Develop

• A big benefit for many smaller companies is the group insurance plan for their employees.
• A range of business services, such as company name searches, certificates of origin for shipping, and benefits from vendors such as discounts on bank merchant services and other goods and services.
• Tourism BC Visitor Centre services for Delta, not only helping tourists find their way, but encouraging visitors to stay in Delta during their time in this area
• Development also comes from listening and learning: we listen to our members and plan events on topics they have identified as important such as: the South Fraser Perimeter Road, Delta Port Expansion, Public Transit access, Boundary Bay Airport and several other topics.
• Networking for our members comes in various forms, such as trade shows, annual golf tournament and Hats Off recognition gala, and in new ways, such as tours and discussions at members’ facilities or work sites, and Chamber Cafe as a more informal way for members and other business people to get together on specific topics or to collaborate within a certain sector.
• We have also provided some learning opportunities through the highly rated series of five business topics presented by faculty from the business school at the British Columbia Institute of Technology – and other events for learning and development.

Connect

• Membership growth is about building the business community.
• The strength of that community comes from the networking to do business with and learn from as many people as possible within sectors, across sectors and with the community at large.
• The Delta Chamber of Commerce is building membership by sector and by geographic region, particularly in North Delta area, including the Tilbury and Annacis Island industrial parks, and the North Delta commercial areas along Scott Road.

Advocate

• The Delta Chamber of Commerce aims to promote growth, prosperity and the sustainability of the Delta community.
• The Chamber’s role is to act on behalf of business in Delta to influence economic, social and government challenges and issues.
• Some examples:

1. the Chamber was part of the team from Delta that successfully secured $630,000.00 from the provincial government for the Boundary Bay Airport;
2. we assisted members and Delta businesses in the international mailing industry to lobby the federal government on legislative changes to stop Canada Post taking punitive measures in its efforts to monopolize this industry; this issue is being addressed by the federal Minister of Transport, The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, MP, and by the Prime Minister’s Office;
3. in 2005 we encouraged The Vancouver Port Authority to create a community liaison group to respond to concerns, discuss alternatives and present options for the plans of Deltaport; the group finally formed in 2007; through such a group we need to work together to deal with challenges regarding port expansion, and increase the positives for Delta’s quality of life;
4. the Delta Chamber of Commerce and the Prince George Chamber of Commerce achieved support of the BC Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting in May 2007, calling on the provincial and federal governments to invest in our Pacific Coast ports to meet the tidal wave of increased trade with China and Southeast Asia; we want to maintain a competitive position so that we do not lose out to the United States where their Pacific ports are rapidly developing to meet the demand; we also want our governments to consider the needs of local communities which support that expanded role in international trade and that includes the needs of Delta; this resolution has been included in recommendations to the provincial government;
5. the Delta and Prince George Chambers and the Halifax Chamber of Commerce achieved approval at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual meeting in September 2007, that the federal government invest in all its ports on both the West and East Coasts, for the same reasons, but to address a similar growth in trade with India – not yet as big, but substantial and growing; this resolution has been included in recommendations to the federal government;
6. in 2007 the Delta Chamber’s transportation committee met with and advised the leading engineers for the South Fraser Perimeter Road and with various groups to challenge and discuss the alignment of the road; the committee has met with the leader of the provincial Environmental Assessment Office about the road; we have hosted BC Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon at a luncheon this year and the federal Parliamentary Secretary for the federal Minister Cannon, Jean Bruce, MP on another occasion; the Chamber has worked long and hard on these and related issues regarding transportation infrastructure, not only what is good for business, but what is needed in the community of Delta;
7. on port expansion, we have been collaborating with the BC Trucking Association, TSI – Deltaport, Fraser Port Authority, the container storage industry, municipal councilors and many others;
8. there are other positions taken, issues pursued and relationships being developed, such as funding of the debris trap along the Fraser River; dredging of the river all around us; irrigation and land use in conjunction with the Delta Farmer’s Institute; a relationship with the Tsawwassen First Nation so the Chamber can collaborate with them in their business ventures as we do with other developments in our community.