Our approach to Chamber position statements enables us to ensure that our "Voice of Business" represents the interests of the business community and gives current issues due consideration.
If the issue at hand such as the Pattullo Bridge involves members with acknowledged differing opinions, we believe that all members and businesses be allowed to participate in the process. Our position must be representative of our members.
Recently your New Westminster Chamber of Commerce co-hosted a dialogue on the Pattullo Bridge and its future. We assembled four speakers who were able to give the near capacity audience the varying perspectives on the future of Pattullo Bridge.
We knew that the positions would be different but it is important to us that our members and other businesses have the opportunity to learn the different options and to be able to ask questions to the spakers on what impacts each option will have on our business community.
The work has only just begun for the New Westminster Chamber on this file. We are committed to hosting meetings with key business leaders and stakeholders to gather their input and recommendations for the Pattullo Bridge and its future. At the end of the process, what we will have is the business community's position on the Pattullo Bridge and one we feel plays a very important role in this process.
Traffic is increasing and there are more and more buses, trucks and cars on the roads. The cost of congestion for the region's economy is estimated at $1.3 billion annually. We must address our transportation infrastructure today for the sake of our tomorrow.
Andrew Hopkins, President, New Westminster Chamber of Commerce
