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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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Blanket change to TFW program makes little sense
/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Global Uncertainty, Government Federal/by Jim ZeebenRecent changes to the rules around Temporary Foreign Workers have caught many businesses by surprise. The program has existed for half a century and has been vital to helping employers fill out their workforce. It’s also proved to be a popular pathway to Canadian citizenship. The rule changes were driven by shifting political winds that have seen the federal government curtail immigration targets. However, applying the same rules to all regions […]
View Royal looking ahead to mid-century with OCP
/in BizNews This Week, Government Local/by Jim ZeebenThe Town of View Royal is looking to the future to envision the community it wants to be by the mid-century. View Royal 2050: Our Future View will be a major update to the municipality’s Official Community Plan, which will helps councils and planners make decisions about land use, housing, transportation, parks, environmental stewardship, climate […]
Plan for Quadra McKenzie to be reworked this spring
/in BizNews This Week, Government Local/by Jim ZeebenThe draft plan for the Quadra McKenzie area will go back to the District of Saanich council to reassess initial feedback from the public. Council has asked staff to revise the plan with reduced density in some neighbourhoods, as well as to hold off any changes to vehicle lanes on McKenzie Avenue. “We appreciate people […]
Shifting cruise shuttle stop will help area businesses
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Government Local, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber helped advocate for a small change that will have a big benefit for many downtown businesses. After explaining the concerns of having cruise ship shuttles stop short of Government Street’s retail core, the party’s involved agreed to shift to the 900 block. The change takes place April 4. It required the approval of […]
How will tariffs affect you? Help us advocate for business
/in BizNews This Week, Global Uncertainty/by Jim ZeebenHelp us help you. We know the threat of tariffs has already created shockwaves in the Canadian economy. But how will they impact you specifically? We’d like to hear what you have to say so we can take those concerns forward to all levels of government. Please share your thoughts with communications@victoriachamber.ca. The Chamber is […]
Food prices drop for first time since 2017: CPI at 1.9%
/in BizNews This Week, Global Uncertainty, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim ZeebenCanada’s inflation rate ticked up slightly in January, to 1.9%. “The (tax) holiday gave Canadians a bit of a break on prices for alcohol, food and clothing — enough to bring restaurant prices down for the first time since 2017,” Canadian Chamber economist Andrew DiCapua said. “However, that relief was overshadowed by higher energy prices […]
Victoria hosts meeting on government procurement
/in BizNews This Week, Government Local/by Jim ZeebenThe City of Victoria wants to help businesses learn how they can work directly with the public sector. On Feb. 25, from 9 am to noon, representatives from the federal, provincial and municipal governments will be part of an information meeting at Victoria City Hall. “This event can be an efficient way to market your […]
Esquimalt seeks candidates for council byelection
/in BizNews This Week, Government Local/by Jim ZeebenDetails have been announced about the byelection required to replace former Township of Esquimalt Councillor Darlene Rotchford, who stepped down after being elected to the provincial legislature last October. General Voting Day for the byelection is April 5, with advance voting available on March 26 and April 2. Nominations for candidates can be made until […]
Throne speech promises to drop gloves on tariffs
/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial/by Jim ZeebenThe provincial government is back in Victoria for the first session of the 43rd Parliament of British Columbia. As is tradition, BC’s Lt. Gov. delivered the speech from the throne. The theme of the speech, which reflects the government’s intent for the year ahead, focused on a strong defence against the threat of tariffs being […]
Trying times are nothing new, working together will get us through
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Global Uncertainty/by Jim ZeebenI want to take a minute to address all of our Chamber members and let you know we are here for you. These are uncertain times, for sure. But we have faced uncertainty for a while now, and we understand what it takes to thrive in less than perfect conditions. Our fundamentals are strong — […]
Jobless rate down, but unease being felt nationally
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim ZeebenGreater Victoria continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, according to Statistics Canada’s latest numbers. Our region had a rate of 3.6%, with 244,700 people working out of a labour force of 253,800. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.6%. Notably, fewer people are switching jobs likely because of the ongoing […]
Fed funding helps GVHA add shore power for ships
/in BizNews This Week, Government Federal, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenChamber CEO Bruce Williams attended an announcement Tuesday to hear federal Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Anita Anand announce a long-awaited contribution to our region. The feds are providing $35.5-million for infrastructure projects across BC, including $22.5 million to help the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority advance the Shore Power Project under the Government of […]