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CHAMBER CALLS FOR URGENT RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES

I encourage everyone to proactively help by continuing to support businesses in your community — one idea is to purchase gift certificates that provide cash flow now, while it’s critically needed.

GREATER VICTORIA

CATHERINE HOLT A s federal and provincial authorities try to curtail the spread of COVID 19, businesses are doing everything in their power to comply and help prevent the spread of this new virus.

Unfortunately, the reality for many businesses is that they will need to tempor arily close their doors and reluctantly layoff staff. W hat this will mean to their long-term viability remains to be seen as no one knows how long this crisis will last.

To support business es during these difficult times, The Chamber, Des tination Greater Victoria and the Downtown Victoria Business Association are urging all levels of govern ment to provide immediate relief for businesses suffering economic con sequences due to the public health measures instituted by government to combat COVID 19.

Specifically, we want all governments to not charge late-filing penalties and i n sta l ment i nterest on balances owing to gov ernment from today until COVID-19 is under control. We’re also asking that any emergency loans provided by Business Development of Canada be interest free. The loans are a key part of the federal government’s plan to help businesses get through these unpreced ented times. Details are still being ironed out, in cluding what, if any, interest will be charged.

M a ny b u s i n e s s e s a re struggling to survive the profound loss of revenue caused by requirements for social isolation and restric tions placed on travel.

Governments can help businesses facing finan cial uncertainty and severe cash-flow reduction by being flexible regarding the timing of, and conse quences for, payment of taxes and through access to interest-free loans.

For the federal govern ment, this includes payroll instalments, GST and cor porate income taxes. Payroll being the most onerous of these.

For British Colu mbia, th is includes Employer Health Tax, PST and WCB prem iu ms. We also ask the province to remove the requirement for BC municipalities to charge 10 percent on the late payment of property taxes.

Additionally, we request that Canada provide im mediate access to interest-free loans to business through the Business De velopment Bank of Canada. The world is facing an ex treme situation, and small businesses are being asked to carry a huge burden. I encourage everyone to pro actively help by continuing to support businesses in your community — one idea is to purchase gift certificates that provide cash flow now, while it’s critically needed.

We will get through this and I have no doubt our economy will fully recover. But it will take time and we’re still waiting to see what course COVID 19 will take in this country.

Until we know, please heed the direction of our health officers. Protect your mental health by go ing outside, getting physical exercise and avoiding the misinformation and hys teria cluttering the facts. Stay safe and let’s all do our part to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Catherine Holt is CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Inn at Laurel Point Celebrates Reopening V ICTORIA - The Inn at Laurel Point has completed the primary components of a $10 million-plus renovation that has been 30 years in the making.

There are still final touches required, such as a new fireplace, but the vision originally set out in 1989 has been realized. The hotel was acquired by the late Paul and Artie Arsens in 1980, who then com pleted an expansion of the hotel in 1989 that included the addition of the Erickson wing of the hotel.

The multimillion-dollar renewal project includes an expanded lobby and saw the addition of Aura Waterfront Restaurant and Patio, meeting and event space, and gardens.

This renewal project completes the vision of Inn at Laurel Point’s founders, the late Paul and Artie Arsens. “It’s an absolute joy and honour to fulfill the Arsens’ dream and realize the vision of architect Arthur Erickson, and designer Robert Ledingham, from over 30 years ago,” says Ian Powell, Managing Director of Inn at Laurel Point. The new lobby is double the size of the former and features floor to ceiling win dows and a contemporary fireplace. The lobby also features a new ‘grab & go’ that will be stocked with treats prepared by the Inn’s award-winning culinary team. The renovation also occurred in tandem with a $20-million remediation project undertaken by Transport Canada to clean up land that had been home to a paint factory between 1906 and the early 1970s. The federal government also handed over three acres of waterfront property at Laurel Point to the City of Victoria which converted the land to Peter Pollen Park. The hotel projects into the Victoria har bour and is surrounded by water on three sides and since renovations are complete, visitors will once again be able to take in these views.