SURREY - Federal Industry Minister James Moore sat with local small business owners Wednesday (March 4) for a roundtable discussion on everything from the upcoming transit plebiscite to free-trade agreements.
The discussion was hosted by Surrey Board of Trade and offered a chance for members to express any concerns to Moore, as well as learn what the federal government was doing for small business.
"Things went really well, it was a good roundtable for us to give feedback to the federal minister in advance of the budget being released," said SBoT CEO Anita Huberman. "It was such a diverse industry sector base around the table, anywhere from hospitality to clean energy to agriculture, so (Moore) received a breadth of knowledge about what businesses are facing on the ground here and what their priorities are."
For his part, Moore said taxes were really the main concern and he referred to the government's cutting of the corporate tax rate from 22 per cent to 15 per cent since 2007.
"We also talked about rapid transit and the plan being pushed by Mayor (Linda) Hepner and previously Dianne Watts, we talked about foreign investment opportunities, expanding opportunities with Asia Pacific," said Moore.
Asked what, if any, issues were unique to Surrey businesses, Moore said it was likely figuring out how businesses will be affected by the coming changes in infrastructure.
"I think what's contemporary for Surrey is the push on infrastructure because the City Centre that's really amassed around city hall - the SFU campus, the SkyTrain, that core that's being established - there's a unique infrastructure challenge on the horizon that needs to be planned for, so I think the LRT expansion that the city is looking for is a critical issue."
Moore also said connecting the city's various business sectors would also be key to future success.
"Guildford is growing and the core and City Centre is doing well, so I think a corridor along 104th avenue, revitalized with rapid transit could do just that," he said.
Moore is no stranger to Surrey, either, as the longtime MP hails from the nearby riding of Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam. As such, Moore said he's very familiar with Surrey and its businesses.
"The Surrey Board of Trade is one of the more active boards of trade in the province and it was a very good conversation," he said.
Huberman likewise praised Moore for being open for dialogue with local businesses, given his ministerial position and rank within the government.
"It's always good to engage with key ministers like Minister Moore," she said. "In addition to that overall recipe, it's good to engage with local MPs so they can hear the message on what local industries are facing."
Moore's visit comes as all parties are beginning to gear up for the coming federal election this fall. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was also in town recently, having appeared at Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Cloverdale campus last month to announce benefits for LNG producers. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was also in Surrey Thursday (March 5) to speak at the board of trade's Women in Business awards.
cpoon@thenownewspaper.com