BC Chamber of Commerce Responds to BC Budget 2021
Prudent budget aligns with BC Chamber’s Big Thinking for Small Business three-pillar recovery plan, addresses urgent business recovery needs Today, the provincial government unveiled its 2021 budget that reflects the uncertainty of the environment that both the private and public sectors are operating in. The budget demonstrates the government’s continued commitment to the financial supports […]
BC Chamber Will Continue to Advocate Vigorously for Business Amid New and Extended Pandemic Restrictions
Today, the provincial government announced that it will be extending its provincial health restrictions that came into effect on March 29, 2021 at 11.59pm, for another five weeks until midnight on May 25, 2021, and that include: The variance allowing indoor religious gatherings and worship services between March 28, 2021 and May 13, 2021 is […]
BC Chamber Welcomes Circuit Breaker Business Relief for Businesses Impacted by Recent Restrictions
Today, the provincial government announced that it will provide more than $50 million to help the 14,000 restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, gyms and fitness centres affected by the March 30, 2021, provincial health orders. The new Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant will provide affected businesses with up to $10,000 in one-time funding to help with […]
BC Chamber Responds to Updated Pandemic Restrictions
Today, the provincial government announced that to address rising COVID-19 case counts, protect people and communities and help break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, the provincial health officer is amending the provincial public health orders effective 12:00 AM PDT Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The new amended orders are in effect through April 19, 2021, and […]
BC Chamber of Commerce Supports First Steps in Province’s Economic Recovery Plan
“We appreciate that government sees this as the next step, not the final step, in the road to recovery.” says Dan Baxter, Director of Policy and Government Relations. Today, the provincial government shared details of its Economic Recovery Plan, Stronger BC. In addition to broad consultation and recommendations, the Stronger BC Plan took into consideration the BC Chamber of […]
BC Chamber of Commerce Publicly Releases its Economic Recovery Submission
“Plan will require big thinking around small business,” says Aleece Laird, Board Chair. Today, the BC Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) publicly released its Economic Recovery Submission (submitted to Government July 21st, 2020), made up of 54 policy recommendations focusing on competitiveness, innovation, and inclusivity respectively. The plan is a pan-provincial in scope and aims to guide the Province on stimulating BC’s economy through measures that support small and medium enterprises […]
Slow and fragile recovery requires a bold plan
While British Columbia has entered phase three of its Restart Plan, two-thirds (65%) of businesses surveyed are using some form of government support. Businesses expect a substantial “second wave” of negative impacts should these programs expire too quickly. Only about three-in-ten businesses (28%) on government support expect to return to normal once the programs end. […]
BC Businesses Call on Labour Minister to Act to Avoid Employee Terminations and Small Business Bankruptcies
Business organizations representing almost all of British Columbia’s 500,000 businesses are frustrated by Labour Minister Harry Bains refusal to appreciate the severity of current business challenges. At issue specifically is the potential for bankruptcy and insolvency for thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profits as they are forced to payout severance costs due to […]
Advocacy win: ban on commercial rent evictions
Hon. Minister James announced early this week that landlords who are eligible for CERCA but don’t apply will be prevented from evicting tenants for at least the next month. A joint letter to provincial/territorial governments from the BC Chamber of Commerce in late May, and BC Chamber CEO Val Litwin’s recent op-ed in the Vancouver Sun, called for more landlord participation […]
BC businesses Face Major Hurdles Under Phase 2 of Restart Plan
While British Columbia has entered phase two of its Restart Plan, only one-in-four (26%) businesses impacted by COVID-19 feel able to restart and operate profitably with the gradual easing of restrictions. The biggest challenges to restarting identified by survey respondents are: attracting customers or revenue (75%), having enough operating cash for expenses (49%) or to […]