Chamber Awareness Archives - Victoria Chamber

Chamber advocacy efforts underway with feds

May 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal/by Jim Zeeben

Tuesday’s historic Speech from the Throne read by King Charles III included some promising policy shifts to address Canada’s housing supply.

Acting as the current embodiment of Canada’s sovereignty, the King read a script prepared by the governing Liberal Party. The ritual was a not too subtle reminder to the US administration that Canadians are fed up with annexation rhetoric.

For business, the start of a new government session is a chance to see how campaign promises will be delivered. Housing is a major concern in Greater Victoria, and the Speech from the Throne included a promise to cut the GST for home valued at $1 million or less, saving buyers up to $50,000. The speech also promised to lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million — a sweet spot for single family homes in the region.

“As a Chamber, we advocate for housing solutions to address fundamental challenges in Greater Victoria,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “We need housing supply to help attract people who contribute in all sectors of the economy, but specifically for folks who are required to staff our hospitality and retail industries. And we need homes for people struggling to stay housed. Simply put, housing is at the core of allowing employers to operate at their full potential and helping keep our communities safe for everyone.”

To encourage the new government to stay focused on business needs, the Canadian Chamber has sent the new cabinet “Mandate Letters.” Getting these to new ministers early in their terms is part of the strategic advocacy done to build good relationships that allow the business community to have its voice heard by government.

Chamber hears from Minister about BC’s economic plans

May 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Finding And Keeping Workers, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber hosted BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, Diana Gibson, yesterday at the Union Club of BC.

Minister Gibson spoke about the province’s efforts to build a resilient economy in the face of uncertain trade relations with the United States.

“It was a valuable opportunity to speak with the Minister directly and pose questions on behalf of Chamber members,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It’s important to understand what the government is trying to do, but it’s just as vital that government knows what business needs it to do.”

The event was moderated by Williams and South Island Prosperity Partnership CEO Aaron Stone.

The JEDI Ministry’s role is to support BC’s tech sector as well as small businesses, while providing economic development and promoting the province to international investors.

“One of the big tasks on their plate right now is working with the federal government and other provinces to increase free trade within Canada,” Williams said. “Prime Minister Carney has promised this will happen by Canada Day so the clock is ticking for provinces to reach agreements that make it easier for businesses to sell products and services more efficiently across our borders.”

Chamber CEO held meeting with new Prime Minister

May 8, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal/by Jim Zeeben

Good business requires good relationships, and the same holds true for making sure your voice is heard by government.

The Chamber has earned a seat at the table with decision-makers in all levels of government, including newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Carney’s staff recently approached Chamber CEO Bruce Williams for a one-on-one conversation to learn more about challenges facing Greater Victoria’s business community.

“I was surprised and grateful for the chance to speak up on behalf of Chamber members in Greater Victoria,” Williams said. “We are a region that punches above our weight economically and The Chamber has a long tradition of making sure our government knows what our private sector is asking for to help it thrive.”

Carney met with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday to begin rebuilding Canada’s relationship with its southern neighbour. The US administration’s threat of additional tariffs has created economic uncertainty in Canada and around the world.

A chance to hear firsthand about BC business growth

April 30, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The economic uncertainty caused by threats of an escalating tradewar as well as a change in Canadian leadership has not been good for most businesses.

As some of the shifting settles, many Chamber members want to know what these changes will mean to them. And some of the most direct impacts on business success are related to the regulations and taxes imposed by the province.

“We’re grateful that BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation has agreed to speak to Chamber members next month,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “This is a ministry that interconnects with businesses in many ways, and it’s important for the minister to understand the concerns and challenges facing our members.”

Minister Diana Gibson is speaking at the Union Club of BC from 11:30 am to 1 pm, on May 13. Topics include the province’s plans to work with the new Prime Minister on eliminating barriers to interprovincial trade. The Minister will also address the future of the EHT, plans to improve downtown safety and how government will reduce red tape to help businesses grow.

Chamber championing ferries’ future resonates with Island communities

April 30, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Climate Change Solutions, Finding And Keeping Workers, Food Security, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The 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 makes the case for revisiting the recent decision by the BC Ferries commissioner to only approve four new vessels instead of the five required to meet demand.

The request was picked up by media during an interview with the Premier, who agreed that the vessels are needed.

“I think we need boats that are going to be able to serve the public well into the future here in British Columbia,” Eby told reporters. “It’s critical for commerce, for tourism and as the Island Highway for so many families and businesses.”

The Chamber supports efforts to reduce costs faced by taxpayers, and is grateful the provincial government has heard our calls to invest in ways that grow the economy for everyone. The attention on the issue has also raised the potential for federal funding to be part of the solution.

“Affordability is about more than just fares and yet there’s nothing that requires the commissioner to apply that lens,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams wrote in the letter about the need for infrastructure that drives business, industry and tourism.

Read The Chamber’s column

Changes to lobbyist rules help reduce chilling effect

April 24, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The 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 help British Columbians know if their elected representatives are being influenced by special-interests. However, the 2020 change introduced a cumbersome interface, tighter timelines and a chilling fine structure. The result inhibited historic relationships that have served for decades to help communities keep an open dialogue with provincial ministries.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce played a key role in championing those important connections, working with chambers across BC to call out the chilling effect of the registry.

The changes announced today come into force on May 27 and will drop requirements for reporting every time funding is requested, extend due dates for reports and clarify some of the rules around filing requirements.

Business tax break a sign that council is listening

April 24, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Government Local/by Jim Zeeben

The 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 jobs and services that businesses provide to a municipality. We also explained the challenges with tight margins that many businesses are facing.

Victoria Council is committed to lowering the rate charged to residents and that charged to business to 3:1 by 2030. It was 3.7:1 last year and is 3.5:1 this year.

“Businesses don’t receive the same level of service that residents do, yet they consistently are asked to pay a higher tax rate,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “In the past, we were hearing concerns that some councils saw increasing business taxes as a politically expedient way to raise money — businesses don’t vote so maybe their individual complaints matter less than a resident that does vote. Thankfully, our experience with councils has been less cynical. Municipalities get the value of the business community — and the know The Chamber will remind them if they ever forget.”

Saanich and Victoria merger is the right thing to do

April 9, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

Better 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 that Greater Victoria’s two largest municipalities merge.

“This is a major win for The Chamber. We’ve literally been advocating for this since the mid-20th Century,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “When we were packing up to move our office, we found binders with reams of paperwork calling for amalgamation over the decades.”

The Chamber was an early voice for using the Citizens’ Assembly process as a practical method for initiating amalgamation. And whenever the process stalled along the way, The Chamber was quick to nudge it forward.

The next step will be for the City of Victoria and District of Saanich to review the consensus reached by the Assembly.

“Both municipal councils have committed to receiving the Assembly’s final report and deliberating on its recommendations,” the report stated. “If they decide to endorse the Assembly’s recommendation for a public referendum on amalgamation, they will work with the Province of British Columbia to initiate it, likely to coincide with the next municipal elections in 2026.”

Find out where parties stand on local issues at listening session for federal candidates

April 9, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal/by Jim Zeeben

The 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 Liberal Party and a local candidate the Conservative Party. The latter will be confirmed shortly.

The candidates will hear about an issue facing Greater Victoria and will then discuss potential solutions based on their party’s platforms.

Each of the issues will be presented by a representative from the following organizations:

Destination Greater Victoria, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, Vancouver Island Construction Association, the Downtown Victoria Business Association and The Chamber.

The federal election is set for April 28, and the Canada Votes 2025 Listening Session is free. However, space is limited so register early.

Women in Business report finds steady, slow progress

April 2, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim Zeeben

The 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 businesses. It’s steady progress but still a significant distance to achieve parity,” Doane Grant Thornton stated. “It could take another 25 years for women to achieve equal representation in top executive roles, without accelerated change.”

The report also looks at external and internal challenges that affect leadership teams in mid-market businesses, which Doane Grant Thornton said “account for 98% of employer businesses in Canada, and 90% of businesses and two-thirds of jobs worldwide.”