(L to R): Christian Codrington, CHRP, HRMA director, regulatory affairs and member value; Hon. Minister Steve Thomson; Paulette Brager, CHRP, HRMA Southern Interior Advisory Council chair.

HRMA held its first Government Relations Roundtable in the BC Interior on December 9. Held at Manteo Resort in Kelowna, the roundtable featured Hon. Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and MLA for Kelowna Mission.

As HRMA continues to expand its voice with senior government officials, this roundtable saw the Minister meet with 25 HR leaders from the Okanagan, representing a wide range of sectors and organizations including those from some of the largest local employers as well as small businesses and representatives from public and private organizations.

Including an update from the Minister on significant Government initiatives, particularly those pertaining to employment and the labour market, there was also an open floor question period. Minister Thomson spoke about the challenges facing BC’s resource based economy and how all activities need be balanced with First Nations as well as tourism and the natural beauty of the province.  The discussion moved into the Party’s Jobs Plan and the group got into a discussion around trades, spousal employment programs, temporary foreign workers, pensions legislation and liberalizing/updating the Employment Standards Act. Minister Thomson provided insight on a number of areas and agreed to take some ideas back to the cabinet for further consideration.

This session was chaired by Christian Codrington, CHRP, director, regulatory affairs and member value for HRMA who has also presided over similar sessions in 2014, including those with Honourable Ministers Amrik Virk, Margaret MacDiarmid and Pat Bell.

“We are pleased to continue our dialogue with government officials and engage in discussions on the many subjects that impact the BC workforce as a whole and the HR profession specifically. Naturally we see a direct relationship between the two.” said Codrington. “Moving down the path to obtain regulatory status for the HR profession, these dialogues have increasing value to the HR industry as it becomes more closely linked to provincial legislation. Plus, we aim to provide as much valuable information to legislators as possible.”

HRMA would like to thank Minister Thomson for his time as well as Nan Pellatt, constituency assistant, event sponsor Ceridian, and all those who attended the event.