​Building a more inclusive and diverse network of businesses will strengthen Canada’s economic resilience. On April 4-5, the federal Office of the Procurement Ombudsman hosts a virtual summit to raise awareness of the public and private sector programs that can help small businesses and businesses led by Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, women, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse people (2SLGBTQI+) Canadians, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups access federal contracting opportunities.

Former Gov. Gen Adrienne Clarkson is the keynote speaker. Now in its fifth year, the summit teaches the practical skills needed to win federal contracts. It’s also a chance to build connections with people in government who can help your business. The two-day summit runs from 8 am to 1:30 pm, April 4-5.

The Chamber applauds news of a Canadian Armed Forces housing benefit that will help make life a little more affordable for people stationed at CFB Esquimalt. With one of the higher costs of living in the country, Greater Victoria is a challenging region for employers looking to find and keep employees. This is amplified when people living in areas with lower housing costs are asked to move here for their job.

The Canadian Forces Housing Differential takes effect July 1 and replaces the current allowance for members of the military living in expensive communities. The new benefit is tied to income to help lower earning members.

The Chamber is also supportive of ongoing efforts to develop more housing for CFB Esquimalt members. The Department of National Defence has previously announced plans for an 84-unit apartment on the base.

“This is a great example of how non-market housing can help add homes to our region’s housing supply that are catered to the needs of a specific employer or sector,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “This will eventually allow for more market homes to be available to people in other industries.”

The Pacific Ocean wields immense influence over the weather, regulating Greater Victoria’s famous mild climate and warming the air deep into Central Canada. It’s why our region is typically the first in the country to experience the signs of spring. The phenomenon gave rise 48 years ago to a tradition that continues to this day.
 
The 2023 Greater Victoria Flower Count — which officially begins today — kicked off on Monday with speeches on the immaculate front lawns of the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
 
Flower Count only lasts one week: March 8 – 15, so we invite you to get involved!
 
Count your blooms to make sure your municipality becomes this year’s Best Bloomin’ Community, and enter our social media contest and #humblebrag with a pic of local flowers. You may even win Afternoon Tea for two at the Fairmont Empress! See below for more information.
 
The event was well attended by local media. You can read their coverage here:

• CHEK News: Flower count returns to South Island for 48th year
• CTV Vancouver Island: Greater Victoria Flower Count returns for 48th year
• Black Press: Greater Victoria flower count returns to sow community competition, share local beauty
• Victoria Buzz: 48th Annual Flower Count launches at Fairmont Empress today

New legislation introduced yesterday by the provincial government will require employers to include wage or salary ranges on all advertised jobs. The move is aimed at closing the gender pay gap in BC. The new law, once passed, will prohibit employers from asking prospective employees about their pay history or prevent staff from disclosing their own pay to co-workers or job applicants.
 
The rules will take effect Nov. 1, and will also include a staged implementation of reporting requirements for employers.

• Nov. 1, 2023: BC Public Service Agency and Crown corporations with more than 1,000 employees (ICBC, BC Hydro, WorkSafeBC, BC Housing, BC Lottery Corporation and BC Transit).
• Nov. 1, 2024: all employers with 1,000 employees or more
• Nov. 1, 2025: all employers with 300 employees or more
• Nov. 1, 2026: all employers with 50 employees or more.

 
BC’s Ministry of Finance will publish an annual report by June 1 that will serve as centralized reporting of gender pay in British Columbia.

A priority for business that has become more urgent in recent years is the fundamental need for safe communities. It’s clear there’s no simple answer, but one of the evidence-based solutions is the need to do more to address mental health.
 
“Our members have been vocal about the need for better support for people facing mental health and addiction challenges,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “This is how we can begin to address the situation we see on our streets and in parks, as well as the hidden struggles that many people are going through silently in their own homes.”
 
The Chamber has advocated to government for investment in complex care, so we applaud the news of an $8.2-million provincial grant to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
 
“We are honoured to be part of the solution, co-designing care to improve health, social and employment outcomes for people with long-term experience of complex barriers to employment,” CMHA BC Division CEO Jonny Morris said. “We are excited to see the expansion of behavioural health-care integration with primary-care centres in more sites in B.C.”