Page 46 - GBC summer 2016

NAGA members, including long time golf industry sales rep Bob Tate (far left), NGCOA Canada’s Erica Beck (second from right), and Barrie McWha, Executive Professional at Blue Ocean Golf Club (far right) speak with the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities and MP for Delta, BC.
before they were elected into the position they have today. Get to know them on a personal level!”
DO YOUR PART IN 2016
“Success on this initiative will only come with an engaged and passionate grassroots response from members of the NAGA coalition between now and next year’s federal budget,” said Calderwood.
“That is why we have made the investment to rebrand and relaunch the grassroots campaign this year, to energize our members and get the message out to them that they need to get the message out to their Members of Parliament.
“Only by creating a Canada- wide public groundswell of support for this tax change, and by clearly demonstrating that this is a Main Street issue, will we ultimately be successful in next year’s budget.”
“This is a government that cares about economic growth, and that desperately needs economic growth to generate the revenues needed to close the fiscal gap we are facing,” continues Calderwood.
“I truly believe we can convince them to do the right thing for our industry if we can frame our recommendation for tax fairness as, ultimately, a driver of growth and job creation, not some kind of special treatment.
“If we are to achieve this win for our industry, we need all golf industry participants and all members of the organizations that make up NAGA to take up this collective effort in 2016. The time is now, and the power is ours to make this change if we choose to exercise it.”
Golf Business Canada
MEETING WITH YOUR MP
“What has struck me in two decades in the grassroots advocacy business is that professionals who are otherwise hugely successful in business never even think to pick up the phone to talk to their local Member of Parliament about an issue of importance to their industry,” says Williams.
“Getting people over that initial hump can be a challenge in any industry. But MPs are regular people and are always keen to hear the concerns of their constituents. If you don’t make that initial call, then the meeting won’t happen.
“Parliamentarians deal with dozens of policy issues in a given week or month, so it’s hugely important for industry groups to cut through that clutter and to do the hard work of actually making the meetings take place in the home ridings, or the message won’t be heard over the hundreds of other messages MPs deal with on a constant basis.”
“Meeting with MPs and MLAs on various issues over the years has been very fun and interesting,” says Dallas Desjardins, Atlantic Regional Director of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada.
“Learning why they take action on certain items and not others when the cameras are not around gives a person insight into the
46 Golf Business Canada
political realm and what goes into the decision making process. With the tools and resources provided from NAGA you have great background information to share with MPs on golf industry issues.
“From my experience most are unaware of the current unfair taxation issues at stake and are surprised to hear the impact on golf. Getting more MPs aware and demonstrating the effect it has on small business will help rectify this in a future budget.”
“I was surprised that (the MP) had no idea that golf had been singled out and was not eligible for an entertainment expense,” says Brian Schaal, General Manager of Copper Point Golf Club.
“Then again, most people I talk to don’t know that! So don’t be quiet on this subject, make sure everyone you talk to knows about this. You never know what can help you to get a foot in the door.” Schall continues, saying “...remember (MPs) had a somewhat normal life
Sign Up Today!
Industry players can be a part of the rebranded advocacy initiative, simply by visiting www.canadagolfs.ca. There, the new advocacy kit can be downloaded with a few clicks, and simple instructions on how to reach out to your Member of Parliament are included.