Transportation Options Archives

Belleville Terminal meets new construction milestone

January 28, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is entering the next phase of work, with dredging of the designated marine construction zone starting Feb. 2.

This work to remove contaminated soils happens Monday to Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, and Saturdays, 10 am to 7 pm, until Feb. 17. A crane barge and three support barges are set to arrive on site Jan. 30 to support dredging operations. The work is not expected to affect marine traffic.

The Chamber’s advocacy was key to attracting investment in the new terminal, which will modernize the experience for people travelling to downtown Victoria by ferry.

“It’s exciting to see the project moving along and we truly believe that investment in transportation infrastructure is vital to our region’s economic sustainability, especially in these times of global instability,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said.

Bay Street Bridge repair work will run until summer

January 28, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Streamlined Regional Regulations, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Bay Street Bridge — formally the Point Ellice Bridge — is set for major upgrades starting in the second week of February.

Construction will take until the end of spring and includes replacing the bridge’s expansion joints to accommodate a wider range of temperature changes and upgrading the drainage system, which dates back to 1957.

Eastbound traffic into downtown Victoria will be closed for the duration of the project. Westbound traffic, pedestrian and wheelchair access will remain open.

The Point Ellice Bridge was originally constructed in 1957 on the foundations of a bridge dating back to 1903. The upcoming work follows earlier efforts to maintain the bridge’s structural integrity.

City staff hear from business about noise bylaw concerns

January 28, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Government Local, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Chamber members were able to offer business-focused solutions to City of Victoria staff today during a roundtable discussion in the Chamber boardroom.

The City of Victoria is looking to modernize its 23-year-old noise bylaw. The bylaw affects everything from delivery truck traffic to industrial activity to music festivals. As such, it’s vital that business operators have a say in how any changes will impact them.

“We have been clear with the city that businesses need to be heard. We need to be part of any discussion that will affect us and not simply be told after the fact,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “Today’s session was a good effort to reach out to the business community and hear about real concerns and real solutions.”

If you weren’t able to attend today’s event, there’s still time to fill out a survey specifically for businesses located in Victoria that will help city staff understand operational requirements and experiences with noise issues. The survey closes Feb. 8.

ICBC freezes auto insurance rates through 2027

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Insurance Corporation of BC announced on Tuesday that no increase to basic rates is planned for next year. It marks the seventh year in a row that ICBC has held rates.

“With insurance rates stable, we can put our efforts toward enhancing customer experience and expanding online services,” ICBC interim CEO and president Jason McDaniel said in the media release.

ICBC reviewed its finances and concluded that basic auto-insurance rates do not require a change through to 2026-27 fiscal year, eliminating the need for an application to change rates with the BC Utilities Commission in 2025 and postponing any potential need for an application until late 2026.

Some of the credit for the stable financial situation goes to the switch to a “no-fault” system, which McDaniel recently told a Chamber audience he prefers to call Enhanced Care.

The introduction of Enhanced Care in 2021 led to an immediate reduction in basic insurance rates, and has helped keep the rates steady ever since.

ICBC offers insight into future of driving in British Columbia

October 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Fair Rules, Safe Communities, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

A sold out Pacific Ballroom at the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour heard from ICBC Interim President and CEO Jason McDaniel last week, as he candidly discussed the road ahead for the Crown Corporation.

The latest in The Chamber’s series of Business Leaders Luncheons was facilitated by Chamber Board member Mary Lou Newbold, Chief EyeCare Officer at Mayfair Optometric Clinic.

McDaniel offered insight into how ICBC is planning for uncertain times, as well as an update on a major change to how the insurer compensates drivers involved in accidents. The “no fault” model, which McDaniel prefers to call “enhanced care” is up for review by the province next year.

McDaniel also answered questions about proposed changes to the licensing system —including the removal of the second road test.

The event ended with a thoughtful discussion of a question posed by Kyle Granger of ColdStar Solutions about using technology to reduce costs based on advanced driving metrics. The idea of tracking how large vehicles are operated is an interesting opportunity for professional drivers, as well as one that could lead to innovation that helps regular drivers as well.

Seair announces new seaplane service to Victoria

October 1, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Seair Seaplanes is set to launch a new scheduled seaplane service to Victoria. Flights begin Oct. 20 connecting Downtown Vancouver to the Inner Harbour.

“The Chamber strongly supports business growth, and we applaud the investments in infrastructure being made to bring Seair service to the Inner Harbour,” said Christina Clarke, Chair of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. “There is so much opportunity for growth in the tourism sector, which sustains so many businesses in Greater Victoria. This new option benefits visitors to our destination as well as many people who can use this service for business travel.”

Flights will arrive and depart from Seair’s new terminal at 1234 Wharf Street. Seair will primarily use Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop seaplanes, known as dependable and comfortable nine-passenger aircraft.

Seair Seaplanes began in 1982 and is headquartered at YVR’s South Terminal. Seair also operates from Vancouver’s Convention Centre and the Nanaimo waterfront.

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

Minister meets with Chamber to hear about business issues

September 17, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Global Uncertainty, Government Provincial, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Safe Communities, Training And Microcredentials, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber would like to thank BC’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Jessie Sunner, for meeting with members of Greater Victoria’s business community today.

The Minister had lunch with Chamber members and staff after a tour of Camosun College‘s Interurban Campus. The meeting was a welcome opportunity to hear about the province’s plans to address ongoing challenges in BC, and hear from businesses about the value of supporting local education as well as urgent issues facing Greater Victoria.

Members from the post-secondary sector as well as aviation, hospitality and transportation industries spoke candidly with the Minister about actions they would like to see happen.

“We spoke about investing in trades training, and we also spoke about the crisis happening in downtown Victoria, and the need to not damage businesses there,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “Yes, this is a complex problem that involves all levels of government, but that is precisely why we need all levels of government to listen to business.”

Policies like a Canada-wide restriction on foreign workers or allowing downtown Victoria public sector offices to remain vacant have ripple effects that hamper the ability of businesses to operate.

Without the vibrancy that businesses create everyday, there’s a real risk we’re hollowing out an invaluable economic engine for our region.

Canadian shipbuilding worthy goal, but will take time

September 3, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim Zeeben

Few transportation links are as important to Greater Victoria’s economy as BC Ferries. The routes connecting the Island with the Mainland and coastal communities are the lifeblood for many businesses.

This week, The Chamber spoke up once again as the voice of business in support of the pressing need to keep the fleet operating at capacity.

“BC Ferries is an essential link for Island communities and businesses,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “Our members see the impacts every day when capacity is stretched and people or goods are left behind.”

The comment was included in a BC Ferries’ media release that points out five realities necessary to responsibly build ferries in Canada. They are:

1. Local options that can deliver

2. Fixed costs

3. Guaranteed delivery dates

4. Assured vessel and shipyard performance and quality

5. An open and competitive procurement process

“Building in Canada is a worthy goal and we support BC Ferries in getting any new vessels delivered on time and on budget so communities can keep moving in ways that stay affordable for the people who live and travel in Greater Victoria and across British Columbia,” Wilson said. “We can’t afford to delay new ferries, which are needed to increase the Island’s resiliency and deliver significant economic benefits to the entire province.”

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.”