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Chamber holding candidate’s reception for members

Oct 14, 2016 | 5:00 PM

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is holding a candidate’s reception for members of the Chamber.

On Wednesday Oct. 19 at 7 p.m., members of the chamber and employees will be able to attend a program at the Chamber of Commerce building where the North Battleford and Battleford candidates can speak on issues and interact with the chamber.

Chamber Executive Director Linda Machniak said administrators decided not to hold a public forum this municipal election because it is the third election in the last year.

“Part of the decision was made as a result of having just gone through a provincial and a federal campaign in the last 12 months. Those are significant events for us to put on so we decided we’d step it back a bit and do a bit more business focused event at the Chamber of Commerce,” she said.

According to Machniak, having an event where members interact with candidates allows an opportunity for discussion.

“I think part of it that people will have the opportunity to ask questions and find out where the candidates stand on issues of concern to them and their own business or in their particular part perhaps of the city or the town. From our perspective we’re the vehicle to allow members to have that opportunity,” she said.

Machniak added the reception is part of an ongoing effort to be involved in municipal politics and create relationships with city and town councils.

“The Chamber of Commerce of course is the voice of business in the community and of course the key thing for us is to develop and maintain a good relationship with the municipalities since they of course are the bodies that enact legislation that may impact business or levels of taxation or services and so on in the community,” Machniak said. “It’s important for us to be engaged with them.”

 

Matt Kelly is battlefordsNOW’s town municipal affairs and community reporter. He can be reached at mkelly@jpbg.ca or tweet him @mattjkelly2.