Chamber Awareness Archives - Victoria Chamber

Fed Budget leaves investment in hands of business: analysis

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Global Uncertainty, Government Federal, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

After 18 months of waiting for a federal budget, Canadian businesses heard yesterday about the government’s big promises.

“Canada has an urgent need to get back to a growing, productive economy,” Canadian Chamber President and CEO Candace Laing said in a media release. “The government has heard business’s call to focus on the economy and has made some tough choices to attract investment. Individual businesses — small, medium and large — will be the ultimate judges of whether this is enough to start making investments in Canada again.”

The Chamber was pleased to see the government make needed reprioritizations and cuts, while investing in new defence spending.

Our armed forces have long been left empty-handed and finally meeting international commitments could go a long way to being seen as a reliable global partner.

“This budget makes critical investments in the equipment and technology our men and women in uniform need to defend Canada at home and abroad,” Executive Vice President and Chief of Public Policy Matthew Holmes said.

Budget 2025 takes a step toward balancing fiscal restraint with targeted investment. But the test ahead is execution and follow through — ensuring that policies translate into real-world competitiveness and growth.

“The world is competing for capital, and capital is mobile,” Laing said. “Canada has the talent, the resources and the potential to lead. Now, we need to prove that we can provide the certainty investors and businesses are looking for here at home.”

2025 Budget Expert Insights

Bank lowers interest rate as trade uncertainty lingers

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

The Bank of Canada reduced its target interest rate today by 0.25%, citing ongoing uncertainty with US trade negotiations.

“While the global economy has been resilient to the historic rise in US tariffs, the impact is becoming more evident,” the bank said in its statement. “Trade relationships are being reconfigured and ongoing trade tensions are dampening investment in many countries.”

To help Canada regain a positive position with the US, the Canadian Chamber has sent a trade mission, led by former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, to the US capital.

“Now is the time to stay very cool and to be focused on what it is that we want,” Charest told CTV. “The rest is a distraction, frankly, and we need to continue to be the adult in the room. Stay focused, stay close to each other, share information, and if we do that, we will increase our chances of coming out of this with a pretty good outcome.”

Chamber column: Focus on needs not wants in budgets

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

An excerpt is from The Chamber’s October column in the Business Examiner”

If the largest city in Western Canada can aim for a 0% property tax increase, surely those municipalities with a fraction of Vancouver’s budget can do the same. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim recently announced that he is directing staff to stop spending money that doesn’t need to be spent — a decisive response to an initial staff recommendation for a 7% increase.

It takes courage to stand up for what’s right, and Sim has been clear that “zero means zero.” This kind of leadership should be inspirational for mayors across the province. On behalf of Greater Victoria’s business community — and everyone concerned about ballooning government spending — The Chamber is calling on all 13 municipalities in our region to follow Vancouver’s lead.

As local governments across BC begin their budget processes this fall, they have an opportunity to demonstrate that they truly support local economic growth. That support starts with restraint.

Read the Full Column

SIPP sees silver lining with new Possibility Charter

October 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim Zeeben

The South Island Prosperity Partnership launched a new initiative last week that complements work done earlier this fall by the Rising Economy Taskforce.

The Possibility Charter features a pledge “to build Greater Victoria’s future on a foundation of hope, creativity and entrepreneurship, rather than complacency and stagnation.”

“The Possibility Charter is more than words on a page — it’s a call to action for Greater Victoria to embrace creativity, take risks and co-create a future where people and businesses can thrive together,” SIPP CEO Aaron Stone said in the media release. “By pairing the Charter with SIPP’s five-year plan, Rising Economy 2030, we are giving our region both the vision and a plan to succeed.”

The new economic development plan focuses on growing emerging sectors — the blue economy, cleantech and life sciences — as well as finding and keeping essential workers and broadening AI adoption. The plan aims to create conditions that help young people stay in the region and succeed.

“The Chamber supports the work done by SIPP and continues to work with our members and partners as the unapologetic voice of business to address social disorder, increase access to skilled workers and grow our regional economy in ways guided by innovation, inclusion and resilience,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “The time to act is now — to build a safer, stronger and more prosperous Greater Victoria for everyone.”

Chamber pitches national delegates on Victoria 2026

October 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce held its AGM last week in Mississauga, Ont. The event will be held in Victoria next year.

The gathering of chamber leaders from across the country is a chance to gain insights, build collaboration and celebrate successes. It’s also an opportunity to set the policy agenda for the upcoming year by voting on key priorities that shape the national chamber’s advocacy work.

“One of the highlights was a panel on tackling social disorder,” Greater Victoria Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “This is a pressing issue for Downtown Victoria, and we heard how other jurisdictions are addressing similar challenges in their communities.”

The keynote speaker in Mississauga was federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, who spoke about tariffs and supply chains as well as workforce development and innovation.

The Greater Victoria Chamber and Destination Greater Victoria attended the 2025 AGM, and were able to showcase Greater Victoria and encourage delegates to visit in 2026.

Chamber’s new advocacy focused on urgent action

October 8, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Inflation And Rising Costs, New And Established Businesses, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

You might have noticed some changes to how The Chamber is using our position as the unapologetic Voice of Business.

The series of messages, shown below, will start appearing more on Chamber social channels and in other media. The focus is on action. Businesses have had too many years of uncertainty caused by societal shifts and the growing burden of red tape. Our members and our Board of Directors have been clear that we need to speak up and call for change.

Our first focus is downtown Victoria and other central areas being devastated by a permissive attitude toward disorder and crime. People need to feel safe. That means all levels of government need to do their part — and do it with urgency.

We know what’s needed: consistent police and bylaw presence and enforcement, immediate options for people needing mental health and addiction care and changes to a legal system that currently allows repeat offenders to harm our communities.

Our other current priorities are more responsible spending by governments, and reduction in regulatory roadblocks that make building homes and providing services for families too expensive.

Consumer confidence teeters, raising CUSMA stakes

September 24, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

There’s a growing sense that Canada’s economy will dodge the recession that many feared when US tariffs were announced. Economists are now saying recovery is already underway with opportunities for accelerated growth in 2026.

Statistics Canada will release the latest GDP numbers on Friday.

Regardless, many businesses are still feeling fragile due to the uncertainty of future trade agreements and a tightening labour market. The Canadian Chamber’s Business Data Lab reports that, after five consecutive declines, overall business confidence steadied this quarter.

“Businesses are showing remarkable resilience in the face of policy uncertainty, tariff threats and a softening labour market,” Business Lab VP Patrick Gill said. “With CUSMA review approaching, the stakes for Canadian competitiveness are high.”

The lab found that challenges finding labour remain acute in construction, hospitality and agriculture. Meanwhile, sluggish consumer demand is the biggest barrier to growth according to business data, outpacing labour and financing challenges.

‘Safe communities now!’ demand BC mayors in Victoria

September 24, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber’s call for all levels of government to take urgent action to address social disorder has resonated across the province.

This week, the Union of BC Municipalities annual conference is underway in Victoria, and the loudest concern is the demand to make our communities safer. On Monday, Our Place CEO Julian Daly drew thunderous applause for a speech decrying the failure to address spiraling antisocial behaviour in downtown Victoria.

On Wednesday, City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto rallied with her BC colleagues on the Legislature lawn, calling on Premier David Eby to stop things from getting worse.

“Victoria is proud to be one of the best small cities in the world, but we must act now to support our residents, businesses, and visitors, and we cannot do this work alone,” Mayor Alto said. “We urge the provincial government to take action and respond with the same level of urgency, to help bring necessary and lasting change to cities across BC.”

Chamber CEO John Wilson commended Mayor Alto for facing the fire as frustrated downtown businesses demand urgent action.

“The Mayor is the face of Victoria council, which is feeling the heat for the situation in our city,” Wilson said. “It’s a tough spot to be in, and The Chamber is committed to working together on a solution. We need action now, and that means we will be escalating our calls for action to the provincial and federal governments.”

The rally at the legislature was organized by Save-Our-Streets, a coalition of businesses and organizations that includes The Chamber.

“Municipalities cannot address these issues on their own, and it is not sustainable for them to shelve services and projects in order to reallocate funding to address health and housing issues which fall under the provincial government’s mandate,” SOS Co-founder Jess Ketchum said. “Urgency is required.”

Work begins on amalgamation question for voters

September 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

In July, a Citizens’ Assembly announced that its research showed that residents in the City of Victoria and District of Saanich would be better served by an amalgamated municipality.

Victoria was quick to begin working on the wording of the question that will go to voters next October. And, on Monday, Saanich followed suit with a decision to work with its neighbour on the question.

The Chamber has been calling for amalgamation for decades. We were strong supporters of the Citizens’ Assembly process and worked to keep it on track through the pandemic years.

It’s been a slow process, but finally voters will have their chance to make a decision that many have been calling for. The next BC General Local Elections are set for Oct. 17, 2026.

Minister meets with Chamber to hear about business issues

September 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Safe Communities, Training And Microcredentials, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber would like to thank BC’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Jessie Sunner, for meeting with members of Greater Victoria’s business community today.

The Minister had lunch with Chamber members and staff after a tour of Camosun College‘s Interurban Campus. The meeting was a welcome opportunity to hear about the province’s plans to address ongoing challenges in BC, and hear from businesses about the value of supporting local education as well as urgent issues facing Greater Victoria.

Members from the post-secondary sector as well as aviation, hospitality and transportation industries spoke candidly with the Minister about actions they would like to see happen.

“We spoke about investing in trades training, and we also spoke about the crisis happening in downtown Victoria, and the need to not damage businesses there,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “Yes, this is a complex problem that involves all levels of government, but that is precisely why we need all levels of government to listen to business.”

Policies like a Canada-wide restriction on foreign workers or allowing downtown Victoria public sector offices to remain vacant have ripple effects that hamper the ability of businesses to operate.

Without the vibrancy that businesses create everyday, there’s a real risk we’re hollowing out an invaluable economic engine for our region.