It should be no surprise that a regional police force was one of the common themes of a long-awaited report from the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act.

The report, released last week, noted that the City of Victoria and Township of Esquimalt are the only municipalities in BC that share a local police department.

The report also stated that when the provincial government ordered the merger of the Esquimalt and Victoria police forces, the understanding at the time was that "this would be the first step towards regional integration of policing in the Capital Region, but this has not happened."

The Chamber supports a regional police force in order to ensure limited resources are used as efficiently as possible to create Safe Communities for everyone in Greater Victoria.

Open House tonight in Esquimalt

Esquimalt hosted an Open House from 5:30-7:30 pm on May 4 in the gallery at Esquimalt Town Square to hear from residents about the Township's police model.

“We want a dialogue with our community before making any large decisions about policing,” Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins said in a news release. “By joining the conversation about policing in Esquimalt, you will help us make crucial decisions that impact community safety, crime prevention and the use of your tax dollars.”

Innovation led by business is key to tackling climate change and The Chamber is committed to working with all levels of government to help them understand how the private sector is providing real solutions to meet public demand. The City of Victoria has designated staff to work on ensuring food service businesses are using the most sustainable materials available.

City staff have developed a Draft PDF of a Sustainable Takeout Guide that they hope will help businesses. Staff have also asked The Chamber for feedback on the city’s plan. The Chamber worked closely with the city on plastic bags regulations holding a roundtable of city staff and business owners to identify what was already working, what could be efficiently implemented and the tools needed to do so. As a result, the regulation was welcomed by most businesses and served as a model for municipalities across the region.

The District of Saanich is the second municipality in BC to fast-track affordable housing. On Monday night, Saanich Council unanimously approved a motion to accept the streamlined process adopted earlier this month by the City of Victoria.

The decisions will streamline the approval of development proposals as long as they fit with each municipality's Official Community Plan. This will help increase the supply of homes for workers in our region — vital to finding and keeping the staff needed for employers achieve their economic potential.

As municipal councils across the region finalize tax rates for business properties, The Chamber wants to hear from any members facing unfair increases.

“Businesses need to plan for expenses, and they expect to be treated fairly. After all, the long-term health of our communities is directly related to the health of our small businesses,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told the Times Colonist. “The Chamber is reaching out to our members to see how (tax increases) affect them ­individually, and we’ll take that information forward to ­candidates in the fall municipal election.”

The Chamber recognizes that municipalities must juggle a number of variables when setting rates. Ultimately, each municipality determines how much money they need to deliver services to their citizens and then set rates to raise the revenue to cover most of those costs. Whether an individual property experiences an increase in their tax bill typically depends on whether the property had a higher-than-average increase in value. However, municipalities also need to be fair when allocating costs to commercial properties.

“The business community understands that taxes are a tool used by local governments to provide services, but we’re always watchful of councils who try to shift costs to business and industry and away from residents for political reasons,” Williams said, noting that now is not the time for municipalities to be increasing costs for any taxpayers. “Many businesses are still facing challenges, so any tax increase will weigh on them at a time when we need our economy to take flight.”

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.

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.

BC Minister of Finance Selina Robinson met with Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce members today to address your questions about the province's 2022 Budget, unveiled yesterday.
 
Minister Robinson expects economic growth even as provincial debt increases.
 
This year's $71 billion budget is forecast to have a deficit of $5.5 billion, followed by a $4.2 billion deficit in 2023/24. Robinson said the main reasons for the deficits are the anticipated costs of rebuilding damaged transportation infrastructure to withstand future climate events.

Asked whether the province planned to ease the burdens of the EHT — which took $207 million more than anticipated from BC employers last year — or paid sick days, the minister defended the government's current policies. She also acknowledged concerns about linking the minimum wage to inflation and said she will work to make the change as smooth and predictable as possible for business.
 
Budget Notes:
Greater Victoria is getting two complex care facilities, though specific locations were not announced. The budget also includes $84 million over three years for planning and capital funding for upgrading the Belleville Terminal.
 
The tourism sector has been allocated $25 million to help with recovery efforts, though a further $915 million was set aside for potential pandemic-related expenses, including health care costs or economic recovery funding.
 
Greater Victoria is also in line for numerous “bus and shoulder” expansions to improve regional transit, and money has been earmarked for the transit hub at Uptown in Saanich.
 
“The Chamber has long advocated for child care as an investment in our economy, and we applaud the province’s commitment to adding 40,000 new spaces within seven years. We also are encouraged by some of the steps to address our lack of housing supply,” Williams said.

Our region's numerous police forces are moving in the right direction with the establishment of the Regional Governance Council for Integrated Police Units. The new body will have limited authority, but will help municipalities better understand how they can benefit from shared services. The council will consist of mayors from Greater Victoria, and will be co-chaired by David Screech, Mayor of the Town of View Royal, and Kevin Murdoch, Mayor of the District of Oak Bay.
 
The Chamber continues to call on the provincial government to contribute its portion of costs for a Citizens' Assembly. In the last civic elections, voters in the District of Saanich and City of Victoria mandated their councils participate in the process. Both municipalities are now waiting for the province before they can begin the next phase.

Some big changes are coming to the auto insurance industry in BC. On Monday, ICBC announced that customers with policies expiring on or after May 1, can renew online. The system will actually be available March 17 for people who want to renew early.
 
Also starting May 1, drivers will no longer need to display an updated insurance decal on their licence plate. BC is expanding the Automated Licence Plate Recognition program, which helps law enforcement detect unlawful, unlicensed and uninsured drivers.

According to numbers released today, almost 30,000 people have moved to Greater Victoria since 2016. This influx has added tremendous stress on housing supply in our region.

It's a big reason why The Chamber encourages efforts such as the District of Saanich's recently adopted 10-year Housing Strategy. Saanich council has approved a four-year funding plan that will help the municipality address housing needs. As the largest and most populous municipality in our region, Saanich's leadership is key to making sure we have a plan that will alleviate pressure on the housing market.

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.

A proposal that could add $1.2 billion to the region's economy was announced by the City of Colwood this week.

The plan is to build 2,850 homes in the Royal Beach area, ranging from single family to condos and townhouses. Over the estimated 15 years it will take to complete the project, which will begin this spring, more than 700 jobs will be created.

"Make no mistake, Colwood is on the map and that’s why notable organizations are making long-term commitments here,” Colwood Mayor Rob Martin said in a news release.

The Royal BC Museum is building a new archives and storage centre in Royal Bay, while Seaspan announced plans for an 85,000 square-foot facility in Colwood.

The Chamber applauds efforts to build new homes in Greater Victoria, as a lack of housing supply continues to be one of the biggest challenges in our region. We need enough homes to meet demand, and allow the market to serve middle income residents vital to our workforce.

An area near the heart of Greater Victoria is changing quickly as our region grows. To help guide development, the District of Saanich has unveiled its Uptown-Douglas Plan for the next 20 to 30 years.

“It really is an ambitious plan and future envisioning that addresses climate change, affordability and the quality of life,” Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes told CHEK News.

Some of the highlights of the plan include creating a central district and transportation hub for a fast-growing population that will be less reliant on cars. The area is currently the crossroads for a number of major routes in the region.

The plan goes to Public Hearing Feb. 15.

More housing, especially housing that is affordable for working individuals and families, is vital for our regional economy to reach its potential.

It's clear that housing supply will be key to address affordability issues that are making it difficult for people to start families and grow their careers. Employers in Greater Victoria and across Canada have been calling for solutions to address a skills shortage keeping many organizations from realizing their potential.

On that note, The Chamber applauds recent news that Chard Development is working with BC Housing on a project that will add more than 400 units of affordable housing to the City of Victoria.

The proposal to redevelop the site of the former White Spot and Capital City Centre Hotel on Douglas Street is a great example of innovation led by business. If approved, the project will help people who work in the city afford to live there. It will also include day care — vital for helping parents stay in the workforce — and 90 units of supportive housing to help people overcome challenges that put them at risk of homelessness. Other amenities include a 9,000 square foot plaza, retail and office space and a grocery store.

Greater Victoria has a front-row seat to one of the many challenges facing global supply chains. The SM Busan is currently docked at Ogden Point for emergency repairs. The South Korean-flagged ship is roughly the length of five NHL-sized hockey rinks. About 80% of the containers on the vessel are empty.

The SM Busan left Portland, Oregon, bound for South Korea but began to drift in the Pacific Ocean on New Year's Eve. A tug boat eventually brought the container ship to Ogden Point on Sunday, where it's expected to remain for about a month.

The SM Busan is the first ship to use Ogden Point's Pier B dolphin extension. Completed in 2020, it's one of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority's largest infrastructure projects ever.

In 2022, The Chamber will continue our advocacy for safe communities as a fundamental need for good business and great community for all.
There is reason for optimism. The Chamber's efforts to partner with other community organizations are being heard by all levels of government. In the City of Victoria, the police chief says approval to hire an influx of new officers will help the Victoria Police Department better face challenges amplified by the pandemic and the toxic drug crisis.
“I’m hopeful that it’s going to be a bounce-back year, and a bounce-back year for all of us,” VicPD Police Chief Del Manak told the Times Colonist.

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.

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:

1. Success for local businesses
2. Provincial funds for Citizens Assembly
3. Climate change innovations
4. Action on Indigenous Reconciliation
5. Sufficient staffing for all employers
6. A secure and resilient supply chain.

 
"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.

The City of Langford has adopted a policy to help reduce the carbon footprint of new construction in the municipality. The low-carbon concrete policy takes affect June 1, 2022 and will require all city-owned or solicited projects to use concrete produced with carbon dioxide mineralization technologies. The policy also applies to private projects greater than 50 cubic meters.
 
The Chamber applauds this innovation led by business as real solution for climate challenges affecting us locally and globally.

The movement away from single-use plastics is being addressed by new initiatives announced this week for BC and Victoria.
 
Following feedback from the public, the province is updating laws that allow for regulation and prohibition of packaging materials that are harmful to the environment. Businesses have led the way on sustainable packaging with innovative solutions that meet the demands of customers.
 
The City of Victoria is also looking to cut waste disposal in the municipality in half by 2040. This week, the city announced a new engagement process to hear from businesses and residents. A survey for businesses has 13 questions to help inform its plan.
 
Questions include:

• How strongly do your customers value waste reduction and environmental sustainability?
• What actions has your business taken to reduce the distribution of disposable single-use items?
• Are there other approaches to reducing disposable single-use items that you have already taken or are planning to take?

 
The survey will be open until Nov. 22.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the vulnerability of Greater Victoria's housing market remains moderate in the second quarter of 2021. Limited inventory and the related low level of homes being listed have contributed to a sellers' market.
 
Even a marked increase in new homes this year has not been able to keep pace with the demand from buyers. There have been 3,488 new homes built so far this year, compared to a total of 3,209 in 2020 and 3,499 in 2019.

​On Tuesday, the provincial government moved to make it easier for developments to get approval from municipalities. The aim is to increase housing supply in the province. Amendments to the Local Government Act will:

• remove the default requirement for local governments to hold public hearings for zoning bylaw amendments that are consistent with the official community plan; and

enable local governments to delegate decisions on minor development variance permits to staff.