Business
owners are affected by many decisions made every day. Consumers decide when, where and how to
shop. Services providers decide when and
how to price their services from advertising to cash register tape
supplies. Governments decide on taxation
and public policy issues that can either help or hurt the economy and therefore
business.
As
a business organization, the Nova Scotia Chamber of Commerce is an umbrella for
the 33 local chambers within the province.
Our goal is to serve as a stage for provincial business issues and those
issues that affect the economy. Some
would say we spend a lot of time on government issues but it is estimated that
the public sector makes up 48% of our provincial economy. That is an unfortunate statistic and
therefore the NS Chambers of Commerce will be speaking on these issues
too.
Our
members, the 33 local chambers, are of varying size and scope of
operation. From the very small, less
than 50 members to the very large, more than 500 members. Our goal for 2010 is to be an advocate and to
better shape our own structure for regional input. We will also plan to stage learning sessions
during our quarterly meetings that will help local chambers operate better and
help in building and retaining membership.
It
is my hope that during the next year that the NS Chamber will be known as an
organization that will speak on business issues and will have made the value of
the business operator better known and respected in Nova Scotia.
Wayne Fiander
President
Nova Scotia Chambers of Commerce
