The MCC is a voluntary federation of autonomous chambers of commerce throughout Manitoba. To put it another way, the MCC is the umbrella organization for Manitoba’s chamber movement.
This section answers five questions:
- What is the difference between the MCC and local chambers of commerce?
- How do you calculate the membership dues paid by Local Chambers to the MCC?
- Does the MCC also accept businesses as members?
- Are business members of local chambers automatically considered to be members of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce?
- Why does the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce have direct corporate members?
Question: What is the difference between the MCC and local chambers of commerce?
Answer: The MCC focuses on provincial issues while local chambers tend to focus on local issues. However, Manitoba’s chamber movement works together – after all, that is a key part of our strength – so you will have local chambers involved in provincial issues and the MCC sometimes helps out in local issues.
The key difference is this: by bringing together the entire provincial chamber network of over 10,000 businesses the MCC offers a pipeline of information and an audience for your business and its issues that no other organization can match.
As well, because it is the most diverse association in the province, the MCC recognizes the power of seeking out common ground – what unites us, rather than what divides us – and the power of bridging silos.
Finally, because it is the only business association that represents communities as well as businesses it has led the way in recognizing that businesses need healthy communities and communities need vibrant businesses.
To access a directory of our local chambers click here.
Question: How do you calculate the membership dues paid by local chambers to the MCC?
Answer: Prior to 2002 the membership dues from local chambers to the MCC were calculated through a complicated formula involving community size and number of businesses. In 2002 a chamber commission researched this issue and recommended replacing it with a simple yearly cost of living increase. This recommendation was approved at the 2002 AGM and since that date there has been yearly cost of living adjustments approved by the Board.
Question: Does the MCC also accept businesses as members?
Answer: Yes, the MCC is the most diverse business association in the province, welcoming businesses of all sizes, from all sectors and locations in the province, in addition to its local chamber members. In fact, our membership also includes individuals, other associations, post-secondary institutions, and government.
To become a corpoate member of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, click here.
To access a directory of our local chambers and corporate members, click here.
Question: Are business members of local chambers automatically considered to be members of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce?
Answer: As the umbrella organization of Manitoba’s chamber movement the MCC represents all the local chambers and all members of the local chambers and works to grow, enhance and leverage that 10,000-strong network, but members of the local chambers are not technically members of the MCC unless they are direct corporate members of the MCC.
To access a list of the MCC’s direct corporate members, click here.
To become a direct corporate member of the MCC, click here.
Question: Why does the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce have direct corporate members?
Answer: There are really two reasons:
1) Direct corporate members help cover the costs of activities and services the MCC provides to the local chambers. This helps keep the dues we receive from local chambers low and this, in turn, helps local chambers focus the majority of their limited resources on their own communities.
2) By their nature, local chambers largely focus on local issues. Funding from direct corporate members help defray the costs of the MCC’s involvement in key provincial issues such as our tax regime, labour laws, provincial skills development, the environment and a wide range of other issues.
