Member Profile: Canadian Golf Academy

 

Every Age, Every Skill Level…We Can Help!


The Canadian Golf Academy, voted Canada’s # 1 practice facility by Score Golf Magazine is welcoming golfers of all ages and playing levels. Never golfed, No problem!  Our affordable programs and state of the art facility cater to every type of golfer with customized group clinics for corporate, family or friends, private lessons, 1, 2, and 3 day golf schools, beginner camps, ladies clinics, junior camps/clinics, golf club fitting and sales, VIP memberships and much, much more.

Everything about the design of the CGA at Fox Meadow G.C. simulates real on course situations. The Academy features 2,700 yards of grass tee decks with impact bags; four large bent grass greens, two green side bunkers, a specially designed pitching area, and an uneven lie and fairway bunker area; multiple covered stations on the tee deck and chipping greens to protect guests in case of inclement weather; a state of the art indoor center offering classroom and meeting room space (available for corporate events or functions), a putting lab, a video room and five indoor hitting bays; and the latest computer technology.

For more information call 1-888-698-4653 or visit www.canadiangolfacademy.ca



Roundtable on Productivity & Innovation

Few topics have created the buzz or borne the weight of our future prosperity like the hope of prosperity that can be created by a knowledge based, innovative and productivity economy.  


Roundtable on Taxation

The Halifax Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a number of roundtable discussions on the issues surrounding taxation in Nova Scotia and tax policy that affects individuals, families and businesses of all sizes and types.  

Depending on what numbers you look at Nova Scotia has either the highest tax burden in Canada or is in the top three but no matter what we are certainly not increasing our competitions by being anywhere the top of this list.

It is very easy to say that taxes are too high and need to be lowered and you would have a hard time proving that this isn’t right but taxation, tax policy and government fiscal policy is a very complicated subject whose combination and permutation of inter-relationships is key to setting the right policy and complaining about the right thing.

There is a reason that economists like to preface explanations with “other things being equal” – other things are rarely equal. But because something is complicated and hard to understand is no reason not to try. It is also no reason to back off the general statement that our taxes are too high and this is making us uncompetitive. 

The Roundtable of Taxation will pursue the issues wherever they lead them but as a starting point the following questions/topics will get us started:

• What is the relationship between taxation and economic growth and development?
• What are the tax issues that affect spending on R&D, invention, and innovation? How do we fare?
• What are the issues that face small business with regards to taxation? Why are small business people so concerned with personal tax rates?
• How does the Nova Scotia tax system work and what makes it different?
• What are the alternative tax systems to the one that we are used to?• How is tax used to affect behaviour and implement social policy?• Municipal tax reform – what happened to that?
• Competitiveness and taxation – does it really matter? What is the evidence?
• The US experience with tax reform and alternative taxes.

What are Roundtables?

As part of our strategic plan we committed to “expand the policy process” and “involve more members in leadership issues” and we continually look for more opportunities to do this. We also look for opportunities to be “part of the solution” by creating platforms for Chamber members and the broader community to contribute to the conversation on the issues that effect us all.

In furtherance of these strategic goals and to continue the important work of the Chamber in our community we are starting something new. Roundtables and Forums are two activities that facilitate knowledge sharing and position the Chamber and its members as community leaders and the conveners of great ideas and important conversations on issues that affect our community and topics that are of interests to small and medium sized business. The best way I know to tell what all this means is to list some of the areas that these groups would cover.

The Roundtable on Innovation and ProductivityThe Roundtable on the Labour MarketThe Roundtable on TaxationThe Roundtable on International Trade

(You may notice three of these issues mirror the Province’s economic strategy. The other is our ultimate hot button issue.)

Manager’s ForumLeadership ForumMarketing ForumStrategy ForumSmall Business ForumEntrepreneur’s Forum (need to work with the organization of the same name)

Both events combine presentations by experts which should prompt questions and opinions from others. The difference is in the nature of the topic. Forums are meant to provide information to business people on the operation of their businesses while Roundtables dig into the issues that effect our economy and our society.  Both benefit from the experience we have gained from “Councils” and “Issues Breakfasts” - what worked and what didn’t. Roundtables have a limited life whereas Forums do not.

How can I Participate?

Roles

Roundtable Chair – A Board member that hosts and manages the proceedings of the session(s)

Roundtable Co-Chair – A Board member who will act as the Roundtable Chair if the appointed Chair is unable to carry out those duties

Panelist – a person appointed by the Chamber who the Chair or the Chamber feels would aid the Chair in either the facilitation of the session or the interpretation of the information presented and discussed. 

Presenter – a person invited by the Chamber and/or the Chair to provide a verbal and/or written response to the questions posed

Participant – a person invited by the Chamber and/or the Chair to participate in the roundtable discussion by asking questions or providing comment on the information presented by the presenters or other maters deemed to be relevant and adding to the understanding of the issue. This person would literally sit at the table.

Audience – persons who have interests in the topic or issue but who have not be chosen to be part of the roundtable group. If time allows the Chair may ask the audience if they have any relevant questions or comments. The Chair may also ask an audience member to join the roundtable group as either a presenter of a participant if a seat is available.

If you are interested in participating in the Roundtable's please contact Brian Rose at 902.481.1230 or brian@halifaxchamber.com