This page provides basic information on subjects that are of particular interest to Burlington Chamber of Commerce members.  The Chamber's various committees represent our members and the topics on this page represent the latest issues we hear about in Chamber committee meetings.

 

CURRENT HOT TOPICS

 

Performing Arts Centre   (Survey Results)

Pandemic Influenza

Energy Costs

 

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BURLINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

 

 Building

Location	Locust & Elgin streets (downtown)
Size	53,500 square feet Main theatre - 718 seats Studio Theatre - 225 seats By comparison:  - Theatre Aquarius: 750 seats plus a   studio theatre  - Oakville Centre for Perf Arts: 485 seats
Features	Family lobby for receptions & exhibitions Outdoor public plaza

 

 Costs

Total Capital Cost	$36,200,000
Included Ancillary Cost	$3,500,000 (for both street beautification and LEED certification)
Yearly Net Operating Cost	$500,000 (est) By comparison other city operating costs:  - Waterfront = $420,000  - Public skating = $268,000  - Swimming = $567,000  - Arenas = $438,000
Burlington Property Tax Impact: Residential	0.9% increase on Burlington property tax (about .38% increase on total property tax)
Burlington Property Tax Impact: Commercial	1.5% increase on Burlington property tax(about .35% increase on total property tax)
Burlington Property Tax Impact: Industrial	2.4% increase on Burlington property tax(about .60% increase on total property tax)

 Burlington property taxes make up about 38 percent of the residential total property tax bill.

 Burlington property taxes make up about 23 percent of the commercial total property tax bill.

 Burlington property taxes make up about 25 percent of the industrial total property tax bill.

 

 

 Proposed Funding 

Federal	$4,000,000 ($2.5million confirmed)
Provincial	$4,000,000
Private donations	$10,000,000 ($9.2million confirmed)
City	$18,000,000 ($6,000,000 of this to be funded from Burlington Hydro dividends)

 

 

 Benefits

Economic Impact (annual)	$7,000,000 direct   (includes $4M at PAC and $3M at other) $5,000,000 indirect
Construction Jobs	240 person-years (direct) 100 person-years (indirect)
Economic Development	Increased ability to attract corporations
Increased Community Profile	Provides a place in which the creative energies in the city can be developed
Tourism	Estimated 25% of visitors from out of town

 

 

Chamber Survey on the Performing Arts Centre

In March 2008 the Chamber surveyed its members to determine their views about the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.  The results of this survey were used by the Chamber to develop a policy recomendation.

 

Total Reponses:  273

Survey conducted March 4 to March 7, 2008

Please state how much you agree with the following:

 

As a Burlington business-person:	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree
I support the construction of the PAC as planned	22.4%	12.7%	11.6%	23.6%	29.7%
The tax impact of the PAC is reasonable	18.2%	22.5%	17.4%	26.4%	15.5%
Having a PAC is important to Burlington's development as a world class city	17.5%	10.1%	12.1%	23.0%	37.4%
The benefits of the PAC justify the costs	21.4%	15.2%	19.5%	19.1%	24.9%
The city has other spending priorities that are more important than the PAC	4.6%	15.8%	28.6%	20.8%	30.1%
I want a PAC in Burlington but at a lower cost	19.1%	17.5%	33.9%	19.8%	9.7%

 

Click here to see the survey open comments

 

Click here to see the Chamber's policy recommendation on the Performing Arts Centre

 

 

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PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

 

No one knows when the next pandemic will hit but most experts agree we are probably overdue.  Impacts on people and business will be high.

 

Pandemic flu appears every ten to 40 years. In the last century we experienced three pandemics.  The Spanish flu of 1918 killed more than 20 million people worldwide. Smaller pandemics occurred in 1957 and 1968.

 

It is predicted that up to 35% of the population could be affected. Many people will be ill in bed for many days or caring for family ill with the flu.  Health care services will be severely burdened. Emergency workers including police, fire, ambulance, and health care workers will be in high demand and many may also be ill themselves.  Of great concern to the Chamber is the fact that many businesses will be impacted.  While smaller businesses might feel that "It won't happen to me" the risk of business continuation could be great among this group.  If you lose 35% of your staff for two months, can your business survive a loss in its revenue stream? 

 

The Chamber is hosting it's second Pandemic Planning Workshop on November 29, 2007.  Click here for all the details.

 

Here are some links to give you more information to help plan for an influenza pandemic.

 

Pandemic Planning Toolkit  (provided by Halton Region)

Ontario Chamber Pandemic Planning Toolkit

Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan

Ontario Influenza Pandemic Plan

Protect Yourself & Your Loved Ones  (Centre for Disease Control)

Avian Influenza  (World Health Organization)

Workplace Flu Shot Clinic  (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)

 

 

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ENERGY COSTS

 

A recent survey of Chamber members indicated that a top concern is energy costs. In order to help businesses better manage their energy consumption, the Chamber is providing members with information on energy consumption, energy options and energy conservation.  As the Political Action Committee continues to work on this issue on behalf of members, this webpage will be updated with new information and new links.

 

Ontario Power Authority

National Resources Canada - Office of Energy Efficiency - Commercial

Canadian Solar Energy Association - Federal Government Incentives

Natural Resources Canada - Federal Energy Incentive Programs

Canada Green Building Council - LEED Construction and Renovation

Independent Electricity System Operator

Burlington Hydro - Your Local Electricity Distribution Company

Union Gas - Your Local Gas Distribution Company

 

 

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