The provincial government announced the spaces yesterday as part of its Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, which has created 1,630 spaces in Greater Victoria since 2018.
LandlordBC CEO David Hutniak called the move to prevent unfair evictions a road map for positive change, though the organization has not endorsed the rent freeze which was initially announced last November. The extension beyond July means that any rent increases planned before Dec. 31 no longer apply.
“LandlordBC believes that encouraging continued investment to prolong or sustain the useful life of a rental unit or building is essential,” Hutniak said in the province’s news release, adding that it’s important renovations requiring tenants to move out of a unit are done in good faith, and that the process to establish legitimacy is efficient. Landlords would have to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch before evicting a tenant to undertake renovations.
The changes, if passed, will come into effect on July 1.
Tell us what you think, and how this extension impacts your business. Email communications@victoriachamber.ca.
The amendments to the Real Estate Services Act are expected in late-2021, and will give BCFSA authority for:
The vessel will take people on tours of culturally significant sites where the Lək̓ʷəŋən fished and gathered other food sources such as shellfish and berries. The marine trail runs from Colwood down past Victoria and up to Cadboro Bay. Tours are expected to begin next year.
“The development of a regional food hub is the culmination of years of work to identify the infrastructure needed in the region to support advancing the food and farm sector,” Linda Geggie, VCFHS spokesperson, said in the provincial news release. “This food hub is unique in that it is marrying economic development goals with social good, supporting food services and distribution of good local food to people in our region. There is a lot of potential in this initiative and we are pleased with the support from the many partners involved.”
The wage subsidy covers up to 75% of payroll costs, while the rent subsidy pays up to 65% of rental payments for those who qualify. As well, a top-up is available for businesses forced to close due to restrictions.
The Minister spoke to Chamber members as part of our ongoing Business Restart Series, which continues March 30 with Agricultural Minister Lana Popham (details below).
Fleming spoke about continuing efforts to make getting to work convenient for commuters who live in more affordable areas of the region. For example, he said the McKenzie Interchange, which is “substantially complete,” has cut commute times to the West Shore in half. As well, an additional widening of the highway will make the route ready for Light Rapid Transit. Another concept that is still being looked at is a ferry from Colwood to Victoria.
The Minister also addressed The Chamber’s calls for better transportation governance in the region. Fleming said the solution requires something other than the system of weighted votes used by the Capital Regional District. Greater Victoria needs a body that looks at the region as whole, and not as a collection of 13 municipalities.
The Minister also responded to a Chamber member question by encouraging businesses to lend their voice to a proposed “flyover” overpass from the Pat Bay Highway northbound to Keating Cross Road westbound, eliminating the left turn across highway traffic onto Keating Cross Road.
If you missed yesterday’s event but would like to hear more about what the Minister had to say, the video is available for purchase.
“Having this hub in Langford will allow residents to work close to home, get out of traffic, and spend more time with their families, creating a better work/life balance,” Langford Mayor Stew Young said in the news release issued by the province.
About 2,000 BC government workers, or 20% of its Greater Victoria workforce, live in West Shore communities. The Chamber supports the move as a transportation solution that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, moving government workers out of downtown needs to be done in consultation with businesses.
On CBC’s On The Island, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said it’s vital we grow the economy without pitting communities in the region against each other.
“The workers downtown are a huge part of that downtown economy,” Williams said.
Black Ball Ferry Lines, which operates the Coho ferry, and Clipper Navigation suspended operations when the border was closed almost a year ago. Both companies say they will be ready to resume sailing as soon as they’re permitted to do so.
“I think there’s lot of pent up demand, but we really don’t know the circumstances of what an opening will be,” Black Ball’s president Ryan Burles told the Times Colonist. “We know it has to be safe to travel, and not just kind of safe. I know that about 90% of B.C. people don’t want the border to be open until it’s safe.”
The Chamber had called on the federal government to help BC Ferries deal with the loss of revenue as fewer passengers, vehicles and buses were travelling to Vancouver Island due to the pandemic. The federal government announced in July that it was working with provinces to provide emergency funding.
The relief funding helped BC Ferries avoid a net loss that could have affected the long-term sustainability of the service.
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