Province’s minimum wage now highest in Canada

The provincial government pressed ahead with its plan to raise the minimum wage, implementing the final bump yesterday to $15.20/hour across the board. The four-year plan did allow businesses to budget for the increase, but the pandemic has made many employers vulnerable to any extra expenditures.

Many businesses are facing a difficult road ahead, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told the Times Colonist. “Ideally, the government would hold off on adding any extra costs to businesses in the hospitality and tourism industry until they have a chance to get back on their feet.”

The role of government right now needs to be focused on stripping away roadblocks and getting our economy back to its potential. The best way to help make our region affordable is to invest in innovations that will increase our housing supply, make child care accessible and encourage workers to stay in Greater Victoria.

“Employers continue to go above and beyond to find and keep workers, so wages already tend to be higher in Greater Victoria,” Williams says. “With the change, BC will have the highest minimum wage of any Canadian province. It’s time to stop the increases and let the rest of the country catch up.”

Canada Day a time to reflect, plan for better days

Canada Day is different this year. As we celebrate the best of our country, we are also facing up to a history that is shamefully distant from the Canada we want. Looking into our dark past is difficult. There is a sense of sorrow at a time when we are used to celebration.

The Chamber is committed to carrying as much burden as we can to try and correct the mistakes of the past. It’s the right thing to do, and we encourage all Canadians to help lift the weight that has far too long been put on Indigenous people.

Millions of us have arrived on this land since 1867, escaping oppression or seeking a chance to build better a better life for our families. We can no longer ignore that part of the cost of those new opportunities came at the expense of the people who were already here.

This Canada Day, let’s again embrace the best of what it means to be Canadian. We can open our arms, our hearts and ears. Reconciliation will take time. We must be patient and we must build into our lives the changes necessary for a better, more inclusive future.

Have an opinion on tax forms? Tell The Chamber!

The Canadian Chamber is looking for guidance on their advocacy work with the Canada Revenue Agency. As a business, what changes will make it easier for you to fill out your tax forms?

If you have a peeve or a bright idea on how tax forms can be digitized, consolidated or eliminated, let the Canadian Chamber know by filling out an online form.

What’s one small change that would make a big difference to you?

Saanich tweaks rules to make council more efficient

Council meetings will run a little more efficiently in the District of Saanich after the municipality adopted a new procedure bylaw. The new rules are meant to save time, including using a consent agenda to allow for non-controversial business to be addressed quickly. If an item requires more consideration, a member of the public or an individual councillor can ask for it to be added to the regular agenda.

The changes will also ensure council meetings are used for making decisions and that less formal debates happen at the committee-of-the-whole stage.

Back to business as province finally unveils restart plan

We now know what our Recovery Runway looks like and can begin planning to help all businesses become pivot pilots as our economy takes off this summer.

B.C.’s Restart: A Plan to Bring us Back Together, released yesterday, outlines four stages leading to a complete reopening of the province by September. The plan is contingent on COVID-19 case counts and hospitalization remaining low and vaccination rates increasing.

“We’ve been asking for this on behalf of our members for some time. Having the steps laid out for easing of restrictions has lifted the fog many of us are feeling,” Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Williams says.

“Speaking with Chamber members, the consensus is this plan is good news. It’s something we can work with. We need to continue rolling up our sleeves, keep B.C.’s immunization schedule moving forward, and get to work rebuilding those connections that will allow everyone to experience economic renewal.”

The restart plan marked the end of a five-week circuit breaker that had restricted in-person dining, recreational travel and indoor fitness classes.

The next milestone is June 15 when travel within BC will re-open along with extended hours for restaurants and pubs and the ability to hold small in-person meetings. By Canada Day, travel throughout Canada will open, and bigger meetings will be possible. There will also be no limits on dining, and bars and casinos can return with limited capacity.

“These are hopeful times and we can see the end of the pandemic and a chance to get our lives back,” Williams says, adding that the Chamber’s 2021 Business Awards recently celebrated the many incredible stories of organizations and entrepreneurs who found innovative ways to be successful — our Pivot Pilots. “We’ll need these leaders now as we make sure all businesses can take part in the recovery. We want to extend a hand to everyone who needs it now to make sure you have what you need to be successful.”

Major attractions have until June 7 to apply for grant

Major tourism attractions have less than two weeks left to apply for a grant of up to $1 million. The province announced last week it set aside $50-million for the BC Major Anchor Attractions Program. Funds are available for not-for-profit organizations and businesses, and can be used for payroll, rent and “utility costs related to restarting or ramping up operations in preparation for gradual reopening.”

The application window is open until June 7, with funds provided in July.

Cruise ships get approval to bypass Canada, for now

The Chamber is calling on provincial and federal governments to step up their advocacy efforts after US President Joe Biden signed off on the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act.

The move allows cruise ships to sail directly from Seattle to Alaska, without stopping in a Canadian port. The change, approved by Biden on Monday, temporarily waives the US Passenger Vessel Services Act.

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority CEO Ian Robertson said in a GVHA newsletter he’s working to make sure cruise ships return to Victoria when regulations allow. The industry is worth $130 million per year to our regional economy and creates 800 jobs.

The US decision is good news for the Alaskan economy, and doesn’t impact Canada for now as cruise ships are not allowed until next year. Robertson said he expects to hear more about the return of cruise ships by the fall.

Tourism relief overdue, but industry needs a plan

Tuesday’s announcement of a $50 million fund for BC’s tourism sector is welcome news, but might be too little too late.

“On the one hand, The Chamber has been working with our community partners to get government relief for the hard-hit tourism sector,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “However, what’s still missing is a plan. As we’ve been saying for some time, businesses need time operationally to ramp up. We still have no direction from the province about how and when restrictions will be lifted.”

The $50 million fund will offer up to $1 million in grants to major attractions. Applications are open until June 7, with funds delivered by July. The province says eligible expenses include payroll, rent and utilities related to restarting or ramping up operations in preparation for gradual reopening in alignment with provincial health orders. The funding is available for not-for-profit organizations and businesses.

“For large attractions entering a second year of a 90% reduction in revenue, we appreciate this funding gesture as it will help contribute toward some fixed costs like insurance or property tax,” Butchart Gardens CEO Dave Cowen said in the province’s news release.

The funds are also available for tour bus companies, who, along with accommodation providers, are desperately waiting for information they can pass on to agencies and tour operators who are already booking trips into next year.

“We are in the midst of the largest (tour operator) trade show in Canada right now, Rendez-vous Canada, and we’re talking with people from all over the world (who want to book in 2022) and we have nothing to tell them,” Wilson’s Group of Companies CEO John Wilson told the Times Colonist.

With one week to go, businesses still seek clarity

Chamber members and the entire Greater Victoria business community deserve a standing ovation for their diligence to adhere to provincial health orders. We’ve kept our customers, our employees and our community safe.

As we begin the fifth and final week of restrictions that began on March 29, we know you need more certainty about what lies ahead. On Thursday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is expected to speak about some of those next steps. We also know that BC Premier John Horgan will have details next week about the plan for a gradual reopening.

The BC Restaurant and Food Association says restrictions to inside dining are expected to continue for a few more weeks, but restaurants should begin to plan for reopening.

What is clear is we need to continue abiding by current restrictions this weekend, and we need to keep encouraging friends and family to book their immunization appointments.

As soon as we hear more details from the PHO, The Chamber will share that information through all of our communication channels.

Victoria seeks input on Welcoming City Strategy

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The Chamber supports programs that make Greater Victoria a more inclusive and welcoming community. There is work to do. A recent article in Douglas Magazine notes that our city can feel unsafe and isolating for 70% of people who identify as Indigenous, Black, Asian or as a person of colour. An even higher percentage reported experiencing regular racism.

To change that, the City of Victoria is creating a Welcoming City Strategy that will recommend actions and ways to measure success, as well as an accountability framework.

“Council is committed to helping create a city where everyone feels welcomed, accepted, safe and has the opportunity to prosper,” Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps told Douglas Magazine. “The Welcoming City Strategy is intended to remove barriers to City services and foster a compassionate and neighbourly community where all residents experience a sense of belonging and where we tackle racism and discrimination head on.”

Racism in Greater Victoria: A Community Report, was created by the Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership and the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria.

For more information and to provide input on the City of Victoria strategy, go to engage.victoria.ca.