BizNews

Home / News / BizNews

Breaking news for Greater Victoria businesses

Published weekly, BizNews offers information to help Greater Victoria’s business community make sense of our shifting economic and political landscape. The Chamber’s flagship newsletter is distributed to more than 5,000 subscribers who are highly engaged and active in our region’s business community. Scroll down to read the latest.

Subscribe to BizNews

Interested in advertising in BizNews?

Advertising Rates and Opportunities with The Chamber

Fall stats show uptick in region’s real estate sector

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing/by Jim Zeeben

Greater Victoria’s housing market is showing renewed activity as sales and prices ticked up in October. A total of 617 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this October, 11.4% more than in September. “The local real estate market remains reasonably balanced,” VREB Chair Dirk VanderWal said in a media release. “Single family […]

Victoria firm launches national directory for builders

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Housing/by Jim Zeeben

One way that Canada will be able to meet its housing supply challenges is through innovation led by business. For example, new Chamber member WebMaxCanada recently launched an online directory that helps connect with Canadian builders and suppliers. CanadaPrefabHomes.ca is a searchable, nationwide directory connecting prefab, modular, and mass-timber builders, manufacturers and trades. “We wanted […]

Saanich says work ahead to meet BC housing targets

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Housing/by Jim Zeeben

The provincial government’s mandate for BC municipalities to build more homes is proving to be a challenge for some. The District of Saanich said in its latest report that it’s making progress, though it won’t reach its target. So far, since the mandate was brought in, Saanich has seen about 78% of its goal of […]

Area mayors, minister to discuss regional policing

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

According to a report published in the Saanich News, a meeting to discuss a regional police service is in the works between area mayors and the provincial government. “This is something that Esquimalt has always been supportive of,” Township of Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins told the media outlet. “When we amalgamated with Victoria way back […]

Fed Budget leaves investment in hands of business: analysis

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Global Uncertainty, Government Federal, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

After 18 months of waiting for a federal budget, Canadian businesses heard yesterday about the government’s big promises. “Canada has an urgent need to get back to a growing, productive economy,” Canadian Chamber President and CEO Candace Laing said in a media release. “The government has heard business’s call to focus on the economy and […]

Province continues working on red tape reduction

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Government Provincial, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

On Monday, the provincial government announced it was making 187 amendments to 38 regulations in order to reduce red tape, improve permitting timelines and make government services more efficient and accessible. The changes are across 10 ministries and focus on streamlining approval processes, such as removing construction permit requirements for very small private water systems, […]

Feds announce reforms to bail and legal system

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Federal, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Last Thursday, the federal government announced highly anticipated reforms aimed at keeping repeat offenders away from communities. The Bail and Sentencing Reform Act focuses on stricter bail laws for violent and repeat offending, as well as organized crime. It also aims to make sentencing laws tougher for serious and violent crimes. “This is a pillar […]

ICBC freezes auto insurance rates through 2027

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Insurance Corporation of BC announced on Tuesday that no increase to basic rates is planned for next year. It marks the seventh year in a row that ICBC has held rates. “With insurance rates stable, we can put our efforts toward enhancing customer experience and expanding online services,” ICBC interim CEO and president Jason […]

Bank lowers interest rate as trade uncertainty lingers

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

The Bank of Canada reduced its target interest rate today by 0.25%, citing ongoing uncertainty with US trade negotiations. “While the global economy has been resilient to the historic rise in US tariffs, the impact is becoming more evident,” the bank said in its statement. “Trade relationships are being reconfigured and ongoing trade tensions are […]

Chamber column: Focus on needs not wants in budgets

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

An excerpt is from The Chamber’s October column in the Business Examiner” If the largest city in Western Canada can aim for a 0% property tax increase, surely those municipalities with a fraction of Vancouver’s budget can do the same. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim recently announced that he is directing staff to stop spending money […]

Nigel House opens 88 new homes in Saanich

October 22, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber strongly advocates for increasing Greater Victoria’s housing supply to meet the diverse needs of our region. We all benefit from having a strong real estate industry, as well as affordable housing needed for a safe community. Last Friday, 88 units opened at the new six-storey Nigel House in the District of Saanich. The […]

Construction begins on 500 new homes in Victoria

October 22, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Construction has started on more than 500 new rental homes, retail spaces and a public plaza at the corner of Douglas and Caledonia streets. “We’re excited to continue providing much-needed housing to Victoria in partnership with BC Housing on this mixed-use project at Douglas and Caledonia,” Chard Development president and CEO Byron Chard said in a […]