There’s a reason the word “uncertainty” rivals “unprecedented” as the most used term of the pandemic. There was no playbook for dealing with COVID-19 when we first learned, back in the spring, how dangerous the virus was. But we have a precedent now. We know what to do to flatten the curve and re-open society safely, and it’s the playbook we continue to follow on Vancouver Island.
 
On Saturday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced new geographic restrictions targeting larger population centres on the Lower Mainland. The area-specific rules are needed to try to tamp down a concerning flareup of new cases.
 
“We aren’t facing new restrictions in Greater Victoria because we have done the right things and our low case counts reflect that. We need to carry on, while also continuing to support local businesses that are going above and beyond just to stay open,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “Please make sure of the information you’re consuming and sharing. Our situation is not the same as Vancouver or Toronto or other large media centres. Support local news and make good choices for you and your family and our community. The Island can be a beacon of hope for so many places wondering what they can do to slow this pandemic. We will get through this together.”
 
With the rise in case counts in BC and many other jurisdictions, Dr. Bonnie Henry is also suggesting it’s prudent for businesses to review their existing plans for keeping customers and staff safe from COVID-19.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce proudly announced the first members of the Chamber Champions initiative at the Annual General Meeting Tuesday afternoon. The Champions are a new, highly engaged echelon of membership designed to connect these business and community leaders through vigorous dialogue and strategic discussions about the recovery and resilience of our Greater Victoria economy.
 
“The Champions are just as the title says, they are offering their resource to champion the work of The Chamber in support of our members,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “This sort of leadership is more important now than at any other time in The Chamber’s 157-year history. The Chamber matters more than ever, and these leaders represent a clear voice.”
 
This first announcement of Champions welcomes:

• Knappett Projects
• MNP
• RBC
• Big Wheel Burger
• Telus
• CIBC
• CHEK News

 
Many more will be announced in the weeks and months ahead.
 
“MNP works with clients on business planning and advisory services, tax strategies, accounting and helping to make strategic decisions about the future,” says Steve Wellburn, Partner, Private Enterprise with MNP Victoria. “Given the exceptional challenges and opportunities our local businesses are facing right now, the Chamber Champion program is extremely timely and we’re proud to be involved as a partner.”

The Chamber strongly supports the guidance of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, and we are waiting for direction on regional restrictions for BC.
 
With Vancouver Islanders making a concerted effort to keep COVID-19 cases low, it’s time to at least consider why businesses here face the same restrictions as areas of the Lower Mainland that have not had the same success.
 
“We are hearing some frustration that the entire province is being painted with the same brush,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told CTV News Vancouver Island on Tuesday. “People are saying that we are abiding by the rules here and have really never seen a bump in cases.”
 
The Chamber would like to hear from our members about what you would like the province to do. Are you in support of regional restrictions, or do we need to continue to apply the same rules to the entire province?
 
Send your feedback to communications@victoriachamber.ca.

A new federal program is offering up to $75,000 for small businesses through the CanExport SMEs program. Before the pandemic, the program had helped cover the cost of travel but has a new focus now. Business can access funding to:

• develop and expand e-commerce presence by covering partial costs associated with online sales platforms and digital strategy consulting, as well as advertising and search engine optimization
• attend virtual trade shows and other business-to-business events
• navigate new COVID-19-related trade barriers by helping pay for new international market certifications and requirements.

 
For more information, go to tradecommissioner.gc.ca.
 
And if you’re looking to improve your international e-commerce reach, join The Chamber and the World Trade Centre’s ICE program this December.

The Chamber welcomes the federal government’s latest effort to provide relief for businesses continuing to struggle due to the pandemic. Bill C-9 was tabled on Monday after the national Chamber network outlined a number of concerns raised by our members.
 
The Chamber is happy the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy will be extended until June 30, 2021, but we are disappointed the new legislation will reduce the subsidy to 65% from 75%, where we would like to see it remain.
 
The redesign of the commercial rent subsidy is also good news. More tenants will be able to access the program. However, a few details are still not ideal. We share the Canadian Chamber’s concerns about the corporate entity cap of $300,000.
 
“This punishes businesses that have several locations, especially those in expensive downtown cores. Businesses in the hardest hit sectors, such as the food service and travel industries, that have several locations have compounded challenges by operating several locations, and need fair and equal access to the program.”
 
With restrictions expected to be in place for many months to come, government programs need to reflect the reality that businesses are facing.

Business Restart Series
Register for our Nov. 24 COVID-19 Government Measures for Business and Individuals event to learn about these programs and more.