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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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Military pay raise a boost for region’s economy

August 13, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal/by Jim Zeeben

Greater Victoria’s economic ties to Canada’s military go back more than a century. Today, our business community has a symbiotic relationship with CFB Esquimalt, home to more than 4,000 Canadian Armed Forces personnel. “We know the base benefits our community in many ways, from purchasing goods and supplies from local businesses to providing thousands of […]

Market for office space remains healthy across region

August 13, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim Zeeben

There has been an increase in vacant offices in Greater Victoria, largely driven by new spaces being reintroduced, according to the latest report from CBRE. The report, Tenant preferences remain resilient against macroeconomic headwinds, noted that Downtown Victoria had zero vacancy for Class AA space for the fourth consecutive quarter. “In the Downtown core, there […]

BC Ferries needs political will to ensure sustainability

August 13, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Sometimes it takes making headlines to get government’s attention. That seems to be the case for BC Ferries, which recently announced plans to procure four desperately needed new vessels. The Chamber has spoken up for the Island’s vital link to the Mainland, pointing out that new vessels are required now. The announcement caused ripples across […]

Groundbreaking signals start of major new housing project

August 13, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Housing/by Jim Zeeben

One of our region’s largest new housing developments broke ground today, starting construction on a project that will eventually add 1,500 homes in Harris Green. The housing, being developed by Starlight Investments, will include a mix of townhomes, studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The Chamber was an early supporter of the project. Harris […]

Mental health support vital for safer communities

July 23, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

A healthy community is a safer community, and The Chamber continues to call for smart investments that help people achieve wellness required to reach their potential. Connections Place, a community-based organization that helps people diagnosed with mental illness, recently received $500,000. The non-profit offers employment, education and recreation initiatives that foster hope, opportunity and purpose. […]

Serious crime down in Victoria, recent report says

July 23, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The latest numbers show serious crimes have decreased in the City of Victoria, according to Statistics Canada’s Crime severity index. “We’ve put a significant amount of effort into crime prevention and disrupting nonviolent crime, and I commend all of our officers, reserves and volunteers for this positive outcome,” VicPD Chief Del Manak told Black Press. […]

Esquimalt launches new business, investment portal

July 23, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Government Local/by Jim Zeeben

The Township of Esquimalt has launched a new website aimed at attracting investment and helping current businesses. WhyEsquimalt.ca includes information about the economic landscape in the Township. “Storytelling is a powerful tool and this new dedicated website will serve to strengthen Esquimalt’s place brand identity by showcasing a unified narrative around livability, opportunity and quality […]

Chamber network continues to call for red tape reduction

July 23, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber continues to call for reduced red tape across all levels of government. According to the latest update from the Business Conditions Terminal for Greater Victoria, conditions remain challenging with the number of active businesses at 11,300, a slight increase (0.5%) from a year ago. Businesses are encouraged to help shape Chamber advocacy efforts […]

Region’s unemployment up, but still lowest in Canada

July 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim Zeeben

Greater Victoria employers continue to face pressure from a tight labour market. Our region’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9% in June, up from 3.7% in May. Greater Victoria’s employment rate was 65.2% in June. Those numbers compare to national rates of 6.9% unemployment and 60.9% employment. Our region consistently has among the lowest unemployment […]

Sticky inflation means July interest rate cut unlikely

July 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

The latest inflation figures have dampened the chances that Canadians will get further debt relief this summer. The Consumer Price Index was 1.9% in June, up from 1.7% in May. “Price pressures edged higher as goods inflation picked up again. While the jump was mostly brought on by base effects from gasoline prices, underlying inflation […]

Save Our Streets meets with feds about public safety

July 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Federal, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber is a founding member of the Save Our Streets coalition, which met this week with the entire BC federal Liberal caucus. SOS representatives asked what was being done to curb crime, violence and public disorder disrupting and threatening communities throughout the province. “British Columbians are at a tipping point … and are demanding […]

Tiresome tariff talk compounds flagging confidence

July 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness/by Jim Zeeben

Summer is traditionally a time to slow down and reenergize, but the trade talk coming out of the Whitehouse feels like spam through a faulty email filter. “Like most copy-and-paste chain-letters, this latest tariff threat from the US promises disaster if its warnings and predictions aren’t taken seriously. But it’s the senselessness of this tradewar […]