Members – let us know your GR priorities!

In advance of the 2023 British Columbia Co-operative Association’s Annual General Meeting we ask you to identify those issues where government policy is impacting your co-operative. This could include local, provincial or federal legislation, regulations, or policies that affect your co-operative’s sustainability, business activities, or your members.

You can submit your policy issued by completing the form below. It will automatically send when you hit “submit” – no need to print out forms to send back to us! Please note that there is no limit on the number of submissions, but we ask that you please complete a separate submission for each policy issue. To see an example of a completed policy issue form, please click here. To check out what issues were discussed and ratified in 2021 and 2022, please click here.

The deadline for submissions is May 8.

Member policy submissions will be presented for discussion and approval at the BCCA 2023 AGM, which will be held on June 22. Following the AGM, BCCA staff will work with our Government Relations Committee to formulate an action plan to advocate on behalf of our members priorities based on the policy issues ratified by the membership.

Government Relations Efforts

• We collaborate regularly with BCCA members and the provincial government elected officials and civil servants
• We host events to engage with MLAs
• We maintain a government relations committee consisting of BCCA members and legal representatives
• We employ staff dedicated to government relations activities

We also work with other provincial and national co-op associations to advocate to the Canadian government for policy or legislative changes to benefit both co-ops in BC and across Canada.

Past Successes

• Co-ops in BC were eligible to apply for BC government gaming grants for many years, but recently BC’s gaming grant application rules changed. It was determined that all co-ops were for-profit ventures and would no longer be allowed to access gaming funds. This policy applied to all BC co-ops, including community service co-ops like Vancouver Co-op Radio, which used gaming funds to offset its slim operating budget Facing a dire financial situation, Vancouver Co-op Radio turned to the BC Co-op Association for advocacy support. We worked with several groups and partners in the co-op sector, including Vancity, to get the Minister of Community, Sport & Cultural Development & Responsible for TransLink to recognize that community service co-ops are not-for-profit, and should be eligible for gaming funds. Our collective efforts paid off!
• The BCCA worked with co-op associations across Canada to create Motion M-100. This motion, titled “Role of Co-operatives” is to develop and implement a strategy to promote and support Canada’s co-operative sector. This motion positions co-ops as a viable business model. It also reflects the important role Canada’s 9,000 co-ops play in Canada’s economy over the long term, and the vital role they can have in creating high-quality jobs, and lowering the costs of goods and services.