Nominations open for city by-election candidates

Voters in Victoria will soon find out who is on the ballot for the city’s Dec. 12 by-election. The candidate nomination period opened yesterday, and closes Nov. 6.
 
The by-election was rescheduled after its original date in April was cancelled due to the pandemic. Any candidates who were previously nominated will need to go through the process again if they still plan to seek election. Candidate nomination forms are available by calling Victoria City Hall at 250-361-0571 or emailing elections@victoria.ca. For more information, visit victoria.ca/election.
 
As soon as candidates are confirmed, The Chamber will provide our members with opportunities to find out where council hopefuls stand on issues of importance to the business community.

Dr. Henry issues new guidelines for masks, and asks BC businesses to review COVID-19 safety plans

After a spike in the number of cases of COVID-19 in Surrey, all regions of BC are being asked to take extra precautions.
 
Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a new order on Monday, limiting gatherings within private homes and urging businesses to review their COVID-19 safety plans. Our understanding of this disease has changed since many plans were implemented in the summer, and, as we enter flu and cold season, it’s timely to update protocols.
 
Dr. Henry also says she expects British Columbians to wear masks in indoor public spaces when around people outside your bubble.

CRD offers free program to help stop wasting water

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The Capital Regional District has launched a new program to help businesses in the region check the efficiency of faucets used for hand-washing. If the faucet isn’t operating at maximum efficiency, the CRD will replace the faucet’s aerator for free.
 
The new aerators use less than two litres of water per minute, compared to as much as 11 litres per minute in older faucets. The update can save businesses money and waste less water. The regional district estimates that 25% of all water in Greater Victoria is used for commercial and industrial purposes. That adds up to 10 billion litres per year.
 
Sign up here for this free service, or call 250 360-3103.

Mayors want better plan for regional transportation

The Chamber strongly supports Greater Victoria mayors who are calling on the new provincial government to do better to improve regional transportation on southern Vancouver Island. Specifically, we have been calling for a regional approach to how transportation is governed. We need to think broadly to address transportation issues and take advantage of opportunities to create 21st century solutions.
 
The mayors of Saanich, Victoria, Colwood and View Royal were among the group that co-authored a letter to the province.

Greater Victoria gets federal funds for housing

Greater Victoria municipalities will get $13.1 million from a new federal fund for emergency housing, announced yesterday. The $1 billion Rapid Housing Initiative will create as many as 3,000 homes for Canadians in need across the country.
 
The government determined how much of the fund cities will get by metrics such as the percentage of people experiencing homelessness, and the level of renters in severe housing situations. The initiative provides cash to quickly build modular multi-unit rentals, and to transform abandoned or derelict and non-residential buildings into livable, affordable housing units. Applications can be submitted until the end of the year to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Provincial grant program available for small business

Soon after the results of the provincial election are confirmed, The Chamber will be calling on government to ensure relief programs are available for sectors that are struggling due to COVID-19. The sooner we get our economy back to where it was before the pandemic, the better all of us will be.
 
One initiative we’d like to see improved is the province’s Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grants program, announced Oct. 9. The program sets aside $300 million for grants between $10,000 and $30,000 to business that meet a range of criteria. The program also offers additional grants between $5,000 and $10,000 to tourism businesses that meet additional criteria.
 
The Chamber is concerned the program could leave behind businesses struggling to survive. Many are in vulnerable situations and need an immediate lifeline to make it through until spring, when revenue streams are expected to stabilize.

Shop Local for Small Business Month

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.”

Economic forecast bright, Conference Board says

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Greater Victoria’s economy will bounce forward significantly starting next year, says a new report by the Conference Board of Canada.
 
Our region is the only major city in Canada that the Conference Board expects will post a gain in retail sales in 2020. Retail sales fell 3.5% in the second quarter but have since rebounded. The forecast is for 2.7% increase this year despite the pandemic. Next year looks even better as the forecast is for growth of 6.9%.
 
It’s not an entirely rosy picture, as the Conference Board says it will take years for Canada to shrug off the 11.5% contraction that the economy suffered as a result of shutting down in the second quarter. Governments also face difficult decisions in the years ahead as they will need to rein in spending.
 
“No one has a crystal ball, but The Chamber is encouraged by the detailed forecast offered by the Conference Board of Canada,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “Our region was thriving before COVID-19, and we know the fundamentals remain in place for us to create an even more resilient economy in the next few years.”

Report outlines benefits of Island Rail Corridor

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.

Municipalities streamline business licence process

Doing business in a region with 13 municipalities can be confusing. The Chamber continues to advocate for better governance through fewer governments, and we have strongly supported the Citizens’ Assembly process that was started by Saanich and Victoria to explore the pros and cons of amalgamation.
 
One area that many municipalities have been trying to streamline is the business licence application process. The City of Victoria announced this week that it was moving the process online, enabling businesses to apply, pay and print licences without having to go into city hall.
 
The City of Langford offers perpetual business licences that don’t need to be renewed unless the business closes or moves.
 
The City of Colwood also doesn’t charge businesses an annual fee but does require licences to be renewed. This year, Colwood is encouraging businesses to use its online online application process.
 
The District of Saanich offers step-by-step instructions for businesses looking to apply for a business licence.
 
Businesses that carry on work across Greater Victoria can apply for Inter-Community Business Licences.