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Good step forward for safer supportive housing
Businesses continue to demand action on making communities safer. On Monday, the provincial government announced help for supportive housing providers dealing with problematic and dangerous individuals taking advantage of vulnerable people.
A new, time-limited working group will have more authority to deal with urgent safety issues and better respond to weapons and criminal activity within supportive housing. The group will explore the potential to remove supportive housing from the Residential Tenancy Act.
“The government really listened to the concerns of our sector and has acted on them,” Our Place Society CEO Julian Daly said. “These proposed changes give us, as housing providers, more flexibility in how we manage our buildings, greater control over who lives with us and allows us to create safer homes for those we serve and a safer workplace for our colleagues.”
The working group will also address air-quality issues in supportive housing related to second-hand exposure to fentanyl.
“The Chamber applauds actions that make our communities safer,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “We know that helping people dealing with mental health and addiction challenges is vital, and part of that help includes keeping them safe from predators who target those populations.”
Rifflandia teams up with Greater Victoria businesses
Greater Victoria’s preeminent festival experience celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, with four days of music and fun set for the end of summer.
Rifflandia will run Sept. 11–14, at Matullia Lands at Rock Bay (corner of Pembroke and Government streets).
“More than ever, people are looking for ways to connect, to share experiences, and to feel something real together — and that’s what Rifflandia is all about,” Rifflandia Entertainment Co. President and CEO Nick Blasko said. “We know a lot of people are feeling the pinch right now, so we’ve kept ticket prices at last year’s levels and packed in even more.”
The Chamber is once again partnering with Rifflandia to help build connections with our business community. The RiffSclusive Deals program is a promotional campaign connecting local brands with tens of thousands of music and culture fans from Aug. 1 to Sept. 14. Participating businesses are featured on Rifflandia’s festival website, direct-to-inbox newsletters and online engagement. Only 20 spots are available. Email Morgan Sutherland at morgan@rifflandia.com to learn more.
Rifflandia is also running its “Give Where You Riff” campaign, which includes Chamber members: DVBA, Victoria Cool Aid Society, Victoria Conservatory of Music, Victoria Hospitals Foundation, Victoria Pride Society, Women in Need (WIN Resale Shops), Burnside Gorge Community Association and Victoria West Community Association.
The campaign will help those organizations by donating 15% of every ticket sold.
Chamber applauds move to keep trade talks on track
Businesses are looking forward to the economic certainty that should come out of a new trade deal between Canada and the US.
The two nations are at the table now and are aiming to strike a deal before the end of the month.
On Sunday, Canada played a bargaining chip that will help Canadian businesses and consumers while also giving the US administration something to share with its followers.
“As the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has argued since the beginning, the decision to eliminate the DST makes sense,” Canadian Chamber Vice President of Government Relations David Pierce said. “This tax would have fallen on Canadian consumers, businesses, and investors in the form of higher costs and hurt our economy at a critical time. And removing it moves us one step closer to a renewed, reliable trade deal … that will help to secure and grow the already incredible $3.6 billion of trade a day between our countries.”
Royals host alumni and foundation golf tournament
The Victoria Royals are bringing back some fan favourites next month to tee off at the inaugural Alumni and Foundation Golf Tournament on July 25 at Uplands Golf Course.
Chamber members wanting to participate are eligible for a discount. Email chamber@victoriachamber.ca to get the code. The Royals plan to have 25 alumni participate, including Mathew Phillips, Tarun Fizer, Joe Hicketts and Steven Hodges.
Inflation stays stable in May, reflecting slow economy
The Consumer Price Index rose 1.7% on a year-over-year basis in May, matching the 1.7% increase in April, Statistics Canada said.
Compared to the same month last year, slower paced increases to rent and a decline in travel tours put downward pressure on inflation this May.
“After last month’s uptick in core inflation some giveback was expected. The labour market remains soft and tepid domestic demand growth should keep a lid on inflationary pressures,” TD Director and Senior Economist Andrew Hencic said. “As has been the case this year, the outlook is heavily dependent on how trade negotiations evolve, but we believe that the soft economic backdrop should give the BoC space to deliver two more cuts this year.”
C-5 aims to rebuild Canada’s economic momentum
An economic evolution that the national chamber network has been working on for years is one step closer to reality this week. On June 23, the federal government passed legislation to vastly improve free trade and labour mobility between provinces.
Without this legislation, large-scale energy and infrastructure projects have routinely been delayed by regulatory gridlock, rising costs and political indecision.
“The Canadian Chamber of Commerce applauds the federal government for urgently introducing and passing Bill C-5 in the House of Commons,” Canadian Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief of Public Policy Matthew Holmes said, adding the ongoing tradewar with the US administration drove home the need to diversify. “We cannot have all our eggs in the United States economic basket any longer.”
Projects where fast-tracking has the broad support of impacted First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities should be the first to be considered.
“Canada’s business community firmly believes we can end project paralysis while working in collaboration with Indigenous rights holders and communities while maintaining world-class environmental standards,” Holmes said. “We know respect and partnership for shared prosperity are the path forward. The Canadian Chamber does not believe a major project is viable in the absence of clear community level support and expects Canada to meet its legal obligations to consult and cooperate with Indigenous peoples, per the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act adopted in 2021.”
Bill C-5 is just the first step. The onus is now on the federal government to deliver so that we can build economic momentum in Canada and show the world we’re serious about growth, energy and getting big things done.
Municipalities applaud expanded borrowing powers
Municipalities in BC are applauding a move to make it easier to finance capital projects. The Chamber is cautiously optimistic about the change, though businesses are wary of enabling any level of government to take on more debt.
“There’s no question that we want to see the public sector work more efficiently, but we also are clear that we need investments that help the private sector grow our economy,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “Innovation led by business is key for us to create the good jobs and creative solutions needed to solve many of the issues affecting our society that government itself is unable to fix.”
The Province amended the municipal liabilities regulation and the short-term capital borrowing regulation to give municipalities more flexibility to plan and finance infrastructure projects that support population growth and housing development.
Municipalities can now borrow up to 10% of their annual revenue, without having to hold a public vote. The changes are a response to concerns raised by municipalities about the cost, complexity and risk of delays associated with implementing capital projects.
Construction begins in Inner Harbour on Belleville terminal
Construction on the Belleville Ferry Terminal will begin this month, following the awarding of a design-build contract.
The Chamber has called for the new terminal for decades and, once complete, it will provide a more comfortable experience for people travelling to downtown Victoria by ferry.
“The Chamber has been an outspoken proponent for modernizing Belleville terminal for decades, and we’re happy to see the project meet new milestones along its way to completion,” Chamber CEO
Bruce Williams said. “With so much uncertainty affecting the economy, we support this project as an important investment in the future of Greater Victoria and as a confirmation of the value the Clipper and Coho bring to our region.”
Construction involves demolishing existing infrastructure and building a new pre-clearance terminal building with modern border-security standards. It also includes replacing aging wharf facilities and building a new commercial goods processing facility.
The new pre-clearance terminal will comply with the Canada-US Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement, and will make travel faster and easier by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the US.
The overall project cost has increased from the $331 million budget that was approved in 2024, due to complex geotechnical and seismic conditions, site constraints and significant soil contamination that will require extensive remediation. Other factors include inflation and safeguarding against economic uncertainty related to tariffs on steel and other products. The federal government has confirmed it will increase its contribution to more than $45 million for the project. The new cost of the project is $416 million.
The project is expected to be completed in 2028.
New trail crossing at Tillicum will ease commute time
Commuters will have an easier time crossing Tillicum Road at Highway 1, once a new trail crossing opens for summer 2027.
The province released illustrations on June 13 of the planned 100-metre Tillicum Active Transportation Bridge. Work is expected to begin in early 2026.
Once complete, the bridge will eliminate one of the last signalized crossings on the Galloping Goose Trail between downtown Victoria and the Westshore. More than 3,000 people use this section of the trail every day in the summer.
