• Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Worried with NB Budget Priorities

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    Tuesday, March 19, 2024
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2024
     
    Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
    Patti Colson
    Manager of Communications
    902.694.2210
    patti@atlanticchamber.ca

     

    Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Worried with Budget Priorities

     
    Windsor, NS (March 19, 2024) – The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to see the Government of New Brunswick make key investments in housing and that the province is projecting a budget surplus of $41 million. While the ACC applauds New Brunswick’s track record of fiscal restraint, several social concerns burgeoning throughout the province should not be ignored.
     
    The ACC commends the Government of New Brunswick for excellent fiscal stewardship, giving them an A+. However, we will continue to call on Government to earmark increased funding for both housing and healthcare. We encourage that this increase in funding be tightly tied to measuring and improving outcomes, not simply throwing money at problems.
     
    “Our chamber members have been urging Government to make critical investments in housing and healthcare,” said Rhonda Tulk-Lane, CEO of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce. “While the 54.1% increase in housing funding is welcomed, the Government has kept healthcare funding static, despite businesses signaling that a good province-wide healthcare system is critical to economic growth. Employers rely on healthy employees to grow their business."
     
    Budget 2024 could have had more measures to reduce the cost of living and the cost of doing business. One of the ACC’s recommendations for the Government of New Brunswick was to reduce regulatory burden for businesses. It is critically important that the Government of New Brunswick commits to targeted red tape reductions to safeguard its competitive edge.
     
    The ACC stands ready as a willing partner for the Government of New Brunswick to improve the business climate across the province.
     
     
     
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    About the Atlantic Chamber – The Voice of Atlantic Canadian Business
    The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is the largest accredited business organization of influence in Atlantic Canada representing more than 16,000 businesses and their 300,000 employees through its network of 90 Chambers of Commerce in the four Atlantic Provinces. For more than 125 years, ACC has served as the voice of Atlantic Canadian business and actively partners with its members and other organizations to help create a strong, vibrant, and growing Atlantic Canada.
     
     
     

  • Business Truth & Reconciliation Business Truth & Reconciliation

    The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is taking proactive steps to promote reconciliation and respect for Indigenous rights within the corporate sector. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 92, the Chamber urges its members to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a guiding framework. This entails a commitment to meaningful consultation, fostering respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before embarking on economic projects. Moreover, the Chamber advocates for equitable access to employment, training, and educational opportunities for Indigenous communities, ensuring they reap sustainable benefits from economic development initiatives.

     

    Recognizing the importance of education, the Chamber encourages businesses to provide comprehensive training for management and staff on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. Emphasizing intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and anti-racism, these efforts aim to foster a more inclusive and harmonious corporate environment rooted in mutual understanding and respect.

    Learn more click here