Local Chamber of Commerce sees changes, including new president
By Collin Gallant on September 2, 2017.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com @CollinGallant The new president of the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce says that he sees planned increases to minimum wage as the biggest challenge local businesses will face in the year ahead. Perry Deering said higher wages for lower paid workers will have an escalator effect, and business will be forced to get creative to control costs. “Wages are the big issue for every business,” he said at Friday’s grand opening of the Medicine Hat Mall. “There’s a tolerance of what consumers are willing to pay, and to work under that, provide a good service at a fair price, you have to control your costs. Deering, the owner of Deerview Meats, was announced as the incoming president this week after he spent the previous six years as a director with the business group. Since 2016 the Chamber has been arguing against promise by the provincial government to raise the minimum wage in steps to $15 per hour but late 2018. The next rise, of $1.40 per hour, comes into effect on October 1. That will bring the wage to $13.60 per hour and the final increase to $15 is set for October 2018. “It sounds like a small amount, but it’s a bigger picture than just students,” said Deering, adding that commensurate increases for managers and senior staff is a matter of maintaining good morale. The local chamber has also sent out notices this week urging members to provide feedback about proposed changes to federal small business taxes. The Liberal government says it wants to prevent business investors from moving income around to find greatest tax advantage, either to family members in a lower tax brackets or into capital gains, which are taxed less than wage income. Business groups and the official opposition Conservatives have said changes will kill jobs. Other changes to the local chamber board were announced in a release. Sarah MacKenzie, of MacKenzie Eye Care and Royal LePage Community Realty, remains first vice-president. Tracy Noullett, of Myers Norris Penny, becomes second vice-president, and Brett Pudwell, of EBT Chartered Accountants, is the treasurer for the term. Deering takes over from Aaron Fleming, of the Western Financial Group, who now takes on the formal role of past president. Directors include: Tara Williams, Medicine Hat College; Tim Weinberger, Pattison Broadcast Group; Sarah Bowman, Bolton, Bishop and Bowman Lawyers; Dave Hanni, CJCY FM; Sarah Franchetto, RBC Royal Bank; Guy Schotanus, ProComm Technology Solutions; Marcus Campbell, Terralta Inc. Deering characterized the board and experienced and strong. He expects to delegate much of the “It’s going to be a really easy transition… we have such talented people,” he said. 19
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