Thousands taking part in Great BC Shake Out!

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Are you ready to rumble? You should be! Tomorrow at 10:15 am is the Great British Columbia Shake Out, and a number of organizations across Greater Victoria are helping raise awareness about earthquake preparation.
 
To learn more about what steps you can take to make your workplace, classroom and home safer, go to shakeoutbc.ca.

New commercial rent relief plan an improvement

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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.

Election Panels a chance to hear from local candidates

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Election Panels a chance to hear from local candidates

The Chamber is proud to bring you a series of Election Panels featuring candidates running for the three major parties in five of Greater Victoria’s electoral districts.
 
On Tuesday, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams moderated a panel for Victoria-Beacon Hill.
 
Earlier today, we featured Oak Bay-Gordon Head. Tomorrow, we host candidates in Saanich South. On Friday, it’s Esquimalt-Metchosin and, next Tuesday, we have candidates from Victoria-Swan Lake.
 
“We’re asking questions that reflect regional concerns, such as child care and transportation, as well as topics that are more specific to each electoral district,” says Williams, who spoke to CFAX yesterday about The Chamber’s efforts to host the 2020 Election Panels.

Colwood projects put municipality in spotlight

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The City of Colwood is enjoying time in the spotlight as the West Shore municipality undergoes an impressive uptick in popularity. So much more than a source of commuters, Colwood is becoming a hub for new jobs being created in the region.
 
Recently announced projects include a new home for the Royal BC Museum‘s archives, collections and research as well as a $26 million complex for Seaspan Victoria Shipyards. There’s also a massive mixed-use development in the works from Omicron.
 
“Colwood is at a really pivotal time right now where we’re shifting from a bedroom community to something very dynamic and I think dynamic is good,” Colwood Mayor Rob Martin told the Times Colonist.

City of Colwood: Member since 2020

Omicron Canada Inc: Member since 2015

Seaspan Victoria Shipyards: Member since 2002

Royal BC Museum: Member since 1994

Regional unemployment rate improves slightly

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Statistics Canada’s latest unemployment numbers offer more evidence about the impact of the pandemic on jobs in Greater Victoria. Our region is improving from the summer, with the jobless rate at 9.1% for September compared to 10.3% in August and a low of 11.1% in July.
 
However, we are currently the 22nd ranked Census Metropolitan Area in Canada. Before COVID-19, Greater Victoria consistently had the lowest or second lowest unemployment rate in the country.
 
Our ranking is largely attributable to a 39% drop in the number of people working in accommodations and food services — the sector hit the hardest by measures to control the pandemic.

Return of downtown office workers welcome news

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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

Giving Thanks

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Whether you’re looking to cook your own Thanksgiving meal, or prefer someone else do the work, Thanksgiving is a great reason to enjoy good food and spend time with people you love.

Take time this season to check out some of the exciting activities and venues in Greater Victoria this weekend. If you’re in the mood for a staycation, check out one of the great hotels Greater Victoria has to offer.

The fall is a perfect season to support one of Greater Victoria’s local charities. Thanksgiving Dinner at Our Place Society will look a bit different this year, as they are extending hours and implementing a cafeteria style arrangement to ensure those in need are able to receive food while maintaining social distancing. Gordy Dodd from Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress is hosting his annual Thanksgiving meal from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Friday, Oct. 9.

Whether you’re connected with your loved ones in person or virtually this year, The Chamber would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

The Chamber will be closed Monday, Oct. 12.

Regulatory standard vital to single-use plastic ban

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The Chamber supports efforts to protect the environment from harmful single-use plastics, and we call on governments to work with businesses to support innovations that address these concerns.
 
Today’s announcement from federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to eliminate waste plastic by 2030 is welcome news. The plan is to target single-use plastics, specifically plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and hard-to-recycle food containers.
 
Having a national strategy will help ensure the rules are standardized so that businesses understand their requirements. The public has, for many years, supported businesses that provided alternatives to plastic waste. Going forward, governments need to ensure they are following the lead of the public and businesses in order to get the best response to this new initiative.

BC Ferries CEO bullish on Victoria to Colwood service

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We are starting to get some perspective on the pandemic and what we’ve been through and where we’re going. However, back in the spring, the world was a much more uncertain place and BC Ferries CEO Mark Collins says he’s proud of how his team rose to the challenge.
 
Collins, who was the guest of The Chamber’s Business Restart Series yesterday, says his team at BC Ferries stepped into the unknown in order to meet its mandate and keep alive vital supply chains and transportation services to remote BC communities.
 
Collins also offered hope to commuters enticed by the idea of a ferry between Colwood and Victoria.
 
“We really think there’s a business case here,” Collins says, detailing the cost and timelines that show the service is viable.
 
To obtain a copy of the full presentation email us at eventsmanager@victoriachamber.ca

Victoria council to consider extending patio season

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The Chamber has written a letter to Victoria Council urging an extension of the Build Back Victoria plan until next spring.
 
“The City’s leadership and investment in innovations led by business are making a difference,” states the letter, which is included in a staff report outlining experiences with the program so far. “Many of our restaurants, cafes and pubs were able to sustain their operations because of the opportunity they were given to expand their spaces.”
 
Council will consider extending the program tomorrow, as well as a suggestion to allow for vehicle access to businesses on the section of Government Street closed to traffic.

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