Streamlined Regional Regulations Archives

Provincial deficit looms as Premier seeks fed funding

September 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Government Provincial, Inflation And Rising Costs, New And Established Businesses, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

A day after admitting the provincial books are deeper in the red than initially forecast, BC’s Premier is in Ottawa seeking more cash from the federal government.

On Tuesday, BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey updated the budget forecast to show a deficit of $11.6 billion for 2025. That’s $665 million more than expected. The deficit is forecast to rise to $12.6 billion next year and $12.3 billion in 2027-28.

The Chamber is calling on all levels of government to focus on needs and set aside wants until our financial circumstances improve.

“I’m hearing from our business community that times are tight and they are doing everything they can to streamline and live within their means,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “They expect governments to do the same with the taxes they collect from all of us.”

The province has committed to cutting back its spending, noting it was able to find $300 million in savings this year.

Premier David Eby said he’s pushing for more major infrastructure projects in BC, as well as urgent action to address public safety.

The Chamber applauds these steps, while acknowledging that patience has worn thin among the business community facing a crisis from public disorder and the crushing burden of red tape and taxes.

“I’ll keep saying it as long as I need to. Enough is enough,” Wilson said. “We’ve heard enough announcements without seeing adequate results. That needs to change.”

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.

Curious how LNG could impact Greater Victoria?

August 20, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Climate Change Solutions, Global Uncertainty, Housing, Indigenous Business Support And Reconciliation, Inflation And Rising Costs, New And Established Businesses, Streamlined Regional Regulations, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Natural gas has a long history as a game-changing source of energy. From the old slogan, “Now you’re cooking with gas” to recent proposals aimed at boosting BC’s economy and helping wean the world off coal, LNG has made plenty of headlines.

Chamber members have a chance to dig deeper into those stories and others when we host FortisBC President and CEO Roger Dall’Antonia. The event, sponsored by ColdStar Solutions, runs Sept. 9, from 11:30am to 1 pm, at the Hotel Grand Pacific.

Dall’Antonia will speak about the latest efforts to grow the industry, the impact investing in natural gas will have on provincial revenue and the opportunities available in Greater Victoria.

If you have questions about FortisBC and our province’s energy sector, please send them to communications@victoriachamber.ca. We’ll select those that help inform conversations about our region and get the answers at the event directly from one of the province’s foremost experts.

Reserve your seat now for the Chamber’s next Business Leaders Luncheon, and make the most of this chance to connect with top movers and shakers in our business community.

Reserve Your Seat

Saanich to hear amalgamation report July 14

July 14, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

The District of Saanich announced today it will receive a formal presentation and begin next steps on July 14 on the report recommending Saanich and the City of Victoria amalgamate has been published and can be viewed online.

Chamber members have long called for this to happen and The Chamber was an early voice for using the Citizens’ Assembly process as a practical method for initiating amalgamation. And whenever the process stalled along the way, The Chamber was quick to nudge it forward.

“Having considered the costs, benefits and disadvantages to the best of our abilities and with the information available to us, we recommend the amalgamation of Victoria and Saanich,” the report’s executive summary states. “In the course of our deliberations, we ultimately concluded that amalgamation as a unified city would be the best form of government for our two municipalities.”

Saanich and Victoria merger is the right thing to do

April 9, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Fair Rules, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

Better governance from fewer governments has long been a rallying cry within the halls of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. On April 5, our region took the first step toward achieving that goal.

The Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly released its findings seven years after the process took root in 2018. The 48-member assembly is recommending that Greater Victoria’s two largest municipalities merge.

“This is a major win for The Chamber. We’ve literally been advocating for this since the mid-20th Century,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “When we were packing up to move our office, we found binders with reams of paperwork calling for amalgamation over the decades.”

The Chamber was an early voice for using the Citizens’ Assembly process as a practical method for initiating amalgamation. And whenever the process stalled along the way, The Chamber was quick to nudge it forward.

The next step will be for the City of Victoria and District of Saanich to review the consensus reached by the Assembly.

“Both municipal councils have committed to receiving the Assembly’s final report and deliberating on its recommendations,” the report stated. “If they decide to endorse the Assembly’s recommendation for a public referendum on amalgamation, they will work with the Province of British Columbia to initiate it, likely to coincide with the next municipal elections in 2026.”

Vital Signs Report gives housing failing grade, again

September 26, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Climate Change Solutions, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Greater Victoria has earned a “B” from this year’s Vital Signs Report, released yesterday by the Victoria Foundation. It’s the same score as last year.

“For nearly 20 years, Vital Signs has been helping the community identify and respond to the greatest challenges facing our region,” Victoria Foundation CEO Sandra Richardson said in a media release. “This year, the survey found cost of living, housing, and healthcare to be among the most important issues in Greater Victoria.”

The report looks at 12 areas and grades them based on data from a survey completed by more than 6,500 people as well as from sources curated by a local researcher

In the 2024 report, housing rated a D-, down from the D the area received last year. Health and wellness also fell from a B- to a C+ — as did the grade given to our standard of living.

Environmental sustainability earned a B, which is the same as last year.

On the positive side, sports and recreation increased from a B last year to a B+ this year. Belonging and engagement, arts and culture, and economy all stayed the same from last year.

The Vital Signs Report is available online at victoriavitalsigns.ca, as well as in print at various locations throughout the region.

Saanich approves 24-storey tower at Uptown

June 12, 2024/in Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing, Streamlined Regional Regulations, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

A new tower that will create a notable landmark for people entering Greater Victoria’s core has been approved by District of Saanich council.

The 24-storey apartment building will house 318 rental units on the corner of Carey Road and Ravine Way. A residential building on the site was part of the original proposal for Uptown. The new building will also include commercial space and cycling amenities.

Saanch has a long-range vision for transforming the neighbourhood into a central hub that will become the heart of the municipality.

Saanich moving forward on plans for Uptown ‘downtown’

April 24, 2024/in Government Local, Immigration And Integration, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

A new hub close to the “heart of Saanich” was given a key stamp of approval on Monday.

The District of Saanich has an extensive plan for the Uptown-Douglas area, which is at the crossroads of Greater Victoria’s core municipalities.

The area will be zoned to shape new development designed to grow the neighbourhood as a major hub north of downtown Victoria and between the West Shore and Saanich Peninsula.

The plan includes turning Oak Street into a vibrant commercial district that creates a walkable boulevard between Uptown Mall and Mayfair Shopping Centre.
Read the Uptown-Douglas Plan

Amalgamation committee taking shape this spring

April 24, 2024/in Fair Rules, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

Talk is turning to action on the latest attempt to pursue municipal amalgamation. Invitations to serve on the Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly have been sent to 10,000 residents in the two communities. They have until May 30 to confirm whether they will participate.

From there, 48 people will be selected through a randomized lottery process that fairly represents the population of both municipalities. Finally, the committee will come together over eight Saturdays starting in September and wrapping up in April. At that point, they will produce a report outlining the pros and cons of merging Greater Victoria’s two largest municipalities.

Citizens’ Assembly process unfolding this spring

February 14, 2024/in Streamlined Regional Regulations/by caorda