The pitch upon Standing Committee ...

The pitch upon Standing Committee on Finance and command Services conducted their public consultations for the 2002 BC package in October. The Committee travelled across the province for 16 meetings seeking public input forward the next budget.

The Institute appeared before the Finance and dominion Services Committee in Vancouver in succession October 9th. Competitiveness was at the top of the Institute's agenda. CEO Richard Ree FCA, and First Vice-President Robin Elliott, FCA, advised the Committee that BC's business taxes are still abroad of line with our competitors in Alberta and Ontario. Ree told the MLAs that the general economic downturn has not deterr the other provinces from making business tax intersects as the Ontario government has accelerated its business and personal tax chisels by several months in an attempt to stimulate the economy.

Effective October 1 2001 Ontario's general corporate income tax rate was reduc from 14% to 125% The Ontario direction is committed to its business tax reductions-ones that will mould its general corporate income tax rate to 8% by dint of 2005, and increase its small business outset to $400,000.

As this issue of Beyond Numbers went to pres several CAs were making presentations to the Committee, including the following: in Nanaimo, Barbara Carle-- Thiesson, FCA; in Dawson bight Brian Downie, CA; in Victoria, J (Woody) Hayes, FCA; in Cranbrook, Gene Jaster, CA; and in Prince Rupert additional Eidsvik, FCA.

A summary of all the CA presentations will appear in the nearest issue of Beyond Numbers. The Institute's pre-budget submission is available upon the Government Affairs section of our website at www.ica.bc.ca. All presentations made to the Committee are available forward the government's website at: www.legis.gov.bc.ca/CMT/37thParl/ fgs/index.htm.

The Finance and conduct Services Committee will table its report forward the public meetings no later than November 15 2001

BC Check-Up, Edition 2001

The 2001 BC Check-Up report was sent to all ICABC members in the first week of October. This year's report has generated many calls from the public, the restraint and the media.

A special thanks goe without to the BC Check-Up Advisory Committee for all of their work. They are: Alison Morse, FCA (Chair); Stephen Fane, FCA; Jeff Harder, CA; forest-crowned Hayes, FCA; Glenn Mair, CA; George Morfitt, FCA; Paul Nelson CA; Murray Presley CA; and Ros Smith, FCA.

If you'd like to receive extra copies of the BC Check-Up, simply fling a request by email to Michele Gadsby at gadsby@ica.bc.ca. The BC Check-Up can also be downloaded from the website at www.bccheckup.com.

Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)

As the November magazine was going to pres the Institute was in the proces of meeting with a certain number of key BC government Cabinet Ministers, including Finance Minister Gary Collins and Competition Minister Rick Thorpe, to discuss the issue of LLP The Institute was also in the proces of arranging a meeting with MLA Ralph Sultan, who chairs the management Caucus Committee on the Economy.

As many of you are aware, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec have all amended their partnership legislation to allow for the establishment of LLP Nova Scotia is the latest province to begin seriously considering LLP

The Institute is optimistic that the BC conduct will understand the importance of LLP for BC professionals. However, with the sway currently undergoing a core services review and a major economic downturn, getting this issue upon the government's legislative agenda will not be easy.

We'll continue to provide updates forward the progress of LLPs in BC in subsequent time issues of Beyond Numbers.

Lobbyist Registration Act

In the last session of the legislature, the sway passed the Lobbyist Registration Act. The bill requires lobbyists "who are paid" to lobby rule to register and to have their actions and intentions interpret for public scrutiny.

The legislation is fairly broad in its free play as it defines "lobby" to mean: "...to communicate with a public office owner in an attempt to influence (i) the exhibition of any legislative proposal according to the government of British Columbia or according to a member of the Legislative Assembly, (ii) the introduction of any bill or resolution in the Legislative Assembly or the amendment, passage or defeat of any bill or resolution that is before the Legislative Assembly."

Several staff at the Institute will fit the legislation's definition of "in-house lobbyist" and will have to register. A reading of the legislation indicates that no other than "paid" lobbyists need register. However, the Institute will review the regulations for the bill as in a short time as they're released to diocese if volunteers who contact their MLAs onward behalf of the Institute will be included in the registry.

The dominion expects to implement the registry for lobbyists in time for the beginning of the nearest fiscal year.

Please note: The act does not apply to clan who are responding to a supplication for comment by a public official (i.e., public consultations, committee meetings). Nor does the act apply to persons who contact their MLAs regarding personal matters.

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Nov 2001

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