Quebec was the first province to launch a vaccine passport, with its app going live today. Quebecers will have a two-week leniency period before penalties of up to $6,000 for vaccine passport fraud will be enforced. Ontario also announced today its plan to introduce proof of vaccination requirements by Sept. 22, with an app available Oct. 22.

In BC, people will need to have at least one dose by Sept. 13 to be allowed in specified settings. That requirement will shift to fully vaccinated for at least seven days as of Oct. 24. The measures will be re-assessed on Jan. 31, 2022, to determine if an extension is required.

The province has not disclosed exactly how penalties will be enforced. We expect businesses will be subject to inspections as with the current mask mandate.

The Chamber adheres to the direction and advice of BC's Provincial Health Officer. We also recognize that many people are struggling with the uncertainty of the pandemic and specifically the Delta variant. We'd like to hear from Chamber members about your questions and concerns regarding BC's Proof of Vaccination proposal. Please keep your commentary civil. We will share productive feedback anonymously with decision makers. Email communications@victoriachamber.ca.

The Chamber is hosting a series of Candidate Listening Sessions to ensure whoever represents our region will understand the issues facing business our area.

Please email your questions for candidates by this Friday, Sept. 3 to communications@victoriachamber.ca.

The sessions will be recorded and available for you to watch at your convenience.

On Monday morning, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams brought concerns raised by our members and Chamber Champions to BC's Select Standing Committee on Fiance and Government Services.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce was asked to present to the committee along with the Burnaby Board of Trade, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Surrey Board of Trade. These organizations are leading advocates for business in BC and help government set priorities ahead of next year's BC budget. Among the many issues raised were finding and keeping workers, fair taxation and fiscal prudence.

"We thank the province for including the voice of Greater Victoria businesses and we look forward to continuing to working closely on programs and policies that will be key to growing our region's private sector," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said.

You can listen to Bruce's comments to the committee, starting after the 9:28 mark.

Grants of up to $250,000 are now available to help sports, arts and cultural events get back up and running safely. The provincial government opened the application process last Friday for the Fairs, Festivals and Events Recovery Fund.

A total of $12.9 million is available in one-time grants for up to 20% of an event's budget. Funds can be used for "operational costs, health and safety measures, venue rental, marketing, wages and promotion." Applications are being accepted until Oct. 1 for events that occurred after July 1, or which will take place before Sept. 30 of next year.

"Eligible events include sport, arts and culture events, community celebrations, agricultural fairs, rodeos and exhibitions," states the news release from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culutre and Sports. "Applications submitted by organizations will be required to demonstrate local or regional support and show the economic and social benefits for the community."

The Chamber is working with our community partners to host candidate listening sessions for the four ridings in Greater Victoria. These are planned for Sept. 14-16, and anyone can tune in to The Chamber’s Facebook page to watch. We chose to hold them the week before election day on Sept. 20, so parties will have had a chance to unveil their full platforms and policies. Our panels will also be after the national leaders debates, which often affect popular opinion and create a buzz among the general public.

We’ve invited candidates running in Greater Victoria who represent parties with seats in the House of Commons. Rather than focusing primarily on candidates espousing party platforms, we want them to listen to issues identified by community leaders. The idea is to ensure they understand challenges facing our region and how government can be part of a solution. That way, whoever wins the riding can get to work as soon as their sworn in. (Keep Reading)

This column was originally published on Aug. 30 by Douglas Magazine.

Don't forget to pack your reusable bags when going shopping in the District of Saanich. The municipality's bylaw regulating single-use plastic bags came into effect Aug. 20. Saanich has created posters, till toppers and other printable resources for businesses to help with the transition.

The Chamber continues to work with Greater Victoria municipalities to ensure checkout bag bylaws align and support initiatives implemented by retailers in response to public demand.

There's a new way to watch programming on CHEK, after the employee-owned broadcaster launched the CHEK+ app today. This marks the first dedicated streaming and on-demand service for the local media company.

For those of you engaging in this year's ClimbUp campaign, consider it early training.

Thurs., Sept. 16 | 5 - 6 PM

Zoom

The Chamber has a number of active and engaged committees that report to our Board of Directors. A key reason for the success of our board committees is the involvement of our Chamber members as volunteer committee members.

Each year, there are a few openings on our committees for new members. We are recruiting now for members who will be available starting on Jan. 1, 2022 for at least a two-year term. Here are our committees:

The opportunity to apply for any of the above committees will be open until Oct. 15, 2021. At the end of the application period, the chair of the committee will be in contact by email or phone.

Make the most out of your Labour Day long weekend by supporting your fellow Chamber members. Celebrate by enjoying a bite out, a night away from home, or plan an action-packed weekend at these local treasures.

After you enjoy the long weekend, you may be getting ready for the return of the school year and your fall routine. Take advantage of The Chamber's exclusive member-only deals and discounts on quality school and office supplies.

Chamber members can save:

Discover more discounts and savings here.

Take a sneak peek at this incredible item available at the 2021 Virtual Chamber Auction from Nov. 7 – 14!

These Beats Solo3 Wireless on-ear headphones immerse you in rich, award-winning sound everywhere you want to go – Kindly donated by Tom Harris Cellular.

Fill out our 2021 Auction Donation Form, call (250) 383-7191 or email specialevents@victoriachamber.ca.

This is a major fundraising event for

The Chamber, with all proceeds supporting our work as the largest and most influential advocate for business on the Island. Last year, we received nearly 8,000 visitors to our auction platform for a week of bidding on fabulous gifts.

As an event sponsor, Maximum Express, Courier, Freight and Logistics is offering donors complimentary delivery of their auction item to The Chamber Office.

Cryptocurrency. How much do you know about it, or rather how cryptic is crypto to your financial-IQ?

In this Chamber Chat, CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Hash Qureshi, an expert with MNP about cyptos essence, model and use.

Special thanks to our series sponsor: Island Savings

Members can post Coupons and Discounts free of charge here.