Government Local Archives - Victoria Chamber

Saanich says work ahead to meet BC housing targets

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Housing/by Jim Zeeben

The provincial government’s mandate for BC municipalities to build more homes is proving to be a challenge for some.

The District of Saanich said in its latest report that it’s making progress, though it won’t reach its target. So far, since the mandate was brought in, Saanich has seen about 78% of its goal of 1,041 new units.

“A major highlight of the report is that nearly half of the units issued through Development Permits are for non-market units, which is so encouraging and will help more people find a home at a price they can afford,” Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock said. “Additionally, we are exceeding provincial targets for the creation of family-suitable 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units, which will allow more families to settle in our community.”

Saanich said that a significant number of new homes have received a building permit and are under construction.

Area mayors, minister to discuss regional policing

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

According to a report published in the Saanich News, a meeting to discuss a regional police service is in the works between area mayors and the provincial government.

“This is something that Esquimalt has always been supportive of,” Township of Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins told the media outlet. “When we amalgamated with Victoria way back in 2003 it was with the understanding that … other communities were going to follow but that hasn’t happened, and here we are 23 years later.”

The report quotes written statements from the mayors of the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich agreeing to the meeting, as well as a written response from BC’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger acknowledging she is “open to the discussion.”

The Chamber supports better integration of regional policing services in order to make our communities safer.

Chamber column: Focus on needs not wants in budgets

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

An excerpt is from The Chamber’s October column in the Business Examiner”

If the largest city in Western Canada can aim for a 0% property tax increase, surely those municipalities with a fraction of Vancouver’s budget can do the same. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim recently announced that he is directing staff to stop spending money that doesn’t need to be spent — a decisive response to an initial staff recommendation for a 7% increase.

It takes courage to stand up for what’s right, and Sim has been clear that “zero means zero.” This kind of leadership should be inspirational for mayors across the province. On behalf of Greater Victoria’s business community — and everyone concerned about ballooning government spending — The Chamber is calling on all 13 municipalities in our region to follow Vancouver’s lead.

As local governments across BC begin their budget processes this fall, they have an opportunity to demonstrate that they truly support local economic growth. That support starts with restraint.

Read the Full Column

Mayor to address business concerns at Chamber event

October 22, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local/by Jim Zeeben

When it comes to downtown safety, The Chamber has been clear we can’t maintain the status quo.

Everyone knows that urgent action is needed to curtail social disorder, save businesses facing untenable challenges and help people suffering distress because of addiction or mental-health issues.

But how do we get there?

To find answers, The Chamber is hosting a series of Safe Community meetings. The first event takes place on Nov. 25 with City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto.

Chamber CEO John Wilson will moderate the discussion after Mayor Alto provides an update on the city’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.

“We know the solution won’t be easy and we will need the federal and provincial governments to step up,” Wilson said. “I’m grateful for Mayor Alto for agreeing to work with business on municipal solutions so that, together, we can save downtown and make sure we can build good business and great community for all.”

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Plan for prompt payment rules supports construction

October 8, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Local, Government Provincial, Housing, Inflation And Rising Costs, Streamlined Regional Regulations, Training And Microcredentials/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber applauds a new agreement that will let builders build, and spend less time chasing wayward payments.

On Tuesday, the province announced legislation that will help contractors, subcontractors and workers get paid on time.

“We welcome this critical step toward payment certainty for B.C.’s construction industry,” BC Construction Association president Chris Atchison said. “It marks a new starting line that requires sustained collaboration between industry and government. Establishing fairness in how money flows means the industry can focus on building, not battling over payment. BCCA remains committed to continuing to work with the provincial government on this important issue.”

With housing supply a critical component for improving the cost of living in Greater Victoria and across BC, governments need to address all barriers facing contractors.

The prompt-payment legislation, once passed, will:

· set clear timelines for payment on construction projects

· establish a fast-track adjudication process to resolve payment-related disputes

· improve cash flow and stability across the construction industry.

Ontario and Alberta already have prompt-payment laws, and industry groups in BC have supported bringing those rules here. The province said there will be a transition period to establish an adjudication authority and conduct outreach and education regarding rights and responsibilities under the new system.

Prompt-payment rules will apply broadly to both private- and public-sector projects in BC, including government contracts, unless specific exemptions are set out by regulation.

Chamber’s new advocacy focused on urgent action

October 8, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Inflation And Rising Costs, New And Established Businesses, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

You might have noticed some changes to how The Chamber is using our position as the unapologetic Voice of Business.

The series of messages, shown below, will start appearing more on Chamber social channels and in other media. The focus is on action. Businesses have had too many years of uncertainty caused by societal shifts and the growing burden of red tape. Our members and our Board of Directors have been clear that we need to speak up and call for change.

Our first focus is downtown Victoria and other central areas being devastated by a permissive attitude toward disorder and crime. People need to feel safe. That means all levels of government need to do their part — and do it with urgency.

We know what’s needed: consistent police and bylaw presence and enforcement, immediate options for people needing mental health and addiction care and changes to a legal system that currently allows repeat offenders to harm our communities.

Our other current priorities are more responsible spending by governments, and reduction in regulatory roadblocks that make building homes and providing services for families too expensive.

New transit plan can help with region’s affordability

September 24, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Affordability is at the root of many challenges facing Greater Victoria.

Chamber members continue to tell us they’re struggling to find and keep staff who can’t find housing. It’s either too costly or too far away from their workplace.

One solution is improved transit. Making the commute more convenient to affordable areas of our region would improve the quality of life for many workers. It’s a goal that BC Transit has been working toward for years.

Today, BC Transit announced it will take a fresh look at planning — the first since 2011.

The Victoria Regional Transit Plan project is launching a new engagement process to hear how the public wants to shape the future of transit over the next 25 years.

An online survey will be available next week and a series of open houses are planned across Greater Victoria later in October.

The engagement will focus on:

refreshing the 2011 Transit Future Plan along with the 25-year network vision to help guide future transit service and infrastructure investment
aligning the plan with current and anticipated future demographic trends, land use changes, commuter patterns and sustainability goals and developing comprehensive transit network and route design guidelines

‘Safe communities now!’ demand BC mayors in Victoria

September 24, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber’s call for all levels of government to take urgent action to address social disorder has resonated across the province.

This week, the Union of BC Municipalities annual conference is underway in Victoria, and the loudest concern is the demand to make our communities safer. On Monday, Our Place CEO Julian Daly drew thunderous applause for a speech decrying the failure to address spiraling antisocial behaviour in downtown Victoria.

On Wednesday, City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto rallied with her BC colleagues on the Legislature lawn, calling on Premier David Eby to stop things from getting worse.

“Victoria is proud to be one of the best small cities in the world, but we must act now to support our residents, businesses, and visitors, and we cannot do this work alone,” Mayor Alto said. “We urge the provincial government to take action and respond with the same level of urgency, to help bring necessary and lasting change to cities across BC.”

Chamber CEO John Wilson commended Mayor Alto for facing the fire as frustrated downtown businesses demand urgent action.

“The Mayor is the face of Victoria council, which is feeling the heat for the situation in our city,” Wilson said. “It’s a tough spot to be in, and The Chamber is committed to working together on a solution. We need action now, and that means we will be escalating our calls for action to the provincial and federal governments.”

The rally at the legislature was organized by Save-Our-Streets, a coalition of businesses and organizations that includes The Chamber.

“Municipalities cannot address these issues on their own, and it is not sustainable for them to shelve services and projects in order to reallocate funding to address health and housing issues which fall under the provincial government’s mandate,” SOS Co-founder Jess Ketchum said. “Urgency is required.”

Work begins on amalgamation question for voters

September 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

In July, a Citizens’ Assembly announced that its research showed that residents in the City of Victoria and District of Saanich would be better served by an amalgamated municipality.

Victoria was quick to begin working on the wording of the question that will go to voters next October. And, on Monday, Saanich followed suit with a decision to work with its neighbour on the question.

The Chamber has been calling for amalgamation for decades. We were strong supporters of the Citizens’ Assembly process and worked to keep it on track through the pandemic years.

It’s been a slow process, but finally voters will have their chance to make a decision that many have been calling for. The next BC General Local Elections are set for Oct. 17, 2026.

Business needs to be included in downtown parking strategy

September 3, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, New And Established Businesses, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber is calling on the City of Victoria to put the brakes on a potentially disruptive plan for parking downtown.

The report on Transforming City Parking goes to Committee of the Whole tomorrow, and raises numerous questions about the impact on businesses.

“We read about the plan in the Times Colonist, and immediately started hearing from members concerned about further disruption to downtown businesses,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “I’ve let the Mayor know we want to make sure business concerns are heard before this plan moves ahead.”

Wilson, who spoke about the report on CFAX this morning, said The Chamber supports improved transit services and other methods for bringing people downtown. However, there’s a real concern that some city staff aren’t recognizing the potential to drive away business and do more damage to downtown as an economic hub.”

The Chamber has positive relationships with city leaders who have taken the time to get to know the business community. We work closely with our partner organizations to help businesses survive and thrive, so people have reasons to visit downtown.

“It’s not asking too much to be part of the conversation,” Wilson said. “Businesses have a unique understanding of what the public wants because they hear it every day.”