The Chamber advocacy wins helping business get through crisis
February
Province introduces tax relief for business
Business organizations including The Chamber called on the province to provide property tax relief for small businesses and non-profits as well as arts and culture organizations.In February, the government responded with the Interim Business Property Tax Relief program enabling local governments to provide immediate property tax relief for the 2020 tax year.
Chamber keeps Citizens Assembly on track through pandemic
After The Chamber called on Saanich and Victoria to follow through on their commitment to holding a Citizens' Assembly, the municipalities finally signed off on a Terms of Reference in February. The Chamber applauded Saanich and Victoria for moving forward, and for removing a clause that could have limited the participation of Chamber members due to our organization's longstanding advocacy efforts. March
Government help with wages, as well as an extension of the program
The COVID-19 pandemic struck suddenly, creating uncertainty throughout society and among business. The Chamber acted quickly, organizing phone calls and correspondence with government decision makers in the Prime Minister’s Office and senior levels of the provincial government. We asked specifically for businesses to be immediately exempted from late-filing penalties and installment interest on balances owing to government until COVID-19 is under control. Our work helped government quickly craft policies to give businesses a lifeline to get through the weeks and months ahead. We continue asking for programs to be adjusted to be more inclusive and effective for all businesses.
Deferment of income tax payments
In March, the federal government announced another initiative that had been championed by The Chamber and our network. Businesses were allowed to defer payment of income tax amounts owing until the end of August. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts. April
Expanded coverage of Canada Emergency Business Account
In April, The Chamber asked for members to tell us about the hurdles they faced qualifying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. We heard from members who didn’t meet the initial payroll threshold for many reasons. Their stories helped us get the message through to the federal government, who changed the rules and made the relief program more inclusive.
Police resources for downtown Victoria
In April, Victoria Police Department announced it had stepped up enforcement downtown. The move came after The Chamber and other business organizations called on VicPD to help business owners who needed to close up their shops to abide by provincial health regulations. The empty storefronts were being targeted by thieves and vandals. Police responded by changing the timing of their patrols, as well as offering advice to business owners on how to safely secure their premises.
Governments respond to Chamber calls for tax relief
As soon as the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic became clear, The Chamber called on government to provide immediate tax relief for business. The advocacy played a role in the province forgiving BC Hydro bills from April to June for business hurt by the crisis. The federal government announced it would defer payment of income tax owing until August. The feds also announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and, at the urging of The Chamber, updated criteria to make it more inclusive. The province also extended filing and payment deadlines for the Employer Health Tax and the PST. |
May
Chamber calls for commercial rent relief
The cost of rent is one of the largest expenses for businesses and has been a major challenge for organizations that have lost revenue during the pandemic. The Chamber has called on the federal and provincial governments to provide commercial rent relief. The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program has helped, as did the province’s move to prohibit evictions by landlords who choose not to participate in the program. The Chamber has also called on landlords and tenants to work together to ensure both parties get through this crisis and are in a good place to restart operations as soon as the can.
Government acknowledges need to help tourism industry
In the early days of the pandemic, governments moved quickly to provide immediate relief. However, one sector that was not getting enough attention was tourism. The Chamber worked with the Prime Minister’s Office as well as provincial ministers to make sure tourism was specifically targeted for relief. We continue to work with industry organizations and our members to ensure that measures are taken to help tourism businesses survive until Canada can once again open its doors to international visitors.
Opening public spaces for commercial uses
COVID-19 caught everyone off guard, forcing profound changes in the way we live our lives and how we go about our business. The requirement to maintain physical distancing presented a huge challenge to many restaurants, cafes and pubs. The Chamber lent our support to a movement among all levels of government to open public space to businesses as a way to enlarge their footprint. This allowed them to keep customers and staff safe and has served to add vibrancy to street scenes across our region.
Saanich votes to carry on with Citizens' Assembly
In 2018, voters in Saanich and Victoria gave their incoming councils a clear mandate to create a Citizens’ Assembly to explore the pros and cons of amalgamation. The Chamber supports efforts to improve the efficiency of local government through better governance. We continue to help push this process forward. When COVID-19 hit, there was a concern that Saanich would put work on hold. We encouraged them to carry on and Saanich responded by fulfilling their obligation and keeping the process on track.
Saanich grants reprieve to roadside stands
The global pandemic has forced businesses to try new ideas to maintain their operations. One of the biggest challenges for many businesses forced to close to meet new public health regulations was what to do with their existing inventories. In Saanich, a florist began offering her perishable stock through a roadside stand. The innovation caught on and allowed her to maintain a desperately needed cashflow. However, to carry on, Saanich needed to update its existing bylaws. The Chamber asked the municipality to rise to the challenge and show it supports innovation led by business. Saanich agreed, showing true leadership during this crisis.
BC Housing moving homeless into supported housing
One of the positives that came out of the profound disruption caused by COVID-19 was the work done to address the roots of homelessness in our region. The Chamber continues to advocate for safe communities and the need for proven solutions that address mental health and addictions. We supported BC Housing’s purchase of Victoria hotels to serve as temporary housing for people living in homeless camps in the city. The hotels allow for people to be housed safely and, critically, include on-site services to help people dealing with mental health and addiction challenges. BC Housing has also said it wants to develop long-term plans that would see the sites redeveloped for affordable housing.
Province announces $10 million for tourism marketing associations
In May, the provincial government announced it was providing a $10 million grant to BC's 59 destination marketing organizations. The funds helped organizations such as Destination Greater Victoria retain staff and cover expenses from May to October. The Chamber continues to speak up on behalf of all sectors, and we have called on all levels of government to provide more help to tourism — the industry hit hardest by the pandemic.
Feds fix oversight in COVID-19 loan program
One of the ways The Chamber was able to make a difference during the pandemic is by providing direction to government before, during and after the speedy rollout of relief programs. A good example of this was our effort to get the federal government to change the Canada Emergency Business Account program. Working with our chamber network, we were able to get the federal government to retool the program so more types of business structures qualified for relief. June
Province agrees to extend temporary layoff time-limit
On June 22, The Chamber joined business organizations from across BC calling on the provincial government to extend the temporary layoff time-limit until the end of August. The province responded quickly, saying it heard our voice “loud and clear.” On June 25, an extension allowing for layoffs of up to 24 weeks was announced. This allows businesses that were forced to shut down to continue planning for restarting. Extending the temporary layoffs will help keep workforce teams in place. As well, businesses won’t have to worry about facing a crippling cash crunch by being forced to pay severance and losing staff just as they are preparing to restart operations.
Wage subsidy extended until December
The Chamber was able to advocate directly to the federal government for an extension of the wage subsidy program. And in July, the federal government announced the subsidy would run beyond its initial July 31 end date. By making the program will be available until December, employers have a little more certainty to plan for the fall. That’s huge in these uncertain times. The federal government also listened to our call to widen make the program more accessible so that more businesses could benefit.
Province agrees to extend temporary layoff time-limit
On June 22, The Chamber joined business organizations from across BC calling on the provincial government to extend the temporary layoff time-limit until the end of August. The province responded quickly, saying it heard our voice “loud and clear.” On June 25, an extension allowing for layoffs of up to 24 weeks was announced. This allows businesses that were forced to shut down to continue planning for restarting. Extending the temporary layoffs will help keep workforce teams in place. As well, businesses won’t have to worry about facing a crippling cash crunch by being forced to pay severance and losing staff just as they are preparing to restart operations.
Child care tied to economic development
The Chamber has been calling on governments to treat child care as an effective tool to boost our economy. The effort has paid off with increasing investments to make child care more affordable and accessible. We all benefit when parents are able to contribute to the workforce. In July, the provincial government announced that its Childcare BC plan has funded almost 17,000 new spaces since it was introduced. That’s a win for families, a win for employers and a win for The Chamber. |
Virtual Fireside Chat Series
As part of The Chamber's commitment to getting businesses back to work, Chamber CEO Catherine Holt will host a fireside chat with a series of experts on COVID-19 related to challenges and opportunities. This is your opportunity to get answers on pressing issues and information to help you manage through these unprecedented times. |
|
Advocacy
How The Chamber is helping businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure they're ready to thrive during the recovery
|
Chamber Member Service Updates
Find out how our members are still serving Greater Victoria with innovative services and alternative business hours.
|
Helpful links
Resources to all of the information about new government programs and initiatives that can help you get through this crisis
|