Su’it Street shows action toward reconciliation

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Actions matter on the road to reconciliation, and The Chamber applauds the decision by the City of Victoria to rename a municipal throughway Su’it Street. Pronounced “say-EET,” the new name is Lekwungen for “truth.”

The street had been named for Joseph Trutch, who was born in England and became involved in colonial politics in British Columbia. He was an avowed racist who refused to acknowledge Indigenous treaties and titles.

“With the renaming of this road, the Lekwungen people are not only able to share our native language, but also decolonize a chapter of local history,” Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam said in a media release. “We will continue to work with the City of Victoria to change the narrative on historical figures, and towards a partnership reflective of truth and reconciliation.”

The Chamber continues to work with Indigenous individuals and nations to facilitate inclusion in the broader business community.

Rogers network outage shows need for reliability

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Last Friday’s network disruption at Rogers Communications affected many businesses who relied on the service for financial transactions or other communication needs.

Details are still emerging about what caused the outage and Rogers has so far promised to make sure the issue doesn’t happen again and credit customers for five-days of service.

The disruption prompted the federal government to call on all communications companies to create a plan to mitigate the impact of any future outages.

AG responds to Chamber’s call for red tape reforms

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The Chamber has been effective in our work to keep lines of communication clear between government and the business community. BC’s Attorney General David Eby responded to a letter by The Chamber, co-signed by the Surrey Board of Trade and the Alberni Valley and Campbell River and District chambers of commerce.
 
“We were clear that the Lobbyists Transparency Act as implemented is missing its intended mark,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “We support open and transparent government but this is red tape that is casting a chill on many small chambers due to its heavy handed reporting requirements. Threats of fines and public shaming aimed at preventing conflicts of interest are causing collateral damage to non-profits working for the benefit of communities. This flies in the face of the work that chambers do to build connections that enable informed decisions and successful policies.”
 
The Chamber will continue to work with the AG to refine the LTA to better achieve its intended outcomes.

Enjoying summer, but keeping an eye on COVID

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The unseasonable weather has been the major theme of casual conversations this summer. And while it’s been a welcome break from the prevalence of pandemic chatter, we can’t close the door on COVID yet. Last Thursday, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam reported that “it is reasonable to expect we could see an increase in case numbers in the coming weeks.”
 
The next wave comes during the heart of summer so its impact will be mitigated by the warm weather and the opportunities for gathering outdoors. Immunization, including boosters, is also key to help protect our community. The Chamber is monitoring the situation and will strive to provide Greater Victoria’s business community with evidence-based information from reputable sources. We all have the resilience and experience to keep our economy and community moving forward.

Huge affordable housing project begins in Saanich

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Housing supply is foundational to a strong economy, and The Chamber applauds progress being made on the largest housing supply project ever on Vancouver Island. The $250 million Nigel Valley development in the District of Saanich will add 800 homes to the region, including 440 non-market rental units and 255 market homes. The other units include social housing with supports.
 
“It’s amazing what can happen when multiple stakeholders, including our local community associations, take a collaborative and proactive approach to challenges like housing,” Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes said in a news release. “This project caters to a wide range of housing needs in Saanich and I look forward to seeing how it will enhance our community over the years to come.”
 
BC Housing is contributing more than $50 million, and Broadmead Care and Island Health are each providing more more than $5 million.
 
The Nigel Valley redevelopment, near Saanich’s municipal hall, is being done in three phases over the next 10 years.

Victoria and Saanich rank among Top 25 small cities

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It’s hard to disagree with the latest ranking that places the City of Victoria atop a list of the best small cities in Canada.
 
“With its mild year-round climate and an artisanal, independent spirit at play among rainforests and Pacific beaches, Victoria is the hometown you never knew you coveted,” Bestcities.org states. “But you’d better bring cash. And (please!) some young kids.”
 
Victoria’s compact and vibrant downtown and craft beer scene helps the city rank high for its nightlife but the capital gets strikes against it for the lowest birth rate of any Canadian city and a dearth of housing.
 
Also on the list is the District of Saanich, at 23, for being “smart, sustainable and self-sufficient” and the “urban heart” of Vancouver Island.

Enjoy multicultural performances this Canada Day

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Happy Canada Day from The Chamber! This Friday, check out great events around Greater Victoria and enjoy the long-awaited sunshine.

The City of Victoria is hosting a day full of activities beginning with an Indigenous traditional canoe protocol and welcoming ceremony featuring the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers. After a full day of performances, Reliance Properties will put on an extravagant fireworks display over the city.

In the District of Saanich, the Gorge Canada Day Picnic will offer food, music, markets and more for the entire family.

Out on the Westshore, the City of Langford will be hosting their first inaugural celebration at Starlight Stadium. Featuring a pancake breakfast, live music, a movie under the stars and much more, the event also coincides with Langford’s 30th anniversary.

Innovative partnerships and updated traditions will help people in Greater Victoria celebrate Canada Day, while reflecting on the values of our country and the work still needed to ensure it is inclusive for all. We hope this Canada day gives you and your family a time to reflect, and the opportunity to support the great local businesses that make up our communities and country.

The Chamber will be closed Friday, July 1.

Tips to ease your BC Ferries trip this long weekend

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BC Ferries is offering advice to help travellers navigate the unique challenges of a weekend book ended by national holidays in Canada and the US.
 
Expect heavy traffic, book early and be patient are a few of the suggestions. Other tips include planning to travel mid-weekend to avoid the heaviest traffic and planning ahead to beat the heat while waiting for your ship to arrive.

Understanding democracy is vital to our future

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Democracy, as Winston Churchill famously said, is the worst form of government other than every other system ever attempted.
 
With civic elections set for this October, many people are considering running for election. To help give potential candidates the info they need to understand what’s possible — and what isn’t — if they’re elected, The Chamber hosted a virtual seminar with municipal governance expert Allison Habkirk. She has more than 30-years experience in local government as an employee, an elected official and as an educator.
 
Municipal councils make decisions that literally affect the street we live on. They can play a huge role in the success of your neighbourhood’s businesses so investing in providing them the right info to make them successful needs to be a priority.

Red tape chills voice of business for small chambers

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The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce added our voice to calls from the Surrey Board of Trade, Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce to rethink new rules that are casting a chill on the traditional role of business as a trusted voice for decision makers. The new rules require communication with government officials to be logged monthly using a multi-step process.
 
“Chambers of commerce and boards of trade are embedded in the fabric of our communities,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “Our mandate is to give voice to business. In healthy communities, the public sector and private sector co-exist in a balance that creates employment and healthy economies and enables sound policies. This isn’t new, but it is being threatened by onerous requirements that miss their target. We are putting historic relationships at risk with this paternalistic red tape that is effectively censuring important conversations.”
 
The organizations co-authored a letter to Attorney General David Eby requesting that chambers and boards of trade be exempt from the BC Lobbyists Transparency Act.
 
In 2020, significant changes to BC’s lobbyist registration regime came into effect creating confusion and concern for every business or organization whose role includes communicating with BC government officials.
 
Read the letter here: Letter: Re: Exempting Chambers and Boards of Trade from BC Lobbyists Transparency Act

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