Government Provincial Archives

BC minimum wage increases to $17.85 next week

May 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

On Sunday, the province’s annual minimum wage increase will raise the lowest hourly rate from $17.40 to $17.85 per hour.

“The 2.6% increase on June 1 also applies to minimum-wage rates for resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers, live-in camp leaders and app-based delivery and ride-hail services workers,” the provincial media release stated. “This is the fourth year of the government’s ongoing commitment to tie annual minimum-wage increases to inflation.”

In February 2024, the Employment Standards Act was changed to automatically tie annual increases to the previous year’s average inflation rate.

Highway project will ease commute — eventually

May 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Connecting communities is critical for helping business flow smoothly around the region. There are deliveries to make and appointments to keep, but good transportation is also vital to helping employers find and keep workers. This has been a consistent advocacy priority for Chamber members, who help us understand their biggest challenges by filling out our annual member survey as well as in daily interactions.

Of course, building better transportation corridors can require patience. That’s the case across the region, including Highway 1 where the bus-on-shoulder project is currently underway. New bus lanes from the McKenzie Interchange to the Colwood Interchange will make taking the bus faster and more reliable and convenient for commuters.

Drivers can expect daytime disruption during construction. The Burnside Road on-ramp and the Helmcken overpass will close overnight between 8 pm and 5:30 am. The Galloping Goose Trail also faces closures of as long as 15 minutes between 8 and 11 pm.

The Highway 1 bus-on-shoulder project is part of the South Island Transportation Strategy to create a dedicated rapid transit corridor between downtown Victoria and the Westshore. BC Transit currently operates its Blink RapidBus to connect the areas and is planning to expand the service over time.

The bus-on-shoulder project includes $67 million in provincial funding and $28 million in federal funds. The project is expected to be completed in late 2027.

New lien rules bring BC in line with other provinces

May 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The new Commercial Liens Act comes into force on June 30, affecting how businesses collect debts for services they provide to repair, store or transport goods. The Act replaces a patchwork of outdated laws, which created different rules for different services.

The Personal Property Registry, an online system that tracks legal claims on personal property, will be updated on June 30 to so that commercial liens can be registered. The changes will also make it easier to enforce liens without going to court, which helps businesses get paid and cuts legal costs.

The Act also allows people to keep using their vehicle or equipment to make money and pay off the debt.

The act replaces the Repairers Lien Act, Warehouse Lien Act and Livestock Lien Act. Any existing liens under those acts will continue as commercial liens. The change brings BC closer to the goal of having one set of lien rules across Canada so businesses that provide services in different provinces do not have to keep track of different rules.

Chamber hears from Minister about BC’s economic plans

May 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Finding And Keeping Workers, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber hosted BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, Diana Gibson, yesterday at the Union Club of BC.

Minister Gibson spoke about the province’s efforts to build a resilient economy in the face of uncertain trade relations with the United States.

“It was a valuable opportunity to speak with the Minister directly and pose questions on behalf of Chamber members,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It’s important to understand what the government is trying to do, but it’s just as vital that government knows what business needs it to do.”

The event was moderated by Williams and South Island Prosperity Partnership CEO Aaron Stone.

The JEDI Ministry’s role is to support BC’s tech sector as well as small businesses, while providing economic development and promoting the province to international investors.

“One of the big tasks on their plate right now is working with the federal government and other provinces to increase free trade within Canada,” Williams said. “Prime Minister Carney has promised this will happen by Canada Day so the clock is ticking for provinces to reach agreements that make it easier for businesses to sell products and services more efficiently across our borders.”

A chance to hear firsthand about BC business growth

April 30, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The economic uncertainty caused by threats of an escalating tradewar as well as a change in Canadian leadership has not been good for most businesses.

As some of the shifting settles, many Chamber members want to know what these changes will mean to them. And some of the most direct impacts on business success are related to the regulations and taxes imposed by the province.

“We’re grateful that BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation has agreed to speak to Chamber members next month,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “This is a ministry that interconnects with businesses in many ways, and it’s important for the minister to understand the concerns and challenges facing our members.”

Minister Diana Gibson is speaking at the Union Club of BC from 11:30 am to 1 pm, on May 13. Topics include the province’s plans to work with the new Prime Minister on eliminating barriers to interprovincial trade. The Minister will also address the future of the EHT, plans to improve downtown safety and how government will reduce red tape to help businesses grow.

Chamber championing ferries’ future resonates with Island communities

April 30, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Climate Change Solutions, Finding And Keeping Workers, Food Security, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber’s efforts to bring a business perspective to the future of our most vital transportation link has captured the attention of policy makers and business associations on the Island and across BC.

A letter penned by The Chamber on behalf of 20 organizations was sent to BC Premier David Eby last week. The letter makes the case for revisiting the recent decision by the BC Ferries commissioner to only approve four new vessels instead of the five required to meet demand.

The request was picked up by media during an interview with the Premier, who agreed that the vessels are needed.

“I think we need boats that are going to be able to serve the public well into the future here in British Columbia,” Eby told reporters. “It’s critical for commerce, for tourism and as the Island Highway for so many families and businesses.”

The Chamber supports efforts to reduce costs faced by taxpayers, and is grateful the provincial government has heard our calls to invest in ways that grow the economy for everyone. The attention on the issue has also raised the potential for federal funding to be part of the solution.

“Affordability is about more than just fares and yet there’s nothing that requires the commissioner to apply that lens,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams wrote in the letter about the need for infrastructure that drives business, industry and tourism.

Read The Chamber’s column

Changes to lobbyist rules help reduce chilling effect

April 24, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber applauds news that the BC Lobbyist Registry is making changes to reduce the unfair burden facing many community organizations. The Registry changed significantly in 2020, surprising many chambers, boards of trade and other groups that traditionally work with government.

The aim of the registry is to ensure transparency. It’s an important ideal to help British Columbians know if their elected representatives are being influenced by special-interests. However, the 2020 change introduced a cumbersome interface, tighter timelines and a chilling fine structure. The result inhibited historic relationships that have served for decades to help communities keep an open dialogue with provincial ministries.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce played a key role in championing those important connections, working with chambers across BC to call out the chilling effect of the registry.

The changes announced today come into force on May 27 and will drop requirements for reporting every time funding is requested, extend due dates for reports and clarify some of the rules around filing requirements.

Businesses bear burden of loosening sick day rules

April 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Inflation And Rising Costs, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

A cost to employers rooted in the pandemic is now further ingrained in law after the provincial government moved to ban the requirement for doctor’s notes when employees take sick days.

“Businesses would have liked to have had more of a say on this policy,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It’s one thing for the public sector to make this a requirement for its employees, but to force it on the private sector overlooks a lot of concerns we hear from members.”

Organizations understand the benefit of supporting their workers, especially in Greater Victoria with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada. During the pandemic, employers went to great lengths to support staff who were ill as well as to keep workers safe from infection. However, legislating paid sick days is a cost that is not covered by government. This additional burden on business adds up, especially at time when many organizations are facing lower margins.

“Most Chamber members I talk to have great relationships with their staff and go out of their way to help when needed,” Williams said. “But many are rightfully concerned that this change will create confusion and could incentivize abuse of the rules and potentially force employers to provide more paid days off work.”

Premier walks back contentious parts of Bill 7

April 2, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber applauds the provincial government for listening to our concerns, and those of other business organizations, and removing many of the autocratic elements of Bill 7.

The legislation, as initially proposed, would give BC’s Cabinet broad powers without the need to be accountable to the elected legislature. On March 28, Premier David Eby agreed that Bill 7 needs “safeguards.”

The Chamber supports parts of the Bill that aim to make the provincial economy stronger. Specifically, the goal of reducing barriers for interprovincial trade.

“Interprovincial trade drives one-fifth of Canada’s GDP, yet internal trade barriers still act like a 21% tariff,” Canadian Chamber Public Policy Chief Matthew Holmes said. “Removing them could boost GDP per capita by 4%. That’s real growth — right here at home — at a time when businesses and workers need it most. Internal trade must be a key aspect of our Canada-U.S. trade strategy — let’s control what we can control.”

Savings at the fuel pump welcomed by business

April 2, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Climate Change Solutions, Food Security, Government Federal, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

The cost of fueling up at the pump has plummeted after the provincial government removed the carbon tax. Gas prices dropped below $1.60/litre yesterday — about 19 cents lower than they were the day before the tax was removed.

The lower fuel costs are welcome news to businesses that move goods and people.

“We hear from many struggling businesses and families so anything that unburdens them is needed right now,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said, noting that The Chamber offers members many benefits, including fuel discounts.