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.

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!