Victoria votes Thursday on revised plastic bag bylaw

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The City of Victoria is in the process of bringing back a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags. The revised bylaw goes to final reading on April 15.

The bylaw has been approved by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. The District of Saanich will vote on June 15 to restrict plastic bags in that municipality.

“The Chamber worked closely with the City to ensure the bylaw reflected the work already being done by businesses to reduce waste and look after customer requests,” Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Williams says. “The public asked for this change and businesses responded. Victoria is to be commended for shaping the bylaw to ensure adoption by businesses, and for using a model that allows for seamless adoption of these regulations across our region.”

Victoria reduces property tax rate for businesses

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The Chamber and the Downtown Victoria Business Association commend the City of Victoria for reducing property taxes for business. It’s the right thing to do as the pandemic continues to create challenges for our region’s economy.  

The City of Victoria has approved a two per cent decrease in taxes — about $146 for business with an average assessed value of $647,000. During 2020, the assessed value of commercial property dropped by an average of 5.29 per cent. Residential assessed values in the city increased by 2.26 per cent.  

“We’re grateful that Victoria council has acknowledged the struggles businesses are facing with uncertain conditions and the pace of change spurred by the pandemic,” Bruce Williams, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce says. “We’re seeing many businesses pivot successfully and develop innovations that allow them to adapt. Reducing taxes during this time shows that the city wants to work with the business community, so that all of our employers and operators have a chance to get through this together.”  

The tax break reflects an adjustment to the city’s current policy of equalizing changes to taxes across all classes. If council had chosen to follow that policy, the average assessed business would have had a tax increase of $122.

The Chamber will recap property tax rates for businesses in all Greater Victoria municipalities as the information becomes available in the coming weeks.
Chamber News Release

Restrictions expected to extend through to May

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The restaurant industry has been told to expect restrictions on dining inside to extend beyond April and through to May. Representatives from the industry, including the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, met with BC’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry this week. The restrictions, which the province called a circuit breaker, were set to expire on April 19.

Applications open for Circuit Breaker grants
Businesses adversely affected by the unexpected imposition of restrictions on March 30 can now apply for grants to help cover costs.

Businesses with between five and 99 employees or contracted staff are eligible for $5,000. Business with 100 or more employees can get $10,000, while businesses with between one and four people on staff can receive $2,000. If the business does not have any employees or contracted staff, a grant of $1,000 is available.
Apply for Grant

Feds set to unveil 2021 budget on Monday

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The federal budget will be unveiled on April 19, and is expected to confirm ongoing support for wage and rent subsidies and other relief programs that have been vital for businesses affected by the pandemic.

Working with the Canadian Chamber, we have been advocating to government to offer direction on how investments in the private sector can create jobs and encourage the growth of new and existing businesses.

Read next week’s BizNews for more analysis on the federal budget, and what it will mean for Greater Victoria.

Related: The Chamber’s column in Douglas Magazine

Vaccine rollout enters Phase 3 during critical time

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BC has started the next phase of the largest immunization effort in its history, and initial reports are that the province-led rollout has gone well. Under Phase 3, everyone in British Columbia can follow three steps to get vaccinated. After registering online or over the phone, you will be contacted to book an appointment when you are eligible based on where you fit in the criteria for the immunization plan. In Greater Victoria, first doses of vaccine will be administered at seven sites including the University of Victoria, Victoria Conference Centre and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.
 
As the third wave of COVID-19 hits BC, the province remains committed to providing everyone in BC with a first dose of vaccine by July 1, setting the stage for loosening of restrictions over the summer.

New hub aims to help workplace mental health

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An online hub offering mental health help for employers and their staff has been created by the province and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
 
The new hub, announced today, provides workshops and webinars as well as links and other information to help manage stress and build resiliency in the workplace.
In May, the hub will also offer a made-in-B.C. training and coaching platform that will provide personalized guidance for managers in the tourism, hospitality and community social services sectors.

Film industry boosts hard-hit sectors of economy

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Celebrity sightings in Greater Victoria are a welcome reminder of the role the film industry plays in sustainable economic growth of our region. Chamber CEO Bruce Williams was interviewed by CTV Vancouver Island on Monday about the opportunity to invest in production infrastructure.
 
“Having the film people in town is a big boost in many ways to the economy,” Williams said, noting that hosting film and television crews provides benefits to the tourism and hospitality industry.
“They are spending money, they are renting things, they’re staying in hotels (and) they’re going to restaurants.”
 
The Chamber is actively advocating for investment in film production facilities in Greater Victoria.
 
We continue to work with the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission as well as Malahat Film Studios, Camosun College, the District of Saanich and all of our partners working on bringing production facilities to our region.

Grants help businesses with cost to repair vandalism

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Property crime has been one of the most visible signs of disruption caused by the pandemic. In response, the Downtown Victoria Business Association and the City of Victoria are partnering to provide grants to businesses affected by vandalism. The grants are available .
 
Up to $1,000 is available to eligible businesses located within the city. Affected businesses must be able to show proof — insurance deductible, police file number and repair receipts. For more information, email info@downtownvictoria.ca.

Chamber Takeout Challenge supports local restaurants

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In the wake of the new provincial restrictions announced March 29 limiting indoor dining across BC, The Chamber’s Takeout Challenge has helped raise awareness about the need to step up support for our members restaurants.
 
So far, more than 100 people have entered by tagging their favourite restaurant and two friends on one of our Takeout Challenge social media posts for a chance to win a $100 gift card from Tutti or Lucky to Go.
 
Take a photo enjoying takeout from your favourite restaurant, post it on social media and tag us with the hashtag
#ChamberLocalVicBC for five additional entries!
 
The contest is on now until Sunday, April 25, 2021. Winners will be announced on Monday, April 26 in our Chamber Events newsletter.
 
Along with take-out and delivery, the current health restrictions allow outside dining.
 
Featured in photo above: Takeout treats from The Inn at Laurel Point. Photo by @kwonmediastudio

Scenes of joy as care homes open for visitors

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As the province finds itself facing another wave of COVID-19 cases, there was some joyful news and evidence that immunization is key to ending the pandemic.
 
On April 1, families were able to visit in-person with relatives living in long-term care homes. At Broadmead Care resident Marjorie Sutherland, pictured above, was able to hold the hand of her son David Sutherland and daughter Wendy O’Dwyer for the first time in more than a year.
 
The Ministry of Health and BC Centre for Disease Control updated guidelines for long-term care homes and assisted living facilities.
 
“Now that the most vulnerable among us have received a vaccine, we are safely amending restrictions to give people in long-term care greater opportunities to connect with the people they love,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a news release.

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