Identified as a priority through our recent strategic planning session, this new portion of our Member Rewards Program delivers several services for the business community around the North, said John Curran, Executive Director of the NWT Chamber.

 

“The ability to vote in our online poll will now be limited to members of our organization or those belonging to the other community chambers of commerce in the NWT,” he said. “People will login based on the chamber they belong to, allowing us to track regional differences in responses to our poll questions.”

 

A user name and password will be e-mailed directly to NWT Chamber members. In the case of business that only belong to a community chamber, user names and passwords will be sent to that organization’s representative on the NWT Chamber board or the office staff where applicable with a request to forward them on to the members.

 

Also on the site, members will be able to download PDF versions of NWT Chamber meeting minutes, as well as presentations, reports, proposals and discussion papers given to the Chamber by members and outside organizations, Curran added.

 

“This will help us keep you informed without clogging your inbox – you can plug yourself in on your own schedule,” he said.

 

The other key feature linked to this portion of our site is access to an online discussion forum where you as members can register for individual access and chat about almost anything, within the bounds of good taste, with your fellow members.

 

“This online discussion forum will allow the NWT Chamber Board of Directors to better understand and consider your views ahead of setting policy or preparing a position paper in response to government proposals,” said Ann Marie Tout, President of the NWT Chamber. “The first topic we’ll examine this way is the GNWT proposal to change the Business Incentive Policy (BIP).”

 

The GNWT has proposed four main changes to the BIP, including:

1. Eliminating BIP adjustments on contracts over $5 million;

2. Capping BIP adjustments at $200,000 on contracts worth $1 million to $5 million;

3. Excluding projects for community governments and other boards and agencies from BIP requirements, and;

4. Declining any further applications from non-resident owned businesses for a Northern business designation. Existing businesses with such designations would be grandfathered and maintain their status.

 

“We want to hear from you on this issue,” said Tout. “Get online, login to the Members Only section, vote in our poll and then give us your comments through the forum – after all this is your chamber, we need the benefit of your expertise.”

 

In association with the network of community Chambers of Commerce in Fort Simpson, Behchoko, Norman Wells, Fort Smith, Hay River and Yellowknife as well as the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, the NWT Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of more than 865 members. For more than 35 years, it has been the only pan-territorial voice of businesses across all sectors of the Northern economy.