A new campaign encouraging bus riders to wear masks has been launched by BC Transit. Called Together We Ride, the campaign will run for eight weeks and includes a contest starting July 27 with prizes including BC Transit branded masks and shoes.
 
While the provincial health officer has not mandated wearing masks, BC Transit is hoping the practice will be adopted as good etiquette by riders.
 
BC Transit buses already adhere to a number of safety conditions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
 
Watch our Chamber Fireside Chat with Erinn Pinkerton, CEO of BC Transit, as she speaks bout how COVID-19 has impacted ridership in the region and how the company plans to restore consumer confidence (originally recorded on June 3).

Bus service that had been on hold due to COVID-19 have resumed, with safety measures in place.
 
The Wilson’s Group of Companies has started up routes up Island and to the mainland. Passengers must adhere to physical distancing measures, limiting seating to one person per row or two from the same household. If physical distancing can’t be maintained, passengers will need to wear masks.
The B.C. Ferries Connector is running Friday through to Monday, between downtown bus terminals in Victoria and Vancouver.
 
The Vancouver Island Connector is running between Victoria and Campbell River.
 
The Tofino Bus linking Victoria to Tofino and Ucluelet.
 
The company is also offering a BC Residents Rate, which gives locals a 25% discount.
 
“We are hopeful that with enough support from local travelers, as well as the continuation of government programs, that we can continue to operate well into the fall and winter,” John Wilson, president and CEO of the Wilson’s Group said in a statement.

Additional weekday runs may be added later this summer.

The Chamber continues to spearhead advocacy efforts in Greater Victoria to help our members and the community recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
 
In this month’s edition of Douglas Magazine, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams speaks about what we and other chambers in our region are doing to get back to prosperity.
 
“Businesses need certainty and they don’t have that when programs run month to month and extensions are granted at the last minute,” Williams said. “Businesses thrive when they can plan. A tiered system that gradually goes away is better for planning for a return to business that can be successful in the long term.”

The pandemic is causing a rethink about many things, including what we need to do to solve homelessness and the delivery of police services in our region.

The Chamber has advocated for long-term solutions that are proven to work, such as the Therapeutic Recovery Community operated in View Royal by Our Place Society.

We understand the challenges facing businesses located near former hotel properties purchased by the province to house people who had been living in encampments. The move was initially made to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading among closely packed tents. The new locations include mental health and addiction treatment services. However, the problem is complex and concerns about safety and property need to be taken seriously.
 
The Chamber would like to see better enforcement of rules in place to ensure all of us can enjoy a safe community. Victoria Police Department Chief Del Manak has support from the city’s police board to augment policing with civilian social services.

We know the roots of homelessness, mental health issues and addictions run deep and it’s clear we need an innovative approach that can do more than push the problem between neighbourhoods.
 
“Greater Victoria businesses are known for their compassion and prove it by giving back, by investing in solutions to help people in need in our community,” says Chamber CEO Bruce Williams. “They want real solutions and all of us deserve to feel secure at home and at work. The Chamber would like to see more options for long-term treatment, and we hope BC Housing intends to fulfill its plans to transform these hotel properties into affordable housing that includes homes for our workforce.”

Details were released on Friday about the federal government’s plan to extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the plan was adjusted to make it easier for businesses to ramp up their growth as the economy gets back to speed. The proposed changes, which are expected to be approved by Parliament, help provide more certainty for employers.
 
The wage subsidy will be extended to Nov. 21 (with supports available until Dec. 19) and will be accessible to more businesses. The requirement to show a 30% decline in revenue has been tweaked to allow a gradually decreasing subsidy for businesses. This helps avoid the “cliff effect” that The Chamber voiced concern over, and which scared some employers away from the program.
 
Other changes include a top-up for employers in sectors facing the slowest recovery.