Akin to a wish list to Santa, the Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce presented a four-part 2025 request to the regional district board at the latter's Dec. 12 meeting. Those asks were presented in a delegation delivered by Gaetan Royer, chair of the Chamber’s board.
The first was for local governments to add an “opt in for more information” option on their business licensing documents that would authorize sharing of the applicant’s contact details with the chamber. While it was noted that the Sunshine Coast Regional District does not issue business licences, Royer stated that such cooperation by local municipalities would help spread the word about the chamber’s existence.
Royer’s second request was that the local governments of the region provide $6,500 a year in funding for a database management program that the chamber inherited when the Sunshine Coast Economic Development Organization (SCREDO) ceased operations. That funding level reflects no change for the amount that was provided locally to SCREDO for that work in 2024.
An investment attraction forum pitched
An ask to help facilitate an “Invest in the Sunshine Coast” forum tentatively in the fall of 2025, caught the interest of Sechelt area director Darren Inkster. He noted that “Coast quality of life” is a “big seller” especially for technology-based new businesses or business expansions and that could be a presentation topic at the potential event. Another business expansion area Inkster said he would like to see some focus on during such a forum was how to help local construction-related businesses develop the capacity to bid for larger projects coming to the Coast. Royer agreed with Inkster’s observations and stated those and other subjects could be included in the forum.
Royer's request to the board was that staff or directors’ time be dedicated to participation in the planning for the event. He also asked that the regional government develop material to be presented during the forum related to what it is doing to support economic growth and investment opportunities.
Cooperation and collaboration stressed
Ongoing and improved collaboration by local governments concluded the chamber’s list of requests. As an example of where things could be done more efficiently, Royer mentioned the recently completed local government housing needs assessment reports. In the chamber’s view, as the province allowed regional districts to do their assessments in cooperation with neighbouring municipalities, the SCRD should have opted for that route rather than contracting for a separate report. He also pointed to opportunities for coordination for things like film production rules, that could make it simpler and more attractive for that industry to use Coast locations.
The delegation’s materials were received for information and board chair Alton Toth noted that the financial request could be considered at Round 2 2025 budget deliberations in January. Later in the meeting, the board confirmed Area F director Kate Stamford as its liaison with the chamber for the coming year.
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
