Liberal MP Rechie Valdez visited Vancouver to meet with BC Business owners at the Dubai National Air Travel Agency (DNATA) Catering in Richmond recently. The meet and greet was an opportunity for local businesses to dialogue directly with Valdez whose portfolio includes small businesses. The roundtable discussion was led by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, DNATA executives, and Filipino business community executives led by Amado Mercado III. Refreshments were provided by DNATA.
Valdez addressed concerns of small businesses such as financial support, tax breaks and other business-related concerns, some of which pertains to supply of labour in specific areas and skills, and most of which are currently unavailable in BC. One of the entrepreneurs mentioned that hiring specialists in the construction industry is one of the problems they have as there aren’t enough skilled workers in specific areas to hire. They were asking for the ability to hire from outside of Canada for these specialists and skilled labourers in order for them to respond to the needs of the construction industry which is currently in boom today. She assured the business owners to address these issues and bring them to Ottawa for discussion with the government.
Valdez came from the Yukon and BC interior before passing by Vancouver on her way back to Ottawa the next day.
