“What is the Mayor’s problem with ‘Business Groups’ and by extension with business?” asks Valerie Payn, President of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Halifax’s largest business group

December 4, 2007, Halifax, NS- The Halifax Chamber of Commerce was more than a little surprised by the Mayor’s accusatory tone in a recent interview with Amy Pugsley Fraser of the Chronicle Herald when he singled out “business people” and “business groups” that he felt were behind the challenge he and other city councillors are facing from a citizen’s group called Citizens for Halifax.

“It should be no surprise that the leadership of social action in our community comes from business people; they are our community’s natural leaders” says Valerie Payn, Chamber President.

“What concerns me is the message from the top that business people who get involved in their community should be viewed with suspicion because they, no doubt, have a profit motive,” says Payn. “This is wrong on so many levels.”

“It is wrong for any government official to try to dissuade or dismiss any citizen or group of citizens from organizing to create political and social action by calling their motives into question,” continues Payn. “But it is particularly wrong to point a finger at some of Halifax’s most engaged people and business leaders; and allude to personal gain as a reason for their involvement in the community.”

“Too often our political leadership seems to be entranced by groups who take the negative side of an argument, the side that always tends to be against change and to dismiss groups that that embrace the future and welcome change,” says the Chamber leader.       

Payn continues, “we should not forget that our future success as a community rests with attracting and retaining businesses that create jobs, pay taxes, and make a sustainable, liveable city possible. Creating and perpetuating the myth of the untrustworthy corporate citizen negates all the hard work that has been done to make Halifax the location of choice for business.”

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For more information contact:
Janet Creamer, Communications Coordinator
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
(902)481-1240
janet@halifaxchamber.com