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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.
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Local MLA gets military development portfolio
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Government Provincial, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations, Training And Microcredentials/by Jim ZeebenDarlene Rotchford, MLA for Esquimalt-Colwood, has been appointed parliamentary secretary for armed forces development and veterans affairs in the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth. Rotchford was formerly the parliamentary secretary for labour and as the provincial government’s military liaison. With the federal government making a generational investment in Canada’s military, there is tremendous opportunity […]
Changes to involuntary care a small step on right path
/in BizNews This Week, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber applauds efforts to improve the rules regarding involuntary care for people suffering from severe mental illness or addiction. When a human being is unable to seek help on their own, difficult decisions must be made to remove that person from situations that could cause harm to themselves or others. After many years of […]
Chamber supports temporary tax relief for downtown
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim ZeebenThe City of Victoria continues to work on reducing the increase taxpayers will face in 2026. Council recently passed a motion, supported by The Chamber, that will see 47 downtown properties save thousands of dollars on property taxes. The temporary tax relief is an expansion of the program that assisted businesses in the Harris Green […]
Chamber hosts Victoria Mayor for frank discussion on safety
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Government Local, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim ZeebenMore than 130 people filled the Centennial Ballroom in the Union Club of BC yesterday to hear an update on downtown safety from City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. The event was sponsored by PwC. The Mayor spoke frankly about the dire need to take urgent action, acknowledging that businesses were facing too much stress […]
Message from the CEO on Business Award nominations
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim ZeebenWe know times are challenging for many businesses. We also know that successful entrepreneurs and business leaders inspire us to carry on. So as we head into 2026, let’s work together to celebrate all of our stories of success. They help us through difficult times and empower us to do the work needed to build […]
Chamber welcomes renewed focus on industry
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, New And Established Businesses/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber applauds the recent launch of Look West, a provincial strategy to invest in the economy through major projects and a focus on industry. The aim is to build off recent announcements by the federal government to prioritize projects that will grow Canada’s economy and increase future revenue. “As important as the specific projects […]
BC promises to double funding for trades training
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim ZeebenTwice as much money is being allocated to train British Columbians in needed trades, the provincial government announced last week. Over the next three years, trades-training programs in BC will receive $241 million. This money will: increase per-seat funding for apprentice programs address waiting lists for industrial trades advance skilled-trades certification, beginning with crane operators ensure […]
Grants available for community safety projects
/in BizNews This Week, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe provincial government is accepting applications for the 2025-26 Civil Forfeiture Grant program. This year, organizations can submit applications for projects that help with: crime prevention gender-based violence Indigenous healing and restorative justice. The Civil Forfeiture Office was established in 2006 to redirect the proceeds of crime back into community safety and crime prevention programs. […]
Chamber clarifies statement on municipal budgets
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber News, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber issued a statement this week, clarifying our position on the need for local governments to reduce their dependence on increasing taxes every year. A recently published column by Chamber CEO John Wilson issued a challenge to all Greater Victoria municipalities, calling for them to match the City of Vancouver’s effort to achieve a […]
New housing helps homeless escape addiction
/in BizNews This Week, Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenPeople in recovery in Victoria who are experiencing homelessness or leaving supportive housing will soon have a safe place to stay. When someone living on the street asks for help, it needs to be there. Having a safe downtown requires adequate support for people looking to recover from addiction. A step in the right direction is the […]
You can win a $500 gift card from Chambers Plan!
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim ZeebenAs part of a national effort to strengthen the value Chambers Plan provides to small businesses, we’re asking for your input through a brief, confidential survey. The goal is to better understand what matters most to small business owners when it comes to benefits, partnerships, and business support — so your Chamber and programs like […]
New rules on sick notes effective immediately
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe province’s rules limiting when employers can ask for sick notes are now in effect. Under the employment standards regulations, employers can’t ask for a sick note for a worker’s first two health-related, short-term absences of five consecutive days or fewer in a calendar year. The province said it consulted health-care providers, who pointed to […]