News Type: News Releases

Today Premier Horgan laid out how BC’s economy will safely reopen, a move welcomed by BC’s business community. While health and safety restrictions will mean a radically different operating environment, businesses from every sector are ready to do their part. “We know the path to recovery will be long and steep and for some sectors […]

April 21, 2020, Vancouver, BC – The COVID-19 crisis is deepening for British Columbia businesses with four-in-ten (43%) of those surveyed stating they can only continue to operate for up to three months under current restrictions. For businesses temporarily closed, the future is similarly dire, with only half (53%) expecting to reopen once the restrictions […]

April 3, 2020, Vancouver, BC – The COVID-19 crisis is significantly hurting British Columbia businesses and their employees. In the past two weeks alone, approximately half of the 1,900 businesses surveyed have experienced revenue decreases of 75% or more, while two-thirds have seen revenues drop by 50% or more. This is according to a survey […]

The BC Chamber of Commerce (and its 120-member chamber network) in partnership with Small Business BC, The BC Economic Development Association, and Community Futures BC, launched a survey on March 13 to understand specific impacts BC businesses are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic – and hear their proposed solutions. As of March 18, almost […]

Vancouver, March 4, 2020 – A growing chorus of business, Indigenous and community leaders are calling for a commitment to certainty and future prosperity following weeks of economic disruption. Rail blockades and challenges with respect to numerous significant infrastructure projects representing billions of dollars of investment are symptoms of very serious problems requiring urgent action. Blockades […]

Wider economic impacts now emerging (Updated on February 25, 2020 at 12:35 PM) The BC Chamber urges the Federal Government to take swift action to end supply-chain disruptions and restore normal services, as we head into a third weekend of potential blockades across BC and Canada. “If the country wakes up Monday morning with blockades […]

Overall, Budget 2020 lacks a clearly defined competitiveness strategy that would ultimately support affordability measures long-term VICTORIA, BC, February 20, 2020–The Provincial government unveiled a balanced budget today with affordability at its core—but the business community is left wondering about the absence of a clear ‘competitiveness strategy’ in the budget—and the impact this will have […]

“Peaceful protest is a sacred Canadian right, but blockades are illegal” says BC Chamber Chief Executive *UPDATE: As of Feb 13 rail service has resumed.  VANCOUVER, February 13, 2020 – As CN is forced to shut down significant parts of its national rail network, Canada’s reputation as a supply chair partner that delivers is being called into […]

BC Natural Resources Survey Finds Broad-Based Support for Increased Resource Investment Promoting innovation, marketing BC’s “low carbon advantage,” and building new markets needed for the resource sector to compete globally. Vancouver, B.C. – January 23, 2020:  British Columbians recognize the integral role natural resources play in driving the provincial economy and support increased investment in […]

Legislation Signals Beginning of a Long-term Journey Toward Meaningful Reconciliation Victoria, BC – October 24, 2019: BC Chamber CEO Val Litwin was in Victoria today to witness Minister Scott Fraser introducing new legislation that will create a framework for reconciliation for the BC Government. The government issued a second “business focused” news release after the initial announcement this morning, explaining that […]