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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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Chamber clarifies statement on municipal budgets

November 20, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber News, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

The 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

November 20, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

People 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!

November 20, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim Zeeben

As 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

November 13, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The 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 […]

Federal funds earmarked for Royal Athletic Park

November 13, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

Last week’s federal budget included an unexpected $6-million to help upgrade Royal Athletic Park. City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto told the Times Colonist the funds will allow for repairs and renovations to happen faster than planned. The city owns the facility, which is now best known as the home of the Victoria HarbourCats who […]

Voice of business vital to municipal budget planning

November 13, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Global Uncertainty, Government Local/by Jim Zeeben

One of The Chamber’s advocacy priorities is aimed at reducing the burden on businesses by ensuring governments focus on needs over wants. This is playing out now as municipalities begin their budget process. “To be clear, The Chamber isn’t telling mayors and councils what they need to cut. We are saying they need to do […]

Chamber is the unapologetic voice of business in our region

November 12, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Inflation And Rising Costs, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber recently issued a media release outlining our shift in advocacy priorities. “We know our members have been hearing about these changes and we want to spread the word to the wider community, as well any businesses that might be unaware their voice is represented by The Chamber,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “We […]

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 […]