GVBOT reacts to Bill 7 announcement

VANCOUVER, B.C. — In response to the Premier’s comments regarding changes to Bill 7, Bridgitte Anderson, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, has issued the following statement:

“We are pleased that the most sweeping powers found in Bill 7 will not be advanced in this legislation session. We believe B.C.’s current legislative process enables a swift response to external threats, and trust that all MLAs will be ready to return to the Legislature if needed.

“The introduction of Bill 7 and the sweeping powers it would have conferred to the Cabinet have raised significant questions about responsible democratic governance and created significant uncertainty for the business community at a very difficult time.

“We continue to call on the government to only advance the measures related to removing barriers to trade within Canada and not pursue the other parts of Bill 7.”

Additional Information:

• On March 13, when Bill 7 was initially tabled, the GVBOT released a statement in support of the interprovincial trade section of the Bill.
• The next day, on March 14, the GVBOT sent a letter to the Premier and Attorney General urging “the government to separate the internal trade part of Bill 7 and focus on advancing that.” We stated that Parts 2 – 4 are “truly unprecedented in scope, including the sweeping powers that would be conferred to the Cabinet. While it is clear Trump’s trade war has spurred an economic emergency, it is not clear to us that the sweeping powers are required or justified.”

About the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade:

Since its inception in 1887, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has been recognized as Western Canada's leading business association, engaging our members to inform public policy at all levels of government and empowering them to succeed and prosper in the global economy. With a Membership whose employees comprise one-third of B.C.'s workforce, we are the largest business association between Victoria and Toronto. We leverage this collective strength, facilitating networking opportunities, and providing professional development through unique programs. In addition, we operate one of the largest events platforms in the country, providing a stage for national and international thought leaders to enlighten B.C.'s business leaders.

Media contact:
Federico Cerani
Communications Manager
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
604-640-5450 | media@boardoftrade.com