chamber connections - Weyburn Chamber of Commerce

OCTOBER 2014
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
In this issue:
Retail Expo
Register for Luncheon with Sunrise CF
Nominate for Golden Sheaf Award
Insight · Influence · Connection · Access · Exposure
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
OCTOBER 2014
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAMBER
Welcome to the second edition of Chamber Connections. The feedback we received from our Members
after our first edition was positive, so we’re pleased to keep going!
Speaking of feedback, the Chamber is looking to gather your thoughts in our on-line survey. You’ll find
information about it and the link on our website. Please take a few minutes to tell us what you’re
experiencing so that we can ensure we’re meeting your needs.
And – you’ve probably heard – we’ve got Farmer Appreciation Night all ready to go again! This year
looks to be one of the best in recent memory as we welcome back our good friend John Gormley.
Additionally, we welcome new partners Parrish & Heimbecker to Farmer Appreciation Night. Get your
tickets early, because this one will sell out even quicker than usual.
Thanks for another great month and let’s get back to business.
“The Weyburn & District
Chamber of Commerce
represents the interests
of its Members by
advocating for a
healthy community,
both economically
and socially.”
Jeff Richards
General Manager
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
Congratulations to our Chamber Members that are Finalists for the ABEX Awards on Nov. 1st in Regina Streamline Oilfield Services and PAR Contracting Ltd. Good luck!
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Please feel free to contact us at:
11-3rd Street NE Weyburn, SK S4H 0W1
Phone: 306 - 842 - 4738
Fax: 306 - 842 - 0520
[email protected]
www.weyburnchamber.com
If you are interested in attending the ABEX awards this year, contact our office for more information or
go online to register at http://chambermaster.saskchamber.com/events/details/abex-awards-2014-142
Proudly Serving our Members Since 1940
Business Leadership Dedicated to Economic Vitality and Quality of Life
SaskJobs—an important resource for business
Posting a job vacancy today is much different than it was even ten years ago – and its likely
going to continue to change. There are a number of job websites including saskjobs.ca,
localjobshop.ca, monster.ca, and even facebook. Add to that, the newspapers and local job boards
and it can seem overwhelming.
One website, is important to use – and that is saskjobs.ca. Saskjobs listings are often used as
the measuring stick for many agencies, including Government, to guage opportunities and job
shortages. We often hear saskjobs mentioned in news releases and it is the website that the
Government of Saskatchewan uses when promoting Saskatchewan as a place to live. Certainly you
should advertise your vacancies on any (or all) of the venues mentioned above, but please make
sure that you’re accessing saskjobs.ca too.
If you would like more information on Saskjobs.ca, please call Wendy at the Chamber office, or
stop in and see her. This is of good value as you look to staff your business. ◘
Minimum Wage to Increase on October 1st
Saskatchewan’s Minimum Wage will be increasing by $0.20 to $10.20/hour on October 1st. The
Government of Saskatchewan has been working to introduce regulations that will provide for
regular indexing of minimum wage every year. It is their expectation that minimum wage
increases will be announced before June 30th for implementation on October 1st of the same
year.
The Chamber has long lobbied for planned and meaningful minimum wage increases, rather than
arbitrary and irregular increases. These are positive moves from Government.
Since 2007, Saskatchewan’s minimum wage has increased from $7.95 to $10.20 – an increase of
28%. Well ahead of the rate of inflation. ◘
Tell us what you think!
The Weyburn Chamber of Commerce Member
Survey is now online. Please take the time to
visit www.weyburnchamber.com, and follow the
link to the survey.
Enform – Welcome to
Weyburn
by Ken Evans, WREDI Chair and
Guest Columnist
Earlier this month, we helped welcome Enform
Canada to Weyburn.
Enform is the energy sector’s advocate and
leading resource for the continuous
improvement of safety performance. Their
work is to help companies achieve their safety
goals by providing practices, assessment,
training, support, metrics and communication.
We worked hard to attract them to Weyburn
and that hard work paid off.
Having national organizations move their
offices to Weyburn is something that Weyburn
Regional Economic Development Inc (WREDI)
believes is paramount to growing Weyburn’s
economy. Helping quality companies grow
quality jobs in the Weyburn region is on the
top of our to-do list and we will continue to
meet with businesses inside and outside of
our community so that we can be sure we
have an environment where business succeeds.
WREDI sends delegations to the Global
Petroleum Show in Calgary, and starting in
2015 that event will be annual, and we will
continue to promote Weyburn every year at
that show. The energy sector is important to
our economy and we’re working to support it
every chance we get.
In closing, I would like to again extend a
warm welcome to Enform and we look
forward to more events like this in the future.
Ken Evans
Board Chair
Just remember - only
one survey per member!
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
OCTOBER 2014
Square One: Saskatchewan’s
Business Resource Centre
In Saskatchewan, the industries of entrepreneurship and small businesses see immense growth
year after year. Since 98% of companies in the province are small businesses, Square One strives
to be Saskatchewan’s centre for entrepreneurs and small business owners. As a small organization
ourselves, we understand how important a support service can be. That’s why our office provides a
convenient “walk ins welcome” policy, along with self-serve or assisted services. Our Business
Information Officers will also correspond over email or telephone in order to meet the needs of our
clients from across Saskatchewan.
Our services include:
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Market research (demographics, competitive analyses, trends, benchmarks etc. in North
America)
Business registration assistance and understanding business structures
Assist with Information about starting, planning, financing, managing and growing your
business
Providing sample business plans and other business document templates
Understanding Federal, Provincial and Municipal regulations
Referrals for Financing
For more information, please call 1-888-576-4444 or visit www.squareonesask.ca
Attention
Saskatchewan
Businesses
Have your say on the new
Multi-Material Recycling Program!
Multi-Material Stewardship Western and
the Ministry of Environment are looking
for your feedback on the Multi-Material
Recycling Program and small business
policy. If your business supplies or
distributes packaged goods and paper to
households, visit us online to learn more
about the program and potential
consultation meetings.
Please submit your feedback by October
14, 2014, at saskatchewan.ca/recycling
◘
Square One is supported by Western Economic Diversification and the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development
Authority, and is a member of the Canada Business Network. These supporters help us make a positive impact on the
province’s small business sector.
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
OCTOBER 2014
Access to Markets
- Impacting Weyburn & Area
The oil industry has certainly ballooned in our area over the past few years, and
the Chamber expects Weyburn to be a strong player in the energy sector for many
years to come. As with all industries, market conditions fluctuate and have impacts
that create highs and lows. Something that we’re seeing right now is a bit of a
plateau as oil producers are finding it hard to get the oil they currently produce to
market. This is influencing their decisions to drill new wells.
It not only impacts drilling, it also impacts revenue. The lack of access to global
markets often forces our producers to accept lower prices. The Canadian Chamber
estimates this to be as much as $50 million each day to Canada.
A few things we can all admit:

The world will be in constant need of oil for many years to come.

Canada can no longer rely on the US as the destination for nearly all exports.

Tomorrow’s growth in energy consumption lies largely in Asia. We can provide
that energy.
The US is expected to drastically reduce its oil imports while Asia is expected to
increase its imports by a far larger ratio. The fact is simple. Canada needs to build
the infrastructure to safely connect our
supply with international demands.
Continuing to be responsible and innovative
we can create more opportunities. The
record of oil and gas transportation in
Canada is excellent. Although it sometimes
is hard to imagine how oil transportation
impacts Weyburn’s economy – we can see
how it does, and your Chamber is
supporting the Chamber network and
partnering in the lobbying effort. ◘
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
Payroll Taxes - REDUCED!
The Chamber has been lobbying for a reduction in the payroll taxes
and we were very happy to hear that the Government of Canada
has listened.
The Small Business Job Credit will apply to Employment Insurance
(EI) premiums paid by small businesses in 2015 and 2016. The
credit will be calculated as the difference between premiums paid at
the legislated rate of $1.88 per $100 of insurable earnings and the
reduced small business rate of $1.60 per $100 of insurable earnings
in each of those years. Since employers pay 1.4 times the legislated
rate, this 28-cent reduction in the legislated rate is equivalent to a
reduction of 39 cents per $100 of insurable earnings in EI premiums
paid by small employers.
Any firm that pays employer EI premiums equal to or less than
$15,000 in 2015 and/or 2016 will be eligible for the credit in those
years.
As an example, a small business employing 14 employees, each
earning $40,000, would ordinarily pay about $14,740 in EI
premiums in 2015. However, since the total EI premiums paid by
the employer are less than $15,000, it would be eligible under the
Small Business Job Credit for a refund of about $2,200.
You do not have to apply. The Small Business Job Credit will be
automatically administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, which will
determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the credit. Once
calculated, the credit will be applied against any outstanding debt
and then the remaining amount, if any, will be refunded to the
small business. This measure is expected to save small employers
more than $550 million over 2015 and 2016. ◘
OCTOBER 2014
Welcome new Chamber Members….
Pet Valu
Rhineland Cutlery
For all your pet needs - from
food and supplies to a
grooming area right in the
store!
Melanie Adderley
306-842-1666
Weyburn Red Wings
Come out and cheer on Weyburn’s
SJHL Hockey Team - the Weyburn
Red Wings!
[email protected]
petvalu.com
Rhineland Cutlery is the newest line of premium
cutlery created to be the most balanced,
Ryan Gibney [email protected]
ergonomic and beautiful knife ever seen.
306-842-3717
weyburnredwings.ca
Alyssa Slinn
306-552-9117
[email protected]
rhinelandcutlery.com
This year’s show had the addition of door prizes
and “Featured Vendor” spots where Jeff went “live
on location” four times in the hour to draw
visitors to the vendor’s booth.
Retail Display of
E.Bourassa
& Sons
On September 19 & 20, the Chamber of With the extras of
Commerce held its 2nd Annual Retail Expo & Sale  KG Hotel/Fitzgerald’s Lounge featuring Last
Mountain Distillery’s Dill Pickle Vodka,
at the Curling Rink. With over 30 exhibitors
Whiskey and Vodka
from Weyburn and area, this year’s show was well

Brothers Pub & Grill serving pizza, wings and
received by vendors and the public alike.
Greek Salad

Young Fellows Wives serving lunch and
Thank you to our exhibitors and sponsors that
desserts
helped make our event even better! See you all

Images by Gillies photo booth
Retail Display
all helped the show to include fun, shopping and next year! ◘
of Pharmasave
food!
Breakfast with the Chiefs held on September 10th
A great turnout for the Breakfast Series event for members on September 10th. Police Chief Marlo Pritchard (shown
here) & Fire Chief Simon Almond both spoke. Information was shared on the latest counterfeiting schemes and the
value of the volunteer fire fighting base within Weyburn. Thank you to our breakfast sponsor, Prairie Sky Co-op. ◘
See you at the next member event - Luncheon with Sunrise Community Futures!
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
OCTOBER 2014
Member Luncheon
with Sunrise!
Explore the opportunities for business in expert markets.
October 23rd, 12:00 - 1:30pm at Weyburn Travelodge
Panel presentation and discussion with:

Chad Fleck, President & CEO of Saskatchewan Trade
and Export Partnership

Representative from Canadian Trade Commissioner
office

A successful exporter from southeast Saskatchewan
will share his own experience and insight on how to
reach foreign markets.
Attendance is free for chamber members, but registration
is required. Space is limited.
Register on-line at weyburnchamber.com
Sponsored by:
Tuesday, November 4th
at McKenna Hall
Featuring Speaker
John Gormley
Cocktails at 6:00
Supper at 7:00
Program to follow
Presentation of the
Golden Sheaf Award
Reserve your tickets today!
Tickets:
Upcoming Events
Oct 23
Oct 23
Nov 1
Nov 4
Nov 27
Dec TBA
Luncheon with Sunrise
E. Bourassa & Sons Grand Opening
ABEX Awards
Farmer Appreciation Night
Parade of Lights
Breakfast with the Planning Commission
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
Chamber Members - $35
Proudly sponsored by:
Nominations for the Golden Sheaf
are now being accepted!
OCTOBER 2014
10 Feature About Our Employee
Benefits Plans
10. NO MIMIMUM FIRM SIZE: Your company is eligible to apply even if
it’s a one-person operation.
9. NO INDUSTRY RESTRICTIONS: All for-profit businesses are eligible to
participate in Chambers Plan as long as they are members of a
participating Chamber.
8. GUARANTEED APPROVAL: With three or more full-time people, you
can choose options that guarantee coverage to you and your employees.
7. GUARANTEED RENEWABLE: Chambers Plan guarantees your firm can
renew coverage as long as you pay your premium each month.
6. RATE STABILITY: Claims are averaged over more than 25,000
companies just like yours. Higher than usual claims one year? You won’t
be singled out for a price increase.
5. NOT-FOR-PROFIT: Chambers Plan operates under the direction of the
not-for-profit Chamber Insurance Corporation of Canada, by Chamber
people, for Chamber people.
4. OUTSTANDING SERVICE: The Plan’s service center works in concert
with your exclusive, local Chambers Plan advisor to give you answers to
all your questions.
3. FAST, ACCURATE PAYMENTS: Most health and dental claims turn
around in 48 hours. You can opt for pharmacy card and electronic dental
claim submission, and even direct deposit to employee bank accounts.
2. YOU CHOOSE THE COVERAGE: Every firm participating in Chambers
Plan has a custom benefit program, based on the coverage the owner
selects.
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
1. YOU CONTROL THE COST: Why pay for a package with benefits you
don’t want when you can customize? Customization puts you in control so
you get top value for your dollar.
For more information, visit http://www.chamberplan.ca
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OCTOBER 2014