon Nelson Vice President & General Manager – BC Rogers Communications Group

Janine North Chief Executive Officer Northern Development Initiative Trust

Sue Paish President and Chief Executive Officer Lifelabs

Andrew Petter President and Vice Chancellor Simon Fraser University

Richard Prokopanko Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Rio Tinto Alcan Inc�

Matthew Quinlan Managing Director, Co-Head Global Mining Group Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Tracy Redies President and Chief Executive Officer Coast Capital Savings


Tom Roper Chair Roper Greyell LLP

Jason Scharfe Managing Director Marsh Canada Ltd.

Robin Silvester President and Chief Executive Officer Port Metro Vancouver

Duncan Sinclair Managing Partner Deloitte & Touche LLP

Andy Smith President and Chief Executive Officer BC Maritime Employers Association

Marcia Smith Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs Teck Resources Limited

Bob Stanlake President, Mining and Metals AMEC Inc�

Stephen Toope President and Vice Chancellor University of British Columbia

Graham Twyford-Miles Associate & Practice Lead, Sustainable Solutions Stantec Consulting Ltd. Chair, NEXT Leaders Council

Mark van Rooij Chief Executive Officer Avcorp Industries Inc.

Tamara Vrooman Chief Executive Officer Vancity Credit Union

John Walker President and Chief Executive Officer FortisBC

Jonathan Whitworth Chief Executive Officer Seaspan ULC

Susan Yurkovich Executive Vice President, Site C BC Hydro & Power Authority

The Bill Good Show on CKNW broadcasting live at the BC Business Summit (November 2013)


C O U N C I L S TA F F

PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE

Greg D’Avignon President and Chief Executive Officer [email protected]

Barbara McNicholls Executive Assistant to the President [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATIONS

Herb Eibensteiner Vice President, Operations and Chief Financial Officer [email protected]

Tiffany Gorder Administrative Assistant [email protected]

POLICY

Jock Finlayson Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer [email protected]

Ken Peacock Vice President and Chief Economist [email protected]

Tom Syer Vice President, Policy and Communications [email protected]

Denise Dalmer Director, Environment and Sustainability [email protected]

Cheryl Muir Director of Communications and Events [email protected]

Vicki Champ Executive Assistant [email protected]

Valerie Foster HR Research Analyst [email protected]

(R-L) Former Cabinet Ministers, Joy MacPhail and George Abbott are joined by Ipsos Reid Vice President Kyle Braid for a pre-election discussion with members of the Next Leaders (May 2014)

Annual Report 2013

Final BCBC Annual Report 2013

Documents

Transcript of Final BCBC Annual Report 2013