Chambers call for tax reform to address federal debt

With a federal election expected to be called as early as Sunday, our national Chamber network is calling for a comprehensive review of Canada’s tax system “guided by the principles of competitiveness, simplicity, fairness and neutrality.”

Canadian Chamber CEO Perrin Beatty recently spoke to BNN Bloomberg about the increase in federal debt over the pandemic and why a more effective tax system will be key to creating private sector growth needed in the years ahead.

Victoria office part of new EcDev agency for BC

A new economic development agency for British Columbia will include offices in Victoria and Campbell River.

Federal Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Mélanie Joly says Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) will provide a tailored approach for British Columbia’s economy.

“Minister Joly’s announcement has the potential to have a significant impact on the economic recovery and resilience needed in the Capital Region to move along a path of a sustainable and diverse post-pandemic economy,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says, noting that as B.C.’s population has grown rapidly over the past 20 years, the province’s economy is becoming more advanced. “By creating two offices on Vancouver Island, one in Victoria and the other in Campbell River, the federal government shows it recognizes the unique opportunities and challenges of our Island economy. Greater Victoria has distinct priorities, as do the central, northern and western regions of the Island.”

PacifiCan builds on work done by Western Economic Diversification Canada over the last 34 years. Another new agency, Prairie Economic Development Canada (PrairieCan), will now serve Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Vaccine passport in works for Canadian travellers

Canada is moving ahead with a vaccine passport for people who want to travel outside the country. The federal government announced today that it hopes to have a vaccine passport available by the fall to give Canadians a trusted and verifiable credential they can show to border officials in foreign countries.

“We will continue our work with provinces, territories and Indigenous partners to provide Canadians with a secure and reliable proof of vaccination, which could be required for international travel. I encourage all Canadians to get vaccinated as soon as they are able to,” Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a news release.

Chamber asking for answers on marine border confusion

The Chamber is actively working with the federal government to get clarity on why Canada’s marine borders with the U.S remain closed.

There has been tremendous confusion regarding marine borders, which have not reopened, creating a major disruption to commercial ferry operators and Greater Victoria’s tourism economy.

We are asking government to provide clarity on this issue, as soon as possible, in order to avoid the very real risk of permanently losing key transportation and tourism links.

Visitors from Washington State play a vital role in job creation and the economic vitality of our region. The companies that operate ferries, as with all businesses, need certainty before they begin the process of resuming operations. This takes at minimum three weeks and, as we get closer to fall, a decision must be made to resume by the end of summer or to suspend operations for 2021 entirely.
 
Victoria’s Inner Harbour has long been a gateway to Canada and we are concerned about the federal government’s approach to Belleville Terminal’s designation as a port-of-entry. We are asking that immediate attention be given to reinstating Canada Border Service Agency personnel at Belleville Terminal in order to demonstrate that fair treatment is being given to this vital border crossing.

Survey opens for permanent paid sick leave plan

Have your say on the province’s plan for paid sick leave, and help make sure it fits with programs your business currently has in place. The first phase of engagement, which began Aug. 5, includes surveys for employers and employees. The surveys close Sept. 14 and Phase 2 will launch Sept. 20 seeking comments on a proposed model for a permanent provincial paid sick leave program.

Can employers mandate staff be immunized?

The Chamber supports BC’s immunization efforts and we believe the evidence shows COVID-19 vaccinations offer our best chance to put the pandemic behind us.

However, mandating vaccination for BC employers requires taking care to ensure human rights are respected. Unlike the US, where the Department of Justice has opined that employers can require employees be vaccinated, BC’s Human Rights Commission has issued general advice for treating people differently based on their vaccination status.

Essentially, the commission says workplaces must balance the need to be safe with avoiding discrimination against people who have adequate alternative means for preventing COVID-19 transmission.

The lack of clarity means the issue will be front and centre with HR departments for the foreseeable future.

Stats prove Victoria is a culinary hotspot in Canada

Victoria is legendary for the number of places you can go for a meal or grab a drink, and now Destination Greater Victoria has crunched the numbers to prove the city really does have more restaurants, pubs and bars per capita than any other in Canada.

According to DGV’s analysis, Victoria has 4.6 eateries and watering holes per 1,000 residents. That compares to 3.6 for second-place Vancouver and third-place 3.4 for Niagara Falls. The data came from Statistics Canada’s June 2020 Canadian Business Counts for restaurants, eateries, pubs, and bars, while the population figures are from the 2016 Census.

Find your next culinary adventure and help support a local business! #ChamberLocalVicBC

Busy long-weekend a boon for hard-hit businesses

The BC Day long-weekend was a boon for tourism and hospitality businesses, with reports of full patios and dining rooms, and sold out ferries.

Hotels and attractions are also reporting an influx of tourists even as businesses continue to struggle finding and keeping workers. We expect this double-edged blend of increased vibrancy and staffing challenges will only increase after Canada re-opens the border on Aug. 9 to fully vaccinated travellers from the US.

The end of restrictions is welcome news but also comes as concerns grow over the Delta variant. It’s now the most common strain of COVID and spreads quickly among unvaccinated populations. Fortunately, Greater Victoria has some of the highest immunization rates on the planet, with almost 90% of people 12 and up having had a first dose and almost 70% fully vaccinated. To ensure that trend continues, the province has launched a new campaign, Vax for BC, with initiatives such as today’s Walk In Wednesday, where anyone in need of a first or second shot can show up without an appointment.

The Chamber applauds all of our members who are immunized, and we encourage everyone to share their vaccine photos. Don’t forget to tag us and be a #ChamberChangeMaker!

Time for Citizens’ Assembly to get back on track

It’s time to get the Citizens’ Assembly process back on track. In 2018, voters in the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria gave a mandate to their respective councils to explore the pros and cons of merging the two municipalities. The good faith discussions were interrupted by the global pandemic, but they’re far from forgotten. In fact, recent news about policing challenges shows how vital a Citizens’ Assembly might be for the future of our region.

The Chamber has long advocated for Better Regional Services. We don’t know what a Citizens’ Assembly will find, but it is the right approach to get answers to questions about governance — and merging services such as policing — in Greater Victoria’s largest municipalities.

As the province moves closer to Step 4 of the BC Restart Plan on Sept. 7, it’s time for the Citizens’ Assembly process to get back on track.

Feds extend wage and rent subsidies until Oct. 23

The federal wage and rent subsidies have been officially extended another month, and will now expire Oct. 23. Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the country’s economy is recovering but uncertainty about the COVID-19 Delta variant means many businesses continue to need help.

“Give credit to the federal government for listening to concerns that recovery continues to be uneven and many businesses, specifically in tourism and travel, will need more time,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “An extra month is helpful, but these businesses will need support until they can fully participate in the recovery.”

As well as the extension, the maximum rate for the wage and rent subsidies is 40% for the period between Aug. 29 and Sept. 25. instead of being reduced to 20%, as announced in Budget 2021.

“Eligible employers would still also be able to apply for the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program instead of the wage subsidy if they so choose,” states the federal announcement.

The hiring program helps employers hire staff, and increase workers’ hours or wages, as their business picks up. The program is available from June 6 until Nov. 20, and is designed to help employers move away from subsidies at their own pace.