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.

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.

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!

“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.

“Historically, this weekend sees the highest traffic volumes of the year. The most popular travel times are Thursday and Friday afternoon, as well as Saturday morning,” states a news release from BC Ferries.

You can reserve a sailing ahead of time, or try a new feature that allows passengers to use their phones to check-in. 

“These devices will provide terminal staff with an additional option to check-in customers, which will speed up the check-in process overall,” BC Ferries says. “Follow traffic control flaggers and have your booking reference number ready upon arrival at the ticket booth to speed up the check-in process if you have an advanced booking.”