BizNews This Week Archives - Victoria Chamber

Interested in exporting to US states near the border?

December 3, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Global Uncertainty, New And Established Businesses/by Jim Zeeben

Trade and Invest British Columbia, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle, is planning an educational mission for BC food and beverage companies on Feb. 3-5, in Seattle.

The New Exporters to Border States mission provides an opportunity for BC companies with limited or no international trade experience to be introduced to exporting, and to explore the potential of the US Pacific Northwest market firsthand. Experienced exporters are welcome to join and may find the content valuable.

There is a $50 fee to participate in the mission. Return bus transportation between Vancouver-Seattle will be provided. Companies are responsible for paying for all other travel expenses including, but not limited to, accommodation, meals and incidentals.

Apply now until Dec. 17

Helping those who can’t help themselves the right way

December 3, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Fair Rules, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Progress is happening in a key area needed to improve community safety, but a lot of work left is still needed before anyone can confidently say the job is done.

Last week, a significant change was made to enable health-care workers to help people unable to help themselves due to mental health or addiction issues.

This week, the province clarified the steps that will allow people to receive needed help while protecting them from potential abuses of the involuntary care process.

“When someone is detained under the Mental Health Act, it can be a confusing path to navigate alone,” Canadian Mental Health Association of BC CEO Jonny Morris said in a provincial news release. “The Independent Rights Advice Service, now entering a new phase after almost two years of service, is a powerful source of support, information and understanding.”

The changes now give people involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act a right to meet with an independent rights adviser who can help patients protect their Charter rights.

It’s an important guardrail for a process that has had an uneven history.

“At the end of the day, we all want to see people get they help they need and be treated with dignity,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “What we know for sure is that seeing people suffering on our streets and vulnerable to predators is inhumane, and profoundly impacts everyone’s sense of safe community.”

More work still needed to lower municipal taxes

December 3, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

Local governments have until May 15 to adopt their tax rate bylaws but early deliberations are already pointing to major increases.

The City of Victoria has made efforts to lower costs for downtown businesses, but is still looking at a tax hike of more than 10%.

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto recently spoke to Chamber members about the value of the relationship between city hall and local businesses. However, the mayor has an uphill battle convincing the rest of council and city staff to dig deeper into why costs of running the city have escalated so much.

The Chamber has vocally called for municipalities to exercise fiscal constraint with next year’s budgets. Businesses are having to tighten their belts during a period of economic uncertainty — even small cost increases are magnified right now.

“Raising property taxes is a choice, and The Chamber has been clear that local governments could be adding the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “We know cutting back on expenses is difficult when so many people need help, but municipalities really do rely on businesses to support their community. We can’t risk the jobs, services and goods provided by the private sector because that will only lead to less revenue for the public sector.”

Over in the District of Saanich, the early 2026 municipal budget needs an 8.74% tax increase to pay for everything added to the wish list.

VicPD Chief to speak at next Safe Community event

December 3, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber is excited to announce the next event in our series of Safe Community meetings.

On Feb. 10, we will host Victoria Police Department Chief Constable Fiona Wilson to discuss the challenges and opportunities our region is facing.

Chamber CEO John Wilson will moderate the discussion after Chief Wilson provides an update on VicPD’s work to improve social disorder downtown in the short term and over the long run.

“This is a welcome opportunity for the business community to hear directly about an issue that is the highest priority for us right now,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “We have always had a great relationship with local police and I’m sure our members will be excited to hear how VicPD is listening to our concerns and their plans to address them in the days and months ahead.”

Questions can be submitted in advance with your registration.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 11:30am – 1pm
Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour – Pacific Ballroom, 728 Humboldt St.

Register Now

Local MLA gets military development portfolio

November 26, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Government Provincial, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations, Training And Microcredentials/by Jim Zeeben

Darlene Rotchford, MLA for Esquimalt-Colwood, has been appointed parliamentary secretary for armed forces development and veterans affairs in the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth. Rotchford was formerly the parliamentary secretary for labour and as the provincial government’s military liaison.

With the federal government making a generational investment in Canada’s military, there is tremendous opportunity for our region. As home to Canada’s Pacific Fleet, Greater Victoria benefits from the economic activity generated by CFB Esquimalt.

Changes to involuntary care a small step on right path

November 26, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber applauds efforts to improve the rules regarding involuntary care for people suffering from severe mental illness or addiction. When a human being is unable to seek help on their own, difficult decisions must be made to remove that person from situations that could cause harm to themselves or others.

After many years of calls for change, the provincial government announced this week it had introduced an amendment to the 40-year-old Mental Health Act. The change will better protect health-care workers against litigation when they have take action in good faith.

The Chamber and other groups continue to urge the province to increase access to immediate treatment.

“Where is the dignity in allowing someone to be left vulnerable on our streets because of an illness? The compassionate thing to do is help people who need help. Everyone knows this. Involuntary care is part of the solution, as is ensuring adequate space for people in need,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “Of course, the other side of this is stopping the flow of people with profound illnesses coming here because they can’t get help where they’re from. It’s overwhelming our community.”

The Chamber will continue to work with community partners to ensure:

local governments adequately fund police and bylaw services
The province increases access to treatment facilities for people in their own communities
The federal government fixes laws to stop the small number of repeat offenders from victimizing vulnerable people on the street, and stealing from businesses or damaging property.

Chamber supports temporary tax relief for downtown

November 26, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

The City of Victoria continues to work on reducing the increase taxpayers will face in 2026.

Council recently passed a motion, supported by The Chamber, that will see 47 downtown properties save thousands of dollars on property taxes. The temporary tax relief is an expansion of the program that assisted businesses in the Harris Green neighbourhood last year.

“Many businesses need help right now, especially many in downtown Victoria,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “We’re happy that City Council is looking at ways to help and says they understand the value of investing in a thriving business community.”

Victoria has already agreed to reduce the gap between the commercial and residential tax ratios. The ratio was 3.67:1 last year, 3.5:1 this year and will drop to 3:1 by the end of the decade.

The Chamber advocates for all levels of government to focus on needs — not wants — as the economic outlook remains uncertain. For local governments, that means prioritizing policing and community safety as well as critical infrastructure.

Chamber hosts Victoria Mayor for frank discussion on safety

November 26, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Government Local, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

More than 130 people filled the Centennial Ballroom in the Union Club of BC yesterday to hear an update on downtown safety from City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto.

The event was sponsored by PwC.

The Mayor spoke frankly about the dire need to take urgent action, acknowledging that businesses were facing too much stress from crime and disorder.

“I think there is no single issue that is more powerful, compelling and important than this right now,” Alto said, noting that there has been a relationship between the city and The Chamber since both were founded in the 1860s.

The Mayor pointed to the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan announced this summer, and noted that first steps such as increased police presence are happening now.

The Mayor also called out the provincial and federal governments for passing the buck on their responsibilities, as well as other local governments that watch idly as residents leave for services only available in Victoria.

“The (new) message is we’re changing what’s happening and we are no longer going to be the only provider (of services for homeless people) in the region,” Alto said. “Therefore, colleagues around the region do something with your own people. People who are coming — we’re full.”

During the Q&A that followed, the Mayor addressed concerns about homeless people congregating in front of businesses as well as how the city can better work with the province on housing.

“On behalf of The Chamber, I’d like to thank the Mayor for being accountable to those who attended our event, and for her promise to take urgent action to help downtown businesses,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “We’ll keep talking about this issue for as long as it takes to be resolved.”

Message from the CEO on Business Award nominations

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

We know times are challenging for many businesses. We also know that successful entrepreneurs and business leaders inspire us to carry on.

So as we head into 2026, let’s work together to celebrate all of our stories of success. They help us through difficult times and empower us to do the work needed to build good business and great community for all.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Greater Victoria Business Awards, set for June 11 at the Victoria Conference Centre.

This event is a highlight of the year for our business community, and showcases people and organizations who are truly leading the way.

Award finalists are chosen by an independent panel of judges who represent all sectors and all sizes of businesses. Being a judge is a tough job as there are many individuals and teams in our region worth recognizing.

Even more important, though, is coming together as a community to stand up for business. And the best way to do that right now is to nominate your organization or another you think deserves the extra recognition.

Click the links below to learn more about award categories and to submit your nomination.

Thank you for your participation in The Chamber!

John Wilson, Chamber CEO

Nominate Now!

Learn More!

Chamber welcomes renewed focus on industry

November 20, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, New And Established Businesses/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber applauds the recent launch of Look West, a provincial strategy to invest in the economy through major projects and a focus on industry. The aim is to build off recent announcements by the federal government to prioritize projects that will grow Canada’s economy and increase future revenue.

“As important as the specific projects are, even more encouraging is the acknowledgment that government needs to invest in ways that grow revenue and build resilience in our economy,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “The recent announcements come as The Chamber is beginning work with industrial partners in Greater Victoria, such as the Ralmax Group of Companies. One initiative that could make a big difference is the idea of an Industrial Land Reserve modelled after BC’s existing Agricultural Land Reserve.”

It makes sense to preserve spaces that have incubated successful industry and the good-paying jobs that come with it. There is a lot of pressure on land due to things such as BC Assessment’s highest-and-best-use policy. There’s a real risk that once the usage of the land changes, the jobs and revenue streams that had been in place will never return.

The Chamber will continue to work for all of its members, and hopes to continue to provide insight from a business perspective for decision makers in the provincial government.