Letters, Releases & Town Halls
The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce advocates on behalf of its members through letters, media releases and town halls with all levels of government
Jan. 20, 2022 letter - Business engagement required
Jan. 18, 2022 release - Chamber urges transparency on restricti.._
Jan. 10, 2022 release - Chamber advocacy works for retailers
Dec. 21, 2021 release - Chamber responds to new Covid restrictions
Nov. 30, 2021 release - Chamber responds to new capacity limits
Nov. 24, 2021 letter - Chamber responds to Interior capacity limits
Nov. 24, 2021 release - Chamber responds to paid sick leave
Nov. 10, 2021 letter - Congratulations to MP Arnold on Shadow Cabinet Position
Nov. 2, 2021 release - International flights resume
Oct. 27, 2021 release - Chamber responds to IH capacity limits
Oct. 14, 2021 release - Chamber meets with government on sick leave
Sept. 23, 2021 release - Businesses deserve respect
Sept. 21, 2021 release - 2021 federal election
Sept. 21, 2021 letter - Congratulations to MP Mel Arnold
Aug. 26, 2021 release - Chamber responds to proof of vaccine
Aug. 19, 2021 letter - Chamber provides input on permanent, paid sick leave
Aug. 16, 2021 release - Federal candidates forum
June 29, 2021 release - Step 3 of BC Restart Plan
June 25, 2021 letter - Chamber urges provincial support for special events
June 23, 2021 release - Interior Provincial Exhibition
June 22, 2021 letter - Chamber calls for support for Interior Provincial Exhibition
June 14, 2021 release - Reopening B.C.'s economy
May 25, 2021 release - Provincial restart plan
May 21, 2021 letter - Chamber supports Interior Provincial Exhibition
May 20, 2021 release - State of the Region
May 6, 2021 release - Labour Shortage Requires Action
May 5, 2021 letter - Labour Shortage Requires Action
April 28, 2021 release - Chelsea Estate statement
April 20, 2021 release - Provincial Budget Response
April 19, 2021 release - Federal Budget Response
April 16, 2021 release - Overdose Prevention Site One Year Later
April 7, 2021 letter - Provincial Restrictions Cinemas and Performing Arts Venues
April 7, 2021 letter - Provincial Casino Reopenings
April 7, 2021 letter - City of Vernon Retail Cannabis Business License Fees
March 31, 2021 letter - Congratulations to Okanagan Indian Band Chief and Council
March 30, 2021 letter - Regional Benchmarks Needed for Covid Restrictions
March 29, 2021 release - Provincial health orders
March 22, 2021 release - Farmers Markets non-food vendors
Feb. 19, 2021 release - Provincial Officials hear from Chamber
Feb. 4, 2021 release - Farmers Markets
Feb. 3, 2021 letter - Support for Local Farmers Markets
Jan. 26, 2021 release - Support Local in 2021
Dec. 22, 2020 release - Chamber calls for tax equity for distillers
Dec. 21, 2020 letter - Tax Equity for Canadian Craft Distillers
Dec. 11, 2020 release - Chamber stands up for distillers
Dec. 11, 2020 letter - Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau about distilleries
Dec. 11, 2020 letter - Letter to Premier Horgan about distilleries
Nov. 20, 2020 release - Chamber responds to expanded pandemic measures
Nov. 19, 2020 release - Chamber survey highlights need for action
Nov. 8, 2020 letter - Congratulations to Harwinder Sandhu
Oct. 26, 2020 release - Chamber responds to provincial election
Oct. 9, 2020 release - Chamber provides election resources
Oct. 1, 2020 release - Chamber speaks out against racism
Sept. 18, 2020 release - Chamber supports expanded child care
Sept. 4, 2020 release - Chamber reinforces need for provincial park expansion
Sept. 3, 2020 letter - Ellison Park Expansion
Aug. 25, 2020 release - Chamber joins Canada United campaign
Aug. 18, 2020 release - City praised for embracing cultural centre downtown
Aug. 13, 2020 release - Chamber endorses next steps in cultural centre process
Aug. 10, 2020 release - Public urged to support Canadian distilleries
July 27, 2020 release - Chamber calls for open process for supportive housing
July 13, 2020 release - Chamber demands federal action on aquatic invasive species
July 13, 2020 letter - Aquatic Invasive Species
July 9, 2020 release - Chamber urges government to make park expansion a priority
July 8, 2020 letter - Ellison Park Expansion Urged
June 25, 2020 letter - Temporary Layoff Extension
June 23, 2020 release - Chamber calls for land to be acquired for park
June 23, 2020 letter - Parkland Acquisition Sought
June 22, 2020 release - Chamber wants extension on temporary layoff time limitÂ
June 22, 2020 letter - Temporary Layoff Time Limit
June 18, 2020 letter - Greater Vernon Cultural Centre
June 10, 2022 release - Chamber urges government support for protective equipment
June 9, 2020 letter - Personal Protective Equipment
June 2, 2020 release - Chamber presents to Legislative Finance Committee
May 29, 2020 letter - Invasive Mussels
May 27, 2020 release - Chamber supports City on overdose prevention site
May 26, 2020 letter - Overdose Prevention Site Location
May 13, 2020 release - Chamber unveils Relaunch Vernon tool kit
May 11, 2020 release - Chamber disappointed with downtown OPS
May 11, 2020 letter - Overdose Prevention Site Location
April 16, 2020 letter - RDNO Covid-19
April 15, 2020 letter - District of Coldstream Covid-19
April 15, 2020 letter - City of Vernon Covid-19
March 30, 2020 letter - Provincial Government Property Taxes (Covid)
March 16, 2020 release - Residents urged to support local
Feb. 18, 2020 release - Chamber responds to provincial budget
Feb. 7, 2020 letter - Federal Excise Tax
Nov. 29, 2019 letter - Mel Arnold Shadow Minister Congratulations
Nov. 6, 2019 release -Â Chamber supports Kelowna International Airport
Oct. 24, 2019 letter - Distilled Spirits Industry
Oct. 22, 2019 letter - Mel Arnold Congratulations
Oct. 22, 2019 release - Chamber responds to federal election
Sept. 24, 2019 release - Chamber resolution on distillery tax supported nationally
Sept. 17, 2019 release - Cooperative approach needed to resolve forest crisis
Sept. 16, 2019 letter - Forest Sector Action Needed
Aug. 29, 2019 letter - Vernon Security Patrols
Aug. 16, 2019 letter - Invasive Milfoil Weed Control
Aug. 16, 2019 letter - Rocky Mountain Mussels
July 24, 2019 release - Chamber advocates for members on provincial issues
May 27, 2019 release - Chamber resolution on distillery taxes endorsed provincially
May 23, 2019 release - Chambers meet with federal tourism minister
May 17, 2019 release - Chamber doesn't want overdose prevention site downtown
May 7, 2019 release - Chamber wants milfoil control
April 29, 2019 letter - Milfoil Weed Control
April 29, 2019 release - Chamber supports rural internet strategy
April 17, 2019 letter - Employment Standards Act
April 9, 2019 release - Chamber responds to IH pausing overdose prevention process
April 4, 2019 letter - Invasive Species Study
March 29, 2019 letter - Overdose Prevention Sites
March 26, 2019 release - Chamber responds to overdose prevention site
March 19, 2019 release - Chamber responds to federal budget
March 11, 2019 release - Chamber meets with federal agriculture minister
Feb. 20, 2019 release - Chamber welcomes Folks on Spokes
Feb. 19, 2019 release - Chamber responds to provincial budget
Jan. 14, 2019 letter - Cultural Centre Support
Nov. 23, 2018 release - Chamber calls for action on downtown safety
Nov. 17, 2018 release - Small business focus of minister's visit
Oct. 17, 2018 release - Vote yes for culture
Oct 14, 2021 - Employer Paid Sick Days Round Table
Harwinder Sandhu - MLA for Vernon-Monashee
Harry Bains - Minister of Labour
Sept 8, 2021 - Federal All Candidates Forum
Mel Arnold - Conservative Party
Kyle Delfing - People's Party
Shelley Desautels - Liberal Party
Andrea Gunner - Green Party
Ron Johnston - New Democratic Party
June 17, 2021 - State of the Region Chamber Town Hall
Victor Cumming, City of Vernon mayor
Jim Garlick, District of Coldstream mayor
Ryan Oliverius, Okanagan Indian Band councillor
Rochelle Saddleman, Okanagan Indian Band councillor
Amanda Shatzko, Regional District of North Okanagan vice-chair
April 7, 2021 - Chamber Town Hall with BC Official Opposition
Greg Kyllo - MLA for Shuswap and Critic for Labour
March 31, 2021 - Chamber Town Hall with YLW
Sam Sammadar - Airport Director, Kelowna International Airport
March 3, 2021 - Chamber Town Hall With Federal Opposition.
Mel Arnold - Member of Parliament for North Okanagan-Shuswap
Pat Kelly - Shadow Cabinet Minister for Small Business and Western Economic Diversification
February 19, 2021 - Chamber Town Hall with BC Government.
Ravi Kahlon - Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery & Innovation
Lana Popham - Minister of Agriculture
Harwinder Sandhu - MLA for Vernon-Monashee
Chamber Provincial Election All Candidates Forum.
Kyle Delfing - BC Conservatives
Eric Foster - BC Liberals
Harwinder Sandhu - BC NDP
Keli Westgate - BC Greens
Greater Vernon State of the Region.
Kevin Acton, Regional District of North Okanagan chair
Victor Cumming, City of Vernon mayor
Jim Garlick, District of Coldstream mayor
Byron Louis, Okanagan Indian Band chief
Kevin Poole, Vernon economic development manager