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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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Social media platforms agree to call for better safety

May 16, 2024/in Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Social media companies have agreed to work with the provincial government and do better at protecting British Columbians. “Helping young people stay safe online is one of the most important challenges facing parents, governments and technology companies today,” reads a joint statement from the province along with Meta, Google, TikTok, Snap, and X. “This historic […]

Labour rate drops in April as more people working

May 15, 2024/in Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim Zeeben

April’s unemployment rate dipped to 4.5% in Greater Victoria, according to Statistics Canada’s latest figures. That’s down from 4.8% in March. The region’s labour force grew to 244,000 in April compared to 242,000 in March. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.1% in April, unchanged from March after dropping consecutively for six months previously. Provincially, the […]

Munro’s Books co-founder and famous author passes

May 15, 2024/in Business And Economic Strength/by Jim Zeeben

Internationally renowned author Alice Munro died yesterday. She was 92. The Canadian icon married Jim Munro in 1951 and the couple opened Munro’s Books in 1963 on Yates Street. The store moved to its current neo-classical building on Government Street in 1984. Alice and Jim divorced in the 1970s, and Jim passed away in 2016, […]

Our Place aims to house Pandora campers by January

May 9, 2024/in Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The CEO of Our Place Society announced yesterday that he hopes to find homes by the end of the year for people living on the street in the 900-block of Pandora Ave. “It distresses me to see so many displaced people,” Our Place CEO Julian Daly said in a media release. “No one should be […]

Drivers get breaks from ICBC with rate freeze, rebate

May 8, 2024/in Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

If you had vehicle insurance through ICBC in February, you can expect to get cash back this year. The public insurer estimates 2.7 million drivers will each be eligible for the $110 rebate. Additionally, basic rates will not change until March 31, 2026, ICBC said. “How drivers receive the rebate depends on how they paid […]

Secondary suite program aims to add 3,000 homes

May 8, 2024/in Government Local, Government Provincial, Housing/by Jim Zeeben

Business and industry groups have been calling for policy changes to address the housing shortage facing Greater Victoria. And while many regions in the world are facing a similar challenge, we need solutions that work for Canada and BC. Last week, the province revealed its three-year pilot to encourage homeowners to add secondary suites to […]

BC minimum wage jumps to $17.40/hr on June 1

May 5, 2024/in Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim Zeeben

On Saturday, the province’s minimum wage increases from $16.75 to $17.40 an hour. BC continues to have the highest minimum wage among Canadian provinces. “First, we acknowledge that times are challenging — especially for people trying to make a living while earning minimum wage,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said, noting that many Chamber members already […]

New rules for short-term rentals effective May 1

May 1, 2024/in Fair Rules, Government Local, Government Provincial, Housing/by Jim Zeeben

The Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act took effect today. Among the changes, according to the province, are: Short-term rentals can only be offered in the principal residence of a host, plus one additional unit, secondary suite or laneway home/garden suite on the property. Strata hotels and motels that have been operating in a manner similar to […]

Candid conversation with Premier addresses big issues

May 1, 2024/in Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

It’s not everyday that your breakfast conversation includes a candid discussion with BC’s Premier about the major challenges facing business in Greater Victoria. That was the experience yesterday for 300 people at the Victoria Conference Centre as they were able to nourish their bodies while feeding their minds. After speaking about the government’s plans to […]

Online tool tracks ongoing changes to grocery prices

May 1, 2024/in Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

It’s been the hot-button topic for so long, it’s easy to forget just how much inflation has forever changed the cost of household budgeting. An online tool can help track exactly how much individual goods have changed in price. The Average Retail Food Prices Data Visualization Tool is helpful to show the price increase or […]

Home values for young adults tied to parents’ wealth

May 1, 2024/in Housing/by Jim Zeeben

The prospect of home ownership for younger Canadians has a direct connection to their ability to tap into the “bank of mom and dad,” Statistics Canada stated in a report released today on Intergenerational Housing Outcomes in Canada. The report said that expensive urban markets such as Victoria, Vancouver and Toronto had a higher proportion […]

Transportation crossroads getting major overhaul

April 24, 2024/in Government Local, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

As part of the plan for transforming the Uptown corridor, the province is proposing changes to Ravine Way to accommodate new bus stops and expanded trails in the area. An information session is scheduled for May 1, from 3-7 pm at Cedar Hill Golf Course, to review design concepts, get feedback and discuss how to […]