business matters july/august
DESCRIPTION
Business Matters is a magazine about business issue in and around Victoria, BCTRANSCRIPT
BusinessMatters
www.victoriachamber.ca#100-852 Fort Street, Victoria BC V8W 1H8
Vol. 5 Issue 4 July/August 2009
Publications Mail Poste-Publications
40005319
RepeatOffendersthe
revolving door
ABOUT BUSINESS MATTERSBusiness Matters is the news magazine of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. It is published six times per year and distributed free-of-charge to members of the GVCC.
The Chamber accepts no responsibilty for unsolicited submissions. The business profiles, and the views and opinions expressed by advertisers in this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber.
Business Matters’ content is copyrighted:Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce,Victoria, B.C., Canada.
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contentsjuly/august 2009 I vol. 5 issue 4
cover
feature article
also inside
in every issue
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Messages from the Chair and CEO
Member News
Events Calendar
Prodigy Group
Greater Victoria Development Agency
New Members
Policy Moves
Ask an Expert
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TARGET THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. ADVERTISE IN THE CHAMBER’S BUSINESS MATTERS MAGAZINE. 250.383.7191 ext. 0 • www.victoriachamber.ca
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Repeat Offenders: the Revolving Door
Mayor Fortin’s Address to Chamber AGM11
2009 Business Services Show14
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Inching Towards Sewage Treatment18
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chamber’s annual fun golf tournament
From left to right: Amy Van Zant, Jody Beck, Rahim Khudabux, Tom Vogler, Eric Rigolett
In this photo: Roland Ledoyen from MEDIchair Victoria takes a put.
In this photo: Alicia Cormier, from Page One Publishing Inc. lines up her swing.
THE WINNERS
Women’s Closest to the Pin: Norma McCrea, The 500 Staffing Inc. Men’s Closest to the Pin: Jordan Cunningham, ‘A’ British Columbia
Women’s Long Drive: Valerie Nieuwenhout, Elite Vacation Group
Men’s Long Drive: Ed Parker, Gorge Electrical Services Ltd.
Putting Contest: Gerald Doyle (guest)
Water Hole Insurance: Eric Rigollet, Walton International Group Inc.
Sponsor Contest: Paul Holmes, IdeaZone.ca
Winning Team at -11: Rikk & Valerie Nieuwenhout of Elite Vacation Group, Larry Taylor of Sun Life Financial & Paul Stone of HeartSafe Emergency Medical Solutions
member news
Scene preparations are in progress in anticipation of two new figures being delivered to Victoria’s world-of-wax; the Royal London Wax Museum. Arriving from “Neverland” are Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) and the grown-up Peter Pan (Robin Williams). Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts) is said to be arriving at a later and as yet unspecified date. These figures are from the 1991 movie “Hook” directed by Steven Spielberg, and will bring a bit of the Story-Book Land atmosphere
into the Museum’s Galaxy of Stars themed area.
The Fairmont Empress announces the launch of the Friends of the Empress program. The program is designed to welcome and thank local guests and residents of BC with exclusive “insider” specials, promotions and information. Friends of the Empress have access to a 20% discount at all of the hotel’s dining outlets including
the Empress Room, the Bengal Lounge and the Empress Afternoon Tea as well as 15% off services and 10% off retail purchases at The Willow Stream Spa. Friends will also receive a discount of 10% off room rates. Other discounts partnered with additional service providers are also included in the program.
To register free of charge for the Friends of the Empress program, visit www.friendsoftheempress.ca.
Once enrolled, you will receive a membership card by mail to present for your discount at the hotel and at participating partners. You will also receive email updates every 4 to 6 weeks featuring promotions and offers for Friends of the Empress.
Victoria Express passenger ferry connecting Port Angeles, WA, Victoria B.C. sails between Victoria B.C and Friday Harbour of the San Juan Islands from June 26th through September 7th. The 2009 summer sailing schedule offers one run every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday departing Victoria at 9:30 a.m. and departing Friday Harbour at 3:30 p.m.
Member News continued on pg. 25.
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messages
John JuricicChair
Bruce CarterCEO
It has been a rocky year for business in general, though many in Victoria that I’ve spoken with are fairing not too badly in the shadow of the world economic downturn. Businesses are doing what they can within their own sphere of influence to adapt, weather the storm, and come out the other end strong and with a clear focus on their futures. We have a great business community of tenacious entrepreneurs – something that benefits our local economy.
At the Chamber, we are continuing to focus our attention, through the work of our policy and public affairs committee, on issues that are important to our local businesses. Like keeping tabs on how the progress is going for sewage treatment with a focus on how the payment model will impact on business. And what the whole process will bear out in terms of the ability of our region to work together on important regional issues in partnership with the provincial and federal governments.
We have heard from our members that the procurement process with the federal and provincial governments is challenging for business and we are working with representatives to come up with solid recommendations on how to improve that process, increasing value for all.
As the chamber Chair, I am thrilled to hear directly from our members as to their concerns and things they would like to see the Chamber address and the Board has assured me they want to hear from members as well. Please take the time to chat to board members about business issues and we will do our best to assist our community in becoming an even better place to carry on business.
Summertime – a peak for some businesses, a time to pause for others. At the Chamber, we will examine our progress to date and continue to work with elected officials at all levels of government.
One thing for people to start thinking about at the year’s halfway point is that the chamber’s board elections will be taking place in the early fall. We will be hosting an information session on August 19th for members in good standing that are interested in finding out more about serving on the board of the chamber.
The Chamber is participating in the Downtown Late Night Task Force formed by Mayor Dean Fortin to address some of the ongoing disturbances in the core. We are amongst the voices that will be calling for keeping the doors open downtown and continuing the drive to make our downtown more and more active. It is good for business and good for our community. We know that our police need to have more support to deal with the ongoing irritations of disruptive behaviours that cause some people to avoid our core. We will be supportive of any measures that are introduced that strike that delicate balance.
Summer is also traditionally when we will make it around to our provincial elected officials to bring to their attention the issues of importance to business. That will be an even more interesting task this year with the new faces around the provincial table and re-assigned cabinet ministers.
We are pleased that work done in our events department over the last few months has paid off with securing both the federal Minister of Finance and the governor of the Bank of Canada for September. The fact that each of these prominent speakers are coming to Victoria speaks to not only the chamber’s efforts but the importance of our business community outside of our own boundaries.
WBusiness Matters6
ouldn’t it be nice to have confidence that the justice system took your concerns about property crime seriously? If only the person or group that broke into your shop last week, your car the week before, or your house last year really had consequences attached to their offences that would act to deter them from behaving in such a way again. Fact is most people don’t believe that is happening. In fact, people in BC are more inclined than anywhere else in the country to think that sentences handed down by the courts are too lenient. Though we are certainly not alone. About 69% of
RepeatOffenders
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Canadians believe that to be true; in BC, 74% of us think that way. The City of Vancouver’s police department wanted to quantify the concerns of leniency in sentencing, and specifically their concerns with the crime activity of chronic offenders. They did a study of chronic offenders, a group of 379 people, and then further narrowed that group down to 27 “super chronic offenders”. This was a group they identified had come in contact with police at least 12 times per year. Of the super chronic offenders, they on average
had 39 convictions for criminal offences, though a small number of them had more than 100 convictions. The offenders with more than 100 convictions, on average, had been criminals for 28 years each. And the truly disturbing finding in the Vancouver study was that the length of sentence for chronic offenders actually decreased as the number of convictions increased.
How does that work? How can someone still be on the street committing crimes 28 years and 100 criminal convictions later? With sentences becoming shorter and shorter?
theRevolving Door
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The Criminal Code Judges are an autonomous body in Canada, and for the most part, people like it that way. We would be even more dissatisfied if decisions in our courts were fraught with political influence. When making sentencing decisions the courts are guided by the criminal code. The fundamental purpose of section 718 of the criminal code, which guides sentencing practices, is to contribute respect for the law and the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society. The purpose is to be achieved by imposing sanctions that have one or more of the following objectives: • to denounce unlawful conduct; • to deter the offender and other persons from committing offences; • to separate offenders from society, where necessary; • to assist in rehabilitating offenders; • to provide reparations for harm done to victims or to the community; and • to promote a sense of responsibility in offenders, and acknowledgment of the harm done to victims and to the community.
The question for the Chamber is whether any of the objectives are actually being realized for society when it comes to chronic offenders. Though it’s the far end of the scale, the fact that we have people with 28 years of criminal activity and over 100 criminal convictions on each of their records (not to mention the number of charges) still roaming around committing more crimes leads us to conclude that there are flaws in the system. The court’s objectives are not being met concerning chronic offenders. In fulfilling the stated objectives, judges have a great amount of discretion in their sentencing options. A fundamental principle that they follow is that sentences
must be proportionate with the gravity of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the offender. Other sentencing principles favour a pursuit of rehabilitative measures and “less restrictive” sanctions against offenders “where they may be appropriate”. Judges take into consideration a number of mitigating and aggravating factors, which are enumerated in the Act that may influence the nature and severity of the sentence for the offence before them. While the philosophy to seek rehabilitation is sound for any number of offenders who have short-lived brushes with the law, it is in no way appropriate for chronic offenders of the sort referred to in the Vancouver Police Department report. And there are these categories of chronic offenders in cities and towns around our province.
Grant Hamilton, spokesperson with the Victoria Police Department, notes that although Victoria has not formally done the sort of study undertaken in Vancouver, he is confident that we would see similar results here if we did. There needs to be a different approach for chronic offenders, one with escalating sentences for offenders who continue to commit crimes. These individuals have demonstrated over years or even decades that they will continue to commit crimes whenever they are not incarcerated. In light of the fact that they will re-offend upon release, incarceration becomes the only way to protect society from the ongoing harm that they inflict. There should
be some point along the trajectory of a criminal career when the focus turns away from “less restrictive” measures that focus on rehabilitation to instead interrupting the ongoing harm and cost to society from people that have proven they have no intention of reforming. Critics of such a stance will be quick to point to the “three strikes” policy in the United States, which has been criticized for simply overcrowding the prisons with offenders who have committed only a few rather minor
offences. That is not at all what the Chamber is proposing. We certainly support the rehabilitative approaches of a community court system and would hope to see the pilot project that is being tested in Vancouver rolled out over the rest of the province to deal more appropriately with people who are willing to opt for rehabilitation and make amends to their community. Chronic offenders are a whole different group. Victoria’s Hamilton supports the idea of increased sentences for chronic offenders. While empathizing with the demons of addiction that plague many of the offenders, he makes the observation that “longer sentences are needed to access federal treatment programs, which are traditionally better than those offered at provincial facilities. To access those, the sentences need to be over two years. Evidence has shown that with long-term stability and treatment an individual has a better chance of recovering from their addiction.”
There needs to be a different approach for
chronic offenders, one with escalating sentences for
offenders who continue to commit crimes.
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How Big is the Problem? About 50 per cent of reported crimes in British Columbia are committed by about 10 per cent of offenders. These prolific offenders have long criminal histories. They typically have 20 or more convictions for property theft, drug offences and assault. Many will have been to jail numerous times within a single year, often followed by another cycle of probation violations and incarceration. Prolific offenders are assessed to be at high risk to re-offend. Each community will have a different makeup of offenders, but police experience shows that many of these offenders are involved in property crime.
What is the Solution? The Chamber would like to see judges imposing escalating sentences for chronic offenders. Because sentences are guided by the criminal code, to do so may require an amendment to the criminal code to address this specific category of offenders. There are a few things that could be considered. One is to include the criminal history of the accused before the courts as an aggravating factor that judges weigh in the consideration of sentencing options. Currently the code enumerates a number of aggravating or mitigating circumstances that serve to influence whether a sentence should be increased or reduced. Nowhere in that list of five circumstances is reference given to the criminal history of the individual before the courts. It would be most useful to have the criminal history of an offender specifically enumerated as an aggravating sentencing factor. The Code frowns upon incarceration as a first choice for offences. It says in section 718.2(e) that “all available sanctions other than imprisonment that are reasonable in
the circumstances should be considered for all offenders…” Perhaps this should not be the case for chronic offenders. There needs to be an amendment to the criminal code which specifically calls for the prolific offender to be treated differently, with an emphasis on removing the individual from the community through incarceration and incapacitating his or her ability to continue to harm the community. In the long run, longer sentences would be more beneficial to the community and quite possibly provide better rehabilitative opportunities for the offender. At any rate, given that 50% of reported crimes originate from this identified group, increased sentences would dramatically decrease the crime rate and improve public confidence in the system.
What is Being Done Now? There has been a significant amount of public dissatisfaction on the issue of leniency in sentencing, particularly as it pertains to the revolving door on prolific offenders. There have not been any changes to the Criminal Code to provide new guidelines to judges in their sentencing practices. Any such legislative change would certainly take time to implement. However, the provincial government introduced a pilot project in February of 2008 called the Prolific Offender Management Program (POM).
The objective of the pilot project is to reduce the amount of crime committed by a small number of prolific offenders in six pilot communities in the province. The project is a joint effort of a number of different agencies representing enforcement, health and social service partners. The intention of the program is that more intensive supervision and timely intervention with prolific offenders will reduce their criminal behaviour, whether that is through treatment
There has been a significant amount of public dissatisfaction on the issue of leniency in sentencing, particularly as it pertains to the revolving door on prolific offenders.
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or incarceration. The sidebar provides a profile of the offenders being monitored under the POM pilot. The project has not been exercised long enough yet to have substantive results although early indications suggest that the increased police attention and increased coordination of services are showing promise. One particular example reported on in the first project update in March 2009 profiled an offender who had been active in property crime and identity theft for over 10 years, influencing young people to steal identity in exchange for drugs. He had over 120 interactions with police since 2000 and had proven he had little intention of abiding by any previous court rulings. After being identified by the Project as a prolific offender, the person was put under more surveillance, arrested on a similar charge and brought again before the courts. This time his criminal history and failed interaction with programs meant to support rehabilitation were provided to Crown counsel. The result was that the offender received a 39 month custodial sentence, while in the past the longest sentence he had received was nine months of custody. These are the stories the public needs to hear and this is the type of approach to prolific offenders we hope will become more widespread. Whether through legislative change to the criminal code or through changes in coordination and exercise of existing services and judicial power, prolific offenders need to know the public and law enforcement take their offences seriously. They need to take the help offered to them to change their ways or face an extended time behind bars for the good of the community at large.
Profile of Offenders in BC Prolific
Offender Management Project• 190 offenders
• 93% are adult males
• 3% are male youths
• range in age from 15-58
• average of 54 convictions in BC
• average age of first conviction is 18
Location Number of Offenders
Average # of Convictions per offender
Kamloops 54 47
Nanaimo 33 52
Prince George 25 60
Surrey 37 53
Victoria 29 64
Williams Lake 12 52
Total/Average 190 54
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Victoria City Mayor Dean Fortin spoke at the chamber’s annual general meeting this year. He outlined the priorities of city council over the next few years.
“Homelessness – because moving people off the streets and into to homes is vital to the health of our people and the health of our businesses.”
The mayor noted that homelessness strikes at the heart of our ability to build a city that sustains the economy and supports the community. He said there are silent costs to homelessness such as the silent cost of a family avoiding the downtown for a movie or dinner or the silent cost of a visitor deciding not to return or the silent cost of a business investing someplace else - giving the jobs and wealth to others.
“Increasing affordable housing – because we need to be able to attract people to the region.”
The mayor noted how the city is partnering with other levels of government and agencies to create more affordable housing and will be building the first purpose built rental building in Victoria in more than 30 years.
“Supporting a vibrant downtown – because a healthy downtown is necessary to a healthy economy.”
The mayor noted problems downtown such as street crowding after bars close; fighting; vandalism; lack of late night transportation; public urination; street noise; and community nuisance caused by excessive drinking will no longer be tolerated. He is forming a Late Night Downtown Task Force to address the issues in partnership with stakeholders.
Mayor Fortin also stated that a successful society will only happen with the energy, vision, and passion of a successful business community. He said his council will maintain a taxation system that is fair, and balances the provision of high quality core services while meeting the constant demand for new services. At the same time they commit to lowering the business tax ratio.
Mayor Speaks at AGM
events calendar
For more information or to register, visit www.victoriachamber.ca
Business Education Series • July 8 Business Education Series • July 22
CEO Coffee Hour
A one hour policy discussion with Chamber CEO Bruce CarterPantry Family Resaurant, 3214 Douglas St.8:30-9:30 am Members only please
Business EducationSeries
Sponsored by Sector Learning Solutions Inc.Focusing on Your Business in Challenging Times11:45am-1:00pm Chamber Office
Business EducationSeries
Business Mixer
Hosted by Academy of Learning5:00-7:00pm 204 - 1111 Blanshard St.
Kathy SantiniArbutus CoachingFocusing on Your Business in Challenging TimesIn her presentation, Kathy Santini, a life and business coach, and owner of Arbutus Coaching will provide strategies for keeping fears and worries under control, so
that business owners can spend all their energy doing what they do best, running their businesses.
Tony Joe Victoria Real Estate BoardVictoria Real Estate: Ups and Downs in the Country’s Most Insulated MarketThe housing market felt the crunch late 2008 with sales and prices being impacted in ways not seen for years. Was the market boom of 2001-2008 sustainable?
Tony Joe, Past-President of the Victoria Real Estate Board presents statistics, graphs and stories putting our community values into perspective.
Sponsored by Sector Learning Solutions Inc.Victoria Real Estate: Ups and Downs11:45am-1:00pm Chamber Office
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Prodigy Group Beach Volleyball
Stickey Wicket Roof Top5:00- 8:00pm919 Douglas St.
Federal Procurement Working Group
A working group discussing the issue of federal procurement.8:30-9:30am Chamber Office
Provincial Procurement Working Group
A working group discussing the issue of provincial procurement.8:30-9:30am Chamber Office
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For more information or to register, visit www.victoriachamber.ca
Business Mixer • August 20 Business Education Series • August 19
CEO Coffee Hour
A one hour policy discussion with Chamber CEO Bruce CarterChamber Office #100-852 Fort St.8:30-9:30 am Members only please
Business Mixer
Hosted by Habitat for Humanity 5:00-7:00pmFlex Plex Build Site(Corners of Blanshard, Saanich and Bethune)
Business EducationSeries
Sponsored by Sector Learning Solutions Inc.How to Effectively Use Radio: the Facts and the Myths11:45am-1:00pm Chamber Office
Chamber Board Information Session
8:00am-9:00am Chamber Office
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Jerry Lucky98.5 The Ocean/ Jack FMHow to EFFECTIVELY Use Radio: The Facts and the MythsThis thought-provoking presentation, explores how to use radio for branding, what kind of air-time schedule should you use, who listens to radio, the importance of
positioning, what makes customers respond to your ad and a complete overview of the radio stations in Victoria.
Habitat for Humanity Victoria
Networking is a powerful business tool. Use it! Join us for hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and an opportunity to network with the Greater Victoria business community.
See pages 14 and 15 for information about our upcoming
Business Services Show.
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David VinnelsChair
CONNECT WITH BUSINESS LEADERS YOU CAN RELATE TO AT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS
Check out www.prodigygroup.ca for more photosMONTHLY MINGLES
Prodigy Group has been busy the last couple of months setting up this summer’s Member Mentorship Program. If you are interested in hearing more about the mentorship program or would like to be either a mentor or mentee within our official Prodigy Group Member Mentorship program launch in 2010, please contact Janell Karst at [email protected].
The Prodigy Group Committee has just finished our mid-year retreat and I am happy to report we received great feedback from the members and board members surveyed and we are using this input to continue to evolve our programs to meet our members’ needs.
Our Monthly Mingles are a great way for business owners and employees to showcase their next big idea, product or service. If you need to practice your elevator pitch, come out to a Prodigy Group Monthly Mingle and master the art of networking.
We are having our annual Volleyball Tournament on July 9th from 5-8 pm at the roof top of the Sticky Wicket. Get your Team of 6 together and sign up at www.prodigygroup.ca or call the chamber office to register. Reminder, when you arrive at the Sticky Wicket if there is a line up go to the front and say you are on the volleyball courts, they will let you up.
Are you the type of person that likes to plan events? Do you have vision? Are you looking for an opportunity to use your business skill set? Consider applying for the Prodigy Group Committee, a volunteer position that lets you make a positive impact on the community and connect with likeminded Chamber members.
We will be starting the application process in September for the 2010 Prodigy Group Committee. Alternatively, if you have ideas or feedback that you would like to pass on to the Prodigy Group, contact David Vinnels at [email protected].
Corporat Challenge - Beach Volleyball
JulyDate and Time: Thursday, July 9, 5-8 pm Location: Sticky Wicket Team Registration: www.prodigygroup.ca Join us on the rooftop of the Sticky Wicket for company bonding and networking in the sand! The courts will be reserved for the Prodigy Group and prizes will be given to every participant. Enter a team or join others in our round-robin tournament. Be sure to register early – this event sells out every year!
The Prodigy Group is pleased to announce an outstanding opportunity to connect with peers in Norway or Germany. Visit our website to read about the opportunity though our Community Connections links.
Community Connections
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David NicholsonChair
Over the past couple of months, the Greater Victoria Development Agency has released two reports that will help to continue building our local economy, including a comprehensive set of economic indicators for the region, and a business retention and attraction strategy for Greater Victoria.
The region of incredible talent and diversity, and the indicators offer a comprehensive look at our region’s economy and are an incredibly powerful tool to showcase Greater Victoria to the world.
The GVDA’s main goals are to assist existing businesses to grow, retain existing companies and attract new business development to the region. The economic indicators for the region will provide a clearer overview of our region’s economy and will allow businesses and stakeholders to make better and more timely investment decisions. A full report of economic indicators will be published on an annual basis, with quarterly updates planned for select indicators as they become available.
The Business Attraction and Retention report highlights the need for stakeholders in our region to work together to make sure businesses remain in and locate to Greater Victoria. With the release of the report, the GVDA is putting a call out for interested parties to volunteer for two business retention teams that will act as ambassadors to businesses in the region.
To read the reports go to www.gvda.ca and click on reports.
We are also pleased to announce that the GVDA has now received financial support from a third municipality in the region. Esquimalt has provided $1000 of funding to GVDA in this calendar budget, joining in support with Victoria and Saanich. Thank you to Esquimalt for your new support and to Victoria and Saanich for your continued support.
For more information call our Economic Development Officer, Sasha Angus at 250-383-7191 ext 204 or email [email protected].
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Photo credit: Helene Cyr
The discussions on options for sewage treatment in the Capital Region have been going on for some time. The need for upgrading the core area’s sewage treatment was mandated by the Ministry of Environment in the summer of 2006 with deadlines provided to the CRD for submitting a plan on how they would accomplish that mandate. T
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INCHINGoward
reatmentSEWAGE
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Other municipalities in the CRD have wastewater management treatment programs acceptable to the Ministry of Environment in place. For example, the Saanich Peninsula completed its wastewater treatment facility in 2002 and Sooke is proud of completing the first phase of its sewage treatment facility in 2006. They are currently in the final phases of the treatment facility development, focussing on rainwater management. So it is only the seven municipalities listed that are in on this discussion.
However, it is not yet certain the seven municipalities that are mandated to develop wastewater treatment will end up as participating partners in the plan currently underway. They may opt out of the group process and go it alone on a singular, or perhaps partnered, municipal approach.
You may well know from local media coverage that the process to date has not been without its bumps. Both Colwood and Esquimalt have expressed some discontent over the process, the potential locations and the final option that has been decided upon by the group. Each has indicated at some points during the process that they may consider pulling out of the Core Area Wastewater Management Program and create their own facilities. The opting out of municipalities would add a wrinkle to the process, but it is an option within the process itself.
How Will We Pay for Sewage Treatment?
As stated, the Chamber’s most significant concerns with the plans for wastewater treatment have to do with the financial aspects. Apart from the final cost, which cannot be fully detailed until sites are selected, there are two other factors to consider. The first is how the costs will be divided up between the municipalities and the second is how each municipality will recoup those costs from their respective tax-payers.
The total cost, once finalized, is likely to be shared out to municipalities based on flow and the determination of flow calculation is yet to be
Each municipality will be responsible for raising its share of the required revenue in the way they deem appropriate.
A number of options and reports have been presented to the CRD committee charged with wading through what has turned out to be substantial amounts of information. No small task for the committee. But with some leniency provided by the Ministry of Environment concerning timelines, the CRD reached a milestone in the process in June of this year by reaching a decision to pursue the development of four treatment sites to service the area.
The next steps in the process will be to determine where those facilities will be located. A number of options are under consideration, but the general outline is that there will be one location in Saanich East or North Oak Bay, one in the Western Communities (the Royal Bay site has come up in previous discussions amongst the peer review committee1 but others are also being considered), another in Esquimalt (probably McLoughlin Point) and a final one at Clover Point. There will be opportunity for the public to engage in consultation regarding site selection and community impacts, if any. That process has already begun with recent open houses and a neighbourhood workshop being held in Saanich East / North Oak Bay regarding three sites that have been identified as possibilities for that area. The final selection of the sites will be a component of determining the cost to build and operate the facilities. And that is the information that the Chamber is waiting to find out. When the final locations are selected, designs and implementation dates will be drawn out and the detailed estimated costs will be determined. As a community, we are all awaiting the final figure.
Who’s In and Who’s Out?
Not all thirteen municipalities will be involved in the new sewage treatment facilities. The mandated plan is referred to as the Core Area and West Shore Wastewater Treatment Program and includes the municipalities of Colwood, Langford, View Royal, Esquimalt, Victoria, Saanich, and Oak Bay.
1 The Peer Review Committee is an independent body of experts from across North America brought on board to advise on the project.
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determined. Alongside of that, a second question has emerged as to whether host municipalities should be given a “cost credit”. This is due to the lost revenue potential for the municipality where the facility is located as the land utilized by the facility could conceivably be developed into something else from which the municipality would receive property tax revenue.
Once the share of total cost is allocated to the municipalities, there is then the important question of how the municipality will structure their payment model. Each municipality will be responsible for raising its share of the required revenue in the way they deem appropriate. If the structure follows the business to residential ratio in each municipality it will be a real concern for business as that ratio varies from 1.79:1 in Oak Bay to 4.0:1 in View Royal. Based on the early cost estimate of $1.2 billion, CRD studies have put the cost estimate per average residential household at a low of approximately $150 per year in Langford to a high of approximately $700 per average household in Oak Bay. Considering the business to residential tax ratios, costs could be substantial for business if that allocation model is chosen.
If however, the payment method were based on a parcel tax and consumption, it could be less of a burden on business. That’s the model used in Sooke. They have allocated a parcel tax of $495 for either residential or commercial properties as a base fee for wastewater treatment. Then an amount is added to the base rate based on a formula for consumption of water. The consumption is not individually captured (which leaves room for error but is certainly more administratively cost effective) but rather based on a type of property and the type of usage. For example a laundromat would have a certain rate calculation and an office building another.
There is also the question as to whether municipalities will choose to charge idle properties as well as properties that are occupied and using service. One could argue the point either way, but if they are not charged the cost would be increased to the other properties in the area.
Impact on Other Projects
There is no doubt that wastewater management is going to be a considerable financial cost to residents and businesses in the CRD. Yet, treatment is not the only infrastructure need of our region. We have transportation needs and in both Saanich and Victoria, bridge repairs have been identified as immediate requirements (in fact Saanich will have already begun construction on the Admirals Road bridge by the time you are reading this article). And, let’s not forget the community share of funding for the Royal Jubilee Hospital expansion.
All of these projects are important and will improve our community in one way or another. However, we need to evaluate as a community how much infrastructure we can afford to support.
Yet because wastewater treatment has been mandated by the provincial government with a commitment to fund a third of the cost, additional provincial infrastructure investments are likely to be in hiatus until a final decision is made on the project. CRD Chair Geoff Young confirms that conversations with higher levels of government regarding other projects do come up to the point that the government share of wastewater treatment is still facing them and that the cost is not yet fully determined.
The CRD committee is conscious of that fact and is working diligently on the project to move it along, while at the same time balancing the need for due process and community involvement. Says Geoff Young, “we are seeking an efficient system and seeking ways to stage the capital investment in a cost effective way”. Doing so will keep the costs as manageable as possible and satisfy the funding partners that the CRD is bringing forward the most responsible project they can.
In the end, we know we need to move forward with wastewater treatment as a mandate of government. Though the task is extremely complex and one that is bound to not satisfy everyone, we think the CRD committee has made good strides to date with determining the type of facilities that will be developed. As the voice of business, the Chamber will be looking to decision makers to answer sound business questions involved in a significant capital expenditure. What are the final costs for building and operating the plants? Is the payment model fair to all categories of tax-payers? What is the return on investment? Can we afford anything else should we go down this road? These are the key questions that the Chamber will be asking on behalf of our business members.
Sooke waste water treatment plant. Photo credit: EPCOR
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new membersABC Country Restaurant (Victoria)p: (250) 995-1200e: [email protected]: www.abcCountry.ca
All Heart Fitness Inc.p: (777) 678-2267e: [email protected] w: www.survivorbootcamp.com
AKAL Airport Shuttle ServiceBus service to and from Victoria Airport, to and from major hotelsp: (250) 386-2526e: [email protected] w: www.victoriaairporter.com
Applause Hair Studiop: (250) 478-4322e: [email protected] w: www.applausehairstudio.com
Billy’s Bistrop: (250) 384-2459
Andrea Dukee: [email protected]
Danada Enterprises Ltd.p: (250) 478-1272e: [email protected] w: www.danada.ca
Elite Vacation GroupElite Vacation Group specializes in fully furnished vacation rentals and short/long term relocation accommodations on Vancouver Island and world wide.p: (250) 881-7551 e: [email protected] w: www.eliteworldwidevacations.com
Equilibrium Acupuncture ClinicAcupuncture can help you with external and internal pain, as well as acute to chronic health problems.p: (250) 893-2023 e: [email protected] w: www.proaltmed.com
Fish Storep: (250) 383-6462e: [email protected]
Gordon Consulting Group Corp.Gordon Consulting Group is a boutique consulting firm that provides services and tools to improve the execution of strategic plans.p: (250) 590-6393 w: www.gordonconsulting.ca
Graffix Promotionals Inc.For fresh ideas, our consultants can help you decide on the appropriate promotional product (from over 2 million) for your marketing efforts, and within budget. p: (250) 884-6652e: [email protected] w: www.graffixpromotionals.com
Gurney Walmsley Group Inc.p: (250) 382-2000e: [email protected] w: www.gwgroup.ca
Hardwire Telecom Ltd.Hardwire Telecom provides professional business telephone systems, service on existing phone systems and installs certified computer networks and telephone wiring. Rackmount equipment is our specialty.p: (250) 592-9473e: [email protected] w: www.hardwiretelecom.com
John Douglas Chiropractic & MassageLocated in Market Square, we focus on optimal health for all and specialize in pre and post natal chiropractic and massage, as well as laser therapy.p: (250) 384-8038e: [email protected] w: www.johndouglaschiropractic.com
Liesch Office InteriorsExciting News! Liesch interiors open-, Liesch Office Interiors. Proudly supporting office furniture and moveable wall partners ; Haworth, Heartwood, Global, David Lane, Belpar, Unicell, IMT p: (250) 590-4102e: [email protected]
MJM MarketingWe offer inexpensive effective advertising through www.VictoriaPubSpecials.ca p: (250) 588-3405 w: www.victoriapubspecials.ca
National Education Consulting Inc.We teach organizations about procurement and contract management. We offer online courses (self-directed and instructor-led), classroom training and webinars to both buyers and suppliers.p: (250) 370-0041e: [email protected]: www.neci-legaledge.com
Paul Curtainp: (250) 884-6820 e: [email protected]
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Presentation Services Audio Visualp: (250) 360-5862e: [email protected] w: www.psav.com
PSB Delegation Consulting Ltd.Our delegation of management consultants save businesses & organizations time and money through procurement, contract management and supply chain activities. Initial 1-hr consultations are free.p: (250) 384-0581e: [email protected] w: www.psbdelegation.com
REI Consulting Services Inc.p: (250) 514-6281e: [email protected]: www.reiconsultants.ca
Ric’s Plumbingp: (250) 727-8003
The Stage Coach and RedesignerThe Stage Coach and Redesigner services include consultations, complete staging and effective time saving tips for unoccupied and occupied residences to help with the sale of your home.p: (250) 514-6217e: [email protected] w: www.stagecoachredesigner.com
Victoria Jazz SocietyThe Victoria Jazz Society is a non-profit arts organization that presents jazz by producing two music festivals and a year round concert season.p: (250) 388-4423 e: [email protected] w: www.jazzvictoria.ca
Viking Pacific Inc.Connects People, Money & Business. Through our vast networking system, our team of experts can facilitate your needs to buy, sell or invest your next business opportunity.p: (250) 383-0001e: [email protected] w: www.vikingpacific.ca
Wet Street CreativeI provide creative solutions for small to medium businesses and individuals that need branding, web design and photography. Contact me for a quote today.p: (250) 516-3967 e: [email protected] w: www.wetstreetcreative.com
Check out our online directory at www.victoriachamber.ca for a list of all our members.
www.victoriachamber.ca
Business Matters24
Business Matters 25
member news cont’d
Derma Spa is pleased to announce the introduction of Pearl Fractional™, a new volumizing laser that uses proprietary Cutera technology to offer both immediate and long-term anti-aging benefits. The treatment is now available under the guidance of Dr. Harlow Hollis, Medical Director of Derma Spa.
Pearl Fractional represents the most advanced technology in fractional lasers, providing an ideal combination of volumizing results and rapid recovery. With the Pearl Fractional laser, patients notice an immediate improvement in their complexion, greatly reducing the signs of aging. Over the long term, patients will see continued structural changes in their skin, including increased volume and firmness. Royal Roads University has received $109,778 in federal funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to conduct a three-year research project led by Brian Belcher, director of the Centre for Non-Timber Resources.
“We’re looking at what has worked in the past when it comes to developing small-scale natural resource-based enterprises in rural and underdeveloped areas of Canada,” said Belcher. “In particular, we want to assess how support for the non-timber
sector can improve livelihoods in remote and Northern communities.” The World Upside Down exhibit has opened at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. World Upside Down is one of the cheekiest traveling exhibits Victoria is likely to experience. It’s a nudge, nudge, wink, wink exchange between artists and viewers, prompting viewers to think and re-think our unwitting acceptance of norms and order in the Western world. The exhibition, running from June 5th to August 30th, opened with a collection of work by contemporary artists who challenge our ideas of race, ethnicity, gender and art itself. It’s a world where the symbolic order of things is turned on its head.
Check the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria website for a full schedule of events with the World Upside Down exhibit at www.aggv.bc.ca.
Casey Edge has received the inaugural Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life National Award for Leadership in Sustainable and Affordable Home Building. Casey wins the award for his work on the Flex-Plex affordable housing project. Edge, is a volunteer and community partner with the Victoria affiliate and also the Executive Officer of the Canadian Home Builders Association (Victoria).
Island Savings Credit Union opened its 14th branch at the new Cowichan Commons development north of Duncan – its sixth branch in only five years. Since 1951, Island Savings has grown to become one of the most well-respected Island-based companies, with over 42,000 members, 375 employees, and assets under administration of $1.66 billion. With 14 branches from Victoria to Nanaimo and on Salt Spring Island, Island Savings is a full-service financial institution and insurance services provider. Angela Greene has been appointed as Managing Director of Business Networking International (BNI), Vancouver Island. Greene is the owner of Elevate Retention, a company specialising in corporate retention of staff and clients. With over twenty years experience in this field she will be applying those same skills to managing BNI.
Elevate Retention is conducting a nationwide survey, on ex BNI members, to develop improved retention strategies. This will help the organisation to make decisions that will increase the referral business for its members.
BNI currently has twenty three chapters and nearly 500 members on Vancouver Island.
George Fuller Roger Skillings
Chamber board members George Fuller and Roger Skillings have both been chosen by VANOC to be 2010 Games Ambassadors.
The Ambassador team consists of celebrated community leaders, who will help spread the story of the 2010 Games and inspire the world in 2010.
Congratulations from your friends at the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce!
Business Matters26
policy movesPolicies Supported at BC Chamber All five policy resolutions that the Greater Victoria Chamber presented to the BC Chamber were supported by provincial delegates at the provincial annual general meeting. Those policies were:
Increased Sentences for Prolific Offenders•Increased Rental Housing Through Fair Tax •TreatmentIsland Transportation Strategy•Municipal Amalgamation in Urban Municipalities•Access to Capital for Small Business •
The full policies can be found on the chamber’s website under the “News and Policies” tab.
Procurement Working Groups Continue The Chamber held its first procurement working group meeting in June and received enthusiastic input from those participating. We are continuing with the work, and have split into two groups, one working on federal procurement issues and one on provincial procurement. The purpose of the working groups is to gather recommendations on how federal and provincial procurement procedures can be improved. The next meetings are:
For federal procurement – Thursday July 29• th, 8:30 – 9:30 AMFor provincial procurement – Friday July 30• th, 8:30 – 9:30 AM
Meetings will be held at the chamber office. To sign up call 250-383-7191 or email [email protected].
Vehicles for Hire Bylaw Review The City of Victoria will be reviewing its Vehicles for Hire Bylaw and updating it to reflect current needs. This is the municipal bylaw that governs vehicle licencing and use of streets, including which vehicles for hire, such as tour buses and taxis can park in what particular areas of the city. The work will be done over the summer and fall with the goal of presenting a newly amended bylaw to city council early in the new year. To provide input to the process, you may send submissions to Janice Schmidt, Manager of Corporate Planning and Policy at [email protected]. Submissions should be received by August 14, 2009.
The current bylaw is available to view on the city’s website at http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/bylaws_list.shtml and click on Vehicles for Hire Bylaw
Liberal Cabinet and Budget Premier Campbell announced the new cabinet and has set a date of August 25th for the Legislature to be called back. The budget is to be tabled on September 1st.
Following the cabinet announcement, Opposition Leader Carole James announced her shadow cabinet of critics. The full cast of characters is listed in the following chart, with the names of our local MLAs in bold type.
Business Matters 27
ask an expert
>> Britt Burnham, Communications Manager, Terrabytes Consulting
Stay Away From Greenwashing
Is Your Website Seniors Friendly and Accessible?
>> Jennifer Cairns, Owner, Computer Tutor for Seniors
How do I promote my company’s environmental efforts without having it labelled as ‘green-washing’?
The most important thing to remember when you are promoting your environmental efforts is to be honest. Be transparent about where you are in the process of greening your product. Talk about your diligent research, your goals and the current steps you are taking. Don’t be tempted to announce your product is suddenly ‘green’ when in fact you have a ways to go.
It’s important to support your claims with measureable results. For example, if you have implemented a zero-garbage policy in your office, prove it by talking about how you’ve forced your suppliers to reduce packaging and how much garbage your efforts will keep out of the landfill this year.
To be transparent means you have to know the facts. Invest the time, particularly in the early stages, in order to understand the impact of your initiatives. An assessment of your current operations is the best way to start because so it will give you a baseline to measure your efforts against.
Finally, get external sources to validate your claims – an environmental association’s support or certification provides credibility.
Britt Burnham offers communications services through Terrabytes, a consulting firm that helps businesses with internal and external communications related to sustainability initiatives. Terrabytes also helps organizations measure and reduce the impact of their IT/computing operations. www.terrabytesconsulting.com
Technology, when successfully used, provides seniors with an invaluable tool to help alleviate isolation as they age, having a positive impact on their lives. I can attest to this as I am blessed with seeing it happen before my very own eyes everyday with my senior clientele. Yet the special interests and needs of seniors have been largely ignored. I believe increased participation by the government, non-profit and business communities to have more senior friendly and accessible websites can have a transforming effect on seniors experience online and the profitability of businesses.
Why should you care if your website is senior friendly and accessible?
Studies show seniors are online just as much as any 1) other age group. Seniors have the largest discretionary income. 2) Seniors are in need of many different services and 3) products. Marketers now see seniors as a separate focus 4) group after realizing that senior’s special interest & activities are very varied. There is now a worldwide precedent (Maguire vs 5) SOCOG) that websites can be and are illegal if they are not accessible.
How can you provide a Senior Friendly Website? The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web. W3C recommends websites use XHTML for the content of the website, CSS to display the content and JavaScript to make the content more dynamic. I have watched my clients first hand struggle to access websites of many local businesses that don’t follow the W3C standards. As a result, my clients were unable to access the business’ product or service being offered.
As the seniors population continues to grow so will the number of persons with disabilities. Adopt the W3C standards before you miss out on future clients. In future columns, I will expand on specific steps that can be taken to make your website more accessible.
Jennifer Cairns is the owner of Computer Tutor For Seniors. She can be found at www.computertutorforseniors.com or 250-818-8835.
