February 2025 Update on Member-Proposed Motion Advocating for Fair Taxes and Fees

The Pinawa Chamber of Commerce continues to advocate for transparency and fairness in local business taxation and fees. Since our last update, we have received additional communications from the LGD of Pinawa, and we have taken further steps to clarify policies and advocate for our members.

Summary of Recent Communications

On July 3, 2024, the Chamber received a response from the Resident Administrator addressing several concerns about business fees and policies. Key points included:

Fee Schedule Availability: The LGD website contains a 2024 Fee Schedule, accessible via the search bar.
Seasonal Business Fees: The LGD has hired a consultant to review the costs associated with seasonal businesses, including campgrounds and mobile vendors.
Mobile Vendor Fees: The LGD clarified that vendor fees are the primary method for recovering costs associated with municipal services used by vendors who do not pay property taxes.
Public Services & Infrastructure: The letter outlined the cost burden placed on taxpayers to maintain infrastructure and services used by both permanent businesses and mobile vendors.

Following the response in July, we have been compiling key points, reviewing the details provided, and exploring the best ways to present this information to our members in a clear and concise manner. Our goal has been to ensure that businesses have a solid understanding of the fee structures, classifications, and consultation processes in Pinawa.

On February 3, 2025, we followed up with the LGD with a request for additional clarification and involvement in future policy discussions. Our key points included:

Fee Review Process: Requesting details on when reviews occur, how businesses are notified, and opportunities for input.
Chamber Consultation: Advocating for regular Chamber involvement in business policy decisions.
Business Classifications: Seeking clear guidelines on classifications and appeal processes.
Transparency in Policy Communication: Encouraging written documentation of policies for consistent reference.

Chamber Actions & Next Steps

To assist businesses in understanding local regulations, we are working on compiled key takeaways from the LGD responses and are creating a Business Tax & Fee Summary. We encourage members to review this document when available and share feedback on any additional concerns.

We remain committed to working with the LGD of Pinawa to ensure that all businesses—seasonal, mobile, and permanent—are treated fairly and equitably. If you have input or concerns regarding business fees, please reach out to us.

We appreciate the continued dialogue with the LGD and will provide further updates as new information becomes available.

For further details, please see our previous update as well as our most recent communications:

Your voice matters. Let’s keep the conversation going!

Warm Regards,

Pinawa Chamber of Commerce