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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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VicPD warns of payroll frauds making the rounds
/in Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe Victoria Police Department is warning area businesses to be wary of “direct deposit diversion” or “payroll” frauds after a reported loss of more than $50,000 in wages. “These frauds typically involve a ‘phishing’ type fraud where an employer or HR department receives an email that appears to be from an employee who is asking […]
Inflation slows again in April, raising hope for rate cut
/in Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim ZeebenMake sure to circle June 5 on your calendar after Statistics Canada’s latest figures show inflation continues to slow down. The Consumer Price Index for April rose by 2.7%, compared to 2.9% in March. If you take gas prices out of the equation, the CPI was actually down to 2.5% in April. “April’s CPI report […]
Victoria council discusses future of downtown traffic
/in Business And Economic Strength, Government Local/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber is working to engage with members and our partner organizations to make sure the voice of business is heard on proposals that will impact traffic in downtown Victoria. The City of Victoria is looking at extending dedicated bus lanes along Douglas Street, potentially reworking the busy corridor to focus on transit. The idea […]
Canucks lift spirits, boost BC’s hospitality industry
/in Business And Economic Strength, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim ZeebenThere’s still plenty of room for diehard fans as well as those new to the bandwagon. The Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup playoff run has been a pleasant experience for many of the province’s pubs and restaurants. In Greater Victoria, a number of Chamber members are supporting fans by showing games on their big screens. The […]
Social media platforms agree to call for better safety
/in Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenSocial 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
/in Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim ZeebenApril’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
/in Business And Economic Strength/by Jim ZeebenInternationally 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
/in Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe 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
/in Transportation Options/by Jim ZeebenIf 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
/in Government Local, Government Provincial, Housing/by Jim ZeebenBusiness 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
/in Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim ZeebenOn 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
/in Fair Rules, Government Local, Government Provincial, Housing/by Jim ZeebenThe 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 […]