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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 championing ferries’ future resonates with Island communities
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Climate Change Solutions, Finding And Keeping Workers, Food Security, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber’s efforts to bring a business perspective to the future of our most vital transportation link has captured the attention of policy makers and business associations on the Island and across BC. A letter penned by The Chamber on behalf of 20 organizations was sent to BC Premier David Eby last week. The letter […]
Changes to lobbyist rules help reduce chilling effect
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber applauds news that the BC Lobbyist Registry is making changes to reduce the unfair burden facing many community organizations. The Registry changed significantly in 2020, surprising many chambers, boards of trade and other groups that traditionally work with government. The aim of the registry is to ensure transparency. It’s an important ideal to […]
Business tax break a sign that council is listening
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Government Local/by Jim ZeebenThe City of Victoria is investing in the business community by continuing to lower the gap between commercial and residential taxes. The Chamber has worked with municipal councils over the years, asking them to mind the gap that had been increasing in years past. Through letters and presentations, The Chamber spoke up for the local […]
Uncertainty sparks rate pause by Bank of Canada
/in BizNews This Week, Global Uncertainty, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim ZeebenAfter seven straight interest-rate cuts buoyed the spirits of businesses and individuals managing debt, it seems economic uncertainty has become a double-edged sword. The Bank of Canada announced today that its target rate will remain at 2.75%, after inflation came in at 2.3% in March. The reasoning for the pause was to provide a buffer […]
Businesses bear burden of loosening sick day rules
/in BizNews This Week, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Inflation And Rising Costs, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenA cost to employers rooted in the pandemic is now further ingrained in law after the provincial government moved to ban the requirement for doctor’s notes when employees take sick days. “Businesses would have liked to have had more of a say on this policy,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It’s one thing for the […]
VicPD seeking feedback from businesses and citizens
/in BizNews This Week, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe Victoria Police Department has sent out 5,000 invitations with unique codes to residents and businesses in the City of Victoria and Township of Esquimalt. VicPD is urging everyone who received the survey to set aside about 10 minutes to complete it before April 25. “If a business receives the invitation, we’d appreciate them completing […]
Low unemployment rate reflects recruiting challenges
/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal/by Jim ZeebenIt might be uncertain times, especially for global trading and the stock markets but we can count on Greater Victoria having a low unemployment rate. Our region has the second lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 3.6%, behind only Saguenay, Quebec, which is at 3.4%. Finding and keeping workers has been a challenge for Greater […]
Saanich and Victoria merger is the right thing to do
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim ZeebenBetter governance from fewer governments has long been a rallying cry within the halls of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. On April 5, our region took the first step toward achieving that goal. The Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly released its findings seven years after the process took root in 2018. The 48-member assembly is recommending […]
Find out where parties stand on local issues at listening session for federal candidates
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber is organizing Canada Votes 2025 on April 16, from 5-7 pm, at the Spectrum Community School theatre in SD61. The format will feature a panel of four candidates from our region representing the major political parties, including Elizabeth May for the Green Party and Laurel Collins for the NDP, Will Greaves from the […]
Women in Business report finds steady, slow progress
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim ZeebenThe 2025 Women in Business report by Doane Grant Thornton is now available. The annual report promotes gender equality, tracks progress, identifies challenges and informs strategies for fostering a more inclusive and equitable business environment — ultimately leading to better business outcomes. “In Canada, 34.7% of women hold senior management positions in small- and medium-sized […]
Listening session planned for federal candidates
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber is planning a federal election event for Greater Victoria. “We’re going to hold a ‘Listening Session,’ which has worked well at focusing discussion on specific challenges facing our region,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. The event, called Canada Votes 2025, is scheduled for April 16, from 5-7 pm. The format will feature a […]
Premier walks back contentious parts of Bill 7
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber applauds the provincial government for listening to our concerns, and those of other business organizations, and removing many of the autocratic elements of Bill 7. The legislation, as initially proposed, would give BC’s Cabinet broad powers without the need to be accountable to the elected legislature. On March 28, Premier David Eby agreed […]