Halifax Chamber of Commerce

Halifax Chamber Election Highlights 🚨 On November 26, Nova Scotians officially welcomed back Premier Tim Houston, re-electing the Progressive Conservatives for another four years. We want to congratulate all the provincial leaders on their re-election campaigns and thank them for their work. The Chamber is ready to work together with the elected government to support the business community, our 2,000+ members, and the 90,000+ employees they represent. This election has clearly provided Premier Tim Houston and his government the mandate they wanted to negotiate with the federal government. With a supermajority in the house, they can move through legislation that they proposed both before and during the election campaign. We are happy with many of the campaign promises made by the Progressive Conservative party in the lead up to the election, as they align with a number of priorities we have been advocating for in the past few years. Some of those items include: ➡️ Cutting the HST by 1 percentage point to 14% by April 1, 2025. We would still like to see a more significant tax reduction for our community, but this is a positive move for people and businesses. ➡️ Increasing the basic personal exemption on Nova Scotia income taxes from $8,744 to $11,744. We’ve seen two increases in 6 months, and ongoing indexing. We are still not at the national level, but this is a huge improvement and more competitive with other provinces. And most importantly, more money in Nova Scotians’ pockets. ➡️ Reducing the small business tax rate from 2.5% to 1.5% and increasing the small business tax threshold to $700,000 from $500,000. In a province where most businesses are small businesses, these are significant changes. A rare supermajority in the house of assembly allows the opportunity for the government to change the procedural rules of the House, without the co-operation of opposition parties. Regardless of the changes at province house, the Chamber will continue to be the voice of business working closely with our government partners, advocating for our members and for the changes that will make our business community more competitive and prosperous. We do believe Nova Scotia is well positioned for continued growth, but that does not mean the governments have all the answers. We know that a strong partnership will help us move forward and this is the is the best solution for a continued strong economy.   We would love to hear from you on the opportunities and issues the Chamber should be focused on as we move forward.   We’re in your corner. Find the results district by district HERE: https://lnkd.in/e86Wd-H2

We’re teaming up with our friends at the Halifax Mooseheads to provide a Chamber members-only evening out at a Mooseheads game! 🏒 🦌 Shake off those winter blues by connecting with fellow professionals at an intimate networking event with snacks and drinks, cheering on the team at the game, and meeting the owners of the Mooseheads team. How to enter: Go to the Events Calendar in the link in bio. Click “REGISTER” just like any other Chamber event and enter your name, email and company name. You will then be entered for a chance to win. Winners will be drawn randomly on January 30th. The winners will be contacted via email. We have 100 available tickets for this opportunity.

Have you needed help or had difficulty understanding retail closing and holiday with pay rules? The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration would like to hear about your experience! Each session will last about one hour. If you are selected and participate you will be provided with a $50 Amazon gift card for your involvement. Fill in the recruitment survey here: https://lnkd.in/e6ehCT39

Meet Jim Mils, President and CEO of Office Interiors, a finalist for the 2025 Halifax Business Awards in the Business Leader category. Since 1991, Office Interiors has been providing Atlantic Canada with modern office furniture and equipment. With 5 locations and nearly 100 workplace professionals on staff, the Office Interiors team is dedicated to helping you Love the way you Work! When asked what's the best advice they have been given, here's what Jim had to say: "If you have a big plan and you work hard every day for an entire year, you will not accomplish everything. But if you that every year for a decade, what you accomplish will blow your mind. Very true words." Join us in supporting and cheering on the champions of our business community at the Awards on Thursday, January 23, 2025! Registration is now open! Check out https://lnkd.in/eiQQqHuf to get your tickets!

Meet Peace by Chocolate, a finalist for the 2025 Halifax Business Awards in the Business of the Year category. Peace By Chocolate produces artisan chocolates as a way to spread love and peace in a big and complicated world. This family business was embraced by Canada, Nova Scotia, and the community of Antigonish. During the Syrian War the Hadhad chocolate factory, like much of their homeland, was destroyed in a bombing in 2013 that forced the family to leave everything behind and flee to Lebanon. They lived in a refugee camp in Lebanon until they were able to become Canadian citizens and rebuild their chocolate company. Now, Peace by Chocolate is a strong believer in social justice and it works to support peace building projects throughout Canada. When asked why the chose Halifax, this is what Mila Zidan Hadhad, Community Manager had to say: "Halifax welcomed us with open arms, giving us more than just a place to set up a new story for our business. It offered a supportive community that quickly felt like family. The city’s rich diversity, kindness, and spirit of entrepreneurship created an environment where Peace by Chocolate could thrive. Halifax isn’t just where we do business it’s where people genuinely care, look out for each other, and celebrate each other’s successes, making it the perfect home for our mission of peace and connection" Join us in supporting and cheering on the champions of our business community at the Awards on Thursday, January 23, 2025! Check out https://lnkd.in/eiQQqHuf to get your tickets!

Meet Office Interiors, a finalist for the 2025 Halifax Business Awards in the Business of the Year category. Since 1991, Office Interiors has been providing Atlantic Canada with modern office furniture and equipment. With 5 locations and nearly 100 workplace professionals on staff, the Office Interiors team is dedicated to helping you Love the way you Work! When asked what they think is the organisation's proudest achievement to date, this is what Jim Mills, CEO had to say: "Building a great team and a sustainable business for almost 33 years and having a big impact on the communities where we live, work and play." Join us in supporting and cheering on the champions of our business community at the Awards on Thursday, January 23, 2025! Check out https://lnkd.in/eiQQqHuf to get your tickets!

Our website will be experiencing some downtime today and tomorrow as we launch our new website! During this time, you may experience some temporary disruptions. We appreciate your patience.

Meet Events East Group, a finalist for the 2025 Halifax Business Awards in the Business of the Year category. Events East Group manages and operates the Halifax Convention Centre and Scotiabank Centre, creating opportunities for economic development, tourism, and industry across Nova Scotia. When asked what is one thing most people wouldn't know about Events East Group, this is what Carrie Cussons, CEO had to say "In 2022, the Halifax Convention Centre launched its enhanced Local Program to support local businesses and enterprises across the province, which is a unique initiative for an entity of our size in Canada. Our Local Inspired Menu, designed by our in-house scratch kitchen, features over 100 local food and beverage suppliers from all seven regions of Nova Scotia. Last year, local products made up 60% of our total food and beverage spend, which returned almost $1.4M back into local businesses. Our Local Pop-Up Markets with Taste of Nova Scotia and Craft of Nova Scotia also give our guests an opportunity to experience (and take home) locally made products." Join us in supporting and cheering on the champions of our business community at the Awards on Thursday, January 23, 2025! Check out https://lnkd.in/eiQQqHuf to get your tickets!

Meet Dash Hudson, a finalist for the 2025 Halifax Business Awards in the Business of the Year category. Dash Hudson is a social media management platform that equips brands with intelligence and speed to stay ahead of the curve. Through its sophisticated cross-channel insights and workflow tools, Dash Hudson enables brands to create content that entertains, engages and drives consistent business results. When asked how has Halifax's recent growth impacted Dash Hudson, this is what they had to say: "The growth of the city itself has not impacted us. We draw from a very wide talent pool, both within Nova Scotia and remotely. However it is encouraging to see a growing, more diverse city support the birth of many new businesses across industries. There is an entrepreneurial spirit in Halifax that did not exist 20 years" Join us in supporting and cheering on the champions of our business community at the Awards on Thursday, January 23, 2025! Check out https://lnkd.in/eiQQqHuf to get your tickets!

Meet Ambassatours Gray Line, a finalist for the 2025 Halifax Business Awards in the Business of the Year category. Ambassatours Gray Line is one of Canada’s premier sightseeing tour companies. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the company has operated land and water tours for over 30 years in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. As an elite Gray Line provider, Ambassatours creates and delivers memorable, world caliber traveler experiences in its many destinations. When asked why they chose Halifax, this is what they had to say: "We chose Halifax to launch Ambassatours – first and foremost because our roots are here – but also and especially because the city has everything to offer. Guests are consistently wowed by Halifax's beauty and vibrant culture, making it an easy sell. We're proud to be part of this inclusive, growing community, especially as the city expands. Halifax’s warm hospitality aligns with our values, and we feel fortunate to be part of the city’s continued growth and openness to welcome more visitors." Join us in supporting and cheering on the champions of our business community at the Awards on Thursday, January 23, 2025! Check out https://lnkd.in/eiQQqHuf to get your tickets!