“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.

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.

Last week, the provincial government made that option permanent for BC organizations that are legally required to meet. Amendments to the Business Corporations Act, Cooperative Association Act, Credit Union Incorporation Act, Financial Institutions Act and Societies Act will permanently remove legislative barriers and allow companies, societies, credit unions and co-operative associations to meet electronically.