BCPIA's mission is to help its members prosper!

Through  its advocacy program BCPIA raises issues and concerns and endeavors to work with government to initiate a positive economic environment for the printers of the province. Each year a contingent of BCPIA members travel to Victoria to meet with Ministers and senior bureaucrats to discuss initiatives, issues and concerns regarding the industry. Please see our Government Affairs booklet, "Coming Together To Build a Stronger BC!"

The British Columbia Printing & Imaging Association shares the BC Government’s concern about the provincial economy and is endeavoring to do its part in restoring BC to a "have" province. To do this, it is necessary for the government to recognize the importance of supporting and creating a positive environment for businesses already located in the province. While it may be good to spend millions to attract new business to the province, it is equally important to provide a level playing field for BC businesses to compete in the market place.

This is generally not happening in the printing industry. Operating costs are higher in BC and it appears that no weighting is given to economic growth and spending by most government departments and crown corporations.

The industry is not asking for subsidies, but a level playing field on which to compete.

It is often difficult for the BC printing industry to provide the lowest pricing because it has to factor in the residual effect of the provincial sales tax on manufacturing equipment purchased prior to July 1, 2001 along with higher Worker’s Compensation rates.

Therefore, price should not be the only factor considered when printing jobs are sent out for tender. What is the real cost of that 10 or 15 percent saving when the loss of direct and indirect jobs is factored into the equation? Those direct and indirect jobs generate both government taxation revenues and revenues to other businesses that supply services and products.

During the past year, the printing industry was pleased to see BC Hydro look beyond just the bid process and award a printing contract that had always bypassed the printing community in BC in favor of Ontario. By awarding the contract to a BC printer, it meant that four jobs per year of the multi-year contract were kept in the province. We would like to see more of this type of due diligence by other crown corporations and government departments.