New Westminster will be doing business with several other municipalities through the West Inter-Municipal Business Licence agreement.
The cities of New Westminster, Burnaby, Delta, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver have adopted a common bylaw allowing businesses to purchase an inter-municipal business licence (or a mobile business licence) for specified trades. The licence is designed to reduce red tape by allowing mobile businesses to operate in more than one municipality by purchasing only once licence, instead of obtaining a non-residents licence in each municipality in which they operate.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with our neighbours on the new inter-municipal business licence program,” said New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright in a press release. “Reducing obstacles for businesses and making it easier for them to thrive is a key objective for our city. This new pilot program is a great step towards accomplishing this goal.”
According to the ministry of jobs, tourism and skill training, the mobile business licence was successfully piloted in 2007 by 17 communities in the Okanagan-Similkameen region. Since the program’s launch, 63 municipalities have established mobile business licence agreements in their communities.
Working with local governments to expand B.C.’s mobile business licence program is a key commitment under the B.C. Jobs Plan.
“The B.C. government is committed to working with local governments to find ways to support businesses and streamline processes in every community,” Naomi Yamamoto, minister of state for tourism and small business, said in a press release. “Mobile business licences cut red tape for contractors and others who may work in more than one community, and we will continue to work to get other municipalities to adopt the program and reap the rewards.”
In the spring, New Westminster city council received a staff report about the pilot program and agreed to participate. A staff report stated that under the proposed revenue-sharing model, New Westminster would receive 9.34 per cent of the total revenues from the licences.
“New Westminster is currently generating approximately $85,000 annually from business licences associated with non-resident contractors,” stated the report presented to council earlier this year. “The proposed revenue sharing model is expected to result in a slight increase in revenues (i.e. approximately $2,600). However, if the program increases compliance by a modest rate of five per cent, as is expected, revenues could increase by approximately $15,000.”
