Economy

Supports for businesses a first step forward

Supports for businesses a first step forward

Small business owners in Saanich North and the Islands, and their entrepreneurial counterparts in every part of the country, have been clear - without financial support many of them face a dire future due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal and provincial governments have heard the message. This week they began announcing programs to help the...

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Small business needs more!

Small business needs more!

Prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency we relied on, and to some extent took for granted, the incredible businesses that support our community in so many ways. I have been publishing a series of blog posts called “Championing Local Business”, highlighting my visits to local businesses as an MLA, and what I have learned about the...

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Championing Local Business: Quester Tangent

Championing Local Business: Quester Tangent

Over the past couple of years, I have been touring businesses on the Saanich Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands and sharing my experiences on my blog in a series called “Championing Local Business.” The idea came from the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and their annual Tour of Industry. For about a decade they have been organizing...

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Championing Local Business: Level Ground Trading

Throughout 2019, I have had the opportunity to visit many of the incredible businesses that are the economic engine of Saanich North and the Islands. As local business are the engine of the local economy, coffee is the fuel that propels me through most days. I love coffee! So, in my most recent stop in the tour I visited Level Ground Trading.My...

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Clearcut

Thousands of people have contacted my constituency office expressing their deep concern about forestry policy and practices in British Columbia.The messages are either generated from a third party service delivering a form email or they are just independent responses to the daily news and social media posts.Recently I received a nice note from...

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Championing Local Business: InDro Robotics

You might have read an article last month about a Salt Spring Island robotics company that made the first drone delivery of emergency medical supplies. The project was a partnership between Canada Post, London Drugs and InDro Robotics. InDro is one of only three companies in Canada that is approved to complete “Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight”...

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Championing Local Business: Applied Bio-nomics

Championing Local Business: Applied Bio-nomics

My Championing Local Business tour has opened my eyes to a wide range of enterprise in Saanich North and the Islands. I have visited facilities manufacturing heavy industrial equipment for logging and marine ports, boat building and repairs, food processing and research and development in a variety of fields. Clearly, my riding is home to a vast...

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Championing Local Business: Canoe Cove

Championing Local Business: Canoe Cove

I grew up on the marina docks in Brentwood Bay. Kicking around the Brentwood Inn and fishing at Jimmy Gilbert’s are fond memories for me. A lot has changed since then, but I was brought back to the days of my childhood when my "Championing Local Business" tour stopped in at Canoe Cove. Tucked into the trees just east of the Swartz Bay ferry...

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The trifecta: Big bears, big fish and big trees

The trifecta: Big bears, big fish and big trees

A few months ago, I wrote on the whiteboard in my office boardroom "big bears, big fish and big trees." Those words have been there ever since. They are three world-famous icons of British Columbia. In a previous post, I said that we are still acting like a resource colony. My critique of our decision-making process is that we have a culture in...

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Championing Local Business: Scott Plastics

Championing Local Business: Scott Plastics

Two sounds are very familiar to me, bringing me back to my childhood: the gurgle and sputter of the 10-horse Briggs and Stratton pushing our 22 foot Clinker through the Saanich Inlet and the wizz-click of our Scotty downriggers. Scott Plastics, better known as “Scotty”, was started in Victoria in 1952 by Blayney and Amelda Scott. Today they...

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Championing Local Business: Titan Boats

Championing Local Business: Titan Boats

Head north down Mcdonald Park Rd. then turn right down an unmarked fire-lane just before the Sidney Feed Barn and you will find Titan Boats.After accidentally walking into the engineering team’s office, I discovered Titan operates in several buildings...specifically 5,400 sq. feet of fabrication space and another 1,600 sq. ft shop for outfitting...

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Championing Local Business: Viking Air

Championing Local Business: Viking Air

Last fall we began to tour the incredible businesses on the Saanich Peninsula. The tour continued at Viking Air Limited. Viking is an exciting company that continues to grow at the Victoria International Airport. After a walk through of their production facility and an overview of the operations with Dominique Spragg, VP of Strategic Planning and...

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Championing Local Business: Nicholson Manufacturing

Championing Local Business: Nicholson Manufacturing

There’s more to a log than meets the eye: how a local debarking company contributes to producing quality products in BC and around the globe Do you ever wonder what goes on in that mustard building next to the Victoria International Airport in the West Sidney Industrial Park? Well Nicholson Manufacturing makes some of the toughest and most...

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Championing Local Business: Epicure

Championing Local Business: Epicure

Have you ever driven down West Saanich Road and seen a sign that reads “Epicure”? For years, I drove past wondering what was going on in the big building at the end of the long driveway. On Wednesday, October 22nd I had the pleasure of visiting Epicure, meeting many of the executive team and touring the facilities. Epicure provides fast and easy...

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