The City of Victoria by-election has been officially rescheduled for Dec. 12. The by-election was originally scheduled for April but was postponed by the pandemic.
 
Municipal by-elections also provide an opportunity to vote for people who own a commercial property within the city. You can learn more about the rules for non-resident property electors, and whether you qualify, at Victoria.ca.
 
It’s a great opportunity for business owners to ensure their voice is represented on Victoria council.

The Chamber is adding our voice to calls for a better approach to helping businesses struggling to pay their rent. The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program runs out today, and there is still no plan to replace it. CECRA never really provided the urgent help needed by many businesses. It was complicated and restrictive, and failed to consider that businesses need to plan over a longer-term than month-to-month. The sudden end of the program will also hurt businesses that are seeing improved revenue but are not back to pre-pandemic levels.
 
“We know that economic recovery is being led by businesses that are able to find innovative ways to adapt and carry on, but many businesses will need time as they slowly return to the level of activity they need to cover their hard costs,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “In Greater Victoria, our tourism and hospitality sectors especially need help to survive the devastating loss of business that resulted from the ban on international visitors.”
 
The Chamber is calling on the federal government to work with the provinces on an improved plan to provide long-term help for businesses struggling to pay commercial rent. Governments had time over the summer to learn from those landlords and tenants who were able to make use of CECRA, as well as those that couldn’t make the program work.

Travellers departing from Victoria International Airport will now have their temperature checked, as Transport Canada regulations take effect today. The rule also affects all passengers arriving in Canada on international flights.
 
Temperature screenings were initially implemented on July 30 for passengers departing from airports in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto. The program has been extended to 11 other Canadian airports, including Victoria, as of today.
 
If screening finds anyone with a temperature of 38C or higher, they will not be allowed to proceed unless they have a certificate explaining a valid reason for their elevated temperature. Passengers who are turned back will need to wait two weeks and re-book their trip.

Victoria Airport Authority: Member since 1981

Alacrity Canada has been chosen to assist businesses in western Canada increase their international sales and investment in clean technologies. The federal government announced last week that Alacrity will get $1.3 million to create 100 jobs in clean tech that will help the country recover from the pandemic-caused recession.

“Canadian researchers and entrepreneurs are addressing the world’s most significant environmental problems with innovative solutions. They are on a quest to help this planet survive for many generations to come,” Alacrity Canada’s managing director Richard Egli said in a news release. “This new funding will give Alacrity an excellent opportunity to connect Canadian innovation with significant challenges waiting to be solved.”

A total of $2.3 million is going to BC’s clean tech sector, including $100,000 to the South Island Prosperity Partnership.

Alacrity Canada: Member since 2019

South Island Prosperity Partnership: Member since 2017