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This year offers British Columbians a chance to be part of a historic election that could have profound implications for Greater Victoria and for businesses in the province. You have to go back to 2017 for the last time B.C. elected a government in a non-pandemic — a.k.a. normal — year. If you recall, the 2017 election was one of the tightest races the province has ever seen. The B.C. Liberals won the most seats with 43, but the B.C. NDP worked out a deal to combine their 41 seats with the B.C. Green party’s three seats to form a minority government. That was under former Premier John Horgan, the longtime Langford MLA, who brought remarkable stability to government. Horgan’s leadership was beneficial for Greater Victoria as our region had strong representation in cabinet.

Then, in 2020, when we were all facing a common fight against COVID, the B.C. NDP called a snap election and won a significant majority. Fast forward to 2022 and Horgan steps down for health reasons, allowing David Eby to be acclaimed as the B.C. NDP leader and the 37th Premier in B.C.’s history.

Now, with an election scheduled for Oct. 19, Premier  Eby has a chance to affirm his leadership by being formally elected by British Columbians. And while formal campaigning doesn’t officially begin until the writ drops, it’s fair to say that candidates are already working to get their messages in front of voters.

Over the years, I’ve hosted numerous all-candidates meetings and election information panels. Every one of those events was aimed at providing the electorate with good information they could use to make their choice in the ballot box. For many years, we could count on packing whichever community hall or repurposed rink we were using for the event. People were hungry for information from those who sought their vote. That’s changed, of course, as the world has moved online. There’s no shortage of digital spaces to talk politics or hear partisan rhetoric. It’s more convenient but a far cry from the connection you feel when you’re in the same room as others — regardless of their opinion.

In fact, I would argue that gathering together for town halls or events like Chamber Business Leaders Luncheons is the balm the world needs right now. Engaging in conversation with people over a meal helps bring civility to our discourse. It gives us a chance to consider perspectives that can expand our understanding of an issue. And it helps us get to the root of issues that all of us want to solve, such as housing supply, safe communities and workforce retention.

Democracy takes work and the more you put into it the more you get out. If you’re concerned about the future of our province and about what our economy will be like for our kids and grandkids, be the change you want to see.

I hope you can join me and Greater Victoria’s business community as we host leaders from B.C.’s major parties, starting April 30 with B.C. Premier David Eby of the B.C. NDP. Our members have many questions for the current Premier and those who want the job, and we’re always grateful for the opportunity to hear directly from these leaders about how they see government working with the private sector to strengthen our economy.

Bruce Williams is CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

This column originally appeared in the Business Examiner on April 26, 2024