Cranbrook Chamber Raises Federal Election Isssues
The Cranbrook of Commerce has delivered a multi-tiered strategy to ensure that members’ voices are heard in the lead-up to the 2025 Federal Election.
Businesses in Cranbrook will benefit from a government that demonstrates a commitment to creating better conditions for our members to thrive. Federal issues were brought forward to Candidates, face-to-face, and at the All Candidates Forum through pre-submitted questions from the Chamber.
Issues like housing, inter-provincial skilled labour mobility, and crime prevention measures through the Criminal Code were some of the key points of discussion.
members lunch with candidates
Four of the six candidates for the Columbia-Kootenay-Southern-Rockies riding accepted our invitation to attend a members-exclusive lunch event at the Heritage Inn & Convention Centre on Monday, April 14. The event was designed to allow our members to ask their questions and air their concerns to candidates in a one-on-one setting, in contrast to the more structured All Candidates Forum to follow later that evening.
SUPPORTING JCI's ALL-CANDIDATES FORUM
The Cranbrook Chamber spearheaded a collaborative approach with JCI Kootenay and regional Chambers of Commerce to ensure that candidates would be able to attend the All-Candidates Forum in Cranbrook. Thanks JCI for this event.
Thank you to the Columbia Valley, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford Chambers of Commerce for working with us toward the goal of bringing the candidates in front of as many communities as possible in this part of the Columbia-Kootenay-Southern-Rockies Riding.
There are many behind-the-scenes moving parts to manage when planning a series of events, and often this work go unnoticed. We recognize the efforts from Chambers of Commerce in our region that drive many initiatives, making a difference not to just to our members but to our broader communities at large.
our questions AT THE FORUM
The Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce engaged its Advocacy Committee to create a list of six questions that addressed Federal issues that affect the conditions of doing business in Cranbrook for our members. This list was pre-submitted to JCI Kootenay for use at the All-Candidates Forum on Monday, April 14 at Key City Theatre.
Four of our questions were asked, and can be viewed at the following time stamps:
Columbia River Treaty: 18:54
One of our most critical issues is Canada’s water sovereignty. Securing our Canadian natural resources is paramount for our future. With the Columbia River Treaty negotiations now on hold, what can you bring to Ottawa to bring awareness to this important FEDERAL issue and what would you propose to Ottawa to ensure protection of our water sovereignty?
Crime and Repeat Offenders: 29:05
Given the rising criminal activity affecting our business community, what is your or your party’s stance on amending the Criminal Code of Canada to impose stricter sentencing for drug trafficking and repeat violent offenders?
Access to Healthcare: 39:43
Under the Canada Health Act, how will you or your party ensure reasonable access to healthcare, and how van we improve immigration/accreditation policies and advocacy for foreign trained professionals to choose Cranbrook?
Tariff Protection: 1:43:07
What will you or your party do so that Canada does not lose its competitive edge and risk business investment fleeing to the US, and how can you replace the revenue lost from any initiatives from government coffers?
our additional questions
Inter-Provincial Trade:
What is your or your party’s stance on how to strengthen the enforcement of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, to promote inter-provincial trade and how can we strengthen chapter 7 (labour mobility) to apply to our healthcare professionals.
Indigenous Rights & Title:
Do you recognize Indigenous and treaty rights and what specific policies or funding commitments do you or your party have to support indigenous economic sovereignty, including access to capital, land, and infrastructure for business development?
OUR CHAMBEr & MEMBERS in the news
The Globe and Mail spoke to the Cranbrook Chamber and a few of our members (Just Music, The Baker Hotel) about some of the pressures that businesses are facing in the lead-up to the election.
We also had a chance to highlight other ways that we are supporting our members, as we chatted at the Cranbrook History Centre during our 1st Annual Board Governance Training for Non-Profits.
