Summary:

Recently, the Chamber was asked about our position on the utility rate classification discussions at City Council. We wanted to clarify that the Chamber does not currently have a formal position on utility rate structures or classifications. This is because we have not received a formal request from any member business to explore this issue.

Should a member wish the Chamber to pursue this matter, it would need to be submitted as a new issue to our Business Advisory Committee, ideally at the upcoming meeting on June 17, 2025, or at a future meeting. A member representative would need to be available to speak to the issue at that time and advise the committee on any work and research they have conducted, as well as proposed potential recommendations or viable solutions they would like to have considered, as outlined on our business advocacy submission form. Any advocacy on this topic would require extensive research and comparison with other municipalities to ensure that recommendations are balanced and do not unintentionally disadvantage other sectors or classes within the business community.

While individual businesses or groups are free to pursue issues independently, it is important to recognize that issues such as utility rate classifications affect the broader business ecosystem. Advocacy that focuses too narrowly on a single industry, area, or rate class can be problematic, as it may overlook broader impacts. Council and Administration have approached this issue from a city-wide business perspective, avoiding specific examples in favour of a broader viewpoint.

The matter of rate classification may also be tied to larger structural decisions, such as the pending decisions on the potential formation of a Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC) and Rate Review Committee, as that decision could change who the rate decision maker would be. Council may wish to defer further consideration of rate structures until after such governance decisions are finalized. Additionally, with a municipal election approaching, it is common for complex issues like this to be postponed for the next Council to address.

During Council’s deliberations, it was noted that changing rate classifications could negatively impact other business classes or rates overall, and as such, changes were not recommended at this time.