Employers have a little more clarity about the new requirement for five days of paid sick leave. On Monday, BC's Labour Minister Harry Bains said the requirement is for every "calendar year" of employment, regardless of an employee's start date.
As well, the government amended language relating to collective agreements so that no employees are excluded. The Chamber continues to collect feedback from the business community about the introduction of paid-sick days in BC. Let us know your experiences to help inform our advocacy efforts by emailing communications@victoriachamber.ca. Finding and keeping workers starts with connections.
On Monday, The Chamber teamed up with the University of Victoria and the UVic Students’ Society to connect thousands of students with more than 60 employers in Greater Victoria. About two-thirds of all students at UVic typically work while undertaking their studies. This has traditionally been a key addition to Greater Victoria’s labour force, especially as the region has one of the highest employment rates in the country. Monday's Hiring Day event attracted 63 employers, ranging from financial institutions to tourism and hospitality businesses. "We are proud to have a long-standing partnership with The Chamber — students can make a real impact in workplaces across the region, and they are key to supporting the economic recovery in this community. This type of hiring event helps facilitate these important connections,” said Andrea Giles, Executive Director of UVic’s Co-operative Education Program and Career Services. The long-delayed Citizens' Assembly looking into merging the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria is going ahead.
“We have all agreed to each contribute $250,000, for a total of $750,000, toward the cost of a citizens’ assembly and to explore the possible outcomes, costs, benefits and disadvantages of amalgamation so that residents have a more complete understanding of what amalgamation may involve," said a statement issued by the three parties. However, citing challenges with gathering in person during the pandemic, the process has been bumped back until after the Oct. 15 civic elections. "We recognize there are strong opinions regarding amalgamation, and we want to ensure people have an opportunity to provide input in an open forum and a subsequent decision is well-informed and evidence-based, the statement said." One of BC's often overlooked economic sectors is getting a closer look. The province has contracted a Labour Market Study of the non-profit sector, which includes about 29,000 organizations employing 86,000 people and generating $6.7 billion in economic activity.
In the early months of the pandemic, the Victoria Foundation was part of a group of organizations that worked together to report on how non-profits were faring. They found that organizations focused on helping arts and culture and sports and recreation had reduced revenue, while those in the health and social services sectors were in high demand. The 20-month study is being conducted by Vantage Point at a cost of $290,000. In the early days of the pandemic, BC Housing made a number of purchases of hotels and other properties to house people experiencing homelessness. The deals cost taxpayers a total of $221 million, raising questions from people concerned about the expense. Those questions were answered this week by the Office of Auditor General of BC, which released its audit of the purchases. "BC Housing met all relevant approvals and policy requirements for the purchases of nine properties in Vancouver and Victoria in 2020 and 2021," the report concludes. "BC Housing obtained market value appraisals for all nine properties as required by internal policies and procedures. The total of the purchases ($202.4 million) was 8.5% below the total appraised market values ($220 million) for the nine properties." Within Victoria, properties purchased by BC Housing include the former Comfort Inn at 3020 Blanshard St., Paul's Motor Inn at 1900 Douglas St., Capital City Centre at 1961 Douglas St. and a housing project at 225 Russell St. Housing affordability for many Greater Victoria employees has become even more strained in recent months as the cost of renting increased by 3.1% and the vacancy rate dropped to about 1%.
With more people choosing to move to our region, the demand for new housing is putting intense pressure on our ability to add to the supply. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rental Market Survey Data Tables for Greater Victoria shows that a total of eight private apartments were added in the City of Victoria between October 2020 and October 2021. A further 643 were added in all other Greater Victoria municipalities during the same time. Meanwhile, the region's population increased by 29,467 between the 2021 and 2016 censuses. The provincial government recently announced plans for a "cooling-off period" for home buyers, allowing them to opt out of purchases for a limited time after agreeing to buy. BC Finance Minister Selina Robinson said the goal is to reduce pressure on buyers so they can make sound decisions.
However, the Victoria Real Estate Board says there are better solutions than the government proposal, which doesn't address the root of the problem — a lack of housing supply. The BC Real Estate Association says the province needs to add another 25,000 homes for sale before supply will be in balance with current demand. The cost of housing is a serious concern for affordability in our region. There simply are not enough homes for the number of people who want to live, work and put down roots. It's a challenge facing most of BC, which is why The Chamber supports news that the provincial government is looking at helping municipalities fast-track more homes.
“The bottom line is that municipalities are not approving enough housing for our population growth,” Eby said in a CHEK News story. “I think it’s quite possible that we’re going to need to be more prescriptive. One thing is clear is that the status quo is not acceptable.” The Chamber looks forward to hearing more about initiatives to make housing supply a priority for all governments, including solutions for increasing labour supply and securing supply chains. The provincial government has passed legislation bringing in the controversial Skilled Trades BC Act. The hope for the plan is that it will address critical labour shortages, but there are some serious concerns being voiced by industry.
The current plan is focused on skilled trades certification that "will require people to register as an apprentice or be a certified journeyperson to work in one of the 10 initial mechanical, electrical and automotive trades." Good intentions are admirable but there are structural issues that likely need to be addressed if the program is to succeed. We need more investment in trades training so there are spaces available for people who want to learn skilled trades. And the business community needs to be included in the conversation so that innovations being used by industry are part of the strategy. We all share the goal of building up our skilled workforce and don't need inefficient bureaucracy to impede progress from being made. February marks Black History Month and a chance to learn more about the stories, struggles and accomplishments of Black Canadians. Here's a look at some events happening around Greater Victoria.
As a positive step toward being the region's most diverse and influential business association, The Chamber launched a new committee this year. Initially known as the Committee for the Advancement of Diversity and Inclusion, one of its first decisions was to change the committee name to the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement (IDEA) Committee.
The committee's mission is to foster diversity and inclusion and break through biases to achieve equity, which will only strengthen our business and community connections.
February marks Black History Month and The Chamber strongly encourages everyone to learn more about the stories, struggles and accomplishments of Black Canadians.
There have been Black communities in BC since 1858. In that year, Nancy and Charles Alexander were one of the first Black families in Greater Victoria. The Alexanders settled on the corner of what is now Douglas and Fisgard streets before relocating to the District of Saanich, where they farmed for 33 years and raised 10 children. Charles built the first school house in the area and served as a school trustee. The Chamber is committed to taking action to advance the process of reconciliation, as well as investment in the growth of Greater Victoria's economy.
On Monday, City of Victoria council made an unprecedented recommendation to provide a $200,000 annual grant for the next five years to the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. This year, funds will come from the city's 2021 surplus. In subsequent years, the grant will come out of revenue created by new builds on city land. The recommendation needs to be approved at a regular council meeting before it is formally added to the budget. "I think this is supportable in the fact that I think the work that will be done will benefit the city overall, so not only the nations, but the city,” Victoria Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe says in the Times Colonist. A survey of Greater Victoria businesses will gather data to help better understand challenges facing the region's economy in 2022. The survey, launched by the South Island Prosperity Partnership, is open until Feb. 11 and takes less than 10 minutes to fill out. Questions range from what your experiences have been with supply-chain disruptions to various affordability concerns, including housing supply.
The results of the survey will be used by industry and business associations, including The Chamber, to help our advocacy efforts with government. BC Assessment has released its latest property assessments based on what it deemed to be the market value as of July 1, 2021. The demand for Vancouver Island real estate has resulted in significant increases across all property types. The total assessment for the Island is $343 billion, up from $269 billion the year before.
The increased assessment doesn't necessarily affect your property tax bill. But, on that note, The Chamber will continue to work with municipalities on behalf of businesses to ensure a fair tax burden. In 2021, Greater Victoria municipalities charged businesses a tax mulitple between 2.02 and 13.27 times what they charged residential properties. It's something we'll keep an eye on as municipalities begin their budget processes. Businesses in BC are facing a new challenge as Omicron spreads rapidly through our communities, including workplaces. The province has re-introduced temporary restrictions and health authorities are continuing to assess the full impact of the new COVID-19 variant.
On Jan. 7, the province also ordered all businesses to reactivate their COVID-19 safety plans. Employers are advised to expect a significant number of staff will be unable to work because of illness. As of Jan. 1, BC requires employers to provide five days of paid sick leave. The province has also stepped up its campaign for providing booster doses to everyone over the age of 18. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is calling on everyone to protect each other by doing the things we did earlier in the pandemic that helped reduce transmission. For example, businesses can encourage all employees to be fully vaccinated. "This is not where any of us want to be, but we are also not where we were at the beginning of the pandemic," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. "We have the experience and tools to get through this wave, and we can make sure businesses are ready to return to regular operations as soon as possible." The provincial government recently announced new financial relief for businesses forced to close due to the new restrictions. The Chamber is currently reaching out to members to better understand what they need during this time. We encourage any member who needs help to contact us at membership@victoriachamber.ca. As we head into the heart of the holiday season, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has put together a wish list for a few of the things we want in 2022:
"Good business builds great community, and we look forward to helping our members connect and grow in 2022," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. "We'll continue working on our advocacy efforts to ensure business can get the investments they need to continue leading the way on sustainability, inclusion and resilience." Let us know what your wish is for the business community in 2022, and how we can help you achieve success in the year ahead. Email communications@victoriachamber.ca A major project that promises to boost Greater Victoria's tech sector and bring hundreds of good jobs to the region is going to public hearing this Thursday.
TELUS Ocean, a 12-storey office tower with a striking design, is planned for what's known as the Apex site across from the Victoria Conference Centre in the City of Victoria. TELUS Business plans to use the office as its regional headquarters and an innovation hub showcasing advanced communications and information technology. The project is being led by Aryze Developments, who have crafted a proposal that promises to add new, vibrant public spaces to the area along with the world-class iconic architecture. Supporting your neighbours starts with thinking locally.
“In an effort to help people choose to shop at Greater Victoria retailers this holiday season, The Chamber is putting our money where our mouth is and paying the cost of shipping,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “We all benefit from a strong regional economy and it’s up to each of us to do our part to help with the ongoing recovery.” Effective immediately, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is encouraging holiday shoppers to choose local. The Chamber will cover the cost of shipping for items purchased from Chamber businesses and delivered by proud Chamber Courier partners. The last two years have been challenging for retailers, but the forecast is for Canadians to spend more this holiday season. The Retail Council of Canada recently released a survey that shows people are feeling more confident with their finances this year. Buying online from local retailers is also a good way to support our economic recovery and conserve a little gas by letting someone else do the delivery. For more information on The Chamber’s Shop #ChamberLocalVicBC campaign, visit our website at victoriachamber.ca and make sure to follow us on social media. If your business is interested in taking part in this initiative, please email members@victoriachamber.ca right away. Media Coverage: Shop #ChamberLocalVicBC
A plan to remake Mayfair Shopping Centre as a mixed-use destination will be based on feedback from the community. The owners of the mall have hired Ascend Planning to do public engagement for the project. A plan will be submitted next spring, after a series of open houses this fall.
The long-term vision calls for commercial, residential and semi-public areas. The deadline for registering with the BC government's Land Owner Transparency Registry has been extended to Nov. 30, 2022. The database was created to fight money laundering and will create a record of "beneficial owners" of property in BC.
According to the province, beneficial owners include:
The extension was granted to help ensure more property owners are able to comply with the regulation. The Chamber is lending our voice to a coalition working to protect the future of the cruise industry. The coalition, spearheaded by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, is calling on the federal government to immediately engage with the United States to ensure cruise ships continue to stop in Canadian ports such as Victoria.
The urgent effort is needed after the US Congress passed a temporary exemption to the US Passenger Vessel Services Act. The exemption was a response to Canada closing its ports in May 2021, and effectively allowed cruise ships to bypass Canada. Until that exemption was signed into law, the PVSA had required foreign-flagged ships sailing from US ports to stop at an international port. The law has helped grow the Canadian cruise ship industry as BC ports have become a popular stop for ships on the way to Alaska. However, there are new threats to permanently end the requirement for ships to stop in Canada on the way to Alaska. This could be devastating for places such as Greater Victoria, which has many businesses that cater to the cruise ship season. A new report reveals that 43% of office space being built outside the region's core is already pre-leased. One of the examples cited is Plexxis Software, which is constructing a six-storey concrete and glass headquarters in the City of Langford. The 60,000-square-foot office next to Langford Lake is expected to be finished by 2023.
A return of office workers from their home offices is also expected to reduce vacancy rates in downtown Victoria. One of the innovations that helped business weather the uncertain days of the pandemic was the expansion of outdoor service areas. The ability to enjoy a beverage or bite to eat outside was so well-received, the District of Saanich is extending the initiative until June 2022. Businesses are able to add patio service in their parking lots, allowing them to increase customer capacity and meet public demand.
“This patio (rule change) came out and it was a godsend, and it has since turned out to be a remarkable success story,” Victoria Caledonian Distillery and Twa Dogs Brewery owner Graeme Macaloney told the Saanich News. In the same article, Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes said the rules have helped business hang on to valuable members of their team. To hear more from Mayor Haynes, including his announcement that he is seeking re-election in 2022, make sure to check out his recent Chamber Chat with Chamber CEO Bruce Williams. Click here for a list of Chamber members who offered patio service during the pandemic. The provincial government has renewed the moratorium it's had on liquor licensee retail stores since the 1990s. The move means no new stores will be approved for another decade. Existing LRS licences may still be transferred with approval of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. The province says a moratorium gives certainty to current retailers and is in line with public health advocacy.
“While many British Columbians enjoy alcohol and use it in a low-risk way, when it’s more readily accessible, more injuries, incidents of alcohol poisoning, cancers and other diseases inevitably follow,” Tim Stockwell, a scientist with the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research said in a news release. “Maintaining B.C.’s liquor retailer moratorium is a vital mitigation strategy that furthers public health and safety.” |
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