Chamber CEO Bruce Williams spreads the word about the importance of shopping locally — especially during Small Business Month. Williams joined City of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps and Downtown Victoria Business Association executive director Jeff Bray on Government Street for a media event yesterday.
 
“It’s never been more important for us to support each other, and The Chamber celebrates the many businesses that are working so hard to get through this time together,” Williams says. “By sharing the story of Small Business Month, we want to encourage everyone in our region to pitch in and support local businesses.”

The Island Corridor Foundation has released a report estimating the economic impact of restoring the Island Rail Corridor to operational condition.
 
The report says the $304 million project would require $147 million for labour and create thousands of jobs — based on an average annual full-time income of $67,000.
 
The foundation also recently contracted a survey that determined interest is high in rail service on Vancouver Island.
 
“The results should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the people of Vancouver Island want to see rail service restored,” foundation CEO Larry Stevenson said in a news release.
 
Overall, 80% of survey respondents believe that federal and provincial governments should fund a modern and revitalized rail system for Vancouver Island, and 81% of respondents believe rail should receive a subsidy to support ongoing operations.

The decision to get BC government workers back in the office is welcome news. In June, The Chamber wrote to provincial Finance Minister Carole James — who is also MLA of Victoria-Beacon Hill — and asked what her plan was to return civil servants to their workplaces. The request was made after Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry advised that it was safe to go back to the office, and after WorkSafeBC published extensive guidelines on how to do so.
 
Greater Victoria’s economy needs a vibrant downtown, and downtown businesses need support. Restaurants, cafes and retailers struggle without the civil servants who shop or buy meals before and after work and during their breaks.
 
Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told the Times Colonist that businesses outside of downtown are generally faring well, but those in the core are fighting for their survival.
 
“It’s put a real serious challenge in front of many business owners downtown.”
 
In the letter to the finance minister, which was co-signed by the Downtown Victoria Business Association and the City of Victoria, we called on government to model best practices for a safe return to work. We’re thankful our voice was heard, and that the return of public service workers gives hope to the many businesses that are hanging on downtown.

WorkSafeBC: Member since 2006

Downtown Victoria Business Association: Member since 2007

City of Victoria: Member since 1962

The federal government unveiled a new plan last Friday to help commercial tenants struggling with a loss of revenue due to the pandemic.
 
The Chamber had called on government to replace the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), which expired last month. It suffered from low uptake and had faced criticism from many business that found it exceptionally difficult to implement.
 
The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) will be provided directly to eligible tenants, unlike CECRA which relied on buy-in from landlords. The government touts CERS as providing “simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021.”
 
“A program that is easier to access is good news for many commercial tenants that are struggling right now,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “The new plan is an improvement and allows businesses to plan for the winter and spring. We’ll have to see how it’s rolled out, and how well it works for our most vulnerable businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector.”
 
Also announced Friday was an extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021, and an expanded Canada Emergency Business Account offering access to an interest-free loan of $20,000 in addition to the initial CEBA loan of $40,000.