Government Provincial Archives

Throne speech promises to drop gloves on tariffs

February 19, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The provincial government is back in Victoria for the first session of the 43rd Parliament of British Columbia. As is tradition, BC’s Lt. Gov. delivered the speech from the throne. The theme of the speech, which reflects the government’s intent for the year ahead, focused on a strong defence against the threat of tariffs being imposed by the United States.

“We have everything we need to protect ourselves from the economic impacts of the Trump presidency and come out stronger,” BC Premier Eby said in a media release.

Among the speech’s highlights were promises of new laws to build infrastructure faster, and better management of the province’s finances. BC will look to diversify its export markets through trade missions and eliminating barriers to interprovincial trade.

The 2025 BC Budget will be announced March 4, and the Chamber hosts the BC Finance Minister the following day in a sold-out event at Hotel Grand Pacific.

Eby names ‘war-room’ to protect BC against US tariffs

January 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

With US President Donald Trump threatening to impose tariffs as early as Saturday, BC Premier David Eby has assembled a cabinet committee to fight back.

Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Ravi Kahlon will chair the committee, which will act as a day-to-day war room.

“This threat isn’t going away anytime soon – not while this president is in power,” Eby said, noting that the committee will work to protect BC businesses, families and workers.

Part of the strategy is to strengthen ties to markets other than the US.

“We didn’t ask for this fight, but BC will not be bullied,” Kahlon said.

Members of the new cabinet committee are:

Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance
Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions
Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food
Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Rick Glumac, Minister of State for Trade
Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests
Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals
Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks

New: post-budget breakfast with BC Finance Minister

January 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

With businesses facing ongoing uncertainty, it’s good to know that at least one economic tradition will continue this year.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce will once again host the provincial Finance Minister, at a breakfast event presented by Coastal Community Credit Union & Insurance Services, the morning after BC Budget 2025 is unveiled.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to hear directly about how the provincial government plans to address ongoing social challenges and invest in the economy in the year ahead.

“We are grateful to host the Hon. Brenda Bailey on March 5, and I look forward to discussing questions and concerns that Chamber members have expressed to us,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said.

Hon. Brenda Bailey, BC Minister of Finance
Wednesday, March 5, from 8 – 9:30 am
Hotel Grand Pacific – Vancouver Island Ballroom, 463 Belleville St.

Register Now

Tickets needed to attend former BC Premier’s funeral

December 11, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The state funeral for former BC Premier John Horgan on Dec. 15 is expected to be so popular that tickets will be needed to attend. Horgan died Nov. 12 at the age of 65 after several years of fighting cancer.

The service for Horgan is at The Q Centre in the City of Colwood. Tickets are limited to two per person, and must be obtained in advance at tickets.victoriashamrocks.com.

The ceremony will be livestreamed and an online book of condolences is available to sign until Dec. 16.

Horgan served as MLA for the electoral area now known as Langford-Juan de Fuca from 2005 until 2023.

State funeral planned for former BC Premier Horgan

December 5, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

A state funeral is planned for former BC Premier John Horgan, who died Nov. 12 at the age of 65 after several years of fighting cancer.

The ceremony is on Dec. 15, starting at 1 pm, at the Q Centre in the City of Colwood.

Horgan served as MLA for the electoral area now known as Langford-Juan de Fuca from 2005 until 2023.

The funeral service will include religious components by Rev. Dr. Keith Howard, musical interludes and words of remembrance. Lt. Gov. Janet Austin, Premier David Eby and other dignitaries will be in attendance.

The public is welcome to attend.

Trump takes to social media to threaten huge tariffs

November 27, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Global Uncertainty, Government Federal, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

There’s the economy, and then there’s the attention economy. The incoming US President has seized the spotlight with his comments on his Truth Social platform calling for a 25% tariff on products from Canada.

The damage such a move would do to the Canadian and US economies makes this pronouncement shocking, which is likely what Donald Trump intended.

Chamber Board Chair Kris Wirk spoke to CFAX this morning about the issue, noting that the uncertainty is not helpful regardless of whether any tariffs are introduced.

Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said it’s easy for Trump to be loud on social media, but there has already been a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes to mitigate the damage tariffs would cause.

“We need to remember that this is a public relations tactic and probably much different than what will occur in reality,” Williams said. “Our national Chamber network has built strong relationships with states along Canada’s border. Their leaders understand the trade relationship with Canada and its importance to American jobs, factories and consumers. They’ll bring a strong voice to any negotiations.”

Speaking of the Canadian Chamber, new President and CEO Candace Laing has issued a statement condemning any attempt to hurt Canada’s economy.

“Being America’s ‘nice neighbour’ won’t get us anywhere in this situation. President-elect Trump’s intention to impose 25% tariffs signals that the U.S.-Canada trade relationship is no longer about mutual benefit. To him, it’s about winners and losers—with Canada on the losing end,” Laing said. “We’re facing a significant shift in the relationship between long-standing allies. Canada’s signature approach needs to evolve: we must be prepared to take a couple of punches if we’re going to stake out our position. It’s time to trade ‘sorry’ for ‘sorry, not sorry.’”

BC Ferries faces challenges head on with creativity and innovation

November 27, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce hosted the final event in its 2024 Business Leaders Series, with a breakfast with BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Union Club of BC in Victoria.

More than 100 business and community leaders attended the breakfast, which featured a presentation by Jimenez followed by a Q&A session with Chamber CEO Bruce Williams and questions from the audience.

Jimenez addressed the recent news that BC Ferries was changing its advisory committee structure, as well as a call to add five new ships to the fleet.

“We know that BC Ferries has been working to improve how they manage their sailings, which is really important to businesses that transport groceries and other goods to the Island. I think our members appreciated hearing Nicolas explain how those improvements have resulted in fewer cancellations and better certainty for business,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “However, the ferry system has served the province for six decades and still has ships and terminals that were built in the 1960s. The Chamber is supportive of the work BC Ferries is doing to modernize its fleet and introduce efficiencies that will ensure future generations have an even stronger and more environmentally sustainable transportation link.”

Jimenez spoke about the importance of BC Ferries for people and families. The bulk of passengers are travelling for work, to attend appointments or visit family members. Tourism make up a smaller but vital segment of BC Ferries total passenger base, he said.

Going forward, the ferry operator understands it needs creativity and collaboration to address its challenges.

“If we are to close this funding gap that I described, we’re going to need to pull every lever that we can,” Jimenez told the Times Colonist. “We’re going to have to get very creative and we’re going to have to balance the needs of the system around reliability and resilience with affordability.

“So without prejudging what that’s going to look like, I think we’re going to have to have all policy options on the table.”

Greater Victoria MLAs named to new provincial cabinet

November 20, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

BC’s recently elected Premier David Eby named his new cabinet this week, with several local MLAs taking charge of key ministries.

Lana Popham (Saanich South) — who had been serving as Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sports — is now Minister of Agriculture and Food. Grace Lore (Victoria-Beacon Hill) continues as Minister of Children and Family Development.

Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca, takes on the role of Minister of Forests, while Diana Gibson, newly elected MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, is now Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.

The Chamber works to build good relationships with all levels of government, and having local elected officials in cabinet positions helps. They understand the issues facing our region and often the solutions required to address those challenges.

One way we connect with decision makers is through our Business Leaders events, such as next week’s breakfast with BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez. Over the next few months, we’ll be announcing a new slate of guest speakers, including prominent provincial politicians.

Contact events@victoriachamber.ca to reserve your seat — and make sure to build Chamber events into your organization’s annual budget planning.

Death of John Horgan a loss for all of Greater Victoria

November 13, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

Former BC Premier John Horgan at a Chamber Business Leaders Luncheon in 2018.

Greater Victoria lost a champion of our region this week. Former Premier John Horgan died on Tuesday at age 65, after several years of fighting cancer. He spent his final days surrounded by family and friends while receiving care at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

“The Chamber is saddened to hear of the death of former B.C. Premier John Horgan, the longtime Langford MLA, who brought remarkable stability to government. Horgan’s leadership was enormously beneficial for Greater Victoria as he understood the complexity of challenges faced by our region. We hope that John’s legacy will show a path forward for today’s leaders and help bridge the divide between British Columbians as we all seek to make the world a little better than we found it.”

Horgan was the first Premier from Vancouver Island since 1947. He stepped down in 2022 to focus on his health, and was appointed as Canada’s Ambassador to Germany in 2023.

BC’s political future remains uncertain after tight election

October 23, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

Clarity on BC’s political future will have to wait.

The provincial election remains mired in recounts that could take a week to determine who will form government.

“We knew this was going to be a close election and Greater Victoria’s business community is ready and eager to work with whichever party forms government,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “The Chamber hosted party leaders during their campaigns and, as an organization, we have nurtured meaningful connections with the provincial government for more than 160 years.”

Initial results of the election left the BC NDP with 46 seats, the Conservative Party of BC with 45 and the BC Green Party with two seats. However, because races were so close in many electoral areas, the initial results could change. As well as the recounts taking place, about 49,000 mail-in and absentee ballots are being counted.

In the Juan de Fuca-Malahat riding, NDP candidate Dana Lajeunesse had a 23-vote lead over BC Conservative Marina Sapozhnikov.

Elsewhere in our region, elected MLAs include:

Esquimalt-Colwood – NDP Darlene Rotchford.
Langford-Highlands – NDP Ravi Parmar.
Oak Bay-Gordon Head – NDP Diana Gibson.
Saanich North and the Islands – Green Rob Bottrell.
Saanich South – NDP Lana Popham.
Victoria-Beacon Hill – NDP Grace Lore.
Victoria-Swan Lake – NDP Nina Krieger.