Province confirms tax measure implementation dates, deferral deadlines for businesses

Businesses have been given a reprieve as the provincial government announced last week that it is delaying implementation or increases to several taxes.
 
Quarterly installments for the Employer Health Tax have been pushed back as follows:

  • Dec. 31, 2020 (original installment date was June 15, 2020)
  • Jan. 31, 2021 (original installment date was Sept. 15, 2020)
  • Feb. 28, 2021 (original installment date was Dec. 15, 2020)

 
As well, the scheduled elimination of a Provincial Sales Tax exemption for sweetened carbonated beverages, and the requirement for e-commerce businesses outside BC to collect PST have been delayed until next April. And annual increases to the provincial carbon tax, postponed back in April, also won’t begin until next year.
 
The Ministry of Finance is also reminding businesses that the due dates for the following sales taxes, extended in the spring, are coming up Sept. 30:

  • PST
  • hotel tax, also known as municipal and regional district tax
  • tobacco tax
  • motor fuel tax
  • carbon tax

 
“These administrative deferrals are not being extended further,” says a statement from the ministry. “Businesses were never able to spend taxes collected from customers such as PST, but delaying tax remittances removed an administrative burden from potentially short-staffed businesses during the beginning of the pandemic.”

Nightclubs, halls closed to slow spread of COVID-19

Yesterday, citing extensive work of contract tracers, the provincial government ordered all nightclubs and stand-alone banquet halls to close.
 
“Despite weeks of effort by public health teams, these venues are creating significant risk to everyone in BC, and making it more challenging to protect those who are most vulnerable to serious illness,” says a statement by Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
 
The new order also states that liquor sales in bars, pubs and restaurants must cease at 10 pm. And unless they provide a full meal service, they need to close by 11 pm.

Postive job numbers a sign of slow and steady climb

BC’s economic restart continued in August, with the unemployment rate in Greater Victoria dropping to 10.3% from 11.1% the month before.
 
“This is the fourth month we’ve seen a bit of a rise in the number of people working, which is good,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told CHEK news. “It’s a sign that we’re slowly on the road to recovery, but still reflects the great big hole in the economy with tourism and hospitality not really returning to anything near normal levels right now.”
 
The province says it has now recovered 94% of jobs lost during the initial economic restrictions imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Rent relief extension welcome, but changes needed

The federal rent relief program for commercial properties has been extended, though there continues to be concerns raised about how it was rolled out — and what comes next.
 
For many businesses that have been able to access Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), the program has been a lifeline through the pandemic. Extending relief until the end of September will help. However, as the weather cools and revenues begin to fall, many restaurants and storefront retailers are wondering how they will survive.
 
The Chamber, along with our chamber network across the country, is calling on the federal government to rethink its approach to commercial rent relief. Rent is one of the biggest costs for many businesses and this is an area that government can provide real help. A new program is also required for the many businesses that needed help but couldn’t access CECRA because of its complexity or landlords who were unwilling to shoulder risk and revenue loss.

Labour Day long weekend

As September begins, enjoy the upcoming hot weather and take a moment to unwind before the summer ends.
Make the most of your Labour Day weekend by supporting your fellow Chamber members.


Take a photo of yourself completing the Patio Checklist, and tag us with @victoriachamber and #YYJPatioChecklist for a chance to be featured on our social media channels. Stay safe and support local.

​The Chamber will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7.

Ocean explorers turn eco-warriors

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​One of this year’s Business Award finalists – Maple Leaf Adventures – is one of the co-leads on a project to shine-up the phrase, Canada’s pristine wilderness.

“When it became clear we would not be able to operate under normal circumstances this summer and had to cancel a sold-out season, we turned our attention to the environment to give back to the coast that sustains us,” says Kevin Smith, CEO of Maple Leaf Adventures and co-lead on the project.

Working collaboratively with other small ship tour operators, local first nations, provincial scientists and with funding from the provincial government the project became a reality. The massive cleanup of up to 1,000 km of coastal beaches along the Great Bear Rainforest, is projected to take 100 tonnes of marine waste out of the eco-system over the next few weeks. Kudos to the 175 people from the surrounding first nations and tour companies, involved in this #BCCoastalCleanup.

Learn more about Maple Leaf Adventures, during the CHEK broadcast of this year’s Business Awards on Sept 19th at 6 p.m.


New Orders for Naden Drill Shed

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​The stamp of marching feet has been drilled into the Naden Drill Shed since it was put up in 1941 as part of the WWII efforts on the base at CFB Esquimalt.

As part of the ongoing infrastructure projects that CFB Esquimalt is undertaking the shed is being upgraded to a Junior Ranks Training Accommodation building. The new, multi-storey facility will include a 200-bed capacity. The existing shed, pictured here, was demolished and the site decontaminated earlier this year.

The project will bring between $100 million to $249 million in spending to the region. Construction is targeted for 2022-23 with completion by 2026-27.


Tobacco solving a health crisis?

In an interesting twist, biologists at the University of Victoria realized that a genetically modified version of tobacco that they were working on could be used in testing to determine if a person has already had COVID-19.

The modified tobacco plant provides a protein, like the spike protein in COVID, that is used to develop antibody tests. The team of biologists is prepping to work with manufacturing partners to determine if the plant-produced protein is a viable option for widely used serology tests.

Kudos to all of our members innovating and pivoting during this crisis.

Join us online Wed, Sept 16 to be inspired by other local innovators.

Big, green and beautiful

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More exciting things are being planned for the working harbour. The Ralmax Group is investing in a forward-thinking storage facility run by Trio Ready-Mix.

Working with Synergy Sustainability, the new plant with silo will “set a standard for low-impact concrete production” changing delivery methods from truck to barge and providing a more efficient footprint using fewer resources. An application has been made to the City of Victoria for a variance for the 31-metre silo.

In addition to the environmental advantage the design for the silo includes cladding and changing lights in order to enhance the shoreline views. Ian Maxwell has a long-term vision that industry can and should contribute to the overall beauty of our shoreline.


Home-tests for COVID

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Tuesday, Health Canada changed its position on the efficacy of home testing for COVID and are now reviewing approval for this option.

Described as “similar to home pregnancy tests” prototypes exist in research labs, but concerns remain high that people may use the test incorrectly or misinterpret the results. Much like a pregnancy test, the home test does not negate the need for medical follow-up.

“In response to the evolution of the pandemic, Health Canada is now considering applications for home testing devices for screening purposes,” said Cole Davidson, spokesperson for the Minister of Health said in a statement.

This is positive news for health experts who have long argued that frequent, accessible testing would provide a positive results in keeping the sick at home and beating the pandemic.

The federal government has also secured deals this week for up to 114 million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccines from Novovax and Johnson & Johnson. The government has hedged its bets for public health by also signing agreements for another 76 million vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, with a final agreement with Oxford University’s AstraZeneca vaccine pending. Ottawa’s final goal is production of the vaccine in Canada.