As of November 1st, 2007 I assumed the role of interim President of PECCTAC. I want to thank Past President Ian Scrimshaw for all his work over the past two years as President. Other executive positions also had to be filled on an interim basis. I want to thank Dave Ashton for stepping up to Vice President and Brian Munro for assuming the position as Secretary. At our Annual General Meeting on Friday February 29, 2008 we will introduce the 2008 board of directors. I would like to encourage all eligible members to put your name forward to be on the volunteer board of directors.

Our AGM will be held at the Picton Legion this year; we are planning to have a great dinner and guest speaker. Our organization can only be as strong as our members who support it. I would like to see a good showing of PECCTAC members at this event.

I would also like to thank all the members of our volunteer board of directors for their hard work and accomplishments in 2007. The board had a full slate for every meeting and did a great job resolving various issues and concerns.

Wow, thanks to all the Santas.

The PECCTAC Gift Exchange raised $700.00 for the C.A.S. Angel Tree Campaign. That went a long way to give many children a happy Christmas in Prince Edward County. Thanks again for your generosity.

Earlier this year, Samlyn Enterprises launched a visitor’s survey contest to gather vital tourist information. The information collected will provide some interesting facts on why visitors come to Prince Edward County, what they do when they are here, how they heard about us and how long they stayed.

As an incentive for the accommodation businesses that handed out the surveys and to the guests that filled out the survey cards, Lynne McMullen of Samlyn Enterprises offered a $2,000 travel voucher for each. The winning card for the accommodation business went to Bill & Carolyn Goldie of Grove Cottage. In addition, a $200.00 gift certificate was given to the host accommodation of the winning guest. This went to Deb & Rick Caruso of Caruso’s on King B&B & Serenity Spa.

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to Lynne McMullen of Samlyn Enterprises for this initiative.

PECCTAC's ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Legion, Picton

The Bay of Quinte Tourist Council (BQTC) is made up of representatives from the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, Belleville & District Chamber of Commerce, Quinte West Chamber of Commerce, Brighton & District Chamber of Commerce, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Greater Napanee Chamber of Commerce, and Deseronto.
The function of this organization is to execute outward marketing initiatives to promote the Bay of Quinte area. This not-for-profit organization was established in 1982 and has successfully marketed this area throughout the years by working in partnership.

The 2008 Travel & Trade Shows the BQTC will attend:
• Ottawa Boat Cottage & Fishing Show: February 21 – 24 2008
• Toronto Sportsmen’s Show: March 12 – 16 2008
• Montreal National Women’s Show: April 4 – 6 2008
• Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show
• Toronto Women’s Show: November 2008

Any member wishing to help out at the trade show booths please give us a call. Participation is very much appreciated. It is a great way to promote your business!

Health benefits covered by your Chamber’s Group Insurance Plan include:

physiotherapy, chiropractic treatments, eye exams, acupuncture, masseur, naturopath, osteopath, podiatrist and more.

Contact Robert Quaiff, Sunlife Financial
for a personal confidential quote – 613.476.1438

Family Day is governed by the Employment Standards Act and is treated the same as any other public holiday. The following days are considered public holidays in Ontario: New Years Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. In addition to these public holidays some employers give their employees a holiday on Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, the first Monday in August, and/or Remembrance Day. However, these days are not considered public holidays under the Employment Standards Act; therefore employers are not required by provincial law to provide employees with these paid days off.

With the addition of Family Day, most employers are now required to give their employees nine public holidays.

Estimating a budget surplus of $16.4 billion this year, the federal government announced in its Fall Economic Statement a package of tax cuts that will deliver $60 billion in tax relief over the next five years.
The government lowered the federal personal income tax rate from 15.5 per cent to 15 per cent, and increased the basic personal amount to $9,600, effective January 2007, and to $10,100, effective January 2009. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate was further reduced by 1 percent as of January 2008.
The government of Canada also committed to reduce the federal debt by $10 billion this year and by $3 billion annually thereafter. Consequently, the target for reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio to below 25 per cent will be achieved by 2011–12, three years ahead of the original target date.

Canada’s general federal corporate income tax rate will fall by one-third (from 22.1 to 15%) between 2007 and 2012, and Canada’s corporate tax rate will become the lowest among the major industrialized economies. An immediate one percentage-point reduction in the corporate income tax rate will take effect in 2008.
The government will also reduce the small business income tax rate to 11 per cent in 2008, one year earlier than scheduled.