Small Business and Industry

Supporting small businesses and promoting key economic sectors is a central part of the Langley Chamber’s mission. We work to highlight the importance of small businesses to our local economy and community, as well as advance key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, and growing sectors such as technology and film/tv production. We work tirelessly to ensure our small business community and broader economy can grow and thrive.

Langley businesses can pay hundreds or thousands in merchant fees every month to accept and process credit card payments. This represents a significant cost, and at 2%, 3% or 4%, these fees eat into margins and profitability for our small business community. The Langley Chamber has long pushed for lower fees and simpler, more transparent merchant processing arrangements.

Langley Chamber Pushes for Lower Credit Card Fees in Consultations with Federal Government
- The Langley Chamber has told the federal government and Department of Finance that action is needed to reduce the cost of credit card fees paid by business, particularly our small business community, during ongoing government consultations on interchange fees. Specifically, the Chamber is advocating for:
  - Reductions in the overall interchange fees charged for processing various credit cards
  - Reductions in the allowable fees for "premium" cards which skew upwards merchant's 'basket rates' for card processing
  - Removal or reduction in the premium paid for 'card not present' transactions
  - Development of best practices and standards for payment processing agreements
Langley Chamber Offers Exclusive Partnership with Kubera Payments to Offer Lower Costs, Better Service
- Business can pay hundreds or thousands in credit card processing fees every month, often for systems which don't meet their needs and service which doesn't support them.That's why the Langley Chamber and the BC Chamber of Commerce have developed an exlusive partnership with BC-based Kubera Payments to provide superior service to chamber members for their payment processing needs.

Liquor Distribution Branch Strike

The Liquor Distribution Branch supplies liquor stores, bars, pubs and restaurants with much of their product, and a strike in 2022 risked significant harm to hospitality businesses. The Langley Chamber quickly acted, engaging local MLAs and the Minister of Finance to push for a settlement to the labour dispute.

Langley Chamber Calls for Action on Liquor Distribution Branch Closure
- In letters to the Minister, Deputy Minister, and MLAs, the Langley Chamber cites growing product shortages and the negative impact that is having on sales and profitability for Langley businesses caught in the middle of this job action. The Langley Chamber is particularly concerned with impacts to the restaurant and hospitality sector which was one of the hardest hit parts of our economy during the pandemic.

Other Policy Statements and Positions

Small Business and Industry

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